UWM talking to MVC

[Oldgym]

Milwaukee talking to Missouri Valley Conference.

http://www.wtmj.com/sports/college/report-uwm-could-move-to-missouri-valley-conference

[GGGG]

"As of today, UW-Milwaukee has not been presented a formal invite to join the conference, but, according to a variety of reports, are one of up to nine universities on the MVC's radar."

Nine?

[Galway Eagle]

Haha they say Chicago is highly competitive. Who is Loyola competing with? DePaul? northwestern? UIC? Eastern illinois? Chicago State? Some really big dogs here in the Chicago market.

[Oldgym]

Might be the first time I've heard of a conference vetting a school because Milwaukee would be one of its largest markets.

[cheebs09]

Haha they say Chicago is highly competitive. Who is Loyola competing with? DePaul? northwestern? UIC? Eastern illinois? Chicago State? Some really big dogs here in the Chicago market.

I would think a lot of different Big Ten schools and Notre Dame as well. There's a lot of colleges with strong representation in Chicago.

[GGGG]

Haha they say Chicago is highly competitive. Who is Loyola competing with? DePaul? northwestern? UIC? Eastern illinois? Chicago State? Some really big dogs here in the Chicago market.

Eastern Illinois is nowhere near Chicago.

But the market is competitive when it comes to eyeballs.  Just not necessarily for the teams from Chicago.  Pretty much every midwestern school has a sizable fan base in the city.

[WarriorInNYC]

Eastern Illinois is nowhere near Chicago.

But the market is competitive when it comes to eyeballs.  Just not necessarily for the teams from Chicago.  Pretty much every midwestern school has a sizable fan base in the city.

Yeah, I'm not sure why Eastern Illinois is thrown out there.  University of Illinois, Bradley, and Illinois State are all closer to Chicago an Eastern Illinois and all three have somewhat respectable programs.  Not sure why we would include Eastern Illinois in the Chicago market but not include these three.

[Galway Eagle]

Got north eastern and eastern confused my bad guys. Happens to the best of us.

Anyways I still think that statement is funny

[WarriorInNYC]

Got north eastern and eastern confused my bad guys. Happens to the best of us.

Anyways I still think that statement is funny

Northwestern University you mean?  Northeastern is in Boston, haha.

[Galway Eagle]

Northwestern University you mean?  Northeastern is in Boston, haha.

There's a north eastern in Illinois

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeastern_Illinois_University

[warriorchick]

Give 'em DePaul.

[mu_hilltopper]

Give 'em DePaul.

No.  We need the wins. 

[Galway Eagle]

Give 'em DePaul.

Would DePaul for Loyola be a worthwhile trade?

[#UnleashSean]

Would DePaul for Loyola be a worthwhile trade?

At this point, I'd say yes. They can't be any worse right?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Would DePaul for Loyola be a worthwhile trade?

Not at this point. I think Depaul has more upside than Loyola. I also think Letaio is starting to do some good things there. Not get out of the basement good, at least not yet, but I think they will start to be a tougher out than they have historically been.

[Herman Cain]

Would DePaul for Loyola be a worthwhile trade?

DePaul has a bigger alumni base. If they can get some traction with the new arena they will have significant upside.  If Letaio can get a couple of good transfers he could start turning things around.

[Galway Eagle]

DePaul has a bigger alumni base. If they can get some traction with the new arena they will have significant upside.  If Letaio can get a couple of good transfers he could start turning things around.

I know this, but bigger does not necessarily mean better. Loyola's alumni base is more engaged with their school. On top of that is it a worth while trade to trade DePaul two final fours for loyolas championship in terms of league perception.

[Herman Cain]

I know this, but bigger does not necessarily mean better. Loyola's alumni base is more engaged with their school. On top of that is it a worth while trade to trade DePaul two final fours for loyolas championship in terms of league perception.

Your right about the alumni engagement favoring Loyola. However, sports fans being what they are, if DePaul miraculously had a Renaissance, there would be people coming out of the woodwork talking about Mark Acguirre, Terry Cummings, Rod Strickland etc. Media would be full of stories about Ray Meyer and George Mikan.  I guarantee if DePaul become a consistent tournament level team, their new arena would be packed and TV viewership would be improved. Hence, DePaul gives us optionality that Loyola doesnt.

That said I think we and others in the Big East should schedule games with Loyola.

[drewm88]

I know this, but bigger does not necessarily mean better. Loyola's alumni base is more engaged with their school.

No. You're basically comparing zero with zero.

On top of that is it a worth while trade to trade DePaul two final fours for loyolas championship in terms of league perception.

I'd say no. 70's/80's success vs. 1963. One NCAA since 1968.

[Galway Eagle]

No. You're basically comparing zero with zero.

I'd say no. 70's/80's success vs. 1963. One NCAA since 1968.

To your first response I disagree, I've dated/have grown up around/have cousins/great friends who are alumni or were students at the time of both schools. Loyola definitely has more engagement. Modern DePaul is essentially a commuter school.

Your second response I can understand the thinking.

Your right about the alumni engagement favoring Loyola. However, sports fans being what they are, if DePaul miraculously had a Renaissance, there would be people coming out of the woodwork talking about Mark Acguirre, Terry Cummings, Rod Strickland etc. Media would be full of stories about Ray Meyer and George Mikan.  I guarantee if DePaul become a consistent tournament level team, their new arena would be packed and TV viewership would be improved. Hence, DePaul gives us optionality that Loyola doesnt.

That said I think we and others in the Big East should schedule games with Loyola.

See I agree with what you're saying about old Aguirre and Cummings stories however there is something to be said about Championships. Right now there GTown MU and Nova. That's the worst distribution of all the power conferences. If adding Loyola gave them a return and the media would write about 63 and 85 then I might be inclined to take it.

[Oldgym]

Valpo to join MVC

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/valleys-future-remains-precarious-despite-smart-addition-valparaiso-160405602.html?src=rss

[GGGG]

Total number of schools in the Missouri Valley Conference: 10
Actual number located in the Missouri River valley: 0

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Interesting.  The MVC certainly is a step up in terms of brand for Valpo, but I'm not sure the actual basketball being played is any better without the Shockers. 

[Galway Eagle]

Interesting.  The MVC certainly is a step up in terms of brand for Valpo, but I'm not sure the actual basketball being played is any better without the Shockers.

Northern Iowa is every so often.

[Dr. Blackheart]

UWM: Always the tree, never the dog.