Rick Majerus Wants Out of A-10 and In MVC

[Rocky Mountain Thunder]

I understand some people do not enjoy listening to Majerus...yet on a positive side, adding SLU would add a major TV market to the MVC. In addition, Majerus would draw a considerable amount of media coverage both print and TV. Again, positive for the MVC.

There was one concern noted earlier about the location of the MVC tournament. It could easily be moved to KC. In some respects, this would be more favorable for schools such as WSU, Creighton, and Drake. For MSU, it is an even swap. Granted it would be less desirable for those who live in Peoria who make the annual road trip.

As to the debate whether or not to add Butler or "sack" Evansville, I am sure there are many contractual issues to overcome in both scenarios. Even so, it makes for some fun ideas but IMO SLU / Butler makes the conference stronger whereas Evansville is dragging down the RPI.

[SFP]

How hard is it to kick a program out! If it is easy kick out Evansville add SLU, Butler and Xavier. Why would Depaul leave the Big East?????? Sorry not going to happen.

[TheAsianSensation]

I'd wait a couple years, because I get the funny feeling the Gateway is going to try something funny, i.e. jump to 1A football soon. That might break things up.

Also wait for the Big East to collapse on its own weight, go to 12 teams for football, and pick up DePaul and Marquette on the rebound.

Predicted New Valley

Creighton
Wichita St
The Drake
Bradley
Evansville
DePaul
Marquette
St Louis
Xavier
Dayton

[thefish7]

That'd be a pretty fantastic basketball conference... Though Evansville would be really weak in there. Couldn't we get Villanova in there too perhaps?

[BUBraves06]

I know it's fun to specualte and all but I think you guys are getting way ahead of yourselves. First, I don't see why DePaul would leave the Big East, as much as I love the Valley it just wouldn't make sense financially. I understand why SLU would want to join but I just don't see another major realignment of college basketball happening anytime soon.

[TheAsianSensation]

I know it's fun to specualte and all but I think you guys are getting way ahead of yourselves. First, I don't see why DePaul would leave the Big East, as much as I love the Valley it just wouldn't make sense financially. I understand why SLU would want to join but I just don't see another major realignment of college basketball happening anytime soon.

They'll leave when the Big East goes to 12 for football and they're forced out

[SFP]

They'll leave when the Big East goes to 12 for football and they're forced out

Are you kidding me and force Georgetown DC market, St. Johns their NY city market , Vilanova Philly's market . These schools do not have D-1 football programs and never will and you are telling me that they'll get the boot also?

[Bradleyguy10]

or, add another 2 schools (Xavier & dayton) and shift SIU to the west.

I don't see Xavier or Dayton ever joining the MVC. I think it would be awesome, but I don't see it happening. The idea of Butler joining the MVC seems kind of far stretched also. I have a feeling that they like the conference they are in, they have a better chance of getting an automatic bid every year. The only way they'd join is if we became a very well known power conference, which I don't think will happen just with the addition of SLU. The idea of having a bunch of very good private and public schools in the MVC is exciting to me though. Can you imagine the intensity just the regular season would be, let alone Arch Madness. I wouldn't mind an addition or two, as long as they bring the competitiveness up for the league. TULSA COME BACK haha

[DoubleJayAlum]

I don't see Xavier or Dayton ever joining the MVC. I think it would be awesome, but I don't see it happening. The idea of Butler joining the MVC seems kind of far stretched also. I have a feeling that they like the conference they are in, they have a better chance of getting an automatic bid every year. The only way they'd join is if we became a very well known power conference, which I don't think will happen just with the addition of SLU. The idea of having a bunch of very good private and public schools in the MVC is exciting to me though. Can you imagine the intensity just the regular season would be, let alone Arch Madness. I wouldn't mind an addition or two, as long as they bring the competitiveness up for the league. TULSA COME BACK haha

I wouldn't completely rule out the potential for Xavier and Dayton. When Creighton has played these teams the last several years, there have been multiple statements by their respective fanbases about their dislike of the A10. In terms of geography, those two schools are just as ill-suited to the conference as SLU.

I agree its very, very remote, but never say never.

[TheAsianSensation]

Are you kidding me and force Georgetown DC market, St. Johns their NY city market , Vilanova Philly's market . These schools do not have D-1 football programs and never will and you are telling me that they'll get the boot also?

Georgetown and Villanova will upgrade to 1-A football under this scenario.

Then add 2 outside teams. Since there's no freakin' way you can have an 18 team conference, Marquette and Depaul get hung out. Valley adds them.

I still think everyone should wait and watch, because the Big East can't stay at 8 football members for very much longer, and the chain reaction to it will be massive.

[Rusty 54]

I don't mind Evansville being in the MVC. While I would like them to make their program a little more competitive, it's not like were sailing through the MVC Conference season every year. An easier two games a year is not going to kill the valley.

[Da Coach]

I agree. Evansville is the closest school to Bradley in the MVC in almost every way you look at it. They are similar private schools, in similar sized cities. Their finances, the sports they support, their facilities, and many other things are almost identical.

That leads to a couple thoughts-
We should be happy that the people at Bradley have maintained BU at a more competetive and successful level in the couple key sports we follow. In other words, we should be glad we are not in the same position Evansville is at, struggling to remain competetive, or looking into whether they should drop out of Division I sports because they are unable to afford it or stay competetive.

And we shouldn't be too quick to push Evansville out of the MVC. Just realize that "but for the grace of God", it could be us. If we set a precedent, maybe in some future year, if Bradley has a couple bad seasons, the MVC will want to dump us.

[Guinness]

I love the current round-robin schedule, but I am up for adding a couple of high-profile mids in big markets in SLU and Butler, and making the MVC the premier non-BCS league in the nation. I know some are against it, but this would take the MVC to a new level nationally IMO. Plus, it would make for some easy, fun road trips and some new local rivals. Honestly, I don't see much of a downside to it.

We need to be the next Memphis. At least we've proven we can beat Kansas.

[Braves4Life]

Though I was critical of EU basketball I must give them their props as they do have a very competitive baseball and soccer program. They are a credit to the MVC in that regard.

[thefish7]

Isn't Evansville like 1/3 the size of Bradley in terms of enrollment?

I think we're a lot more similar to Drake than EU.