(09-12-2020 07:15 PM)bullet Wrote: (09-12-2020 05:24 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote: (09-12-2020 05:21 PM)bullet Wrote: (09-12-2020 09:13 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote: (09-11-2020 12:30 AM)bullet Wrote: When the MVC expanded to 12 in the early 70s they were calling it the first superconference. But it quickly broke up and had to refill from Division II.
It doesn't look like the MVC ever had more than 10 members, with the exception of 1994-95 and '95-96 seasons, when they had 11. They had at most 10 in the early '70s, of which only 8 played football.
They expanded to 12. Now it may be that Louisville and a couple others left before the new teams became full members. It was 12 for basketball, not for football.
OK, so they had 12 members, just not at the same time.
They intended to get to 12. They weren't expecting those 4 to leave.
Within a 4-season span from 1973-74 to 1976-77, the MVC did indeed have 12 basketball members, albeit not simultaneously.
Bradley
Drake
New Mexico State
Tulsa
West Texas
Wichita State
St. Louis (left after 1973-74)
Louisville (left after 1974-75)
North Texas (left after 1974-75)
Southern Illinois (joined for 1975-76)
Creighton (joined for 1976-77)
Indiana State (joined for 1976-77)
1973-74 (9): Bradley, Drake, Louisville, New Mexico State, North Texas, St. Louis, Tulsa, West Texas, Wichita State
1974-75 (8): Bradley, Drake, Louisville, New Mexico State, North Texas, Tulsa, West Texas, Wichita State
1975-76 (7): Bradley, Drake, New Mexico State, Southern Illinois, Tulsa, West Texas, Wichita State
1976-77 (9): Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Indiana State, New Mexico State, Southern Illinois, Tulsa, West Texas, Wichita State
So if St. Louis, Louisville, and North Texas had stuck around, and in spite of this SIU, Creighton, and Indiana State had been added (as opposed to in reaction to the departures, which seems more plausible given the timing), then the MVC would have had 12 for the 1976-77 season. As you note, Memphis had left after the 1972-73 season. Running with the above theory, perhaps if they had stayed as well, either Creighton or Indiana State wouldn't have been invited.