Creighton and Evansville to leave the MVC

[SFP]

If BU can start winning big next year and the following I will not be concerned in which conference we are in because we should be able to navigate this realignment. The biggest impact of not landing in a decent conference will be recruiting. I also believe there needs to be a preoccupation on branding that helps us along the academic line of business. If for some reason the Valley collapses or the SIU and ISU's look for a football conference we need to talk to the other basketball playing schools that are also concerned with academics like Drake and Valpo.

[Da Coach]

BU will be hurt by the loss of any of the private schools in the MVC. If we lose CU and UE that leaves just Drake and Bradley.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Fellas - All of the Catholics and Jesuits are sticking together in this. DePaul, SLU, and Marquette will all be in the new league.

[tornado]

If BU gets asked, would we join a watered-down A-10? I think we are a better fit for the Valley, but Cross and Glasser love the east coast.

whatever decision is made will be perhaps the single most important move made within our athletic department in 75 years...
Given how our teams are doing poorly, attendance is way, way down, and there's been a massive turnover everywhere - are we capable of making yet another decision that's 1000 times the magnitude of all the ones that are backfiring?

[DeltaBrave03]

whatever decision is made will be perhaps the single most important move made within our athletic department in 75 years...
Given how our teams are doing poorly, attendance is way, way down, and there's been a massive turnover everywhere - are we capable of making yet another decision that's 1000 times the magnitude of all the ones that are backfiring?

Not sure everyone would consider what you're undoubtedly referring to as having backfired but there's no reason to continue that..... and yes I do believe president glasser will make the best decision possible as I have seen the great changes being done around campus and also remember we can't just snap our fingers and be in whatever conference we want.

[tornado]

something has backfired...we were a Sweet Sixteen team just 5-6 years ago and were winning 20+ up 'til 3 years ago - then we were still logging sellouts and huge crowds up 'til just 2 years ago....now we have record losses and record small crowds..
I guess you can use whatever term you want - but if conferences are all picking members right now - we're not as attractive as we were a few years ago - something backfired...
Which programs at BU have been having good years besides soccer?

[stevebu91]

Gladly, its time for change. I again trust that Glasser, Cross, and the Trustees will find an improved alternative than the stagnation of the MVC. We have no common thread with the apparent current members besides our 1st cousin Drake. We will go with them either in a revised private division of the MVC or a private conference.

Please name to me what we have in common with the remaining universities in the conference besides geography? By the way, Wichita State is not going to be in standby mode given the subjected change. They are past due for a different $$ conference affiliation, and I would believe they have already made a few phone calls out West or right in their geographic area. Hmmm..

Significant change is coming or should be resulting in a proper match for our university.

[Bravesfan]

whatever decision is made will be perhaps the single most important move made within our athletic department in 75 years...
Given how our teams are doing poorly, attendance is way, way down, and there's been a massive turnover everywhere - are we capable of making yet another decision that's 1000 times the magnitude of all the ones that are backfiring?

Whether the decision to fire Les came a year too early or not, or if it was even necessary in the eyes of some people, I won't lay any blame against Cross or Glasser on their hire of Geno because it is simply too early right now. Previous coaches here (and Dana Altman in his early days at Creighton) had to go through some very rough stretches early in their coaching runs before they turned things around. If Bradley wins 12 to 14 games this year, I would say they are on par towards where I would expect them to be. If they hit .500 this year, even better. Next year could be a little shaky to start as we lose three seniors this year, but I think by year four of the Geno Ford era we need to be in the NIT or bust with at least a top 4 finish in the Valley (higher if we lose Creighton and/or Wichita St.).

One other thing to remember. Glasser may be terrific when it comes to the academic side of things, but horrible when it comes to athletics. I know that doesn't do Bradley basketball fans any good, but if she bungles the big decision regarding the future of our conference affilation, that doesn't mean the board will get rid of her. My guess is Cross would be the scapegoat if we end up playing in a SWAC like conference. Just something to keep in mind, but that's something that I hope we never come to.

