(04-05-2017 08:17 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 07:43 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 07:40 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  NoDak,

I'll take Dennis Dodd's opinion over yours.

The Horizon is commuter hops between big cities and bus trips form there. You fly to Cincy (or Dayton) and bus to NKU or Wright; You fly to Detroit and bus to UDM or Oakland. You fly to Cleveland and bus to CSU and YSU; You fly to Milwaukee and bus to UWM and UWGB. UIC to Denver is no different in time than a bus trip from Wright State to Northern Kentucky.

Denver or Belmont make sense. If they both say no, then I think the Horizon stands at 9. I don't think they are desperate enough to lower their standards forthe like of Omaha or IUPUI

Dennis Dodd reads the Omaha paper, which has a garbage opinion. Denver needs a travel partner, like NMSU but not another hop, for it to make any sense.

But the Omaha opinion passes for news nowadays. See CNN.

MVC I think most agree today is the choice non-FBS conference in the Midwest. Horizon was comparable in the early 90's but lost most of the traditionally prestigious programs. Notre Dame, Butler, Xavier, Loyola, Detroit all in an 8 team conference and it was better than the MVC.

One of the nice things about the Horizon is that it's only 10 members compared with the bulk of the Southland or OVC. Then its a metro conference where its membership takes basketball seriously.

UMKC made a decision to leave the Summit and its rural composition for the WAC. It was a surprise move. It continues to be a very desperate conference, full of schools with different agendas that could do better. If they can't get into the MVC, Horizon would be a very acceptable alternative than sharing a conference with Chicago State which was a former Summit member.

Belmont should consider making a move too. I know its more travel costs to play in the Horizon but its worth it. Program have made it to the Final Four out of the Horizon. They would have Valpo and Detroit a couple of private schools to play in conference. OVC seems like a borderline D2 conference with tiny state schools populating it.

The MVC I feel can go to 12 with their brand strong enough but Horizon I feel needs to stay at 10 if raided and continue to promote smaller membership as an advantage.

Scenario:

MVC (UMKC, Belmont, UIC)
Horizon (UNO)
Summit (New Mexico St)

If UNO gets left out of the MVC party, I'd say the Horizon is a logical fallback.

Its exciting to see the upgrades, MVC, Horizon even the Summit are solid D1 leagues the WAC I feel is junk. Cal Baptist, Grand Canyon, NMSU and Chicago State don't belong in the same conference together.

Omaha and the U of Nebraska system won't spend money for extras because the state is reducing their actual appropriations during the next biennial. Any talk of Omaha moving is just not grounded in reality. The Slummit's exit fee is $1 mill and presume the Horizon and even MVC have entrance fees.