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Missouri Valley

It’s Valpo!!

(St. Louis, MO) – Valparaiso University is the newest member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Late Monday night, university presidents from the Valley elected to replace now departed Wichita State with the Crusader program that has been the Horizon League’s best team for most of the last 20 years. For Valpo it is a step up from the 19th best college basketball league (according to RealTimeRPI) to the 12th.

The Valley’s official statement was short and succinct.

The Missouri Valley Conference Presidents Council has unanimously voted to extend a membership invitation to Valparaiso University, effective July 1, 2017.  There will be no further comment pending the negotiation of terms.

After much speculation that the league could add multiple teams, the presidents decided one was good enough…. for now. Rumors persist that the league will look to add more teams in the near future. This statement by Missouri State President Cliff Smart makes us believe those rumors.

 

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Valparaiso was 24-9 last season and has averaged nearly 24 wins per season over the last five years. The Crusaders have advanced to post season play seven straight seasons, including two NCAA Tournaments.

Not receiving an invitation to join the Valley were hopeful Murray State, UW-Milwaukee and Nebraska-Omaha. Murray State seemed to be one of the top favorites to join the MVC, but were left at the altar by the Valley vote.

MSU Athletic Director Allen Ward says Racer athletics had been hopeful about the opportunity to play in a higher quality league, but they also believe the Ohio Valley Conference is growing into a much higher caliber league of its own.

I am in no way disappointed by the news or have any regrets being involved in the process,” said Ward. “Our goals and objectives to graduate our student-athletes, win championships, promote this great university, and be a player on the national scene have not changed and wer never reliant on the outcome today.”

In the end, the Valley chose to stand pat at ten teams and by all accounts Valparaiso, who they passed over in 2013 while adding Loyola, was the strongest candidate.

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Flooding, lightning strikes, etc. have cost @RacersHoops two home games. Had to play 'neutral site' tonight instead of at home and Wednesday's goes from home to away. Tough break for the Racers, and the whole area has been hit with difficulties. #FatherHarry

Josh Betts @BettsOnSports

Murray State's scheduled home game Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois being moved to Banterra Center in Carbondale. #ValleyHoops

Gigantic game for @BradleyUMBB today in Des Moines. If they have a chance to catch @DrakeBulldogsMB, they have to win today. The Bulldogs can basically win the title today. @BustingBrackets breaks it all down. #FatherHarry https://bit.ly/3EGiVgi

Not rooting for any particular @ValleyHoops, but chaos is always fun. If things break certain ways, after today there could be a six-way tie for fifth place.

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