MVC Expansion

[Bird Friend]

Evansville came in off a nice run of 20+ win seasons and their average attendance was more than Redbird holds. Looked like a good add at the time. The Valley killed their program, but grew Loyola's. Go figure

That was during Crews' tenure, right?

 

[SgtHulka]

Right

 

[wustlredbird]

I may have missed it but how many conference basketball games will there be with expansion?

I assume they're not going to 22 games for the double round robin.

 

[Matt Hein Fan]

I may have missed it but how many conference basketball games will there be with expansion?

I assume they're not going to 22 games for the double round robin.

Lots of conferences in recent years expanding to 20 games, so I bet that’s what we will see as well. If it gets rid of the 1-2 non D1 games we see on our schedule every year I’m all for it.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

Lots of conferences in recent years expanding to 20 games, so I bet that’s what we will see as well. If it gets rid of the 1-2 non D1 games we see on our schedule every year I’m all for it.

I wouldn’t mind 22-game schedule for the purity of determining regular season champ and Arch Madness seeds, but could see the argument for limiting the most inconvenient travel games, like we see in the MVFC.

But there are no Dakotas here, and somebody has to fly to Frostbite Falls regardless, so I say keep the round robin - if only to ensure the settling of all scores with a return game.

 

[MadBird]

I wouldn’t mind 22-game schedule for the purity of determining regular season champ and Arch Madness seeds, but could see the argument for limiting the most inconvenient travel games, like we see in the MVFC.

But there are no Dakotas here, and somebody has to fly to Frostbite Falls regardless, so I say keep the round robin - if only to ensure the settling of all scores with a return game.

I don't think the MVFC byes have anything to do with travel, it's a rotation and you end up traveling to all schools sooner or later. I could be wrong, but think that's how it goes.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

I don't think the MVFC byes have anything to do with travel, it's a rotation and you end up traveling to all schools sooner or later. I could be wrong, but think that's how it goes.

We might both be right. I know there are certain schools we always play - like WIU - and others that rotate out on two-year schedules.

 

[Adunk33]

UIC To Join the Missouri Valley Conference

Flames set to be 12th member of nation’s second-oldest conference, effective July 1, 2022

mvc-sports.com

UIC official.

 

[isuquinndog]

UIC To Join the Missouri Valley Conference

Flames set to be 12th member of nation’s second-oldest conference, effective July 1, 2022

mvc-sports.com

UIC official.

WHAT UIC’s HEAD COACHES ARE SAYING ABOUT JOINING THE VALLEY:

Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Luke Yaklich
“From top to bottom, the Missouri Valley Conference is one of the strongest and most recognizable brands in college basketball. UIC men’s basketball truly looks forward to the opportunity to compete regularly against some of the toughest teams in the country. As an alum of one of our new peers, Illinois State, I know firsthand the passion and enthusiasm for basketball that runs through The Valley and am ecstatic to bring that heat here to UIC. We are so thankful for the leadership of our university and our athletics department, specifically Chancellor Amiridis and Michael Lipitz, for affording our young men this opportunity to shine on a big stage.

 

[jbird]

Thankfully, I don't have anything to do with the logistics of squeezing in both a non-conference schedule and a 22 game league slate if there is a 12 team, road-and-home round robin conference schedule, but one thing in favor of a full round robin league slate is the avoidance of a potential seeding tiebreaker based on a head-to-head outcome that was played only on one team's home court.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

Thankfully, I don't have anything to do with the logistics of squeezing in both a non-conference schedule and a 22 game league slate if there is a 12 team, road-and-home round robin conference schedule, but one thing in favor of a full round robin league slate is the avoidance of a potential seeding tiebreaker based on a head-to-head outcome that was played only on one team's home court.

22-game conference slate should also come with some scheduling rules: limit one non-DI game, mandate each member book at least one buy game at a P5 at a minimum every other year, find a challenge with A10 or bring back Mountain West. Maybe even AAC now that we have Belmont and Murray…

If Valley wants serious multi-bid consideration these 300+ NET/RPI non-con schedules need to improve. Maybe they can with fewer games to schedule.

