Whats best for the Valley?

[SaintLouBrave22]

Well, we discussed this shortly in the Majerus thread, but what would be best for the Valley...?

10 teams like now

11 w/ SLU added

12 w/ SLU and other added

Keep the tournament in St. Louis

Move the tournament to Kansas City, Detroit, Minneapolis, Other

What would you do if you were Doug Elgin and had conference control?

I have heard some info about SLU and either Butler or SIUE being added to make it 12 teams and dropping "Missouri" from the conference name...but what would you do if there were plenty of possibilities...?

[dogsrus]

Call it the BIG VALLEY......add St Louis and Butler. I hate to see the tournament move but Why not Chicago vs KC.

[MacabreMob]

I think the MVC should add SLU and Butler.

Then ISU and SIU drop out of MVC and combine with SIU-E, UIC, Northern Illinois, Eastern, Western, and Chicago St to form a new conference called The IL-ite 8.

[thefish7]

I would prefer to stay at 10 teams because we have a balanced schedule. If we can keep a balanced schedule with 11 teams then I'd welcome SLU (would raise number of conf games from 18 to 20)

Both Butler and SLU are attractive teams and seem like they'd be improvements over some MVC programs... either ISU and UE come to mind. That being said, I'm not in a big hurry to upgrade anyway or run any teams out.

Evansville hasn't been in the MVC that long, and hasn't ever been really all that good, so they would, I think be the first to go.

Drake is another program that hasn't been doing that well, but they've been in the Valley forever, so I don't know if you can really see them off.

Also... SIU-E should not really be a Valley candidate in my mind, since I think it would be some time before they were really any good.

[Da Coach]

St. Louis and Butler would be tempting to add. But the Valley is having such unprecedented success right now with record crowds and sellouts for the MVC tournament, success in the postseason, the highest RPI ratings in conference history, and great RPI's from top to bottom in the league. It would also be tempting to leave things alone for now.

I would be afraid that if St. Louis joined the MVC, they would want way more control and influence over the league than they deserve. And now that the MVC tournament is having sellouts on Saturday and Sunday, where would they put the extra thousands of SLU fans?

[Dubl R 1]

I think the MVC should add SLU and Butler.

Then ISU and SIU drop out of MVC and combine with SIU-E, UIC, Northern Illinois, Eastern, Western, and Chicago St to form a new conference called The IL-ite 8.

Not bad Mob, best comedic attempt I've seen all day.

[Stryker]

I think the valley is fine as it is right now. I think Butler would be a great addition to the conference, maybe they could come in and evansville could say goodbye. Don't know though. As far as the tourny, I really really really want it to stay in St. Louis, I think that it is a great place for it, games are starting to sell out, and the environment is perfect. If any of you guys were at it this year, it was awesome yelling at the SIU fans while waiting to get our student tickets before the game. That and hackling the few little intimidated NIU fans. We weren't too harsh, but some of us weren't exactly sober...good times...

[Da Coach]

Evansville hasn't been in the MVC that long, and hasn't ever been really all that good, so they would, I think be the first to go.

Don't want the Evansville people to get upset at us. The Aces did have some good years in the 90's, and they won the MVC regular season title in 1999. So the Aces have the same number of MVC titles as Bradley since they joined in 1994 (1).

[matt714gd]

Okay.....here is what I don't quite understand. I am concerned for the Valley. Naturally, I am mostly concerned for Bradley. BUT I have to give respect to each Valley team because after all, they are in BU's conference. What affects them affects BU....where would Evansville go to if Butler and SLU joined? Why would we want any team to leave? What are all of your opinions on this? I honestly believe that the addition of SIUE would be degrading to the conference because of their lack of experience. Not to mention, I would like to see the Valley grow to become the highest caliber mid-major or even a major conference. When will these rules be implemented?

Also...do you think there would be any way that Bradley would get kicked out of the Valley? I don't think that I would like that....

[Braves4Life]

New Valley teams

If The Valley decides it's all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$ then I could see them adding 2 new teams and splitting into two divisions like SEC.

I'd like to see us in the same division with Drake, Ind. St., ISU, Evansville, and St. Louis

[houstontxbrave]

I may not be completely sure about this but, you cant just go kicking Universities out of your conference simply because you want too. Evansville may have struggled lately in mens basketball but they are competitive in other sports.

