Non-UK Related: Murray State to the MVC?

[HoptownCat93]

Do you all think it is a good move? I'm a Murray State alumni and I would personally love the move. Better TV deal means more money and exposure. Much better competition will lead to better attendance at games. Those old OVC rivals can help fill the non-conference slate. The OVC has been dead since WKU and MTSU left years ago. APSU is not even a big game to Murray any more.

Per Jon Rothstein

The Missouri Valley Conference is targeting both Valparaiso and Murray State as potential additions following Wichita State’s departure to the American Athletic Conference, multiple sources told FanRag Sports.

Those two additions would give the league 11 teams in total which would lead to each team playing twice during the regular season in a 20-game league format, according to separate source.

FanRag Sports reported earlier this week that the MVC presidents and athletic directors would meet on Sunday in Saint Louis to discuss the future of the league.

Wichita State officially joined the American Athletic Conference on Friday.

The Shockers became the 12th basketball program in the league. They join Central Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, South Florida, SMU, Temple, Tulane and Tulsa as current conference members.

While operating in the Missouri Valley Conference, Wichita State managed to make six-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. Since Gregg Marshall became the program’s head coach in 2007, the Shockers have an overall record of 261-90. Marshall just finished his 10th season as the head coach of Wichita State.

FanRag Sports will have more on this situation as it develops behind the scenes.

 

[Smashcat]

Probably good for Murray but hate to see another Kentucky OVC school leave the league.

 

[YourPublicEnemy]

Very good move and better competition.

 

[straykat]

I'm not real sure of the Missouri Valley's stability. The recent loss of Creighton and Wichita State is bad enough, but three other schools are looking to go from FCS to FBS. If Missouri State, Illinois State and Northern Iowa do make that move, is the MVC a very good league?

 

[YouKay]

Wow that would suck for the OVC. Best program left in the conference will be Belmont. Their games with Murray the last few years have been epic.

 

[Zakk Wyldcat]

Good for Murray to move to a potential multi-bid conference. OVC will never reach that status. IMO.

 

[HoptownCat93]

Even if more teams leave in the future, it still seems like it will end up being a better move for Murray. I feel like them going after Murray, Valpo, SLU, and others make it appear like they're going to keep adding good mid-major programs and it will always be a better league than the OVC.

 

[CATSrock]

LOVE this move if true. The OVC had some good schools back in the day with Western, Akron, Youngstown, Middle and a few others. A few of the replacements were not good at all as far as reputation/image are concerned. UT Martin, SIU Edwardsville...

 

[rick64]

Good move for Murray. Better competition, exposure and $$$.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Good move for Murray.

Bad for the OVC, but who cares.

It's a progression. The AAC is essentially the former C-USA; C-USA is essentially the Sun Belt. Maybe the MVC becomes the OVC and the OVC will become one of those even worse conferences.

 

[drbubba]

It's risky. MSU may never see the NCAA hoops tourney again. I doubt they'll be competitive in football. Murray can only grow so much. It'll be the smallest school and fans won't go to any away games. I think they should stand pat and win OVC titles.

 

[HoptownCat93]

It's risky. MSU may never see the NCAA hoops tourney again. I doubt they'll be competitive in football. Murray can only grow so much. It'll be the smallest school and fans won't go to any away games. I think they should stand pat and win OVC titles.

Then again, Murray is a school dedicated to basketball with a decent sized fan base, which is amazing considering how big it is relative to other schools. Murray packs Nashville every time they have games in Nashville for the OVC tournament.

Murray also has made good coaching hires historically. Since 2011 they had 2 seasons where they had stints in the top 25, along with a lottery pick and another NBA player who was a consensus All-American during his time at MSU. I think with more exposure in a better conference it could only lead to having more money to bring in and possibly keep some good coaches and make the talent level a bit better.

