cr8ngrad

If something of that nature could come to pass, it would be ideal...particularly for SLU. You are, however, placing a whole lot of trust in your brethren...as we've recently seen those you thought would be by your side forever can just as easily give you the bird. Remember Virginia Tech was a plaintiff in the lawsuit against BC and Miami.....

Because perception is more important than reality. I'm not saying it's reasonable, I just think that will be the excuse. If they decide they "have" to have Marquette (what have you done for me lately, yada yada...) adding DePaul would be easy for a Chicago/Milwaukee road trip to the "hinterlands" but (in my opinion) they won't also add SLU...Not saying it's fair or logical but conferences do stupid things all the time...

Hey, sign me up on the bandwagon for that one! I think that would be great if it could come to fruition...I'm just pessimistic that all the "powers that be" would be able to pull it off. I bet the conf. tourney for that league would definitely do great in the tv ratings, all of us (SLU, CU, Xavier, Marquette, etc...) have alumni spread all over the country...

First of all, I did not say that C-USA was not strong. Second, according to another poster, the word is that those four schools are likely to leave. That poster may not know what they're talking about but if they are gone, you're not left with much. That's my point. It will be a huge step down for you even if you DON'T leave. Personally, I find it highly unlikely that a Valley school would leave for C-USA at this time...things are too unstable. Why join a Div I football conference that could potentially get raided again at anytime? If you think C-USA would still have the same cache without those schools you need to think again, IMHO. To use your example, let's say those Big 12 schools you mentioned bolted leaving Baylor, Texas A&M, Colorado, Nebraska, KSU, Texas Tech, and Iowa State. Do you REALLY think they would still be one of the top two or three conferences in basketball?

Exactly...if you all can get into the "new" Big East, more power to ya! Much better option then the Valley. I suspect, due to geography, that will be a difficult proposition. I think that leaves you (currently) with about 3 options: stay put, Valley, or A10 (and where or what they're going to be in a couple of years is a whole different discussion). When you look at C-USA's tourney representation, it's great overall but only twice in the last 8 years did you send more than one team OTHER THAN Cinci, Marquette, Louisville, or DePaul. Charlotte went 5 times, Memphis twice, SLU twice and UAB once. Six of the teams you would be left with (should those four leave) have not made the tourney in the last 8 years. The Valley HAS had lower seeds in the tourney in recent years but they have come up and would continue to do so should we add stronger teams. CU's 6 seed last year would have been higher if we had a couple more strong teams to play in conference. One last thought...the Valley is a basketball conference...this turmoil currently is all FB driven. Wouldn't be an issue with us! Besides, I would love to have SLU in our conference for Soccer! The Valley is already strong (CU, SMU, and Bradley are all ranked preseason), adding SLU would just make it that much better...

I think many of you are either missing or ignoring the point...Yes, I agree, no question, that C-USA is a better conference than the Valley right now. Right now being the operative words. If you do, in fact, lose Cinci, Louiville, Marquette, and DePaul as one poster intimated, you will NOT be the same conference and you will no longer be head and shoulders above the "upper" mid-majors...especially if (for instance) the Valley were to add two very good teams. Plug in two of Tulsa (should they give up on their delusion of a football program), SLU, Butler, or West. Kent. and you would find the MVC knocking on the door of C-USA/A10 in terms of power rankings and at large bids.

There WILL be more realignment...the Big East is not going to stand pat...the question is how bad are CUSA and the Atlantic 10 going to get drilled. You make a big assumption that moving to the Valley would be a "huge step down". If we're talking about no other changes occuring, I'd agree. However, that's probably not what the situation is going to be...once CUSA has been decapitated, there exists a good chance that the Valley will move up in conference "rankings" (possibly past CUSA) especially if we decide to add two strong teams. Also remember that CUSA has been averaging 3.2 teams in the tourney over the last five years...the Valley has averaged 2.2 teams during that time and did it with four fewer teams in the conference. Throw in two from Butler/WKU/SLU and what would happen? Just food for thought. Oh, I'm a fellow Jesuit grad from Creighton...I'm sure the vast majority of Bluejays would love to renew the rivaly with SLU. Especially since we lead the series 22-11 Good Luck this year!!