I would imagine if they down graded their athletics department to the point of possibly dropping out of D1 then yes then that could warrent removal from the conference.

Also, why would the MVC want SLU for Mens basektball? Their program is not strong in the STL market, though it will get a boost if Majerus takes the job and with their new arena. Also, I agree with DC there will come a time when SLU will want more control over the tourney and personally they had there chance to return to the conference and decided the A10 was a better option, the Valley has no real reason to bring SLU into the fold.

But,the MVC has turned the STL market into an MVC market in the past several years with the tourney. Having SLU will not enhance the tourney or its exposure in STL. Also, other then Soccer they are very poor in all their other sports. Soccer though they are excellent and would be a great addition.

I personally would like to see the conference if they wanted to expand move into the Chicago market with Loyola and in to Indy with Butler. The STL market is for the most part already the MVC's.

[thefish7]

Just to be clear, I'm not in favor of kicking teams out-- just saying that if that was something the powers that be decided, who I think would be most appropriate.

I'm quite happy with the Valley as is... and in the case of Evansville, they have a sort of awesome mascot.

[georgethedog]

Just change the name. At minimum get rid of "Missouri" as a part of the name as it make the league sond like some redneck league from Festus, MO. Yes, there is a Festus, MO. There is also a Cooter, MO in case you were wondering!

[SaintLouBrave22]

I was just surprised that someone didn't make a SEMO reference...

Which for all of the SIUE reference's...anyone who lives down here knows that in the last few years, SIUE is the #3 Mens bball team talked about around here behind SIUC and Missouri State...and yes, they're discussed even more than Mizzou and that was before deciding on the D-I jump...that and SIUE would fit into our current conf. profile as they even now have a larger population size than Drake, UNI, Evansville, and Ind. St. AND SIUE is still growing and they give us that Metro-St. Louis team.

I do also agree though w/ the expanding into the Chicago and Indy markets. Awhile back, I wouldn't have minded letting go two of the lesser market teams and adding a team from Ohio (Xavier), Indy (Butler), and Kentucky (W. Kentucky)...That would have given the conference 12 w/ SLU and brought much more national exposure...although costs would have been greatly increased by having these teams:

Bradley (IL)
Butler (IN)
Creighton (NE)
Drake (IA)
Illinois State (IL)
Missouri State (MO)
Northern Iowa (IA)
Saint Louis (MO)
Southern Illinois (IL)
Western Kentucky (KY)
Wichita State (KS)
Xavier (OH)

That would make 12 teams from 8 states...imagine the exposure there...and yes, I know...Xavier would be a pipe dream, but it could happen

[houstontxbrave]

I was just surprised that someone didn't make a SEMO reference...

Which for all of the SIUE reference's...anyone who lives down here knows that in the last few years, SIUE is the #3 Mens bball team talked about around here behind SIUC and Missouri State...and yes, they're discussed even more than Mizzou and that was before deciding on the D-I jump...that and SIUE would fit into our current conf. profile as they even now have a larger population size than Drake, UNI, Evansville, and Ind. St. AND SIUE is still growing and they give us that Metro-St. Louis team.

I do also agree though w/ the expanding into the Chicago and Indy markets. Awhile back, I wouldn't have minded letting go two of the lesser market teams and adding a team from Ohio (Xavier), Indy (Butler), and Kentucky (W. Kentucky)...That would have given the conference 12 w/ SLU and brought much more national exposure...although costs would have been greatly increased by having these teams:

Bradley (IL)
Butler (IN)
Creighton (NE)
Drake (IA)
Illinois State (IL)
Missouri State (MO)
Northern Iowa (IA)
Saint Louis (MO)
Southern Illinois (IL)
Western Kentucky (KY)
Wichita State (KS)
Xavier (OH)

That would make 12 teams from 8 states...imagine the exposure there...and yes, I know...Xavier would be a pipe dream, but it could happen

What bothers me about SIUE is to fold, fan support in a small community, yes it is near STL but it is still 20 miles and the Vadalbene Center though a nice gymnasium is small, I believe 5k+. Personally their profile screams OVC not MVC.

Now the other sports specifically Soccer, softball and baseball would be great additions to the Valley. All are competitve on a national level and have strong phycilities.