League Jumpers

[uwmfootball]

There has been a lot of talk on other boards (Detroit, Butler) about changing conferences, especially the A-10. I got me thinking about our situation. We arguably have the best OVERALL program in the HL, along with Butler and UIC, and we are in a decent-sized market.

www.digitaldestinies.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=1573

p204.ezboard.com/fbuhoopsfrm1.showMessage?topicID=7607.topic

Do you think that we would be a prspect for another conference? I am not say we should, but I want to get a discussion out of this.

[Hack]

The only conference I could see us jumping to in order to improve our basketball forturnes would be the MVC, which I would welcome in a heartbeat.

Don't see it happening anytime soon though.

[bball30]

I know basketball makes the most money, and draws the best fan support, however once again, basketball is not the only sport, weird huh? I think what uwmfootball was talking about was athletics in general, not just one specific sport.

[admin]

MVC is the best conference for UWM...for all of our programs. Especially our top attended mens and womens sports.

However, would the MVC, a conference of smaller rural cities, want to add a northern urban school to their conference?

Later,
UWMfreak

[Hack]

bball30 said:

I know basketball makes the most money, and draws the best fan support, however once again, basketball is not the only sport, weird huh? I think what uwmfootball was talking about was athletics in general, not just one specific sport.

Why do you think I specified it would improve our basketball fortunes? I didn't mention the other sports because I know it may not be beneficial for them.

[Craig]

lets just dominate in the conference were in now, and hopefully continue to do so, look at marquette, yea 2 years ago with dwayne wade they were killin everyone and the Big East came callin and i think they jumped on a little too quick, i no that they will get more money and possibly better recruits and what not going to a bigger conference, but look at them this year and last, there middle of the pack at best in conference USA, and with losing diener next year, i think there in for a load of hurt, why not just stay in the horizon and hopefully stay on top and win as many championships as we can, now if we keep this up for a longer period of time, like 5,6,7 years then try and switch.

[uwfenske aka hardhat]

Exactly craig,
This topic was discussed on the way to Purdue. Would we/people be saying the same thing about UWM switching to the MVC as what we/people are saying about Marquette switching to the Big East?
Sure the MVC is a 'better' conference with better competition, but we would not be at the top of the conf. every year. Remember UWM's success in the HL has only been in the last 4 years (approx.) Back when I was with the team (98-00), we were battling with UWGB and WSU for 4-6th place. BU and UIC who currently sit in the middle (approx.) of the HL, were the cream of the crop back then. Should they have switched just because they had a good run. Now they would be the at the bottom of the MVC.
All in all, I am happy that we are on an upswing. Enjoy the success that UWM has right now. I hope it can continue forever, but other than the Dukes/UNCs/high majors only stay at the top for a long long time.

[PANTHERfan]

i agree. a switch doesn't get us much right now. people need to understand that we're building something right now and it requires getting some history under our belt before we can even think about switching to a more notable conference. we may be down as a whole this year, but i doubt that will last long. just look at the recruiting classes milwaukee, gb, detroit, etc... have coming in next year. this conference won't be down for long.

[Hack]

Correct. I don't know what Detroit or Butler thinks they would gain by jumping to the A-10 ... and would the A-10 even want them?

Look at Valpo. They were absolutely pathetic back in the "old" Mid-Con with UWGB, Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois, UIC, etc., in the late 80s-early 90s.

But look at what they've done the past 10 years. They've dominanted that league and, despite the Mid-Con not being a great mid-major conference, Valpo is routinely considered one of the top mid-major programs out there.

I think a lot of it has to do with market-size too if a move to the MVC would be worth it.
Look at the big markets for Horizon teams: Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Indy, Cleveland.
Look at MVC markets: Carbondale, Evansville, Omaha, Peoria, Bloomington, etc.

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense to build UWM into an annual Horizon League power ... considering the success of other UWM teams, this has already been accomplished.

[dylanrocks]

There are a number of insightful comments here. Let's stay in the Horizon League and continue to be among the powers in nearly EVERY sport -- men's basketball, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's track, men's and women's cross country, baseball, women's basketball. Did I miss anyone?

[Hack]

Women's tennis ... oops, nevermind.

[kaygee]

With conference changes taking place next season in the Big East, ACC, CUSA, etc., changes are going to eventually trickle down to mid-major and low level D1 levels, especially with 8 D1 Independents that are going to be looking for conferences and more on the way (N. Dakota ST and South Dakota St.). It is possible a Butler or Detroit could move to the A-10 or a brand new conference for that matter. AS far as additions to the current Horizon League my initial choices off the top of my head would be Wichita State, UM-Kansas City, IUPUI and Valpo. I feel any or all would make sense.

I personally like a 12 team Horizon League that goes something like this, minus Youngstown:

West

UWM
UWGB
UIC
Loyola
UMKC
Wichita St.

East

Butler
Valpo
IUPUI
Detroit
Cleve. St.
Wright St.

Beyond that other choices could be Western Kentucky, Oakland, etc.

[dylanrocks]

Any plan that eliminates Youngstown is OK by me. They bring nothing to the table.

[ChiPanther]

I think the HL is the best fit for UWM right now, but just for discussion sake, how would we fare in the new CUSA? Look at their 2005-2006 members:

East Carolina
Houston
Memphis
Southern Miss
Tulane
UAB
Marshall
Rice
SMU
Tulsa
UCF
UTEP

I think Memphis, UAB, and UTEP are going to be the new powers, but I think we'd do alright. Also gain some national recognition if we had some success.

[Hack]

One problem ... no football. CUSA now has a football/basketball focus, with the departure of St. Louis, MU, DePaul, etc.