Hot Springs has embraced the conference tournament. Some may want a bigger city, but I don't think there are too many cities that would embrace our tournament as a community event.

I do too. I remember living in Saint Louis and the grow that happened with the MVC tournament as it got to be an event that the local and the out of towner would come to.

MT AD Chris Massaro was on the radio the other day talking about Hot Springs as the host. Massaro was very upfront sharing that he did not initially support Hot Springs as the host site. He instead favored a site closer to Murfreesboro and Bowling Green.

But Massaro went on to say that Hot Springs has done an incredible job as host. And as MT fans have spent time there, they have found all that Hot Springs has to offer to be quite agreeable. I know that the Middle fans I have talked to support keeping the tournament in Hot Springs.

Hot Springs is old hat (Derby or otherwise - pun intended) to a native and frequent visitor like me, but in the grand scheme of things it's a special place and always a good time.