When discussing Denver and UTA to the valley it is important to keep Loyola in mind.
UTA and Denver ARE trying to invest in basketball, they just arent having success. When Loyola was added, they were garbage for decades on decades, but they swore up and down, if the MVC added them they'd invest in basketball. Loyola did invest a lot more in hoops and, the results speak for themselves. The valley (rightfully or wrongfully) believes that adding a school that wants to invest a lot could be a Homerun (think along the lines of "the only thing they are lacking to be successful is being in a good league"). The loyola situation has created this perception to a lot of people of power in the league. Denver is probably a no go, the pioneers would love to go to the valley and i think the MVC would take them BUT only under the condition that they prioritize basketball more than any sport and Denver is very clear that hockey and lacrosse are their two sports, which is fine (and I think its cool that they go their own way) but you got to be all-in on hoops to be in the MVC. UTA is all-in on basketball and they are willing to invest; however, the sun belt is a decent league. Sure the valley is a better league but i dont know if it is substantially better to outweigh the travel costs increases UTA would face. If the whole UTA wants to be the next Gozaga story is true then I have to imagine that even the slight improvement of joining the MVC would be worth it because they would have to be realistic in the fact that bein the next gonzaga will cost a $h!tload of $$$$$$$$ anyway. And i think if that is their goal the MVC would certainly strongly consider them. IF they believed UTA would make the league a 2-3 bid league year in and year out then the ADs would take it, and if the presidents could be convinced to believed "MORE STUDENTS FROM DFW!!!!!!" then yea theyd take em, plus UTA is a good school academically. The more I think about the more i think it could happen but if and only if UTA is really going to go balls to the wall to be like Gonzaga.