MVC Blog

[MVCBeat]

Happy Arch Madness Week Valpo Fans!

My final weekly power rankings are here: https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/week-13-summary-updated-power-rankings-mid-major-tidbits-1

My ranking of the top ten Arch Madness semifinal games of the last decade are here: https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/top-ten-arch-madness-semifinal-games-of-the-last-decade

You can follow me @BeatMVC on Twitter.

Will probably whip up an Arch Madness Preview and Predictions tomorrow so watch out for that as well.

Thank you to everyone who read my stuff this year!

[MVCBeat]

I try not to post twice a week, but I am making an exception this week to promote my Arch Madness preview I just posted.  I honestly think it is some of my better work.  Check it out here if you want a primer for the weekend:


https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/2021-arch-madness-preview

[MVCBeat]

I wrap up my thoughts on Arch Madness and the UNI situation in this week's article.  I also talk about the upcoming commissioner hire, possible alternative locations for Arch Madness, and the oft-discussed topic of expansion.
​​​​​​​
https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/arch-madness-port-mortem-what-s-next-for-the-valley


I intend to continue to create MVC content as Drake and Loyola's seasons continue. Plus I have an idea for a fun article next week. So I am not done yet. But this does sort of feel like a season wrap up article in many ways.

[bbtds]

possible alternative locations for Arch Madness,

Is there some thought of moving it to Chicago? Indy???!!!!! Springfield, IL? Quad Cities (combination with WBB tournament)?

[MVCBeat]

possible alternative locations for Arch Madness,

Is there some thought of moving it to Chicago? Indy???!!!!! Springfield, IL? Quad Cities (combination with WBB tournament)?

Oft discussed but never seriously considered IMO.  Possibly with the new commish though.

[MVCBeat]

Hello Valpo Fans! I have two new articles for your consumption.[/size]No new power rankings but I do have tid-bits. I pontificate on Loyola and Drake in the NCAAs, another weird COVID situation for the MVC at Hoops in the Heartland, Indiana State's reported new coach and a mid-major laden NIT field here:https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/tidbits-loyola-drake-indy-st-women-s-hoops-and-the-mid-major-nitIn my other piece I put together what a Mid Major NCAA Tournament might have looked like if the NCAA was split into two subdivisions in basketball similar to football:https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/alternate-reality-mid-major-basketball-championshipAs always, you can follow me on Twitter @BeatMVCThanks everyone!

[elephtheria47]

We're obviously the newest member, but St Louis is fun. Chicago and probably even Indy are too big of cities to have it in IMO, it'd just be another event for those cities. The idea of having it every other year in St Louis and bounce the other years around would be okay with me. But then does St Louis lose its appeal and would you need to rename it from Arch Madness?

[MVCBeat]

St Louis is fun.  There is certainly an argument to be made in not messing with it at all.

[MVCBeat]

Published some more tidbits.  Its a quick read.  Talks about the new commish, Loyola, Drake, the women, MVC historic success and mid-major failures in this tournament.

https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/tidbits-luc-du-mvc-ladies-mvc-overachievers-mid-major-underachievers-the-famous-jeff-jackson

Thanks!

[MVCBeat]

Last tidbits of the year.  It is a quick read about Loyola, the Lady Bears, transfers, and a roller coaster day for UNI fans yesterday.  Thank you all for reading my stuff this year!




https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/notes-on-loyola-msu-women-the-transfer-portal-and-uni-s-roller-coaster-day

[MVCBeat]

Hey Everyone,[/size]I have mostly been covering football lately, but I took a break to compile my thoughts on the Belmont add and why I think Murray State should be next.  Take a look if you'd like.  Excited to be talking hoops again!https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/belmont-mvc-expansion-murray-state

[bbtds]

Hey Everyone,[/size]I have mostly been covering football lately, but I took a break to compile my thoughts on the Belmont add and why I think Murray State should be next.  Take a look if you'd like.  Excited to be talking hoops again!

https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/belmont-mvc-expansion-murray-state [/color]

[VUGrad1314]

Hey Everyone,I have mostly been covering football lately, but I took a break to compile my thoughts on the Belmont add and why I think Murray State should be next.  Take a look if you'd like.  Excited to be talking hoops again!

https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/belmont-mvc-expansion-murray-state 

Wow... It's like he echoed (albeit in a more concise polished eloquent way) virtually EVERY POINT I'VE BEEN MAKING. But yeah right I'm just spouting nonsense. Don't pay attention to the crazy person let's just go ahead with the plan of adding Milwaukee or UTA because MaRKeTz

[vu84v2]

Hey Everyone,I have mostly been covering football lately, but I took a break to compile my thoughts on the Belmont add and why I think Murray State should be next.  Take a look if you'd like.  Excited to be talking hoops again!

https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/belmont-mvc-expansion-murray-state 

Wow... It's like he echoed (albeit in a more concise polished eloquent way) virtually EVERY POINT I'VE BEEN MAKING. But yeah right I'm just spouting nonsense. Don't pay attention to the crazy person let's just go ahead with the plan of adding Milwaukee or UTA because MaRKeTz

It is an interesting article that raises some good points about the value of market size versus program brand/strength. Still, I strongly doubt that the writer has ever been to Murray, KY.

