Bradley "power play" time. . .

[Dubl R 1]

BU might be an attractive program to a potential "power" basketball conference for a couple of reasons.

1. We draw very well attendance #'s, and would surely draw very, very well with national powerhouses in a new conference.

2. As much as I hate to admit it, but sustained 4-5th place finishes in the valley may be what these teams would want...Every conference has to have some weaker teams, and I believe these power teams would perceive us as that possibly. A team that draws well...yet may be an easy win inside the conference....not saying I agree...just I bet that's how they would perceive BU.

[Da Coach]

We can all talk forever on this subject, and it won't make any difference.
One thing I hope everyone agrees with is that this is all about football, and the massive amounts of money brought in by the BCS. Every conference switch that has happened, and will happen is related to football, not basketball.
Like it or not, Bradley and other non-football schools are virtually irrelevant, and have zero bargaining power. It really doesn't matter what schools like Bradley want, or what "proactive" steps they take. In the end, they will be left with leftovers, and I don't think anything among those leftovers will be nearly as attractive to Bradley as what they already have right now in the MVC.
The MVC is as good of a conference as Bradley can hope to be in. So I think they simply need to strengthen their relationships with the other 9 MVC schools, and keep working to upgrade basketball schedules to maintain the MVC in the top 6 or 7 conferences. It's possible one or 2 of our football-playing MVC bretheren might think it's worth chasing the BCS some day, but in the end, I think that would be a mistake for them and I don't think anything will change in the MVC.

[squirrelgotdead]

BU might be an attractive program to a potential "power" basketball conference for a couple of reasons.

1. We draw very well attendance #'s, and would surely draw very, very well with national powerhouses in a new conference.

Not when everyone else we'd basically be competing against for those conference slots has (or at least access to) larger arenas.

[squirrelgotdead]

We can all talk forever on this subject, and it won't make any difference.
One thing I hope everyone agrees with is that this is all about football, and the massive amounts of money brought in by the BCS. Every conference switch that has happened, and will happen is related to football, not basketball.
Like it or not, Bradley and other non-football schools are virtually irrelevant, and have zero bargaining power.

This much is an absolute=Football ruins everything.

It really doesn't matter what schools like Bradley want, or what "proactive" steps they take. In the end, they will be left with leftovers, and I don't think anything among those leftovers will be nearly as attractive to Bradley as what they already have right now in the MVC.
The MVC is as good of a conference as Bradley can hope to be in. So I think they simply need to strengthen their relationships with the other 9 MVC schools, and keep working to upgrade basketball schedules to maintain the MVC in the top 6 or 7 conferences. It's possible one or 2 of our football-playing MVC bretheren might think it's worth chasing the BCS some day, but in the end, I think that would be a mistake for them and I don't think anything will change in the MVC.

I refuse to sell Bradley short. Those who have in the past are implicit in allowing us to be in this position in the first place. Just because we're here now does not mean this is as far as we'll end up going.

All it takes is vision, commitment and excellence. Right now, Bradley has the 1st two. Now all we need to do is start winning championships and reclaim our tradition.

[TheAsianSensation]

Well, football DOES mean everything. That's why we're choosing the likes of Creighton, Marquette, and DePaul to try and link to. Individually, we're nothing. United together, we're a power that can make noise.

[houstontxbrave]

We can all talk forever on this subject, and it won't make any difference.
One thing I hope everyone agrees with is that this is all about football, and the massive amounts of money brought in by the BCS. Every conference switch that has happened, and will happen is related to football, not basketball.
Like it or not, Bradley and other non-football schools are virtually irrelevant, and have zero bargaining power. It really doesn't matter what schools like Bradley want, or what "proactive" steps they take. In the end, they will be left with leftovers, and I don't think anything among those leftovers will be nearly as attractive to Bradley as what they already have right now in the MVC.
The MVC is as good of a conference as Bradley can hope to be in. So I think they simply need to strengthen their relationships with the other 9 MVC schools, and keep working to upgrade basketball schedules to maintain the MVC in the top 6 or 7 conferences. It's possible one or 2 of our football-playing MVC bretheren might think it's worth chasing the BCS some day, but in the end, I think that would be a mistake for them and I don't think anything will change in the MVC.

What happens when someone comes along and flirts with Creighton an WSU? Or Missouri State or UNI decide they want to upgrade to a higher football? You can strengthen the relationships all you want but if you also do not prepare for a worst case then its us, Drake and mixtures of the Horizon, Summitt etc.

I think BU needs to be very proactive with other private basketball playing only schools. Upgrading football may or may not be a mistake but someone is going to want the markets that are Omaha and Wichita. And if that someone comes along with a nice sweet TV deal well then where is the Valley?

[thefish7]

This might be the one opportunity I would support the league expanding.

Add BYU and SLU. The major problem is BYU does not play on Sundays, so you have to move your conference tournament schedule, which I'm not sure the MVC would want to do as long as we're on CBS.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure BYU would not want to join a league now where it might feel is expecting a long-term commitment, which would be the only reason I would want BYU in the league.

So that pretty much rules that out.

You wouldn't support Butler and SLU?

