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Realignment and UALR
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sdcritter Offline
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Realignment and UALR
stAte fan here. I know you folks are a basketball only member of the Sun Belt but I'm sure you're all aware of the football realignment speculation that's falling out after Texas and Oklahoma moved to the SEC.

My question is are you worried at all that if the Sun Belt decides to add 2 football schools will they cut you loose to fend for yourselves? And if they do, what conference would you hope to align with?

FYI, I'd hate to see it happen. I like the rivalry.
08-16-2021 03:46 PM
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mjs Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
I don't really see the Sun Belt kicking out us or UTA. We both are pretty solid in men's basketball. We are both in major metro areas and easy to get to. We are the best women's program in the league.

If we were to move conferences, I think most fans would like to see us go to the MoValley, although the Summit and Atlantic Sun would certainly be possibilities.
08-16-2021 06:43 PM
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PTJR Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
(08-16-2021 06:43 PM)mjs Wrote:  I don't really see the Sun Belt kicking out us or UTA. We both are pretty solid in men's basketball. We are both in major metro areas and easy to get to. We are the best women's program in the league.

If we were to move conferences, I think most fans would like to see us go to the MoValley, although the Summit and Atlantic Sun would certainly be possibilities.

I agree with you MJS. If two football schools were added, who that could be as the only options I can see in that area would be schools moving up from FCS? As discussed before, I don’t see Liberty as a viable option. But if two were found, there is no reason to expel current non football members.

As has been clearly shown in many conferences, balanced numbers overall mean little. See the American adding Wichita State, etc. Balanced numbers might mean something for football, but LR and UTA don’t affect that one way or the other. 12 is already too many for a basketball round robin, so scheduling for 14 in basketball isn’t much different. See the A10 on that one.

But, if Little Rock we’re forced to leave, the Mo Valley would easily be the number one choice.
08-17-2021 12:32 PM
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sdcritter Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
Honestly, I don't see it happening either. If anything, the AAC loses 2-4 schools, they backfill with the best of Sun Belt and CUSA and those conferences then call up some of the better FCS schools or maybe even Liberty finds a home.

I do agree with Missouri Valley being a good fit for basketball. Not something we have to worry about in Jonesboro since we won't fire a loser who's coaching the men and hire a friend of the program's choice for the ladies coach. Sigh.
08-18-2021 07:47 AM
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mjs Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
(08-18-2021 07:47 AM)sdcritter Wrote:  Honestly, I don't see it happening either. If anything, the AAC loses 2-4 schools, they backfill with the best of Sun Belt and CUSA and those conferences then call up some of the better FCS schools or maybe even Liberty finds a home.

I do agree with Missouri Valley being a good fit for basketball. Not something we have to worry about in Jonesboro since we won't fire a loser who's coaching the men and hire a friend of the program's choice for the ladies coach. Sigh.

I am one who believes your men's team will be very good this coming season. Of course, I have never been very good with predictions. I guess we will see. On the other hand, I agree with you that your women's program doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
08-18-2021 08:47 AM
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sdcritter Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
We will see on the men's. Even if he has a great season the coach has lost the fan base. He's done too many things that caused fans to lose respect for him. But sports is a fickle business. Who knows?

The women's program is being run by a pity hire in order to get one of our bigger donors back in the fold from what we average fans can tell. Dumb.
08-18-2021 12:32 PM
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ez272 Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
(08-18-2021 12:32 PM)sdcritter Wrote:  We will see on the men's. Even if he has a great season the coach has lost the fan base. He's done too many things that caused fans to lose respect for him. But sports is a fickle business. Who knows?

The women's program is being run by a pity hire in order to get one of our bigger donors back in the fold from what we average fans can tell. Dumb.

We saw what happened when jeff long did the same thing by hiring jimmy dykes.
08-18-2021 04:23 PM
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TexasTerror Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
The word from Matt Brown is that Arlington is likely going to the Missouri Valley. He reported this several weeks back and the steps Arlington is taking would align with an exploration of another destination for the Mavericks.

Do we think it would be a package deal with Little Rock? Or do we presume the Trojans look towards the ASUN or Summit?
09-06-2021 02:46 PM
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PTJR Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
(09-06-2021 02:46 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  The word from Matt Brown is that Arlington is likely going to the Missouri Valley. He reported this several weeks back and the steps Arlington is taking would align with an exploration of another destination for the Mavericks.

