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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 /
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Members of the Loyola Ramblers hold the Missouri Valley Basketball Champions trophy (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Members of the Loyola Ramblers hold the Missouri Valley Basketball Champions trophy (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Sit tight or go recruiting?

Once Belmont joined the Valley, there have been constant rumors that the MVC Presidents’ Council was interested in adding more fire-power to the league. Belmont’s Ohio Valley Conference partner Murray State, who came in behind Valparaiso during the Valley’s last addition, has been hotly rumored to be on the Valley’s short-list.

The Racers are a basketball-centric sports department with a rabid fan base and not far geographically from several MVC campuses. Part of those rumors was connected to the idea that the league wasn’t enthusiastic about playing with an odd number (11) of teams.

While the Loyola announcement was becoming public, CBS Sports Networks’ Matt Norlander wrote a piece that named Murray, UT Arlington, and Kansas City as programs the league was actively recruiting.

Recently we had been led to believe that one, two, or even three new teams could be considering joining the Valley. With LUC’s departure, clearly, the need to clear up that odd number is no longer needful. The Valley could continue their current schedule of all teams playing other members twice could stay intact.

First-year Commissioner Jeff Jackson has shown the ability to think proactively and move aggressively. It shouldn’t surprise us if there are other new teams taking part in Arch Madness in 2023.

Realignment is a prominent theme in college athletics. For a writer/fan of the tradition, the history, and rivalries of college basketball, these moves diminish the game. Loyola was building a legacy in the Valley and now they will be a blip in the league’s history.

Recently Jacksonville State left the OVC and then within months left the ASUN where they had never played a game. Waves of realignment seem inevitable, and for this writer that is not a positive thing.