MBB: Midwest Conference

[doolittledog]

So...does the merry-go-round stop here with the addition of Cornell to the MWC?  Or are we about to see a major shake up within conferences around MN, IA, WI, IL? 

[Just Bill]

The only conference now that's in at an "uncomfortable" number is the MWC at 11. Especially difficult for football. I wonder if the MWC might look to add (or even subtract) one member somewhere.

[AndOne]

The only conference now that's in at an "uncomfortable" number is the MWC at 11. Especially difficult for football. I wonder if the MWC might look to add (or even subtract) one member somewhere.

While football may be somewhat screwed up by having 11 members, basketball would actually be in a fairly "good" position. Rather than playing 18 conference games, teams would now play 20 conference games, a nice even number. The thing I find "strange" about the Midwest Conference is that, I believe, the conference limits its teams to 23 games a year in the regular season, even though the NCAA allows 25. Accordingly, each team would be limited to only 3 non-conference games a year. Seems like such restrictive scheduling would put the conference in somewhat of a competitive disadvantage when it comes to recruiting. Not to mention "shorting" the kids by 4 games over their careers. Finances? Why else would schools want to "penalize" their athletes in this manner?

[Pat Coleman]

Eight games, not four.

I don't think basketball is in a good position. An odd number is never a great position for a conference that has been using travel partners.

[John Gleich]

It also will make things that much more difficult for local conferences who still need to get non-con games.  This will be two fewer opportunities for them to play teams that are close.

That said, it wasn't like there were a TON of games played by the MWC with conferences like the WIAC... there were 6 games in 10-11, compared with 11 each in the NathCon and MIAC and 10 with the UMAC.  Even the IIAC had 7.

6 was the number of WIAC/MWC games in 09/10 as well (versus 10 each for the UMAC, MIAC, and NWC and 9 with the NathCon.

[scottie]

It also will make things that much more difficult for local conferences who still need to get non-con games.  This will be two fewer opportunities for them to play teams that are close.

That said, it wasn't like there were a TON of games played by the MWC with conferences like the WIAC... there were 6 games in 10-11, compared with 11 each in the NathCon and MIAC and 10 with the UMAC.  Even the IIAC had 7.

6 was the number of WIAC/MWC games in 09/10 as well (versus 10 each for the UMAC, MIAC, and NWC and 9 with the NathCon.

Maybe the WIAC should stop padding their schedules by ducking the MWC......     

[The Roop]

Finances? Why else would schools want to "penalize" their athletes in this manner?

It has more to with travel schedules and missed class time. I would expect them to look for a 12th team. So if you're Rockford College, it's time to make a few phone calls.

[doolittledog]

Finances? Why else would schools want to "penalize" their athletes in this manner?

It has more to with travel schedules and missed class time. I would expect them to look for a 12th team. So if you're Rockford College, it's time to make a few phone calls.

Cornell joining the MWC will now have more travel and missed class time.

[Gregory Sager]

Eight games, not four.

I don't think basketball is in a good position. An odd number is never a great position for a conference that has been using travel partners.

I definitely agree. Bringing in Cornell all by itself is just plain awkward, no matter how you slice it.

Finances? Why else would schools want to "penalize" their athletes in this manner?

It has more to with travel schedules and missed class time. I would expect them to look for a 12th team. So if you're Rockford College, it's time to make a few phone calls.

Yep. The truncated regular-season schedule is part of the MWC's principle of holding itself to higher academic standards than its D3 peers, along with the restrictions on off-campus recruiting.

As for Rockford's chances of becoming the twelfth MWC school, can you make a percentage out of a negative number?

Cornell joining the MWC will now have more travel and missed class time.

Ironic, ain't it?

[Just Bill]

I think they are more likely to go down to 10, then up to 12. I don't know exactly who would leave or where they would go, but that feels more likely to me.

If they were going to add a 12th, I think MSOE applied and was rejected a few years ago. Maybe the MWC would be more willing to accept if MSOE is still willing to apply.

[The Roop]

If they get a 12th, here comes divisional scheduling again. MSOE won't be it as they don't have football and the MWC views them as a Technical College. Rockford isn't as high and mighty as the MWC would like but it is a sound institution, lots of pre-med students; etc. They are a good fit geographically and akademikally.

I suppose North Park would fit geographically too but it would take years for them to be competitive in the MWC 

[Gregory Sager]

If they get a 12th, here comes divisional scheduling again. MSOE won't be it as they don't have football and the MWC views them as a Technical College. Rockford isn't as high and mighty as the MWC would like but it is a sound institution, lots of pre-med students; etc. They are a good fit geographically and akademikally.

Rockford isn't a fiscally sound institution -- it came perilously close to closing its doors two or three years ago -- and if you ask around the MWC I think you'll find that the academic types are not keen to have another school that is not affiliated with the ACM join the league (Translation: Rockford doesn't cut the academic mustard).

I suppose North Park would fit geographically too but it would take years for them to be competitive in the MWC 

Competitiveness on the field of play doesn't seem to be a hindrance to MWC membership, as I noticed that the league is still letting Beloit hang around.

[The Roop]

Touche'. It took longer than I thought to hear it though. LOL.

If they don't get a 12th then who gets kicked to the curb ?? With another Iowa school coming in Grinnell is a safe bet to stay. St. Norbert and Carroll reportedly were looking elsewhere but nobody was interested. This could make Illinois College the odd man out because of distance but I've not heard any talk of them leaving.

Could get interesting and it could get stupid. I'm going with stupid.

[Just Bill]

At one time, I heard IC was looking to join the SLIAC, but the SLIAC looked at IC's new facilities and decided they wouldn't be a "good fit" (which loosely translates to, we're afraid they'll kick our ass).

I've had people tell me I'm crazy (and they could be right), but I could envision a scenario where St. Norbert College goes D-II and plays D-I ice hockey. Their travel will still suck in either the GLIAC or the GLVC, but they could join the WCHA for ice hockey which just lost Wisconsin and Minnesota to the new Big Ten hockey conference.

[doolittledog]

Unless they are already D1 in hockey, that scenario can't happen.  The NCAA put a stop to schools being D1 in 1 sport and D3 in others.  Those D2 schools in Minnesota and D3 Colorado College that have D1 hockey programs are grandfathered in. 

I'm wondering with the addition of Cornell if the ACM schools will start voting as a block for more and more athletic restrictions with the hope that will piss off the St. Norberts of the conference and force them to look for another conference all on their own instead of the ACM schools actually telling them to leave.