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Post by letsgoeagles on Jul 1, 2023 15:53:09 GMT -6
I keep hearing that some fans would like Morehead to join the Horizon but they are an outlier in both conferences imo. Since EKU left, they are on an island in Eastern Kentucky. Other than a few schools near them, the others in the Horizon would be really far away. The main problem for Morehead is budget and location. They DO NOT fit with Horizon criteria which is large cities and average athletic budget in the mid to high teens. I believe Morehead has one of the lowest budgets in OVC now and they would be half many of the Horizon schools. Bellarmine fits better because it’s large city and bigger budget. USI would struggle to keep up budget wise as well. Agreed. USI is in the right place. I have zero problem with that. The OVC is not the SEC, but we don't have to be. I like our teams and our brand of basketball. If we can get to the level of a Murray State I will be drinking plenty of Jim Beam by then.
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Post by eagle87 on Jul 1, 2023 15:58:45 GMT -6
I keep hearing that some fans would like Morehead to join the Horizon but they are an outlier in both conferences imo. Since EKU left, they are on an island in Eastern Kentucky. Other than a few schools near them, the others in the Horizon would be really far away. The main problem for Morehead is budget and location. They DO NOT fit with Horizon criteria which is large cities and average athletic budget in the mid to high teens. I believe Morehead has one of the lowest budgets in OVC now and they would be half many of the Horizon schools. Bellarmine fits better because it’s large city and bigger budget. USI would struggle to keep up budget wise as well. Agreed. USI is in the right place. I have zero problem with that. The OVC is not the SEC, but we don't have to be. I like our teams and our brand of basketball. If we can get to the level of a Murray State I will be drinking plenty of Jim Beam by then. Agree with you. We are not the SEC, but we know who we are and don’t try to pretend we are bigger than that. I would rather stay in a conference I can contend for top 5 every year. The last thing I want for USI is to become a cellar dweller and a punch line for other conference member fans.
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Post by shorthaircut on Jul 1, 2023 16:01:11 GMT -6
Agreed. USI is in the right place. I have zero problem with that. The OVC is not the SEC, but we don't have to be. I like our teams and our brand of basketball. If we can get to the level of a Murray State I will be drinking plenty of Jim Beam by then. Agree with you. We are not the SEC, but we know who we are and don’t try to pretend we are bigger than that. I would rather stay in a conference I can contend for top 5 every year. The last thing I want for USI is to become a cellar dweller and a punch line for other conference member fans. And we would be without massive changes….
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Post by eaglepride on Jul 1, 2023 16:32:10 GMT -6
I keep hearing that some fans would like Morehead to join the Horizon but they are an outlier in both conferences imo. Since EKU left, they are on an island in Eastern Kentucky. Other than a few schools near them, the others in the Horizon would be really far away. The main problem for Morehead is budget and location. They DO NOT fit with Horizon criteria which is large cities and average athletic budget in the mid to high teens. I believe Morehead has one of the lowest budgets in OVC now and they would be half many of the Horizon schools. Bellarmine fits better because it’s large city and bigger budget. USI would struggle to keep up budget wise as well. If I remember right on my research when USI was looking at D1 the OVC schools budget was around $12 million and the Horizon League schools budget was around $18 million.
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Post by eagle87 on Jul 1, 2023 17:22:17 GMT -6
That’s correct. Most are the the upper teens - 16-19mil/year for Horizon. That’s a huge differential compared to OVC budgets. What makes it even larger difference is that those OVC budgets include football where as Horizon budgets do not. Imo USI and Morehead don’t have that much to spend at this time. I say we should stay put for the near future until/unless something happens with our fundraising.
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Post by eagle87 on Jul 7, 2023 15:17:21 GMT -6
UT Martin gets another strong player. The ovc has loaded up from the portal this Summer. Should be another competitive year in the league.
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Post by eagle87 on Jul 7, 2023 15:21:30 GMT -6
USI getting an additional assistant coach. Part of the D1 transition.
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Post by shorthaircut on Jul 7, 2023 15:22:26 GMT -6
UT Martin gets another strong player. The ovc has loaded up from the portal this Summer. Should be another competitive year in the league. UT Martin is going to be really good this year, along with several other program. We have our hands full this year, which we all knew.
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Post by eagle87 on Jul 7, 2023 15:24:09 GMT -6
Agree, but should make our conference better overall vs. other mid majors.
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Post by shorthaircut on Jul 7, 2023 15:29:15 GMT -6
Agree, but should make our conference better overall vs. other mid majors. Yes, even after all the portal departures, this league will be much better top to bottom next year.
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Post by letsgoeagles on Jul 7, 2023 15:50:14 GMT -6
Issa Muhammed was one of several individuals who were present with the fatal shooting involving one of his teammates. I don't know if Issa was involved with any of the hazing that happened at NMS. You want to talk about a toxic environment! I certainly hope UT-Martin did a complete background check on this guy. I'd be very cautious.
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Post by eagle87 on Jul 11, 2023 20:42:25 GMT -6
This is an outstanding article from Father Harry who covers OVC and MVC sports. He is very complimentary of USI and said he believes Screaming Eagle Arena is perhaps the best facility in the OVC. He also talks about how the conference is stable now and academic success has improved recently. Hope everyone takes a look at this.
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Post by eagle87 on Jul 11, 2023 20:47:33 GMT -6
Harry calls the SEA spectacular. I agree. While not the biggest by seating capacity it offers the close up views and hostile atmosphere. Attachments:
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Post by letsgoeagles on Jul 11, 2023 20:52:16 GMT -6
Great read. Makes me even prouder USI is in the OVC This league will continue to get better.
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Post by eagle87 on Jul 11, 2023 20:56:18 GMT -6
Great read. Makes me even prouder USI is in the OVC This league will continue to get better. Agree 100%. Give us and Lindenwood 3 more years to get out of transition jail and we will be fighting for top 5 most years.
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