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For any team I follow and someone generally discussing the league, not much time is given to a team who finishes near the bottom regularly. I think it's tough for us as fans because we are used to being on the top. He/she said a more detailed episode is coming up to discuss us, but if they are catering this to MVC fans I'm sure the time is going to be spent on teams at the top. And if my team was on or near the top and a podcast spent time talking about teams on the bottom,  I'd turn it off. Again, why this season is so important because talent wise it's our best and the longer we are at the bottom that is more engrained in others perception of us.

The MVC is fun to be in. I feel the guy up at UWM tried to get some league wide Fandom going but too many teams there just didn't care. 

I'm more excited for this season than the other recent ones. I hope for everyone's sake that we have a healthy season. If we get a healthy season, we will get a sense of what we have to do for the future (extend/get rid of ML). Hoping no covid issues or injury issues where we're still gonna be debating it at the end. We have some talent for sure. Let's go get it done on the court now too.

We're okay. Teams take some time to get acclimated to a new conference. Loyola, butler, Xavier,  etc struggled moving conferences.

We made the championship game in the tournament two years ago. We're showing some signs, although not as fast or big enough that we'd all like and aspire for.

You are who you associate with. Much nicer to be associated with Loyola, MoSt, and MVC versus Cleveland state,  green bay, Youngstown,  horizon league

Vuny hit the nail on the head.

Honestly, it doesn't matter if we get 2 teams in or 4 teams in. We're not keeping up in an arms race with the P5. Its about league sustainability and right now we are attractive. Go make a power move and be proactive instead of reactive.

Wait until our best program moves on, then what is our bargaining power. The MVC is a mid major league. Get 2, hopefully sometimes 3, bids in. Let's solidify our league and add 2 teams that move the needle.

Dear MVC,

Get.it.done.

..if not now, then never..

..and that'd be a huge mistake.

Love,

All Missouri Valley fans

Nice. Congrats! Still same prices as two years ago or have they increased?

I think season tickets could be a smart investment this year. Buy the games for the entire season right off the bat. If things take a turn for the worse with COVID, I hope they'd stop selling single game tickets and still honor the season tickets to limit/reduce #s.

Well the AAC just imploded with cincy, byu, Houston, and ucf going to the big 12. What do they do now? Can't think of any clear needle movers.

Would WSU come back to the MVC? Would some A10 teams make the move to the AAC? I'd believe the A10 is more stable and may actually be better as a whole (but money talks). Would WSU try to target any of their old friends who are still in the MVC? About to get interesting

What was going on tonight? Drove by and they had "wmu" as the visitors and it was 10 (valpo) to 44 (wmu). Would it have been western Michigan?

Let's temper expectations. Can basketball be that vehicle for the university? Certainly. But we've been finishing at the bottom of the conference. Hoping the team can live up to expectations.

Kmart was on the north end of town on Calumet. Where the new roundabout and Starbucks are now.

Kinda like the draft...players only see the green grass on the other side. Lots of good players with wrong info who will be left without a seat this year.

IIRC, if it ends on the 17th, the first date of eligibility would be the 18th. So maybe we should wait until then to schedule a game but yes, he will be able to play right around there. Welcome aboard!

I waffle back and forth if NIL is good.

Should players get paid? I think yes.

But recruiting at a mid major was already tough and the NIL will put people out of business.

Valpo doesn't sell out games, the locals don't care, and it's small# wise. NIL isn't working out in Valpos favor.

Storm has the most potential.

I imagine the lights being turned down low and the sound of rain being played with flashes of lightning. The student section can be given pool noodles and/or pots/pans to replicate thunder.

"At guard, who is faster than lightning, ...

At the other guard, who can make it rain...

At center,  stronger than an F4 tornado..."

Feels a little Harlem Wizards ish !!

And that's all folks. Don't really have too many ideas for the Introductions or student section for the other proposals.

Whats the exact goal? Build brand identity? Create student excitement? Create a sense of connectivity with the surrounding area? No real plan except to get rid of the crusader? Toss spaghetti on the wall and see what sticks?

Lol right. Id be the first one harping too lol.. If that's what it was, we have a higher hill to climb than I thought, and really inexcusable in any scenario, then or now. Just know the university is cash strapped and was wondering if it was a coach decision or university decision .

