Well two Jesuit schools are still in , and neither one is LUC !! Great for X and Zags !! Disgrace and another disappointment for LUC !!!! I am sad for the 'RAMBLERS' FAILURE again !! Spokane has nothing else Sportswise but Cjnxy does !! Both teams compete well--We do NOT --
No more lame excuses !!--RAMBLERS MUST WIN NOW !! Porter is a fine man and a fairly decent coach-- BUT ??? 2017-8 must be the year we take the Valley--and all that goes with it !!!

I think Sean O'Mara made a pretty good decision in retrospect

Selected Jesuit college D1 basketball budgets, with NCAA rank (source):

9) Georgetown University 11,343,826
10) Marquette University 11,308,266
47) Creighton University 7,264,599
48) Gonzaga University 7,261,657
63) Saint Louis University 6,414,061
81) Xavier University 5,710,021
100) Fordham University 4,126,729
109) Loyola Marymount University 3,533,468
139) Loyola University Chicago 2,745,553
...
283) Saint Peter's University 1,387,927 <- last one I noticed on the list

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The school's budget on that list that jumps out to me the most is Fordham. I say that, because of the schools on that list, I think that they are the most comparable to us. A private, Jesuit school in a big city that is saturated with other teams, both pro and college. In the current situation that we are in, $4 million seems like it would be the right budget for us. This needs to be fixed.

I agree, Toledo.

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Here are other MVC schools:

56) Wichita State University 6,920,933
121) Bradley University 3,128,419
132) University of Northern Iowa 2,899,699
133) University of Evansville 2,899,667
139) Loyola University Chicago 2,745,553
153) Drake University 2,472,212
156) Illinois State University 2,452,961
171) Missouri State University-Springfield 2,279,917
175) Southern Illinois University-Carbondale 2,241,413
208) Indiana State University 1,832,975

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Yes. I assumed we were going to get to that $4m level quickly after we joined the MVC, because that would put us around where Bradley is, and within striking distance of the top of the league (if you take out 2/3 of Gregg Marshall's salary). We also need to spend about 20% more because of the expensive market we're in.

Two more on the budget list that you didn't break out are St. Joseph's and San Francisco, which is also similar to the Loyola situation-- similar league strength, big city, smaller venue, etc.

97) Saint Joseph's University $4,208,092
98) University of San Francisco $4,205,606

Again, they're right around that $4 mil range which is where we should be. And if Wichita State should leave the conference, the leadership vacuum and raising our budget and footprint to that level should be an opportunity we jump on.

Thanks for finding and posting that info, ahunte1.

I'm going to add on right after that last post, so excuse me if it seems like I'm dominating this thread. THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE HAVE FACING US RIGHT NOW.

A lot of people will suggest that high budgets don't equal success. They will hunt down examples of schools that pay too much in comparison to their level of success, and the few schools that succeed this year or two years ago in spite of low budgets. But if you put everything together, a higher budget is the most predictive element of a successful athletics PROGRAM. And the capitalization of the word program emphasizes that it goes beyond the good fortune of finding a successful coach early in his career, or men's basketball only, or being able to leverage athletic success into fundraising power.

I am not talking at all about throwing money at a problem. But a radio outlet, promotion, advertising, branding, lead generation, social media staff, creating a great game day environment, database management, fundraising personnel and other elements that we have little or ZERO budget for-- actually costs some real money. You can't do all that off the side of someone's desk when they can get around to it, or hope that you find $20 k under the sofa cushions this year, and get a guarantee game for $40 k next year to fund a modest advertising buy in an expensive market.

I'd hope everyone chimes in on this subject, because this part-- getting the budget to fund advertising, marketing, and other functions--- helps the home court advantage, which helps the team's record, which helps them get to tournaments, which helps build crowds, which helps raise revenue, which helps improve success, which helps increase applications, which helps raise incoming student scores, which helps raise the profile of the university academically, etc.

It is NOT if you spend the money , it is HOW and where to spend it. John is correct to a point. BUT the upper level of Admin MUST also change in their thinking --OR perhaps ADD to their thinking--Think LUC Medical DEPT !! A raging success.!

I hate to say this but PM is only part of the problem if he is any at all.

25 per cent of final Eight, with one of these into the final four. Do each do this all the time ? No ! nBut they are ALWAYS in the running--WE sadly are not--but worse we COULD AND SHOULD BE !!

LUC !! GET THIS DONE

Easier said than done.....At the winter presentation by Athletic Director Steve Watson we were told that LU was on a plan of economic equalization to reach the middle of the Valley in terms of basketball expenditure. Then the financial disaster that is the State of Illinois kicked off what is a minor and hopefully temporary financial situation that derailed the plan to increase the basketball budget. THe plan was a 250,000 increase immediately and then an increase at that amount every year till we reached at least the middle of the Valley. The original money was cut and the planned increases stopped. What i understand as the main culprit was the decision to pay off the MAP grants that the state could not do. As an alum I agree with that decision. As much as I love LU basketball I think the needs of income disadvantaged students have first dibs to the cash.
In retrospect after seeing compatible budgets I would say we have gotten a good bang for our buck. There is no doubt that we have done and accomplished some things ( CBI, MVC tournament wins etc) our investment would say we should not have been able to do. Yes short of where we want to be....but and to me especially this year a team worth watching and cheering for,
So yes we need a bigger budget,,,,,,,,I wish I had it.( I will continue to play the lottery and contribute what I can ....but that might get them new shoelaces, unfortunately) So where do you say the cash is going to come from?