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UIC to join the Missouri Valley

Wily, after looking into a lot of other factors, I think UIC could work for the Valley. They are a quality school, have excellent academics, and do have some good quality sports programs. In fact, their men's basketball has made it to the NCAA tournament 3 times in the last 15 years- which is more than most of the Missouri Valley teams. Just the presence they would give the MVC in a major city might be worth it. The top media market currently in the Valley is Omaha- which isn't even in the Top 50 nationally (it is around 70th). Chicago is #3, a big time improvement.
 
Da Coach said:
Wily, after looking into a lot of other factors, I think UIC could work for the Valley. They are a quality school, have excellent academics, and do have some good quality sports programs. In fact, their men's basketball has made it to the NCAA tournament 3 times in the last 15 years- which is more than most of the Missouri Valley teams. Just the presence they would give the MVC in a major city might be worth it. The top media market currently in the Valley is Omaha- which isn't even in the Top 50 nationally (it is around 70th). Chicago is #3, a big time improvement.
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I agree it does have some advantages,mainly the market and a road trip we can all make, but don't think they would have been in the big dance those 3 years had they been in our league.
 
BUBalum05 said:
Except then it only means 1 automatic bid for 16-20 schools. I'm amazed the big shots of the BCS haven't thought of this ....
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they have but have received solid guarantees of plenty of consideration for at-large bids - thus it is no coincidence that 16-team leagues like the Big East get 8 bids...even those almost all their at-large teams looked hapless and lost to mid-majors
 
Da Coach, I think you make a good point. I like having Chicago as a Media market. Big improvement. You have St.louis and now maybe Chicago. Maybe we have to look at it as... does UIC bring down the Valley or can the Valley bring UIC up to where both benefit? Maybe UIC is just needing a good conference to propel itself to bigger and better things
 
tornado said:
they have but have received solid guarantees of plenty of consideration for at-large bids - thus it is no coincidence that 16-team leagues like the Big East get 8 bids...even those almost all their at-large teams looked hapless and lost to mid-majors
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I think the post you were responded to was implying he's surprised the NCAA isn't pushing for more conference consolidation at low major levels so that they have even more at-large bids to give out.

I have a hard time questioning any of the Big East of Big Ten bids this year.
 
There's reports out there now that Oral Bob, Denver, and Belmont are receiving visits from MVC officials.

If we go to 12 teams, I could see UIC being one just because their sports are compatible with the MVC's offerings. Therefore, you can make pickups based solely on basketball strength, and then use UIC to round things out elsewhere.

And that's the only scenario in which I would be happy with UIC. Only.

BUBalum05 said:
Except then it only means 1 automatic bid for 16-20 schools. I'm amazed the big shots of the BCS haven't thought of this and forced a low and mid major shuffle into only about 10 conferences so they have about 16 automatic qualifiers in the field.
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Alas, the NCAA has basically said they're out on the entire process of conference realignment, leaving everyone to fend for itself. They won't interfere.
 
UIC to join the Missouri Valley

UIC joining the MVC could be much bigger as time goes by assuming that Wichita did not leave and the conference stays together.

Having an MVC school in Chicago puts the conference into a major media market, could help TV coverage, and it could help recruiting in Chicago. It also gives BU fans a shorter road trip to an major city to see their team play.
 
About Bradley's only option is leaving with a few other midwestern schools for the A-10 and forming an 18- or 20-team midmajor superconference. Say Bradley jumps along with Drake, Evansville, Valpo and Detroit.

West Division
SLU
Dayton
Bradley
Valpo
Detroit
Drake
Evansville
Duquesne
St. Bonaventure

East Division
UMass
Rhode Island
La Salle
Fordham
St. Joe's
George Washington
VCU
Richmond
George Mason

Play home-and-home's against your division and 4 or 6 games against the other division. That's very workable and doesn't break the bank. But if SLU and Dayton get Big East invites, you're looking at Loyola, Cleveland State and UW-M as replacements, and it becomes less attractive (but still possibly more attractive than the MVC sans Wichita).
 
The more and more the situation deteriorates for the A-10, the less and less options Bradley has. The move to an A-10 like described above would be fine if the MVC completely fell apart, but probably only then at this point. I'm not sure we should proactively seek it anymore. The Big East going silent on Richmond/Dayton/StL scares me.
 
Da Coach said:
I am also hearing that the Valley would like to expand to Milwaukee in the near future.

And, I also heard a rumor that the Horizon League is looking to add Oakland from the Summit League as a replacement.
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As rumored early last month, the Horizon League will officially add Oakland University, formerly of the Summit League.
 
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