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Post by freewind on Sept 10, 2021 9:42:09 GMT -6
SEC grabbed from Big 12, Big 12 grabbed mostly from the AAC. At this stage the AAC has to make decision and I'm going to guess they'll stay steering towards a Football Conference, though with Memphis, Witchita St, and SMU they still have a decent basketball presence. If football is the case, mostly likely they will raid Conference USA. CUSA has 14 teams in it and probably could withstand it, but they also may want to keep their numbers up. They have the primary options of Sun Belt most likely, and possibly MAC. The Sun Belt has 10 members in it, Division 1 requires 7 teams i believe to stay a conference so they're probably going to be safe. All of this should probably leave the Horizon out of the picture to this point.
If the Sun Belt calls up any schools to join Division 1 is where things might get interesting. There's a lot of FCS conferences to pull from around their footprint if they can find schools willing to make the leap. If anything gets pulled from the Ohio Valley conference, i think it's in trouble. It may already be in trouble with the ASUN plans to expanding to 20 schools. Ohio Valley's choices of what they can prop up their numbers with is pretty slim at this point. If football schools get raided it may leave a lot of their basketball programs looking. I think we may look at a year or two before it trickles down this far.
The landscape is going to change again at some point, be curious where it all goes from here.
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Post by HLFanaticus on Sept 16, 2021 1:05:03 GMT -6
I don't think any of the realignment that's going on will affect the HL. 12 schools is just enough and the limit at which you could have a tolerable double round robin. Anything more and the League can become unwieldy and begin to lose its cohesiveness. Without football and not being a 3-4 bid conference, it would only further dilute an already watered down Horizon League.
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Post by freewind on Sept 18, 2021 6:25:27 GMT -6
clarksvillenow.com/local/austin-peay-state-university-will-leave-ohio-valley-conference-next-year-join-asun
The OVC is barely clinging on to life now. If it dissolves/merges with another conference i would think the Horizon League would entertain Murray St and Belmont one more time and possibly Morehead St. I feel Missouri Valley might finally stop dragging its feet and invite the first two, leaving us Morehead St. and probably Bellarmine from the ASUN to give us 14 school membership. I would love to see a world where we have fluid divisions based on NET or Standings (from the previous year) that change every year, putting better teams in an upper division guaranteed 2 games and then a lower division that would get 1 game. That would bring total league games to 19 and maybe make it 20 to guarantee 2 games for rival who may not end up in your division.
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Post by freewind on Sept 24, 2021 10:18:53 GMT -6
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Post by freewind on Nov 16, 2021 16:41:29 GMT -6
Loyola to the A-10. Per Matt Norlander, the MVC is in heavy discussions with Murray St, UT Arlington.....and Kansas City? Yikes! I think with those prospects it was a no brainer for Loyola to run.
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Post by topstraight on Nov 16, 2021 21:55:11 GMT -6
I would think the MVC will also have it's eye on UIC. This would give the MVC a continued Chicago presence. UIC could be gone from the Horizon.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2021 22:41:53 GMT -6
I would think the MVC will also have it's eye on UIC. This would give the MVC a continued Chicago presence. UIC could be gone from the Horizon. Agreed. The Flames were on their way to the Valley in '13 until the Chair of the expansion committee wanted to take a visit to private Loyola and got a promise of increased spending from the Ramblers. This made the switch easier since the MVC really preferred a private. Last go 'round, they had a public/private imbalance in favor of the publics, therefore private Valpo was added. The new Commissioner of the Valley has a larger view of expansion than Doug Elgin, the previous leader. This guy wants to go big and it looks like the public/private issue is no more per reported negotiations with Arlington, Murray State and Kansas City. The Valley needs the Chicago market and I wouldn't be surprised if it reaches out to UIC, if it hasn't already. Milwaukee and NKU could also be in the mix. It's tough though, to see the Valley adding 5 schools (the aforementioned plus Belmont) for '22-'23 to go to 14. We shall see though.