 

[drbubba]

I'd love to see that happen, but I'm afraid the Racer Nation, as great as the fans are, comprise too small a market to move to the MVC. Maybe they make the move, but they're charter members of the OVC and usually competitive there. Just makes me nervous.

 

[drbubba]

Update: http://www.kxel.com/panthers/2017/0...t-valparaiso-murray-state-after-wsu-departure
Apparently the MVC wants Belmont so it can be in the Nashville market. Trouble is, the travel would hit their budget hard. What's really intriguing is that if one leaves (Murray or Belmont), the other could be winning all kinds of OVC titles and make regular trips to the big dance. I bet Valpo goes and MSU and Belmont stay and keep playing each other in the OVC.

 

[Macy's socks]

They can't beat Belmont so they have to change leagues lol. Gotta love that Murray ego. (and I'm an MSU grad for the record)

 

[HoptownCat93]

They can't beat Belmont so they have to change leagues lol. Gotta love that Murray ego. (and I'm an MSU grad for the record)

I don't think that has anything to do with it, MVC is a step up in a big way.

 

[drbubba]

Hey, Macy's sox. I'm a MSU grad, too and I lose my ego every time the Racers lose a coach. Starting with Gottfried and Ron Greene. I have no self- esteem left.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

It would be a good move for Murray State, the MVC is an historic Basketball league, and do not worry about leaving the OVC, because as you know, EKU is looking to move up to Division 1 in football, and may soon be in the Sun Belt for all sports.

 

[Macy's socks]

I don't think that has anything to do with it, MVC is a step up in a big way.

If you knew the community as well as I do, you would get the sarcasm.

 

[HoptownCat93]

If you knew the community as well as I do, you would get the sarcasm.

Haha, yeah I was not a big fan of the people "from Murray" during my days on campus.

 

[JustBlue]

I just want UK to play Murray whatever conference they are in. As much as I hate having to play another in state school in the first round, the tournament committee needs to make this happen the next time the two teams are in the big dance. To have never played is a shame.

JB

 

[ukfan79]

I just want UK to play Murray whatever conference they are in. As much as I hate having to play another in state school in the first round, the tournament committee needs to make this happen the next time the two teams are in the big dance. To have never played is a shame.

JB

Hasn't Murray always wanted a return game? Like play 2 in Lexington then 1 in Murray or something?

That's never happening no matter what league Murray is in. Nor should it.

No the tourney committee does not need to make that happen. I hate it because I'd like to pull for those schools (like NKU this year). Most anybody who is a fan of those schools is a bigger UK fan.

 

[drbubba]

Yes, I would die if they met in the tourney. I feel bad for NKU fans. The Norse would've beat a lot of teams.

 

[drbubba]

This article, http://www.thegazette.com/subject/s...oblem-for-missouri-valley-conference-20170411
together with what the editor of Murray's newspaper is telling me (very little) , has convinced me that the Racers are not likely to go to the MVC. They'd probably like to, but can't afford the travel. The athletics brass is tight lipped, so they must be thinking about it, crunching numbers. I'm not optimistic. I think they stay in the OVC. The market is too small and there are better candidates for the MVC in KC, Chicago, and Nashville.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

SIU and Evansville would be natural rivals for Murray.

Valley is getting smaller losing Kansas and Nebraska.

 

[HoptownCat93]

I see Murray being a fit because of a commitment to financially supporting basketball, and a fan base that will care. I think being in Kentucky directly can help Murray because it is a basketball state. Though I'm on the western side of the state, I know a lot of people around here love to watch basketball for the in-state schools. I always tune in and watch UK, WKU, Morehead, EKU, & NKU if they are on and I can watch.

Murray fans can also travel very well for a mid-major. Murray fans have filled the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville a few times. Murray has a decent sized alumni base in the Chicago/STL areas and probably would bring nice crowds to Arch madness. Basketball is not a money maker like football and I think the key is not necessarily markets but putting on good matchups. Butler was not the biggest market for the Big East, but it provides better basketball games to sell to viewers.