 

[CB2K]

Back in 2006 when the Valley sent 4 teams to the NCAA Tournament I thought it was back as a strong conference. The MVC finished 6th in RPI as a conference finishing ahead of the Big 12, MW, WAC, A10, USA. Conference RPI is not the end all in indices but it usually says there are multiple solid competitive programs within a conference. I remember the MVC finsihed quite well in this regard for a few consecutive years and there was some tounge and cheek allegations that the MVC cracked the RPI code.

At any rate, the MVC is currently 15 which is not good with Evansville being the worst at 307; ISU is next at 262. SOS is not good either for the conference with Loyola being the best at 138; ISU at 189. Yikes! It is not just scheduling better opponents but winning games against the good opponents when there is opportunity. The MVC has been competitive this year against strong opponents but have come up short more often than not which has hurt the ranking. Got to win games.

Adding Belmont and Murray State does provide better in-conference opponents albeit losing Loyola subtracts one. The MVC seems to have the ebb and flow of trending up and then having some lean years. At least the conference usually represents well and competitive in the NCAA Tournament.

 

[Baltimore Bird]

I heard yesterday the MVC has won 12 of its last 13 1st round MVC games. The only loss was Bradley vs Mich State which went down to the wire.
I thought I heard a 20 game MVC schedule, but that may have been before we had 12 teams. I would prefer 22 games and some quality opponents in the non-con. NO D2 or D3 games!

 

[bombay]

Back in 2006 when the Valley sent 4 teams to the NCAA Tournament I thought it was back as a strong conference. The MVC finished 6th in RPI as a conference finishing ahead of the Big 12, MW, WAC, A10, USA. Conference RPI is not the end all in indices but it usually says there are multiple solid competitive programs within a conference. I remember the MVC finsihed quite well in this regard for a few consecutive years and there was some tounge and cheek allegations that the MVC cracked the RPI code.

At any rate, the MVC is currently 15 which is not good with Evansville being the worst at 307; ISU is next at 262. SOS is not good either for the conference with Loyola being the best at 138; ISU at 189. Yikes! It is not just scheduling better opponents but winning games against the good opponents when there is opportunity. The MVC has been competitive this year against strong opponents but have come up short more often than not which has hurt the ranking. Got to win games.

Adding Belmont and Murray State does provide better in-conference opponents albeit losing Loyola subtracts one. The MVC seems to have the ebb and flow of trending up and then having some lean years. At least the conference usually represents well and competitive in the NCAA Tournament.

packer and nantz threw a hysterical stomping fit on the selection show when The Valley got 4 teams in that year. It was disgraceful.

 

[isuquinndog]

In an interview with Andy Katz, the commish said they were looking at a 20 game schedule for basketball. Either a natural rotation or with travel partners (I assume that means similar to women's basketball)

 

[TBS_20]

packer and nantz threw a hysterical stomping fit on the selection show when The Valley got 4 teams in that year. It was disgraceful.

Tried finding the video. Could not. Frustrating.

 

[FriscoBird90]

packer and nantz threw a hysterical stomping fit on the selection show when The Valley got 4 teams in that year. It was disgraceful.

Seemed as though that was the beginning of the end for Packer. His snotty arrogance was only eclipsed by his professional embarrassment when the Valley schools went out and proved they were deserving of their selections in that year's tournament.

 

[Adunk33]

I wouldn’t mind 22-game schedule for the purity of determining regular season champ and Arch Madness seeds, but could see the argument for limiting the most inconvenient travel games, like we see in the MVFC.

But there are no Dakotas here, and somebody has to fly to Frostbite Falls regardless, so I say keep the round robin - if only to ensure the settling of all scores with a return game.

Who is going to buy Belmont or Murray State? Cue Jon Rothstein, "Epitome of Brutality."

 

[Redbird222]

They mentioned a 20 game schedule during the ISU/UNI and Loyola/Drake games.

I am wondering if there will be two divisions or 12 teams all in one division. That decision will impact scheduling.

If one division, I am assuming that there will a at least one rival team with a guaranteed home/home and the remainder rotates if it's a 20 game schedule.

Possible Rivals
Belmont/Murray
Trees/Evansville
SIU/Bears
Valpo/UIC
Birds/Bradley
Drake/UNI

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

packer and nantz threw a hysterical stomping fit on the selection show when The Valley got 4 teams in that year. It was disgraceful.

Should have had five teams in (Missouri State).