[thefish7]

Well, football DOES mean everything. That's why we're choosing the likes of Creighton, Marquette, and DePaul to try and link to. Individually, we're nothing. United together, we're a power that can make noise.

This is how I feel.. A non-football basketball power conference. I can see structures from 2 8-team leagues, 10-team leagues, or even a 16-team mega conference. Whichever one includes Bradley, several "football castoffs," and a TV network is the one I want to see... And which'd be a major upgrade over the MVC.

[squirrelgotdead]

You wouldn't support Butler and SLU?

I didn't say that. An opportunity for a BYU doesn't present itself very often.

I don't really support the league expanding, just to expand. But if a BYU is available, you take the chance.

[thefish7]

Okay, understand.

[ph]

We can all talk forever on this subject, and it won't make any difference.
One thing I hope everyone agrees with is that this is all about football, and the massive amounts of money brought in by the BCS. Every conference switch that has happened, and will happen is related to football, not basketball.
Like it or not, Bradley and other non-football schools are virtually irrelevant, and have zero bargaining power. It really doesn't matter what schools like Bradley want, or what "proactive" steps they take. In the end, they will be left with leftovers, and I don't think anything among those leftovers will be nearly as attractive to Bradley as what they already have right now in the MVC.
The MVC is as good of a conference as Bradley can hope to be in. So I think they simply need to strengthen their relationships with the other 9 MVC schools, and keep working to upgrade basketball schedules to maintain the MVC in the top 6 or 7 conferences. It's possible one or 2 of our football-playing MVC bretheren might think it's worth chasing the BCS some day, but in the end, I think that would be a mistake for them and I don't think anything will change in the MVC.

That's a rather self defeating attitude, like saying it is impossible for us to ever make the final 4 so we stop scheduling top 50 teams....

[SFP]

I understand Da Coaches thought process on this but I still would hope that the Admin is working out a contingency plan. Saying the MVC is the best we can hope for is not to comforting. The MVC could implode and I would just want to make sure that BU is not inside the building if it happens. I still say there is a possibility when the conferences start feeling they need to grow that BU has a relative good chance of landing on its feet.

[ph]

I do understand how some might say that. I just expected "who" might say that to be someone more like Kirk Wessler instead of DaCoach.

It might just be me, but on the heels of the on-campus arena games talk, it sounded like Bradley's plan A for a BCS implosion is to be left out, and move games to our new, smaller arena to match our inevitable, lower importance NCAA division.

[wizard1]

Bradley "Power Play"---

I both agree and disagree with Da Coach on this one.

First of all, I agree that this is all about football and football $$$. Non-football ---basketball only schools are being left out because they are not important to the process that is taking place.

On the other hand, I disagree that we and other BB only schools can do nothing. The worse thing that can happen is for all of us to stand around doing nothing waiting to see what happens. IMO we need to be VERY proactive.
I believe that ultimately the football schools in the MVC will leave for something else and we will then be part of a meaningless conference UNLESS we develop plans and have serious discussions with other similar schools.

A powerful BB conference that would include Bradley, Butler, Marquette, DePaul, St. Louis, Creighton, Gonzaga, Xavier, Dayton, etc. could become a strong entity if they do the right planning , etc. For example, a western division and an Eastern division with a big post season tournament, some hardball with the NCAA to obtain more tournament berths, aggresive pursuit of TV in bigger markets like Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Etc., major increases in funding and facility imprvements,
and a conference requirement on scheduling would help this.

A number of years ago, the Chiefs Club board (now the Braves Club) in conjunction with the BU Athletic Dept. did a major study on conference affiliation but we ended up doing nothing. The MVC at that time was a MAJOR BB conference. Shortly thereafter, Louisville, Memphis, Cincinatti, and later Tulsa left the conference and the MVC went downhill fast and really never recovered. Of course, much of this was also due to the emergence of stronger BCS football conferences.

In any event, BU needs to develop a PLAN and have some meaningful "behind the scenes" discussions or we may very well end up on the outside, looking in.

[Da Coach]

I do understand how some might say that. I just expected "who" might say that to be someone more like Kirk Wessler instead of DaCoach...

Just being realistic. I think most Bradley fans are.
But what is wrong with the MVC? It has served Bradley just fine for the last 60 years, or so. We need to realize that this is the best option and work to maintain what we have, because it's pretty good.

The MVC needs to draft a new rule that requires a huge buyout for any school wanting to leave, like the WAC did, just before Nevada and Fresno State left.

http://www.sbnation.com/2010/8/18/1630684/byu-nevada-fresno-state-mountain-west-wac-buyout

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2010/08/exit-fee-wac-says-it-has-signed-agreements-from-nevada-fresno-state/1

That is the only way that makes sense to strengthen the loyalties among MVC schools.
BTW, I have heard from a conference "insider" that there are worries among some MVC schools that so-called "proactive" talks with other schools outside the MVC or with other conferences could harm the relationships among the MVC schools, and actually do much more damage than any good that could come from it. Maybe even push some MVC schools to do something drastic like seeking other conference affiliations they wouldn't have otherwise been seeking. Is that something we really want to do?
I am confident the people at Bradley are handling all this the right way, and don't need sports writers or message boarders to give them "expert advice".