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It sounds like the AAC is still torn about bringing them in. Every article I've seen indicates a willingness from WSU but it's not as mutual from the conference. Either way, I'm at peace with it regardless of what happens.

If they do leave before next year however, I have 2, plenty-realistic benchmarks for the program:
1.) Take at least one extra game and go on the road for a guarantee game. Bring money into the program regardless of how big of an L it will be.
2.) Next year's team will have a legitimate shot at an NCAA bid. UNI will be good but not dominant. IlSU will take a step back without Lee, Hawkins, and Wills (who was a super-underrated defensive player). I can forgive a heartbreaking loss at Arch Madness, but 8-10 in the conference & a Friday exit would plant me firmly on the Ditch Porter bandwagon.

Ha!!! I just saw Wills ten minutes ago at a sports bar in Normal called Pub II, and he was being bothered by a dude in a Seattle Mariners jersey who had too much to drink. And it's only 7 pm here.... It was too crowded there, so I'm having a Guinness at Lunkers, two doors down.

This year we had third place for the taking at one point, but I only expected fifth before the season. Next year I would be disappointed with anything less than third.

Porter is perhaps a good enough Coach to get us to the DANCE next season !! Will he and his team ?? I reallt hope so !! I personally will settle for nothing less-

Loyola Chicago AND Chicago itself deserves this !! We appear to have the team to do it !! I wish PORTER well !!!

So I guess we are just playing this year with nine teams?

It will probably never happen, at least while the tournament championship remains on CBS, but if gets to the point where the MVC a straight one-bid league, I'd rather see it give the auto-bid to the regular season champion. I don't understand why more leagues (Horizon) don't do that if they really want to send their best team to the NCAAs. Most of tournaments probably don't make much if any money anyway.

ahunte1 wrote:So I guess we are just playing this year with nine teams?

I don't think that's going to be the case. In the original article by SI, it said Valley officials are prepared for the move. I'd guess they've been talking with schools to make sure there isn't a 9 team season. It's not like Wichita is leaving in a surprise move. Everyone is waiting until after the tournament to make the announcements. We should hopefully get more news in this upcoming week.

I'm all for Valpo. Best case scenario that almost certainly won't happen would be an expansion with Valpo, SLU and Belmont. Any one of those would be great though.

SLU isn't leaving the A10 for a Wichita-less MVC. Especially with the recruiting class they have coming in.

01grad wrote:SLU isn't leaving the A10 for a Wichita-less MVC. Especially with the recruiting class they have coming in.

Yeeeeep.

I went over to the other board to see what they had to say and, go figure, a bunch of then took the opportunity to shit on us.

I'd love nothing more than for the Jesuits to call in a favors and form a Midwest conference with Jesuits/Catholics at the core. Leave the rest of these folks behind.

If the AAC takes VCU (like is rumored), we should join up with the A-10 and split it into East and West divisions. Bring in Detroit and Belmont and I'm sure it helps things.

It'd be a logical move if conferences start breaking up. Unfortunately, I don't think the administration is willing to expend capital and favors to make this happen