Who are the mvc teams in 5 years?

[TheAsianSensation]

Am I the only who feels the Valley is doing the right thing by not doing anything? I think we have a solid to strong conference on a year to year basis. I find it truly refreshing that we are staying out of this insanity right now. The only change I would have made was by trying to lure Dayton and/or Butler into the conference, either expanding to 12, or letting one or two of the consistently weaker teams out. But aside from this, I think we are doing very well as we are, and I don't see why we can't build mid-major powers from within than ruining a good thing.

I'm coming to think that standing pat is now right. The real answer would've been to court Butler a few years ago and if you had to add Wright St to do it, fine. Elgin got caught in a reactive position instead of a proactive one.

The big worry right now is the distance between the MVC and power conferences. There's a Big 6, MWC, and A-10 right now. Those 8 are on the brink of establishing a tier ahead of everyone else. The MVC and WCC are a solid 9/10 right now, but they're in danger of losing the lead draft.

[Bravesfan]

I'm coming to think that standing pat is now right. The real answer would've been to court Butler a few years ago and if you had to add Wright St to do it, fine. Elgin got caught in a reactive position instead of a proactive one.

The big worry right now is the distance between the MVC and power conferences. There's a Big 6, MWC, and A-10 right now. Those 8 are on the brink of establishing a tier ahead of everyone else. The MVC and WCC are a solid 9/10 right now, but they're in danger of losing the lead draft.

Agreed about Butler. That would have been a great snag for the MVC, and a natural rivalry for Bradley. Two similar schools with similar enrollments (and two "BU's" ), and both with the potential to be dominate schools within the conference. But that opportunity came and went, and unless the A-10 gets taken apart in the future, I don't see Butler moving anywhere. Not to mention that the Valley could have had a major market added to their tv contract, plus Butler from a geographical standpoint would have fit the Valley better than an east coast conference.

And even the WCC might be a touch ahead of the Valley right now. They have the premier "mid-major" program in the country (with no offense to Creighton or Xavier), and two other strong programs in St. Mary's and BYU that are consistent NCAA Tournament contenders year in and year out. While the bottom of the WCC is a little weaker, even struggling programs like Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount have a lot of basketball history on their side as well. So we'll see who wins out in the long term, but if the opportunity came along to add a solid mid-major and/or some Big East castoffs, the Valley could still add a strong team or two sometime in the future if things worked out. But for the time being, I don't think the Valley is hurting itself by standing pat.

[SFP]

Perhaps its best for the Valley to stay pat but not BU's! I hope we are talking to others and creating a few contingency plans. Not doing so would be irresponsible.

[BUBalum05]

Without football revenue to subsidize travel costs, it will be very difficult for schools like Gonzaga or Mt St Mary to sign up for a conference that they'll regularly have to travel to the east coast based on financial concerns, especially for non-revenue sports. Also if these schools remain fair to the student-athletes (let's not debate the student-athlete amateur status), having the teams hop multiple time zones definitely does not have the student-athlete's best interest in mind. Another drawback is to look at how poorly pro sports teams perform traveling east; let alone, long travel might affect college students studies being out of class even more to travel longer distances. Any realignment for mid-majors has to take some geography into consideration.

[stevebu91]

Reading through the comments thus far, I am not satisfied with the Missouri Valley or Bradley being in a 3rd Tier Basketball / Sports Conference. Our goal, through consistent winning and strong facilites, is too strive toward the 2nd Tier (with our without the MVC).

Tier 1 is unattainable unless Caterpillar's shareholders (or a similar weathly individual) decide to invest $300 million in athletics to get us to the FBS..Written with a laugh...

Our goal at BU should be the Tier 2. The MVC has not proven thus far they are proactively striving toward the Tier 2 level. They are not quite sitting in their offices with rotary dial phones... but, well, you fill in the blank on what type of communications equipment they APPEAR to be using.....

[LittleBrave]

I agree with the part about football. However, there are possibly more fertile grounds even for a non-football school than the MVC. I can see either Creighton or Wichita State being lured away by the CUSA or the A-10.

Definitely agree. More opportunity for these 2 to expand their markets and to have more prime games, and perhaps better chance to get At-Large bids from these 2 conferences.
I think the Valley has been stronger than CUSA in the past 5-6 seasons, but CUSA is more widely known IMO, and CUSA and A-10 I would venture to say are considered more high-major than Valley teams.

[LittleBrave]

I love the make-up of this conference and wish there would be no change. But if any of the top schools were to be lured away, it would not be the same, and wouldn't be able to replace them.
I can't imagine being in a different conference than ISU-red or SIU.

[SFP]

I love the make-up of this conference and wish there would be no change. But if any of the top schools were to be lured away, it would not be the same, and wouldn't be able to replace them.
I can't imagine being in a different conference than ISU-red or SIU.

I'm sure Maryland could not imagine being in another conference outside of playing NC, Duke and UVA but they will be and for greener pastures. I'd rather see BU playing the likes of Marquette, Butler and Xavier over ISu-red and SIU any day.

[Art Haines is God]

Former Missouri State Athletic Director said he felt by 2015 the A10 will split with the more north eastern private schools creating an attractive eastern private school league geared more for upper/mid majors. The more midwestern private schools will join together and form a new conference for private mid majors, he thought Creighton and BU would both move to that conference.

The MVC would merge with the Sun Belt and become a state school only conference with both football and basketball schools: ILSU, MSU, INSU, UNI, SIU would merge there and step up to big boy football.

[thefish7]

Former Missouri State Athletic Director said he felt by 2015 the A10 will split with the more north eastern private schools creating an attractive eastern private school league geared more for upper/mid majors. The more midwestern private schools will join together and form a new conference for private mid majors, he thought Creighton and BU would both move to that conference.

The MVC would merge with the Sun Belt and become a state school only conference with both football and basketball schools: ILSU, MSU, INSU, UNI, SIU would merge there and step up to big boy football.

This is kind of the scenario I see as being "best for everybody" in the MVC... And one I think I'd be very happy with if we end together with midwestern private castoffs from A10 and BE.

[SFP]

Former Missouri State Athletic Director said he felt by 2015 the A10 will split with the more north eastern private schools creating an attractive eastern private school league geared more for upper/mid majors. The more midwestern private schools will join together and form a new conference for private mid majors, he thought Creighton and BU would both move to that conference.

The MVC would merge with the Sun Belt and become a state school only conference with both football and basketball schools: ILSU, MSU, INSU, UNI, SIU would merge there and step up to big boy football.

Hi Art,

I'm in complete agreement that this or something similar to this will happen. It just makes so much sense especially when it comes to branding and creating the most value for each school. I'm just not in the business of waiting for others to make decisions for you and I believe in order to make sure you're going to the conference that you want to you need to be proactive.