10 years ago we were in the Sweet 16 having beaten Seton Hall and Tennessee.

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The Roundhouse

Brot, I admire your passion for all things, but SLU will not be coming to the MVC. They have been offered a spot numerous times and prefer east coast exposure no matter the travel. I believe much of their student population actually comes from the coast and they want to maintain that presence.

I'd also say the odds of Belmont joining are slim. I don't think they want to be associated with schools in the area of the MVC and want to maintain more of a southern presence. Something the MVC cannot offer.

I have little doubt Valpo would be a top target.

And considering the MVC reluctance to go to 12, 16 is very unlikely. I'm not sure that level of additions would actually increase the monies the conference would receive from the NCAA tournament. Going to 12 with two strong additions has the potential to increase yearly payouts by adding a team or two every year to the tournament. Adding 6 isn't going to add more than one or two teams on a consistent basis to you're thinning out the payments by having to share with more schools.

There are only three schools in the vicinity of the Valley footprint that really offer that. Valpo and the XDSU schools. You can't get one XDSU without the other by all accounts. The key to adding is to add for strength not just to add. There has to be value provided to the conference. I know you guys have a history with Detroit and are more familiar with them than I am, but I don't see how they increase value other than being in Detroit. But their attendance from what I remember isn't all that great. I know we played them at their place when they had some of their better teams but it didn't inspire a lot of confidence to me personally. And they have struggle for consistently top level type of teams.

Someone also said something about the MAC not taking UNI. The problem with that kind of blanket statement is that the MAC has approached UNI in the past and UNI passed because they didn't want to lower the level of play in basketball. UNI is capable of upgrading to FBS and if they feel it's time to leave, and the MAC is open to expanding, UNI would have a strong chance. MAC basketball has been getting better and it's possible that if Wichita does leave that UNI could feel it's time and that an MVC without Wichita might no longer be as advantageous to basketball as the MAC would be. But there are no guarantees that the MAC would want to add two, and that's what they'd be doing if they add anyone. Though the MAC might be interested in a Stony Brook as well.

Obviously nothing is guaranteed and these are only my opinions based on following Wichita and the Valley my entire life. Side note, Wichita should have it's study done and released to the public I believe by the end of the May. Not necessarily a decision at that time, but numbers and ideas and whatnot which should give everyone an idea as to what Wichita might decide

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The Roundhouse

Well, where there is smoke... In WSU's case there is plenty of smoke AND fire--I believe we must forget them and move on. Valley makes a big move to get Valpo. One of our bunch says UIC as well.--That could work but then we MUST add another. Ark LR ?? Maybe . Having lived in Fargo I do believe I know something about the four schools. NDSU is FOOTBALL--ND is HOCKEY--The SD duo is not so much !
So, if we cannot get SLU--I have truble believing this, then we must go for perhaps what I list above--VALPO is the biggie !!

And the 18 years prior to that you were where?

Well, Grad !!I moved from Fargo to Akron in 1980--In i975 moved from Minneapolis to Fargo- in 1961 we moved from Westchester to the Twinkie Cities (Wayzata ) . Thanks for asking. BTW I got into the Twins and North Stars but the Vikings , not so much--Probably because the smacked the Bears regularly.--

Thanks for asking !!

OOPS ! I now see you wee asking, Grad abiout WSU !! MY BAD !! But in any case , now you know everything !!~!!

I was just using your time frame. But if you want to change it, 30 years ago we were a top 10 program with an Elite 8 appearance. Yes, we made a couple of bad hires and had a president and an AD that didn't care about sports and we paid the price.

I'm just saying next time you pick a time frame, make sure you're using one that benefits you before you have to go and change it after being corrected.

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The Roundhouse

We'll know how much fire in a couple weeks I believe. No definite decision, but the report/study will be made public soon.

I'm not sure why you struggle to believe SLU wants nothing to do with the MVC. They've been offered a spot a number of times, more so when the MVC was actually in a stronger position, and they've quickly declined and repeatedly said they want to stay with an east coast conference. The A10 is a stronger basketball conference than the Valley and gives them more eastern exposure. And they're waiting for a Big East expansion where many believe they're practically a lock as one of the next two added.

NDSU is a football school, but their basketball has been stronger than at least half of those in the MVC most years. SDSU is the best basketball product in the Dakotas and would probably compete for the top 3 spots in the MVC most years. But you can't get one without the other and that would require either two schools leaving or going to 12. Valpo would be a solid add though for sure. But if Wichita leaves, do they have to add a travel partner for MSU? If so, you're looking at an average ORU, a risky but maybe high upside Little Rock or you could add a very bad UMKC or SEMO.

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The Roundhouse

I was just using your time frame. But if you want to change it, 30 years ago we were a top 10 program with an Elite 8 appearance. Yes, we made a couple of bad hires and had a president and an AD that didn't care about sports and we paid the price.

I'm just saying next time you pick a time frame, make sure you're using one that benefits you before you have to go and change it after being corrected.[/quote]


Interesting, since all of the record books show that "30 years ago" (seeing as you want to be exact), you were a .500 team (under .500 in the MVC). My point was, a decade ago WSU wasn't any different than the other MVC schools, actually below some of them. They had, at the time, a fluke year (not having won an NCAA Tournament game in 25 years), middled in with a few NIT appearances and sub .500 teams (including a few of the years between 2006 and 2012). You were basically Bradley.

Sub wishes to use '30 years" as the proper time frame for WSU--Fair enough, but they have been great even over a longer period than that--but fair enough ! By that token we must use 30 years for the Dakotas-- Until recently , all have had little to say HOOPS -WISE. Believe me, I was there--Great Hockey in Grand Forks--Great FOOTBALL in Fargo--So Dak--NOT SO MUCH as I have stated.

SLU would be great for Valley of course--They would NOW have a sister school in LUC. Less travel cost--They could be tempted now, I think. Get Valpo and one other Ark LR or ORU or ??? But the Valley bosses rule and will do something when WSU leaves. ONE thing WSU must keep in mind--Be careful what you wish for--See BUTLER DEPEWL and CREIGHTON !!!