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Post by phoenixsupporter on May 7, 2017 19:13:14 GMT -6
I'd gladly trade valpo for Murray st Belmont and Robert Morris. I'd even take Fort Wayne. What does it take to get rid of a team? Everyone one of our adds has been a hit since the 2000s except for Youngstown. Get rid of that terrible school. I really like where nku is going as a program. That looks like a big hit. I would be fine going to 12 teams and having a tourney setup like the big ten where bottom four play first day etc The Horizon League this year had the bottom four play the first day!!
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Post by Heartbroken Phoenix Fan on May 7, 2017 19:17:14 GMT -6
I know but with double byes back in play I meant
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Post by phoenixphan87 on May 9, 2017 8:54:12 GMT -6
It appears to be Official- Valpo to the Missouri Valley
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Post by uscg2012 on May 9, 2017 9:12:00 GMT -6
Should we be happy or sad?
I'm happy I don't have to listen to Valpo's delusional fans anymore! I am also happy MKE isn't leaving, I don't want to lose the rivalry.
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Post by phearthephoenix on May 9, 2017 10:01:57 GMT -6
MVC staying at 10 for now but is going to continue to evaluate for the future
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Post by gbbrl97 on May 9, 2017 10:37:45 GMT -6
Not surprised. Will the HL invite Valpo's replacement right away, or will the HL be at 9 members for next season?
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on May 9, 2017 10:47:05 GMT -6
MVC staying at 10 for now but is going to continue to evaluate for the future For the programs that were passed up I don't think it is the end of their MVC opportunity, after all Valpo didn't make it until the second time. As it relates to the future I think the MVC is looking around and thinking they don't see any teams that take them back to the level of getting two or more bids so why expand now and dilute the money. This creates an opportunity for GB or any other HL, Summit or OVC team to get their finances in order and get their program to a very high level that makes them appealing for the MVC (assuming the HL doesn't improve to a similar level as the MVC).
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on May 9, 2017 10:55:07 GMT -6
Should we be happy or sad? I'm happy I don't have to listen to Valpo's delusional fans anymore! I am also happy MKE isn't leaving, I don't want to lose the rivalry. Their fan base is insane and they are one of the worst positioned programs to compete on the facilities side in the MVC. I think their fans might need to be careful what they wish for. With that said I am happy for them, I know I would be excited if GB was looked at in a similar light. GB has been right there with Valpo for the last 5 years and isn't viewed the same way for whatever reason.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on May 9, 2017 10:58:48 GMT -6
Not surprised. Will the HL invite Valpo's replacement right away, or will the HL be at 9 members for next season? I personally think Fort Wayne is a lock for this year. I just think it makes too much sense. No matter what the league needs a parter for UIC and they are the closest fit, plus they have baseball which the league needs a member ASAP. The real question is when and if they go to 12 does Murray State, Belmont, Morehead State, Lipscomb, IUPUI, Omaha, Denver, NMSU, UMKC, SIUE, Robert Morris or someone else fill those spots? Whoever has that crystal ball will look like a genius.
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Post by phearthephoenix on May 9, 2017 13:07:29 GMT -6
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Post by uscg2012 on May 9, 2017 16:50:31 GMT -6
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Post by gbbrl97 on May 9, 2017 21:34:09 GMT -6
Should we be happy or sad? I'm happy I don't have to listen to Valpo's delusional fans anymore! I am also happy MKE isn't leaving, I don't want to lose the rivalry. Their fan base is insane and they are one of the worst positioned programs to compete on the facilities side in the MVC. I think their fans might need to be careful what they wish for. With that said I am happy for them, I know I would be excited if GB was looked at in a similar light. GB has been right there with Valpo for the last 5 years and isn't viewed the same way for whatever reason. There is now a void that there will be a scramble for to fill......Oakland, NKU, GB, and even MKE are currently in the best position to be that consistent HL contender. But realistically, it will be wide open the next couple of years in the HL.
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Post by GBPhoenix1 on May 10, 2017 10:46:37 GMT -6
The comment from LeCrone about potentially one going out and multiple coming in has my wheels turning. PantherU had a tweet about Belmont, Murray State and Robert Morris being a nice 3 pack. It is hard to argue that wouldn't be strong, I am just not sure it is realistic. BigDWSU or whatever his ID is had a good point about an Indiana school will join to keep the continuous footprint of the conference, I agree and think that is and should be Fort Wayne.
So while I can't find a stronger grouping than what PantherU is talking about I am not sure I see that working out. Belmont doesn't seem interested and Murray State by itself is an odd spot for the HL Plus you have to think they have their eyes on the MVC in the next round of expansion that was eluded to.
I am looking at programs that either are strong but undervalued or still growing but have shown signs of life.
Right now I am all in on going to 12 realistic members. I think those members should be Fort Wayne, Lipscomb and Morehead State.
Fort Wayne makes a ton of sense for travel with UIC and are a geographic footprint match. They have baseball. They have access to a very nice basketball arena that is 1.5 miles from their campus. They are in a metro area of a basketball crazy state can support the school. Their average attendance right now would put them in the bottom tier of the HL but they did that with being a geographic outlier in their conference. They are still young in D1 and have built up a little winning tradition. I know the PU-IU split has some question marks but they literally could bus to every league member and save a ton of money on travel that can go into other sports. They should be a lock in my opinion.
