Will the MVC Play This Year

Commissioner Hopes For the Best

(St. Louis, MO) – Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin hopes for the best for this year’s college basketball season, but admits everything is up in the air. Local communities, state governments have more to say about the future of the league than Elgin.

While we all watch the coronavirus numbers grow and states move from one phase of re-opening and then back to partial shutdowns, we’re left with questions. Can any sport march forward? Major League Baseball hopes to have a July 24^th ‘Opening Day’. The NBA and NHL are working toward a conclusion of last season.

However, several colleges have shut down voluntary workouts due to covid-19 outbreaks.

Valley schools are in different places. Some campuses have been open for workouts, while Loyola Chicago is on shutdown. Porter Moser isn’t allowed to go to work.

Elgin – Not Comfortable Right Now

Commissioner Elgin says he wouldn’t be comfortable with playing an athletic season, if one had to start right now. The veteran league leader says the health and safety of all concerned are the top priorities. The MVC’s fall sports schedule is obviously more in doubt than the winter season, but everything is on the table.

During a conference call with Valley reporters, Elgin says it’s too early to know what will happen, but also says the next two to three weeks will be a decision-making time. Answering the question about being comfortable right now, he said ‘no’.

He went on to describe some protocols that need to be in place.

 

 

Making Adjustments – Financially and Scheduling

Coronavirus isn’t the only challenge facing leagues like the Valley. Elgin says potential rule changes, limited resources and the pandemic are making things difficult for the MVC. Scheduling is a difficult task for Valley schools, and during the pandemic, it has proven even more difficult.

 

 

Several top level league employees have taken pay-cuts and they have looked for ways to implement cost-cutting measures. The Valley and its members lost nearly $10 million due to the cancellation of last season’s NCAA Tournament. So far, they have been able to endure those losses, and Elgin says the league office is trying to plan for every possible covid inspired adjustment. He hopes for the best.

 

 

OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche told us similar things last month.

 

What About Television Packages?

One key component to every question about sports is television coverage. Elgin says the Valley has to ‘wait their turn’ concerning TV coverage. He is already in contact with CBS SportsNetwork, Fox Sports Midwest and ESPN, but there are no immediate answers. Elgin hopes for the best when he considers fans being able to attend games.

 

 

Returning Talent

The Commissioner is bullish about the conference’s returning talent. Four All-league players, A.J. Green and Austin Phyfe of Northern Iowa, Loyola’s Cameron Krutwig and Indiana State’s Tyreke Key return. They are joined by ‘Freshman of the Year’, SIU’s Marcus Domask and fellow all-freshman team members, Donovan Clay (Valparaiso), LUC’s Marquise Kennedy, Indiana State’s Jake LaRavia and Illinois State’s D.J. Horne.

While losing standouts Javon Freeman-Liberty (Valpo), Liam Robbins (Drake) and Evansville’s DeAndre Williams to transfer, arguably two of the league’s best players return after injury-slowed seasons. Bradley’s Elijah Childs and Missouri State’s Gaige Prim will contend for ‘Player of the Year’ honors with UNI’s Green and others.

Do Good