Looks like we have a MEAN GIRL!

Gal is correct--Let us take it a bit further--I maintain that we are now and will be the best team in Chgo area. Oh maybe Valpo would give us a battle, but that I about it.
Now extend out 90 miles and you have NOTRE DAME--They are the best--We come right after the Irish and then maybe Marquette, barely.

Looking at it this ay, we are coming on for sure.

A fantasy:
DePaul and Loyola switch conferences. Now, that's something that would make the local basketball scene more exciting. And we could again be playing teams that most people have actually heard of!

That Fantasy would be a NIGHTMARE from a program building and winning perspective. It would fill Gentile more, but essentially would put us in the exact same position as DePaul is in right now. We should just be really grateful and happy for the league that we are in. I would not want to see a consistent 9-21 Rambler team in a full Gentile Arena for the next 5 years...

The only problem with your argument is that most everyone has heard of most of our conference mates. WSU is a nationally recognized team. SIU, Bradley, ISUred. 59% of our students are from Illinois and have friends/family that attend or attended those institutions. UNI is a pretty big name in the past 15 years due to their NCAA appearances. Sure, folks aren't going to know Missouri State. I bet they know ISUblue if they know anything about basketball (paging Larry Bird). Maybe they don't know Evansville. They may know Drake since a lot of people from Illinois go to Drake.

I mean, I get what you are suggesting. We have more in common with the schools in the Big East when you take out sports. But, would you suggest we join the Big Ten because people know those schools more?

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Cigarboy sucks!

Gal sai a while back that she was unhappy with our joining the Valley --We will be winning sooner in the Valley than we would in Big Least or the A-10. That is critical--
Larry Bird !! Do not forget Walt Frazier SIU and Dave De Buschierre Bradley to name two more. I wager Gal might change her mind when she sees us at 3rd or better next season--
Sure it ould be great to play against and whip Villanova et al--BUT that will be the goal after a while--PLUS I really think we will be able to handle them, Gtn, St John's et al from the top of the Valley !! Its coming soon.

Brot,
Dave Debusschere played at University of Detroit.

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Let's go Braden!

OOOPS !! MY BAD !! Of course you are correct--See what happens when beeeeutiful blond locks turn gray !!
Now then, whom am I thinkin' of way back --at Bradley--Gosh ! I do not remember BUT he was great !!

Chet "The Jet" Walker went to Bradley.

I actually played in a pickup game with him at the Lawson Y.

Probably Chet Walker.