If it's 2 seasons with 2 coaches, can it be someone else's fault other than the coach? AD? Higher admin?

Does the coach get to decide when the team travels to the tournament? Could AD/higher admin look to save an extra day of travel etc? I honestly don't know.

Ah. America. Where people have the freedom to make whatever choices they want. Noone is forcing anyone to play sports in college.

I know its short sighted, but this year changed my current thoughts. If we add, I really only want to add Murray State to the Missouri Valley. We established that we can still be a 2 bid league in our current version and why split that pot further? Adding another team isn't going to get us to 3 bids. But, Murray State is strong, has national name recognition, and a great fanbase which will add some energy into the conference. They would likely prove to be a quality add that moves the needle and is capable of making a run in the NCAAT. (Is someone like Belmont really going to inject energy or excitement with a lackadaisical fan base?) IMO, the discussion should end with Murray State (and monitor those other programs for possible consideration as a replacement if/when someone else leaves). As the article above mentioned, if conferences are looking to reduce travel/restrict its area, will someone like St Louis be looking to move in a few years?

Ew. Just threw up in my mouth. Absolutely not.

He's a 4 star out of high school and was playing in the big 10. Who on our roster would really scare him from playing time if he was interested in coming here?

And thats the beauty of the MVC. Assuming he or someone wants to "drop down a level" but wants to stay somewhat close to home (he's from Michigan), what are the other options? The A10 really isn't based out of the Midwest and the MVC is ahead of the horizon, MAC, etc. Still have a great chance of making a run in the NCAAT if you get there... with all of the p5 schools in the area/state, I think these types of players are exactly the type of players to target. Valpo has strong academics. If we can get to winning consistently, we have the ability to become a very attractive landing spots for transfers.

With that said,  I prefer a big other than a guard, but trust the staff to get the best players available for our needs. Interested to see if there's fire to the smoke.

Im curious why counting Mileek and Robinson into the numbers is senseless? (Whether we want them back is another question). It was a possibility for them to come back, and we are going to be playing other teams next year who brought some players back for their extra year, so I don't understand the reasoning that in a normal year they would be gone so its okay. (Look at Butler, all five seniors are returning for their extra year.) With them not counting against the scholarship limit, there's no reason *not* to bring them back if for no other reason than for depth and experience. But in any fashion, there was a decision to move on and it may have been mutual for all that I know. But to me, they definitely get counted as people leaving. I agree with the Steve Helm reasoning.

We're all here because we are invested and enjoy VU MBB. I think it's fair that we have all been frustrated with the last few seasons, and we all want the team and university to have success. Differences in opinions lead to healthy debate and discussion. As a whole,  there are people who believe the current regime will get it done, there are some who don't, and a lot in the middle who fluctuate. With the current state of the program and recent results on the court,  I think all three sides have valid reasonings to support their stance as well.

As others have said, Western Michigan is a great spot for Mileek. The top of the MAC always has quality teams/talent; unfortunately for the MAC, their bottom teams are definitely bottom teams. Should be a great experience for him and still close enough his family can get to some games.

I've always thought Murray State should have been added at the same time as Valpo. Every year that doesn't happen is a wasted opportunity.

We've done the small-school-in-the-big-city model before with the Horizon League. As a fan its fun to visit those cities and catch a game, but those cities don't care about the game and they certainly aren't tuning into the game on TV. Give me the solid schools in the small towns where the whole town shows up for the game and theres an electric atmosphere.

Certainly refreshing to hear the positive comments. However, I think it's too soon. If you go car shopping and choose a salesman/dealership, of course you're going to say good things about the experience and why you chose them.

People are transferring out early in their careers. I can't help but wonder if there is a difference between what is being pitched during recruitments and reality after being on campus, whatever that may be. Hopefully these player are still making positive public comments once their playing days are over.

And we better be looking for interior help yet. We're an upper D1 program. If there's spots to fill, you go fill them if a player can make the team better. The cost of a scholarship is relatively low and easily recoupable if the spot fixes a glaring issue. If they aren't filled, it will be another frustrating decision.

Besides, playing in New Orleans for free while a college student? I can think of worse places to be playing. Good for him.