Busting Brackets
Fansided

Missouri Valley Basketball: Impact of Loyola Chicago moving to Atlantic Ten

By Harry Schroeder

Mar 7, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Loyola Ramblers pose for a photo after defeating the Drake Bulldogs in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Loyola Ramblers pose for a photo after defeating the Drake Bulldogs in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
Loyola Chicago
Former Head coach Porter Moser of the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Realignment continues to dominate college athletics. The next wave of team transfers was set in motion Tuesday when Loyola Chicago left the Missouri Valley Conference. The league’s best basketball program will be moving to the Atlantic Ten Conference.

Rambler athletics has benefited from its eight-plus years in the Valley. The basketball program has risen to national prominence under former coach Porter Moser. LUC’s Cinderella stories during March Madness have awakened basketball fans to their up-and-coming program.

Now, during its ninth Missouri Valley Basketball season, Loyola is moving to the A-Ten.

Ironically, conference realignment started with Oklahoma (Moser’s new university) and Texas moving to the Southeastern Conference. The tidal wave that created has literally changed the face of college athletics.

The Big Twelve reacted by raiding the American Athletic Conference and the waves are still rocking conferences big and small.

In September, Belmont University left the Ohio Valley Conference to join the Valley and the MVC looked as solid and protected as any conference in the nation. While several programs were rumored to be considering following Belmont into the league, suddenly the league’s best team is gone.

Why did Loyola Chicago abandon the league that became their launching pad to a national identity, and will the A-Ten be the great landing spot?

How will the Missouri Valley Conference react and respond to its third significant loss since 2013 when Creighton bolted for the Big East. Wichita State departed for the American in 2017. Belmont’s addition softens the blow to the league’s reputation, but what’s next?