Next Season and Beyond

[classof2014]

I don't believe we should go to the MVC,

Starting to believe that the move to the MVC makes more sense. Doesn't seem like the Horizon will expand and the MVC might offer them a spot and I'd say Valpo should take it since I think other teams: Loyola, UIC, Youngstown, and possibly Detroit leaving this year. If offered I don't see how we can turn it down based on the state of the league.

[valpotx]

Where in the world do you get your information that YSU and Detroit are leaving?  It looks like the A-10 is replacing it's lost teams with teams on the East coast (Detroit been mentioned in past, but not seeming likely), and the MVC is not going to invite Loyola/UIC/Detroit to their conference either.  Are we sure that 2014 is not another character of Saders/dcvalpo/etc? 

[HC]

Loyola and UIC have both been mentioned about drawing MVC interest.

[classof2014]

I never said Detroit was going to get invited to the MVC, just remembered hearing some rumors in the past about them in the new Catholic league, maybe not this upcoming season but perhaps they're gone in another year or two. The only 3 from the Horizon might be Loyola, UIC, and Valpo. Valpo is the most likely but I can see them offering Loyola and UIC to get the Chicago market.

YSU did shock me but

I've heard YSU might be trying to get out of the HL, too, cuz they need an FBS football conf now that Big 10 won't play FCS anymore

according to Rob Demovsky. YSU wants to be in an FBS, conference. Not sure how true it is but it was something that I heard within the past 24 hours.

The most likely thing to happen is (a) Valpo to MVC, (b) everything stays the same, (c) Valpo, Loyola, and UIC to the MVC. All 3 are possibilities, I think the first two are more probable than the latter. I don't see right now Detroit or YSU leaving but they have shown interest in possibly leaving which only adds fuel to the current unstable state of the Horizon.

[valpotx]

Loyola and UIC have both been mentioned about drawing MVC interest.

I know that, but was speaking to my opinion that they are not attractive options for the MVC as far as their main revenue sport.  I only see Loyola/UIC leaving the HL if Valpo is offered first, and the MVC wants to be at 12 teams.

The only conference that makes any sense for YSU is the MAC.  They have wanted to be FBS for many years, going back to my time at Valpo, but I don't believe that the MAC has been interested in the past.  Maybe that changes now, but it doesn't seem like they are losing schools at the moment.

[FWalum]

The only conference that makes any sense for YSU is the MAC.  They have wanted to be FBS for many years, going back to my time at Valpo, but I don't believe that the MAC has been interested in the past.  Maybe that changes now, but it doesn't seem like they are losing schools at the moment.

The way things are going it is best to be proactive.  I think that YSU to the MAC makes a lot of sense with football being the driver for so many of these changes.

[covufan]

Not advancing the last two years is also an anomaly, as the Horizon had won 22 NCAA tournament games over the previous 17 seasons.  There aren't many (if any) non-BCS conferences that can match that success.

True.  However, 10 of those wins came in 2010 and 2011.  The Horizon has sent 24 teams to the NCAA tournament in those 17 years - a 22-24 record.  Also, Butler has 16 of those victories - all coming in their 7 bids during the years 2001-2011.  Butler as HL rep in those 17 years: a 16-10 record.  The rest of the HL: 6-14.  I'd say the anomaly is Butler going to the final game two years in a row, although with Stevens and moving to Big East2, it won't be an anomaly for Butler - only the HL.

[valpopal]

From Twitter, new head coach Craig Neal reports New Mexico will not play at Valparaiso:

Craig Neal: UNM will not play at Valpo in December. Will play either Washington or Stanford on ESPN on Dec. 20 in MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

[vu72]

From Twitter, new head coach Craig Neal reports New Mexico will not play at Valparaiso:

Craig Neal: UNM will not play at Valpo in December. Will play either Washington or Stanford on ESPN on Dec. 20 in MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Probably a $75,000 buyout for Valpo, maybe more, I sure don't know.  The fact is we had a contract and these things cost money to break.  the chicken sh-t.  Dan Monson did the same thing when he came to Minnesota a few years ago.

[LaPorteAveApostle]

the chicken sh-t. 

i second that emotion.

[historyman]

From Twitter, new head coach Craig Neal reports New Mexico will not play at Valparaiso: Craig Neal: UNM will not play at Valpo in December. Will play either Washington or Stanford on ESPN on Dec. 20 in MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Probably a $75,000 buyout for Valpo, maybe more, I sure don't know.  The fact is we had a contract and these things cost money to break.  the chicken sh-t.  Dan Monson did the same thing when he came to Minnesota a few years ago.

