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pnthr30 · 11-13-2003, 02:50 PM

Has anyone else heard that Murray State may be the next HL team? I have heard that Valpo and Murray State are the top two possibilities. How are they this year? They have a pretty decent basketball program if I am not mistaken.

**HKF** · 11-13-2003, 03:06 PM

Both have strong basketball programs. When you look at them the proximity is there for both as Murray State is in Northern Kentucky and Valpo is in Indiana.

If I had to vote, I would ask Valpo to come. I think they fit in with the ideals of the conference and with Homer Drew back in charge they will always have a strong program. They wouldn't be at the top of the conference every year (they basically go to the dance all the time) like they are in the Mid-Con, but they would be very competitive in the conference.

Ohio:
Wright State, Cleveland State, Youngstown State
Indiana:
Butler, Valparaiso (new member)
Michigan:
Detroit
Illinois:
Illinois-Chicago, Loyola-Chicago
Wisconsin:
Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-Green Bay

That gives the league a strong even league with 10 members who all have the same type of mission statements for their universities.

An 18 game conference schedule will be a plus and 9 non-conference games (depending on exempted tournaments) will be fine.

If this happens, I don't doubt that the Horizon can get 3 teams into the dance every couple of years. This conference really keeps getting better. Makes me wonder if Butler had Communications and Finance would if I have gone there instead of Bradley.

Now my only question is, Do you have a link at all?

CigarBoy · 11-13-2003, 08:41 PM

Northern Kentucky University and Morehead State are in Northern Kentucky. Murray State is about 4 hrs south of Cincy near Paducah, KY.

Valpo has been looked at by the HL and was not offered a membership spot because after basketball their sports are very underfunded. All the schools in the HL have similar athletic budgets. The HL is about more than just basketball and it is a very solid league. So they will be picky about the filing the 10th spot.

There is a audio interview with WSU AD Mike Cusack on RaiderRoundball.com where he talks about the HL and expansion. It is a good interview. He is or at least used to be chairman of the HL expansion committee.

bballraider · 11-14-2003, 02:01 PM

CB, from what I got from Cusak's interview, is that last time the other athletics played a major role in Youngstown state being added, but this time there really aren't any major aspects outside of basketball that need to be addressed, so the prospective schools being looked at will mainly be based on their basketball team's current level, potential and resources the school has.

I also read on another messageboard (so take it with a grain of salt) that Valpo has an open invitation to the HL, but their AD is currently against joining. I think Valpo, Murray State or Western Kentucky will be good fits into the HL. What the heck, lets just invite all three.

CigarBoy · 11-14-2003, 03:53 PM

BBR.....no the HL will still look at other factors like athletic budget size, maybe stability and if they have football. I think Cusack mentions budget size in his interview. I wish I would have seen your post earlier because I talked with him for a few minutes today. We were just talking about our books we are both writing, there was no talk of HL expansion.

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