Lipscomb is a geographic mismatch for the ASun. They aren't a great fit for the HL necessarily but the HL is a better league and Nashville is a market I am sure the league would love to expand to. They have a nice facility and they are perfect fit for sports. They are starting to win and when you look game by game fans started to come out as they started to win. So I think the interest is there. They have only been D1 for maybe 15 years (I believe) so I see a program that has the infrastructure to grow. I think most people believe NKU was a slam dunk and to be honest I think these guys just need the same chance.
Morehead State has many of the sports that the HL needs and they seem to draw a decent crowd. They had several home games this year that had over 3000 fans in a mid size building (6500 max) and that would be a good atmosphere for hoops.. They have a good hoops tradition as well. They make a long but decent travel partner for Lipscomb. I have no clue if they are interested but they play Pioneer football so that won't be an issue if they want to leave the OVC.
With this set up the league can go to 20 conference games. Play your division round robin (GB, MKE, UIC, FW, OU and UD) (CSU, YSU, WSU, NKU, LU and MSU), play 4 from the other division round robin and split the last two one home and one away. Do this based on preseason strength so if GB should be good and YSU might be bad you don't give GB the YSU RPI anchor twice.
From a further domino's to fall you can send UMKC to the summit to replace Fort Wayne. You can move IUPUI to the OVC to replace Morehead State. The ASun is getting a D2 transitional team so they aren't worse off.
There are plenty of other fits I suppose. IUPUI instead of Morehead but IUPUI is weak and I don't see them growing. You could do SIUE, FW and IUPUI but that doesn't look strong to me. If you can get Murray you don't need Morehead. I think what I have here isn't the big splash but it would solid and certainly not a terrible situation for the HL
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Post by phoenixsupporter on May 10, 2017 15:05:07 GMT -6
The comment from LeCrone about potentially one going out and multiple coming in has my wheels turning. PantherU had a tweet about Belmont, Murray State and Robert Morris being a nice 3 pack. It is hard to argue that wouldn't be strong, I am just not sure it is realistic. BigDWSU or whatever his ID is had a good point about an Indiana school will join to keep the continuous footprint of the conference, I agree and think that is and should be Fort Wayne. So while I can't find a stronger grouping than what PantherU is talking about I am not sure I see that working out. Belmont doesn't seem interested and Murray State by itself is an odd spot for the HL Plus you have to think they have their eyes on the MVC in the next round of expansion that was eluded to. I am looking at programs that either are strong but undervalued or still growing but have shown signs of life. Right now I am all in on going to 12 realistic members. I think those members should be Fort Wayne, Lipscomb and Morehead State. Fort Wayne makes a ton of sense for travel with UIC and are a geographic footprint match. They have baseball. They have access to a very nice basketball arena that is 1.5 miles from their campus. They are in a metro area of a basketball crazy state can support the school. Their average attendance right now would put them in the bottom tier of the HL but they did that with being a geographic outlier in their conference. They are still young in D1 and have built up a little winning tradition. I know the PU-IU split has some question marks but they literally could bus to every league member and save a ton of money on travel that can go into other sports. They should be a lock in my opinion. Lipscomb is a geographic mismatch for the ASun. They aren't a great fit for the HL necessarily but the HL is a better league and Nashville is a market I am sure the league would love to expand to. They have a nice facility and they are perfect fit for sports. They are starting to win and when you look game by game fans started to come out as they started to win. So I think the interest is there. They have only been D1 for maybe 15 years (I believe) so I see a program that has the infrastructure to grow. I think most people believe NKU was a slam dunk and to be honest I think these guys just need the same chance. Morehead State has many of the sports that the HL needs and they seem to draw a decent crowd. They had several home games this year that had over 3000 fans in a mid size building (6500 max) and that would be a good atmosphere for hoops.. They have a good hoops tradition as well. They make a long but decent travel partner for Lipscomb. I have no clue if they are interested but they play Pioneer football so that won't be an issue if they want to leave the OVC. With this set up the league can go to 20 conference games. Play your division round robin (GB, MKE, UIC, FW, OU and UD) (CSU, YSU, WSU, NKU, LU and MSU), play 4 from the other division round robin and split the last two one home and one away. Do this based on preseason strength so if GB should be good and YSU might be bad you don't give GB the YSU RPI anchor twice. From a further domino's to fall you can send UMKC to the summit to replace Fort Wayne. You can move IUPUI to the OVC to replace Morehead State. The ASun is getting a D2 transitional team so they aren't worse off. There are plenty of other fits I suppose. IUPUI instead of Morehead but IUPUI is weak and I don't see them growing. You could do SIUE, FW and IUPUI but that doesn't look strong to me. If you can get Murray you don't need Morehead. I think what I have here isn't the big splash but it would solid and certainly not a terrible situation for the HL
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Post by phoenixsupporter on May 10, 2017 15:12:25 GMT -6
Actually IUPUI has more potential than FT. Wayne. It has over 21,000 undergraduate students & 8,000 graduate students located right off downtown Indianapolis and is also where the very large IU Medical School is located. They play in the newly renovated fairgrounds Coliseum. They have a tremendous area to recruit from. True Ft. Wayne has been better last couple years but IUPUI has much longer period of success.
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