Saw on ESPN today that Loyola Chicago is moving to the Missouri Valley Conference to take the place of Creighton.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/college-sports/story/_/id/9170...

While the Ramblers have a strong history they have hardly set the college basketball world on fire recently.  

Anyone else think the move was purely media-driven, to give the Valley a presence in the Windy City?  

I really hope that conference realignment quickly shifts away from "media-market opportunities" and more to quality of play.  I'm sure there will be a ton of TVs turning in to watch those epic Loyola vs. Indiana State battles or the Ramblers vs. Missouri State.  Could be a little bit of a boost for those Bradley or Illinois State alums living in the Chicago area I guess? 

MVC adding to the bottom. I don't get it.

These days, that's about all any of the conferences are doing.  I don't expect Rutgers and Maryland to be very competitive in the Big Tenfinity in any sport for a while.  They moved over simply for the money and to help the conference get a foothold in eastern TV markets. 

Maryland men and women should be competitive from day one.

Very surprised at this move by the Missouri Valley.  

This move by the MVC has a lot of people shaking their heads.  You go from Creighton to Loyola.  So what did the MVC just do?  They took a huge step toward insuring that they will become and remain a one bid league.  If I am the good folks in the Horizon League, I am on my knees thanking God right now.  In all likelihood Oakland will go into the Horizon in the very near future and in so doing will raise the RPI of the league instantly.  Secondly, Loyola going into the MVC will lower that conference's RPI instantly. 

A quick look at Loyola shows the following.  Their overall athletic budget this last year was $10,386,126.  Yes, they have been to the Big Dance in 5 seperate years, with the 1960's being very good for the program yeilding appearances in '63 (National Title), '64, '66 and '68.  Outside of that, since 1968 (45 years ago) they have been to the Big Dance once (1985).  That means one invite in 45 years or no invites in the last 38 years.  Their arena seats 5,200 but this past year they averaged 2277 per game attendance.  Their 10 year RPI average is an amazing 205.  In the last 20 years they have had a total of 6 seasons where they won at least 50% of their games ('97-'98 15-15, '99-'00 14-14, '01-'02 17-13, '05-'06 19-11, '06-'07 21-11 and '10-'11 16-15).  In the last 20 years their regular season record is a steller 252-338 or 42.7% win record.  And finally, they offer men sports in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track & field and volleyball.  

So why does the MVC take Loyola (Chicago) and pass on Belmont, Oral Roberts, Murray State or even Valpo, all of whom allegedly received campus visits from the MVC?  Talk about adding from the bottom.  And if you want to see irate, go to Wichita State's board.  At least the MVC will now be able to collectively brag about having a team who won the National Title (albeit 1963).  Go figure!

Finally, I agree with Borna.  If the MVC thinks this move will get them any of the Chicago tv market they need to stop kidding themselves or better yet, put down the crack bowl and back away from the liquor cabinet. 

One would have to assume that the MVC received a commitment from them that they will step up their commitment to improving their basketball program. 

On the women's side they are indeed making a splash. Sheryl Swoopes is the new HC.  Hope she makes the transition from player to coach better than our recently departed.

On the men's side they took the plunge a year ago and filled out the staff with Armon Gates, Jason Gardner and Malnati (who has Chicago area roots and MVC playing experience). I think they hit the ground running and did well with 8 scholarship players.

All I know is when Wichita hits Chicago I have every intention to get on the list to see one of our Muncie Central kids suit up for the Ramblers. THey may not win that one but it wil be a fun trip back up to the old neighborhood.....maybe I can even get Medler out of a HS gym for a night to a college game. Looking forward to seeing how Loyola fills their facility.

Not only basketball but they have to upgrade baseball from club status to the real deal. A hard thing to do especially in that climate. Baseball....they have to build or rent a stadium within yards of the lake and adjust their TITLE IX situation. The redone Gentile Center is by far the smallest arena in the Valley ( I suspect those Valley alums living in the Wndy will be bigger than the home crowds).....Loyola did a land grab recently and closed Hamilton's ....one of my oold favorite watering holes. WHile I am sure they are not done buying, I am not sure if they can find enough land to expand all the facilities they need. After years, no decades,  of languishing with their athletic programs the most recent Prez sees athletics as an essential part of establishing Identitiy on the landscape. THey are the largest of 28 Jesuit U, 20 of which play hooops. ...Boston College, Holy Cross, Fairfield, Fordham, Canisius, St. Peter's, St. Joseph's, Loyola ( Baltimore), Georgetown, Xavier, Detroit-Mercy, Loyola (Chicago), St. Louis, Gonzaga, Seattle, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Loyola-Marymount, Creighton, and Marquette. Some pretty interesting names there. The potential is there especially with a Prez that has shifted interest back to athletics as a marketing tool

That's already started.  And to suggest that a team that was competitive in the ACC is going to have problems being competitive in the Big Ten is laughable.  The Big Ten was better this year but it wasn't a wide gulf like you seem to suggest.  

You have to know what's been going on behind the scenes to understand what happened to Maryland after (and before) they won the championship.  The AD, Debbie Yow, did everything in her power to undermine Gary Williams.  She tried to get him fired numerous times including the year after they won the championship.  The year after they won it they had the lowest coaching payroll in the ACC.  The women's team had the highest.  The men's team requested 7 exceptions for admissions and were granted 1.  The women's team requested 8 exceptions and were granted 6.  That's only a small sample of things she did to screw him. Throw in the fact that Gary wouldn't play the AAU game and it turned into a less than perfect situation. 

And even with all that Maryland is something like 12-4 in their last 16 games against Big Ten teams.  They've got excellent facilities, a good athletic budget, a tremendous fanbase and now they have support from the administration.  And Mark Turgeon is flat out a good coach. 

Now if you were talking football I might be inclined to agree.

OUVan, I agree.  It is like the MAC taking UMass in football only and thinking that with UMass in football we will corner the Boston/NE market.  Or taking Buffalo and automatically thinking we just cornered the market not only in Buffalo but all of Western New York.  Or even holding on to EMU thinking that helps us get the Detroit market.  What makes matters worse for the MVC is that they apparently passed on either Belmont, Oral Roberts, Murray State or even Valpo to get to Loyola.  Go figure!