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Post by commissioner on Nov 25, 2021 9:21:23 GMT -6
I would think the MVC will also have it's eye on UIC. This would give the MVC a continued Chicago presence. UIC could be gone from the Horizon. Agreed. The Flames were on their way to the Valley in '13 until the Chair of the expansion committee wanted to take a visit to private Loyola and got a promise of increased spending from the Ramblers. This made the switch easier since the MVC really preferred a private. Last go 'round, they had a public/private imbalance in favor of the publics, therefore private Valpo was added. The new Commissioner of the Valley has a larger view of expansion than Doug Elgin, the previous leader. This guy wants to go big and it looks like the public/private issue is no more per reported negotiations with Arlington, Murray State and Kansas City. The Valley needs the Chicago market and I wouldn't be surprised if it reaches out to UIC, if it hasn't already. Milwaukee and NKU could also be in the mix. It's tough though, to see the Valley adding 5 schools (the aforementioned plus Belmont) for '22-'23 to go to 14. We shall see though. I think if the Flames made a Loyola-like commitment, they could go to the MVC, and like Loyola, rise fast. They've got resources and they've got a market. But there's also always a certain amount of luck in these things. Remember, that 2018 Loyola Final Four squad had a very good regular season, but still probably needed to win the MVC tournament to even get to the NCAA. They might have gotten an at-large bid, but it would have been dicey, especially if they lost in the 1st round. So in the first round of the MVC tournament they beat Northern Iowa by 4 after trailing much of the game. In the first round of the NCAAs, they trailed most of the game before beating Miami 64-62 on a three pointer with 1 second left. That shot is slightly off the mark, and Loyola goes home, and few remember they made the tournament. In the second round against Tennessee, they win on a jumper with 5 seconds left for a 63-62 win. That shot rattles out, or Tennessee's last ditch effort goes in, and only Loyola fans will recall the year. That puts them in the Sweet 16, which is nice, but 1-2 mid-majors reach the Sweet 16 almost every year, and few can springboard it into ongoing success. But Loyola benefits from upsets elsewhere--instead of facing the #2 seed, they get #7 Nevada, another mid-major, and advance to the Elite 8 by beating Nevada by a single point, 69-68. Upsets favor them again--in the regional final, they face #9 Kansas State, and finally get an easier win ((78-62). That's a lot of luck. Credit to Loyola for taking advantage of the draw, for hitting big shots, for putting themselves in a position to win. But would any of the last 4 years have happened if they'd lost to Northern Iowa and gone to the NIT, or lost to Miami or Tennessee, or even Nevada in the Sweet 16?
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Post by ougrizz05 on Nov 26, 2021 13:34:45 GMT -6
Agreed. The Flames were on their way to the Valley in '13 until the Chair of the expansion committee wanted to take a visit to private Loyola and got a promise of increased spending from the Ramblers. This made the switch easier since the MVC really preferred a private. Last go 'round, they had a public/private imbalance in favor of the publics, therefore private Valpo was added. The new Commissioner of the Valley has a larger view of expansion than Doug Elgin, the previous leader. This guy wants to go big and it looks like the public/private issue is no more per reported negotiations with Arlington, Murray State and Kansas City. The Valley needs the Chicago market and I wouldn't be surprised if it reaches out to UIC, if it hasn't already. Milwaukee and NKU could also be in the mix. It's tough though, to see the Valley adding 5 schools (the aforementioned plus Belmont) for '22-'23 to go to 14. We shall see though. I think if the Flames made a Loyola-like commitment, they could go to the MVC, and like Loyola, rise fast. They've got resources and they've got a market. But there's also always a certain amount of luck in these things. Remember, that 2018 Loyola Final Four squad had a very good regular season, but still probably needed to win the MVC tournament to even get to the NCAA. They might have gotten an at-large bid, but it would have been dicey, especially if they lost in the 1st round. So in the first round of the MVC tournament they beat Northern Iowa by 4 after trailing much of the game. In the first round of the NCAAs, they trailed most of the game before beating Miami 64-62 on a three pointer with 1 second left. That shot is slightly off the mark, and Loyola goes home, and few remember they made the tournament. In the second round against Tennessee, they win on a jumper with 5 seconds left for a 63-62 win. That shot rattles out, or Tennessee's last ditch effort goes in, and only Loyola fans will recall the year. That puts them in the Sweet 16, which is nice, but 1-2 mid-majors reach the Sweet 16 almost every year, and few can springboard it into ongoing success. But Loyola benefits from upsets elsewhere--instead of facing the #2 seed, they get #7 Nevada, another mid-major, and advance to the Elite 8 by beating Nevada by a single point, 69-68. Upsets favor them again--in the regional final, they face #9 Kansas State, and finally get an easier win ((78-62). That's a lot of luck. Credit to Loyola for taking advantage of the draw, for hitting big shots, for putting themselves in a position to win. But would any of the last 4 years have happened if they'd lost to Northern Iowa and gone to the NIT, or lost to Miami or Tennessee, or even Nevada in the Sweet 16? Loyola is a premier mid major. They have won big over a period of years. It's like the old saying, control what you can control. And winning helps you do that.