He said Loyola is the only school in a city. I think he forgot about Drake.

He talks about SLU and Wichita State. The likelihood is near zero that either come - SLU for reasons stated in my prior post, Wichita State because...well...they probably would look elsewhere and why would you welcome back a program who spurned you before?

I agree UTA and Milwaukee are not strong enough programs for the MVC (though for personal reasons I would love Milwaukee being added). Thus, it comes down to Murray State or do nothing. I think that there are good arguments both ways (and there are probably factors that none of us here have visibility to). One thing the writer misses is that decisions regarding conferences go beyond one single sport. Is Murray going to sufficiently invest in its other sports (not just facilities, but scholarships, etc.)? What is their situation with the state government (there have previously been major cutbacks of funding of state universities in KY - but UK and UL still got their funds because they are flagship schools?)

One last point....echoing some other comments...I wish that we had more truly passionate fans like you 1314.

[MVCBeat]

Hello All,

My preview for this season is below.  I spent quite a bit of time on this and have been working on it off and on for the last two weeks.  I tried to give each team about a page of preview.  Take a look if you're interested.  GO VALLEY!

https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/2021-22-missouri-valley-conference-basketball-preview

[NotBryceDrew]

Great article probably the best I've seen for the valley.

"ISU administration controversially fired head coach Greg Lansing"

The way I understand this is his contract ran out and they didn't renew his contract. So he was not fired although effectively it does result in the same thing.

[MVCBeat]

You are right!  I did not word that correctly.  But thank you for the kind words!

[MVCBeat]

I put together a quick read ranking the ten MVC basketball openers by difficulty.  Good luck against Toledo on Tuesday.  Could be one of the better MVC games of the day.  GO VALLEY!

https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/quick-hitters-ranking-mvc-basketball-openers-by-difficulty

[MVCBeat]

I've been spending an inordinate amount of time on football lately, but I took a break to do a quick hitter basketball power ratings.  Not the start to the season we wanted as a league.


https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/quick-hitter-black-friday-mvc-basketball-power-ratings

[MVCBeat]

I updated my power rankings and took quick look at this week's openers in my latest article.  I'll get back to producing more hoops content soon.  The football season is winding down.

https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/mvc-hoops-power-rankings-conference-openers-preview

[MVCBeat]

My updated power rankings are below.  I zeroed in on who I thought every team's best player is and how they are performing.  I also took a quick look at how the expansion candidates are doing on the floor.  I plan to take a closer look at the candidates next week.  GO VALLEY!

https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/every-team-s-best-player-so-far-power-rankings

[MVCBeat]

Hey All,[/size]I put together a deep dive on the MVC expansion candidates. This article was a long time coming and its quite a long read, but I think there is good stuff here if you are interested in MVC expansion. Take a look if you'd like!https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/mvc-expansion-candidate-profiles

[VALPO LI]

https://www.missourivalleybeat.com/post/mvc-expansion-candidate-profiles

-a good read! The article gives a good background of the potential MVC expansion candidates.

[Just Sayin]

What makes the MVC think that by selecting a school in a larger market that this will transfer to better recruiting for the schools in the MVC? We played for years against UIC and Chicago State and Loyola, and Detroit (large market) in various conferences yet I don't recall getting an awesome pipeline of talent from the Chicago or Detroit market since 1994. Scott Drew recruited much better talent from overseas than the Chicago or Detroit market. Valpo is already in the Chicago market yet only one Chicago team in our conference recruited well enough to become a contender in the NCAA tournament. Who are some of these studs we recruited from Chicago and Detroit or Indianapolis?  Does anyone really believe that the MVC teams will be more likely to recruit top talent they would not otherwise be able to recruit by asking UT-Arlington to join the MVC? What the hell are these big wigs in the MVC thinking? Doesn't make any sense to me. You don't need to be in a large market to hire good coaches and become a great recruiter and put together a winning basketball team. Why do the wigs at MVC think that something magic happens when you select teams which are in large markets? Just pick the solid mid-major teams that have shown they can be successful in basketball. (How about Murray State in the extremely large market of Murray Kentucky?) The money and the students will come from success, not a geographical location. Yeah, make sure there is a good fit with other sports, but focus on men's basketball success. Every aspect of the university will get better when you have a very successful men's basketball team. Even women's basketball.

[MVCBeat]

Lol what am I doing wrong?  Why does that keep happening haha?