Do we think it would be a package deal with Little Rock? Or do we presume the Trojans look towards the ASUN or Summit?

If there could be some “package deal” arranged for UTA and Little Rock to go to the Mo Valley, I think both schools should jump on it!

Now, competing in the MVC would certainly be tougher, and the current natural conference rivalries would be diminished. But there could be new conference rivalries established, and old ones maintained in non-conference scheduling. But the upside could be tremendous! Being in a basketball centric league would be great, and given the spread out nature of the SBC, the MVC would be no worse for travel.

And Arch Madness in St. Louis is nothing short of very special!
09-06-2021 05:01 PM
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mjs Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
It is starting to sound like there is quite a good chance that UTA will move to the MoValley. I like the Belt, but we would be quite an outlier if UTA leaves. The Belt's emphasis is clearly on football, and actually they have been quite successful- i.e. 2 teams in the top 25 to start this season. We might be better off in a league that focuses on basketball. Seems like we would bring as much to the Valley as UTA. I thought our poor attendance would be the major obstacle, but not sure UTA is really much better in that area than we are. Things could get interesting in the next few months.
09-06-2021 06:41 PM
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ez272 Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
Is somebody leaving the Valley?
09-08-2021 07:58 PM
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mjs Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
Valley has 10 teams. I could see them going to 12 with divisions.

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09-08-2021 08:30 PM
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sdcritter Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
When I asked this question originally I did not have any inside information, just a hunch that this was going to play out with the Sun Belt looking to get 12 teams for all sports. I expect UALR and stAte will maintain scheduling each other just as always. Good luck to you guys where ever you end up.
09-10-2021 10:10 AM
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chiefsfan Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
Some Valley musings: Missouri State wants out. You might be able to package yourselves to them if need be
09-10-2021 12:15 PM
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mjs Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
(09-10-2021 12:15 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Some Valley musings: Missouri State wants out. You might be able to package yourselves to them if need be

I viewed MoSt as our closest natural rival in the MoValley. If they were to leave, I would like to see the Valley add UTA, LR, and Belmont to make 12. Both would be close trips as would SIU. However, I'm not sure why MoSt would want to leave unless they want to move to FBS in football.
09-10-2021 03:00 PM
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PTJR Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
(09-10-2021 03:00 PM)mjs Wrote:  
(09-10-2021 12:15 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Some Valley musings: Missouri State wants out. You might be able to package yourselves to them if need be

I viewed MoSt as our closest natural rival in the MoValley. If they were to leave, I would like to see the Valley add UTA, LR, and Belmont to make 12. Both would be close trips as would SIU. However, I'm not sure why MoSt would want to leave unless they want to move to FBS in football.

Moving to FBS is also the only reason I can think of.
09-10-2021 06:42 PM
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mjs Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
The Missouri Valley Board has a poll of who fans want to see added to the Conference. Ten teams are listed and the list does not include LR. UTA gets 2% of the vote. Murray State is the most popular choice with Belmont second. This is a fan poll which means nothing, but it is still interesting to look at.
09-10-2021 11:26 PM
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chiefsfan Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
(09-10-2021 06:42 PM)PTJR Wrote:  
(09-10-2021 03:00 PM)mjs Wrote:  
(09-10-2021 12:15 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Some Valley musings: Missouri State wants out. You might be able to package yourselves to them if need be

I viewed MoSt as our closest natural rival in the MoValley. If they were to leave, I would like to see the Valley add UTA, LR, and Belmont to make 12. Both would be close trips as would SIU. However, I'm not sure why MoSt would want to leave unless they want to move to FBS in football.

Moving to FBS is also the only reason I can think of.

The rumor I have heard is that Missouri State is dissastisfied with the direction of the MVC at current (Its getting very Chicago centric) They have also started to put heavier investments in football than usual.

I think that they see CUSA or the SBC as a way to solve some of their issues.
09-14-2021 10:09 PM
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galojah Offline
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RE: Realignment and UALR
Murray State would love to be in the MVC. They would be a great basketball addition. Belmont has to be concerned about the OVC, too.
09-18-2021 10:47 AM
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