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being one of the two best teams in the Southland, SWAC, MEAC, or Big West doesn't appeal to me either, no matter how "easy" the path to the NCAA tournament is.


How bad is it, you ask?

Currently, according to Nolan, the OVC is the 23rd best conference in CBB. For some perspective, that is behind basketball powerhouse conferences like the Big West, whose highest NET team is the mighty Anteaters of UC Irvine. Also ahead of the current iteration of the OVC, the Big South, the ASUN, the Patriot League, and the Big South.

Where does Murray State fit into this? Well with a NET of 43, Here is where the Racers would sit (and why that matters)

Big South- 1st
Big West- 1st
Horizon- 1st
A Sun- 1st
Patriot- 1st
Colonial- 1st
Sun Belt- 1st
WAC- 1st
MVC- 1st
CUSA- 1st
Ivy- 1st

Mac- 2nd
Pac 12- 2nd
West Coast- 3rd
American- 4th
A10- 2nd
Big East- 3rd
SEC- 6th
ACC- 7th
Big Ten- 6th

Why does that matter?

These conferences are all ahead of the OVC, but not ahead of the Racers. And that is with the Racers playing the likes of TTU (NET 331 out of 352) twice. What would it be in the MVC? I would posit that it would look a lot like Wofford (NET 14).

So no, I have had no second thoughts about a move to the MVC.

As for media attention, our location hasn't hurt us in the past, nor this year. Its a 45 minute drive to the regional airport, but we have had Auburn, Houston, So. Miss, and UAB make the trip. Included in teams we have hosted, Evansville, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, Missouri State, Illinois State and Valparaiso.

Also, Murray is in the #82 ranked media market, one shared with SIU. This market is larger than Evansville, Missouri State, and Northern Iowa.


As has been said, more info can be seen on MVC fans message board.

As a Racer fan, I felt compelled to respond to this thread, not to try to poke holes in it, nor to try to make the case for Murray State.

I truly believe that Murray State does belong in the MVC. But it is also true that I believe that Valpo is a good add for the MVC. You have to take the longer view on expansion and make bets on long term payoff. That why I believe that Valpo (and Murray for that matter) are good adds for the MVC.

Have you seen the gym at SIUE? 100 fans is more than enough to make it a home court...

Just wanted to say congrats to you guys and your program. It is a well deserved honor that has been a long time coming. I know you guys are going to surprise a lot of the Valley starting day one. Just remember, if the question of 12 comes up, I hope you guys wrangle your president into a corner and bend his ear about the Racers.

No matter what happens in the next 72 hours, I just want to say I wish nothing but the best for all you Valpo fans.

I still think the best case is both Murray and Valpo in the MVC, but regardless, I know both of our programs will be successful and continue their upward trajectory.

Good luck over the next couple days.

Pretty telling that voters for both Murray and Valpo have stated that both teams should be added, 11 teams be damned.

For those interested, here is this week's podcast.

We talk NFL Draft, some local sports, but mainly Murray State and the MVC
Special guest Ed Marlowe of the Paducah Sun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4isVTSuJ-Tc&feature=youtu.be

I have said it here and over at the Murray State board, but it bears repeating;

If the MVC adds either Valpo or Murray, but not both, it has failed.

I actually thought something related but a little different. I thought it was a test to see if the admins at Valpo could be leak proof.


No clue if it's true, but it's funny how similar the thoughts are.

Weren't you guys last under .500 in 09-10? and the year before went 9-22?

Those years don't give a good account to your program and the last two seasons (after losing a coach, complete roster turnover, and an NBA lottery pick) don't give a good account of ours.

Zero chance Murray declined.

The answer is Evansville. Successful program who came to the MVC and hasn't lived up to what they looked like prior. Most decisions are made in reaction to the reaction to the last decision.

Here is my hypothetical-

Murray St (OVC) goes to MVC
Valpo (HL) goes to MVC

Morehead (OVC) goes to HL
Lipscomb (ASUN) goes to OVC

IUPUI (Summit) goes to HL
IPFW (Summit) goes to HL

UMKC (WAC) goes to Summit
Chicago St (WAC) goes to Summit

OVC goes from 12 teams to 11 (8 FCS football) (footprint shrinks)
HL goes from 10 teams to 12 (Footprint stays the same)
Summit stays at 9 (footprint gets bigger, stays in large markets)
ASUN goes from 8 to 7, but back to 8 with addition of North Alabama.
WAC goes from 8 to 6, threatening existence. Footprint shrinks. Possible merge with Big West. WAC is the "sick man of college sports".

This doesn't take into account the desire of Eastern KY (OVC), Jacksonville St (OVC), Missouri St (MVC) to go to FBS. Once you get into FBS football, all bets are off. Example, West Virginia in the BIG 12.

Hey all. Our play by play guy, the "Voice of the Racers", Neal Bradley is back after some health issues with his take on the Murray State to MVC talks. Here is the link.

http://www.1340wnbs.com/episode/the-neal-bradley-show-monday-may-1-2017/

What that data tells me is this-

If you care about the quality of the basketball product, add both Murray State and Valpo to the MVC.

I wonder what Murray St would look like without the last two years...

Its incredible how close Murray State and Valpo are. Definitely two of the standard bearers of Mid Major hoops.

Our latest podcast.
I say that Murray State and Valpo are the tier 1 candidates. Everyone else is tier two. What do you think?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HffFMGzOg1g&feature=youtu.be

Before adding Valpo and Murray State.

I will say this- if Murray St get in, and someday makes the finals, you can expect 6000 Racers, maybe more. That's without attracting more bandwagon fans.

That is reasonable and I agree. You don't get multiple bids by market demographics or the MAAC would be a five bid league.

Any scenario that adds more than one team to the MVC, and doesn't include Murray State and Valparaiso will be a failure. JMO

So you guys can confirm that 1) there is a Board meeting for you guys 2) it is wednesday 3) MVC officials will be on your campus?

Just a quick update. I am hearing rumor (TIFWIW) about visits this week (Tuesday in Murray, Wednesday in Valpo prior to a BOR meeting).


Have no clue if this is true, but thought you guys might run it down with people you may know.

To add some information that I think rolls into this thought, the Ohio Valley Conference has had a plan to increase the profile of all sports equally, which sounds great on paper, but is detrimental to each member of the conference. By doing that, you take resources away from areas where success can be had and where success can have a disproportionate impact. For Murray State, the sport that has had disproportionate success and impact has been basketball. This has been hindered by schools whose focus has been other sports (Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State in football, Tennessee-Martin in women's basketball, SIU-Edwardsville in Men's soccer as examples). While the success seen in these programs has been great, one must ask if the success seen by those school in those areas is as beneficial as national relevancy in basketball. Murray st fans would say no. I believe that Valpo fans would agree. The focus on men's basketball primarily is what draws Murray's interest. The success of the other sports makes it a no brainer (as we do care about other sports).  The derived benefit of having a conference with a clear vision is part of the reason for the reception a possible move to the MVC has gotten from Murray fans.