Missouri State leaves the MVC

[LittleBrave]

[QUOTE=Afreck2430;n520370 Personally think Bradley should be trying to get into the A-10. [/QUOTE]

Uggh - would hate this. Not good for the student-athletes with so much travel and I don't like conferences so spread out geographically.
The competition would be a huge boost and recruits maybe stay with the program longer, but I don't like the thought of BU leaving the MVC. When SIU and (ISU or UNI) leave the Valley, probably time to go too.

[Da Coach]

I don't think we can keep taking in "basketball only" schools.
Eventually the Trees.. Redbirds.. Salukis.. UNI and Murray will have to find a new home.

I'm actually a bit surprised that CUSA only wants Missouri State. Other MVC schools with football programs like Illinois State, SIU, and UNI all have been as good or better programs, and they draw as well or better attendance. Missouri State's home football attendance is terrible. Their home average this past season was barely over 9,000 per game for a school with over 23,000 students, and in a city with a metropolitan population of about 500,000 people.

Good luck to them. They will have no natural rivalries, no conference members located close to them, and a lot of travel.

[Stryker]

Actually not a bad idea! Valpo has sucked pretty much since joining.

Valpo was a poor addition to the valley. I was originally against Loyola joining, and no one saw their amazing run. Ended up working great for the valley in that case, but it is crazy to think Valpo would be able to imitate what Loyola has done. There are also some rumors that Valpo does not have the facilities required for the MVC, and part of them joining the MVC was contingent on them building a new arena/facilities in the near term. That seems unlikely now, and may lead to them being forced out of the MVC. However, with most conferences trying to add as many schools as possible, it seems unlikely the MVC would kick anyone out.

Eastern Kentucky is looking at FBS level because of football. Personally think Bradley should be trying to get into the A-10. Wouldn't be surprised if ISU and SIU pursue getting into the MAC because of football

I'm starting to think the probability of something like this could be higher than we think. If Wardle can keep BU's profile at the top of the MVC like he has the past 5 yrs or so, it isn't out of the question to think BU could move out of the MVC. Given those schools you listed more focused on football than basketball, if they are incentivized to move as well like Missouri State has, the Valley could disappear or change dramatically and BU could move to a conference like the A-10 potentially. It may behoove BU to explore those options sooner than later, as the re-alignment impacts from football down stream from the power schools are likely hard to predict.

[Stryker]

I'm actually a bit surprised that CUSA only wants Missouri State. Other MVC schools with football programs like Illinois State, SIU, and UNI all have been as good or better programs, and they draw as well or better attendance. Missouri State's home football attendance is terrible. Their home average this past season was barely over 9,000 per game for a school with over 23,000 students, and in a city with a metropolitan population of about 500,000 people.

Good luck to them. They will have no natural rivalries, no conference members located close to them, and a lot of travel.

Could be Missouri State is just the first, and we don't know about others yet for C-USA. I could see them wanting more than 10 teams going forward.

[Peoria_bradley_fan]

Bradley going to the A-10 would be huge for our program. The Valley doesn't seem to be on track to getting to multiple bids anytime soon. Larger markets as well. This would be a dream for this Bradley Fan.

[Afreck2430]

Seattle University and Grand Canyon University just accepted invites to the WCC. I wouldn't be shocked if Bradley is already exploring options because football will drive a lot of the decisions but that's just my opinion

[Tommy]

Seattle University and Grand Canyon University just accepted invites to the WCC. I wouldn't be shocked if Bradley is already exploring options because football will drive a lot of the decisions but that's just my opinion

Grand Canyon beat St Mary’s in round one of the NCAA and Seattle was the CBI champ. Just an interesting tidbit!

[Stryker]

Bradley going to the A-10 would be huge for our program. The Valley doesn't seem to be on track to getting to multiple bids anytime soon. Larger markets as well. This would be a dream for this Bradley Fan.

I agree. As much as I like the history and tradition of the valley, things are just changing too much right now. With BU's fanbase, a basketball focused conference could very well be interested in adding us imo. It would be a big shame if the MVC diminished greatly over the next several years and BU doesn't take any chance it has to move to a better position.

[Fetz86]

Could be Missouri State is just the first, and we don't know about others yet for C-USA. I could see them wanting more than 10 teams going forward.

They are adding Kennesaw State this year and then Delaware next year with the Bears to get to 12.

[houstonbrave]

Conference USA

[Mikovio]

Milwaukee, St. Thomas (in Minneapolis), Texas-Arlington, and NKU (in metro Cincinnati) will probably be the focus. Arlington being near an airport that’s a major hub makes their distance easier to swallow.

[LittleBrave]

Green Bay seems like the best choice, followed by N. Kentucky/Milwaukee - hopefully at least 1 of them is interested.

[LittleBrave]

NKU (in metro Cincinnati) will probably be the focus.

NKU = Northern Kentucky? (metro Cincy??)

[Afreck2430]

Milwaukee, St. Thomas (in Minneapolis), Texas-Arlington, and NKU (in metro Cincinnati) will probably be the focus. Arlington being near an airport that’s a major hub makes their distance easier to swallow.

Texas Arlington is going back to the Southland conference

[Wilbery]

I hope we stay at 11 so we can have a full round robin again.

Also none of the options really scream good to me(except Denver but that’s because I live there).