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Post by gbphoenix1 on Nov 27, 2021 6:47:04 GMT -6
Loyola renovated the Gentile, their practice facility starting being built a month after the final four (meaning designed and paid for before final 4) and they had already beefed up their schedule. They also had started to pay more for coaches and were working on the recruiting budget.
They were incredibly lucky to get to the final four. They also did everything right off the court before that and certainly after that.
Without the final four they probably aren't in Atlantis this week but they are probably still going to the A10.
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Post by gbphoenix1 on Nov 27, 2021 6:52:22 GMT -6
Loyola is a great model for showing you don't have to stay stuck as what you are.
Their rise from HL cellar dweller to the A10 is amazing.
Yes they had to raise a ton of money to do it but they didn't let that stop them. They patched every hole and didn't stop until they got the job done.
Too many schools might stop after doing one thing. They might pay a coach or build a building. Loyola has done everything needed in a decade. It's truly amazing.
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Post by letsgoeagles on Dec 1, 2021 15:50:45 GMT -6
No Question Loyola had some good fortune along the way in their run to the final four....but so have other teams as well. And we have all seen top seeded power 5 schools have their share of luck as well. Loyola deserved everything they got...they played the game and won....then followed it up with a run to the sweet sixteen. Just an amazing turnabout for a program that many fans in the MVC did not want.
I do believe the Flames are going to be in the MVC. They check off a lot of boxes for them and commissioner, Jeff Jackson. In a strange kind of way, I am not sure if it would benefit both leagues. A fresh start for UIC in a top ten conference could be just what the doctor ordered for them. It then allows the Horizon to find a school that can make an impact for them....perhaps a Bellarmine??? St. Thomas. I admit my bias for University of Southern Indiana by including them as well. There are still some "hungry" schools they would like to play in this league.
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Post by gbphoenix1 on Dec 1, 2021 23:01:13 GMT -6
USI has had hoops success under different coaches and has that nice new arena. Plus several of their other sports teams have been very successful.
I hear people question them being the second D1 team in a mid to smaller market.
Bellarmine is in a better market and did have a good first year in D1. However, I see them with not as strong of history outside of Davenport era, worse facilities and playing a schedule that anchors like to play.
If UIC is successful in their move to the MVC I'd lean towards USI over Bellarmine as a better potential replacement.
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Post by letsgoeagles on Dec 2, 2021 15:49:51 GMT -6
USI has had hoops success under different coaches and has that nice new arena. Plus several of their other sports teams have been very successful. I hear people question them being the second D1 team in a mid to smaller market. Bellarmine is in a better market and did have a good first year in D1. However, I see them with not as strong of history outside of Davenport era, worse facilities and playing a schedule that anchors like to play. If UIC is successful in their move to the MVC I'd lean towards USI over Bellarmine as a better potential replacement. Again, I admit my bias, but I have wondered the same question. I have followed the GLVC since its' inception in 1978 when USI and Bellarmine were charter members. USI has had a much much longer track record of success than Bellarmine....under many different coaches. Bellarmine made a homerun hire with Davenport, but what happens when he leaves. USI is well supported, great facilities, and a market that is hungry for competitive basketball. While UE is still the top draw, their is plenty of room for them both. Many UE season ticket holders still go to the USI games. Most of the students at USI are from the surrounding area (vastly different than the UE student body) which gives a much better opportunity for fan support once the go D1.
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Post by freewind on Dec 6, 2021 17:45:16 GMT -6
It feels like anyone we add at this point is going to improve this league as it's pretty terrible right now.
Current NET Rankings of potential targets:
Morehead State 79 (fielding 2 previous WSU players) Murray State 64 Bellarmine 253
Teams that would be horrible adds but we can't discount Horizon Leadership looking past: E. Illinois 357 Chicago St. 309
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