But to tie all this back to my original point, we don't know if the Geno hire was a bad decision as of yet, and perhaps Glasser and company are capable of making the right decision in regards to the future of Bradley athletics. But considering that she has made questionable decisions in the past, the jury will still be out until that time comes.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Gladly, its time for change. I again trust that Glasser, Cross, and the Trustees will find an improved alternative than the stagnation of the MVC. We have no common thread with the apparent current members besides our 1st cousin Drake. We will go with them either in a revised private division of the MVC or a private conference.

Please name to me what we have in common with the remaining universities in the conference besides geography? By the way, Wichita State is not going to be in standby mode given the subjected change. They are past due for a different $$ conference affiliation, and I would believe they have already made a few phone calls out West or right in their geographic area. Hmmm..

Significant change is coming or should be resulting in a proper match for our university.

I'm in favor of a basketball only league.

[Bravesfan]

I'm in favor of a basketball only league.

So am I, but it's in reality probably going to be in a 2nd tier league for us. The remnants of the A-10, and a few private universities from the MAC, Horizon, Summit League and the MVC. Given that we don't know how the Creighton's and Wichita State's of the world will handle a BCS type of schedule every year, the jury is still out on just how well Creighton and others will handle their much more difficult schedules.

In reality, we know there are only about seven or eight non-BCS schools who have proven track records of competing well on a yearly basis against the BCS, those who have done it consistantly over the last decade or two. Those teams would be Gonzaga, Xavier, Dayton, Temple, Butler (none truer than today!), New Mexico and UNLV. Creighton probably goes on this list too, but I would venture to bet their combined non-conference SOS over the past 15 years doesn't hold a candle to these other schools. But this year they have shown they can handle playing a lot of BCS teams, and the Boise St. loss notwithstanding, they have a chance for a win tonight against a good but somewhat overrated California team. My issue with Creighton is what happens after Doug McDermott is gone. I can see a slight dropoff, which could cascade into a big dropoff if they have to play a tough BCS schedule. But for now I would put Creighton in that group of the seven other schools I mentioned above.

Then others like St. Mary's, San Diego State, George Mason and VCU are more recent success stories, while teams like Murray St. and Kent St. are usually good teams dominating bad conferences. All of these teams would probably get a big time wake up call if they played big time talent night in and night out.

So my point is there is a very small, select group of non-BCS teams that could handle the big time pressure every game. And even a solid Bradley team, or even a Northern Iowa team who has had a lot of recent success would probably run the risk of becoming the next DePaul in this new Catholic league. Therefore, that's why I don't think it's a terrible thing if we end up in a 2nd tier league, be it in a revamped A-10 or MVC, or even in a new 2nd tier private school league. There will be plenty of time for the powers that be to make the right decision, and whatever way things go, there are plenty of decent schools out there who could make up the foundation of a very competitive league. But I do think more dominoes will need to fall before we know for sure which schools would be available to form a solid and geographically feasible conference that Bradley and others could fit nicely in.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

I think Bradley is more likely to end up in a league with teams like Drake, UIC, Loyola, Evansville, Valpo, etc...

[Bravesfan]

I think Bradley is more likely to end up in a league with teams like Drake, UIC, Loyola, Evansville, Valpo, etc...

Valpo would be a great team, and a league with a lot of Chicago teams would not be bad. Hopefully Loyola is getting better after their nice win against SEC also-ran Mississippi State today. UIC looks real good too. Don't know how consistantly good these teams will be, but Valpo seems to be in contention every year.

All in all, this would not be a bad league, but I'd feel better with a couple of more upper tier type teams, maybe a Tulsa or Kent St. type of team.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Valpo would be a great team, and a league with a lot of Chicago teams would not be bad. Hopefully Loyola is getting better after their nice win against SEC also-ran Mississippi State today. UIC looks real good too. Don't know how consistantly good these teams will be, but Valpo seems to be in contention every year.

All in all, this would not be a bad league, but I'd feel better with a couple of more upper tier type teams, maybe a Tulsa or Kent St. type of team.

I-A football teams aren't going to move to a basketball only league.

[Bravesfan]

I-A football teams aren't going to move to a basketball only league.

I'm just using Tulsa and Kent St. as a couple of examples. Obviously those type of 2nd tier programs that only focus on basketball.

[Braves4Life]

I think Bradley is more likely to end up in a league with teams like Drake, UIC, Loyola, Evansville, Valpo, etc...

Man, I'm sorry but I just find this very depressing and disappointing.