I'm sure the new NM coach, Neal, wouldn't have done it if the financial gain was not there. The payout from the ESPN deal with Washington or Stanford must be (I would guess substantially) more than the cost of the buyout for cancelling the game at Valpo.

Nothing CS about it. Just a smart economic decision set up by the contract Valpo was forced to sign.

[StlVUFan]

What's cowardly about it is so hard to recognize these days because it is so commonplace and so woven into the fabric of the sport.  The fact remains that it is much more comfortable to play a high profile team on ESPN on a neutral court than risk coming to the ARC and losing to lowly Valpo.  The very height of cowardice.  I don't care what his reasoning is.  75K?  He's getting off cheap.

[historyman]

What's cowardly about it is so hard to recognize these days because it is so commonplace and so woven into the fabric of the sport.  The fact remains that it is much more comfortable to play a high profile team on ESPN on a neutral court than risk coming to the ARC and losing to lowly Valpo.  The very height of cowardice.  I don't care what his reasoning is.  75K?  He's getting off cheap.

Okay, I'll vote Neal a coward. Do you think he cares one iota about what we think at Valpo? He cares only about what the New Mexico fan base thinks and I'm sure they are applauding him for the move.

[StlVUFan]

What's cowardly about it is so hard to recognize these days because it is so commonplace and so woven into the fabric of the sport.  The fact remains that it is much more comfortable to play a high profile team on ESPN on a neutral court than risk coming to the ARC and losing to lowly Valpo.  The very height of cowardice.  I don't care what his reasoning is.  75K?  He's getting off cheap.

Okay, I'll vote Neal a coward. Do you think he cares one iota about what we think at Valpo? He cares only about what the New Mexico fan base thinks and I'm sure they are applauding him for the move.

I don't care what he thinks of us.  I only know what I think of him and all other coaches who dishonor commitments like this.

The whole darn system is corrupt beyond repair.

[wh]

It's not like Neal was an outsider who fell off a turnip truck and rolled into Albuquerque the other day.  He is a NM men's basketball insider who was promoted when his boss left. The fact that he would scrap the Valpo contract as one of his first actions demonstrates a lack of ethical behavior.  That said, the fact that he did it so soon after taking over makes me wonder if that was New Mexico's plan all along.  I wouldn't trust Alford any more than this character.     

[HC]

Put that 75k towards the gas fund when we go to the MVC

[classof2014]

It does suck not getting NM next season but we can put that 75k to good use in the athletic department. Should be more than enough to put a track around Brown Field, and possibly put some of it towards ARC renovations!

[VULB#62]

It does suck not getting NM next season but we can put that 75k to good use in the athletic department. Should be more than enough to put a track around Brown Field, and possibly put some of it towards ARC renovations!

I didn't see that sarcastic side of you until now 2014.  +1

[DMvalpo18]

It does suck not getting NM next season but we can put that 75k to good use in the athletic department. Should be more than enough to put a track around Brown Field, and possibly put some of it towards ARC renovations!

Sader? This guy is bringing some much needed levity.

[a3uge]

@NWIOren Valparaiso won't host New Mexico next season. Game will be pushed instead to the 2014-15 season. Conversation began before Alford left.

[StlVUFan]

@NWIOren Valparaiso won't host New Mexico next season. Game will be pushed instead to the 2014-15 season. Conversation began before Alford left.

I feel a little better now.  Actually the last person I was expecting to be shocked by the earlier news was Bryce, and this confirms it.  The fact that they are still coming a year later is very different than what I had assumed.

[valpotx]

Wow, if it will be 2014-2015 now, that gives us a better chance of winning with some experienced SO players!

[bbtds]

@NWIOren Valparaiso won't host New Mexico next season. Game will be pushed instead to the 2014-15 season. Conversation began before Alford left.

Damn! no gas money and no extra ARC renovation money. We could have put in an extra prostate reliever in the chairback section. 

[vu72]

@NWIOren Valparaiso won't host New Mexico next season. Game will be pushed instead to the 2014-15 season. Conversation began before Alford left.

Damn! no gas money and no extra ARC renovation money. We could have put in an extra prostrate reliever in the chairback section. 

Pray, tell!!

[LaPorteAveApostle]

We could have put in an extra prostrate reliever in the chairback section.

Um...that couldn't be in the chairback section, but the recliner.