Missouri Valley considers replacements
by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports
Creighton hasn’t announced its departure from the Missouri Valley Conference – and probably won’t this week during the league’s basketball tournament – but informal conversations have already begun on a plan of action should they join the Catholic 7/Big East, as expected.
According to a person with direct knowledge of the league’s thinking, Denver and Belmont would have significant support as candidates to replace Creighton, with Loyola (Ill.) also getting consideration and Oral Roberts looming as a longshot with less support. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the league has not authorized anyone to speak publicly about the matter, and Creighton hasn’t officially given notice of a departure.
Creighton has been one of the Valley’s bellwether programs, with a strong fan base and eight NCAA tournament appearances in the past 13 years. The Valley won’t be able to replace Creighton with a comparable program, but the person with knowledge said preserving the league’s current public/private balance is important.
Ironically, Denver and Belmont have been caught up in the whirlwind of realignment already. Denver jumped from the Sun Belt to the WAC this season but announced it will join the Summit League in 2013-14. Belmont, which has been to five NCAA tournaments in the past seven years, jumped from the Atlantic Sun to the Ohio Valley this year. Both schools are among the favorites to win their respective league’s automatic NCAA tournament bids this week.
Loyola is intriguing because it would give the Valley an entrée into the Chicago area, but the program has struggled the past six years and hasn’t made the NCAA field since 1985.
It’s unclear whether Creighton would be invited to join the Catholic 7/Big East next season or in 2014-15.
… [For more on Missouri Valley considers replacements if Creighton leaves, click here.]
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