Now that Loyola has been in the MVC a couple of years....

[valleyclimber]

Was thinking about the strength of the Valley, and at the time I'll admit I was on board with the MVC taking in Loyola, but I'm not so sure anymore. It seems like the MVC kind of made a desperate move and slummed it a bit when they grabbed the Ramblers. So far LU has been so-so at best, and it seems like the near future for the Ramblers is a lock for a lower level MVC team. I'm no Bluejay fan, but trading CU for LU has been a step in the wrong direction.

Loyola does not capture the Chicago media market, and it seems like it's barely a blip on the radar. Even when the Valley's best teams go into LU's Gentile Center, the attendance is pathetic. We hear all the time about LU's great resources, and that they are going to do big things in the MVC. Well, color this longtime MVC follower as skeptical to say the least.

Any thoughts on which teams could/should have been selected over the Ramblers?

[Shocker-maniac]

Belmont or Murray State. One thing is for sure adding ORU would have been a bigger mistake than adding LUC.

[SHOCKvalue]

Valpo

[another shocker]

sidenote: did they not beat creighton this year?

[pinstripers]

No way was anybody gonna replace Creighton.

[wusphlash]

I don't think any collegiate team would "deliver" the Chicago market. It's a pro town. About all you can get is a "presence" which only gets you scraps of attention. However, is a scrap of attention in Chicago worth more than moderate attention in a smaller market. While I am not ready to pass judgement on Loyola just yet, their inability to put anyone in the stands is concerning.

Belmont is EU in a big city. They were a darling a couple years ago but they've shown nothing to me that indicates they will ever get anything but an automatic bid.

Valpo, maybe. They have shown that they can have repeated success.

Without having access to financial strengths, booster support, etc. it's difficult to identify other good candidates. I know one thing, a couple good basketball seasons does not mean a school is a good conference mate. Success on the court comes and goes.

[Kung Wu]

I think LoChic will need to replace Moser if they are serious about becoming a nationally relevant basketball team again. I like Moser, but he's in the middle of a recruiting hotbed and should have them cranking by now. He's just not a top-50 coach.

[ShockerPrez]

I dunno, I think Loyola has embraced what being in the Valley is all about...

[Ta town]

I dunno, I think Loyola has embraced what being in the Valley is all about...

touche

[The 'hut]

Loyola is the quintessential dude who out kicked his coverage.

[Shockers5150]

It's a crap league. Only wsu and uni give it value.

[wufan]

It's a crap league. Only wsu and uni give it value.

That is cyclic, but this has been a long cycle...when was the last time someone other than WSU or UNI was relevant? Bradley in 2006 I presume, and only for one year (sharing the stage with the Shockers). Before that was SIU.

[The Mad Hatter]

That is cyclic, but this has been a long cycle...when was the last time someone other than WSU or UNI was relevant? Bradley in 2006 I presume, and only for one year (sharing the stage with the Shockers). Before that was SIU.

SIU's run lasted through 2007 when they made the Sweet 16.

[wufan]

SIU's run lasted through 2007 when they made the Sweet 16.

Thanks.

[WuDrWu]

Every conference needs a road apple.