Missouri announced Friday that it will leave the Missouri Valley Conference and head to Conference USA after the 2024-25 season.
It's mostly soccer moves. In the world of basketball, it's like a step down the ladder from the MVC. But with them gone, the Valley will be left with 11 teams, an odd number and not the teams the league prefers.
So who will be the next 12th team for the 2025-26 season? Will the league seek to maintain a 6-6 public/private ratio in membership? Which school is best for you? Here are some possible candidates to speculate on:
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wright state
The Horizon League team went 18-14 (13-7) last season under head coach Scott Nagy, now new at the helm of Southern Illinois. They will play at the 12,000-seat Nutter Center (Dayton Market) in Fairborn, Ohio. He will play in the NCAA Tournament in 2022.
northern kentucky
The Horizon League team had an 18-15 record (12-8) last season under head coach Darrin Horne. They will play at the 9,400-seat Twist Arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The Norse have won the Horizon Championship four times and appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2017, 2019 and 2023. NKU lost to Bradley's opponents, Akron (77-76) and Cleveland State (88). -85 OT), Illinois State (62-59).
Texas-Arlington
The Western Athletic Conference team went 20-14 (13-7) last season under head coach KT Turner. They played a schedule that included Texas and Arizona. They lost twice in the regular season to Tarleton State by two points (Team BU lost by 23 points), but were expelled from the conference tournament.
The Mavericks were part of the Valley's wish list during the transition period that saw UIC, Belmont and Murray State join the league two seasons ago. It's an appealing idea for the Valley, who play at the 7,000-seat College Park Center in Arlington and park just 40 minutes outside the huge market of Dallas.
morehead state
The Ohio Valley Conference team went 26-9 (14-4) last season under head coach Preston Spradlin. They play in his 6,500-seat Ellis T. Johnson Arena on campus. Morehead won the OVC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, knocking out the University of Illinois 85-69.
oral roberts
The Summit League team went 12-19 (5-11) last season under head coach Russ Springman. Golden's Eagles, who play at the 10,575-seat Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have made his seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament, most recently in 2023 and his 2021 Sweet 16 team. doing. The program has also participated in his NIT eight times. Oral Roberts' schedule included a loss to a ranked Texas A&M team and a loss to outgoing Valley team Missouri State (84-69).
eastern kentucky
The ASUN team had a record of 17-14 (12-4) last season under head coach AW Hamilton. They will play at the 6,500-seat Alumni Coliseum in Richmond, Kentucky. Their schedule included games against Purdue and Alabama.
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Nebraska-Omaha
The Summit League Conference team went 15-18 (7-9) last season under head coach Chris Crutchfield. They will play at the 7,898-seat Baxter Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.
st thomas
The Summit League Conference team went 20-13 (9-7) last season under head coach Johnny Tauer. They will play at the 2,000-seat Schonecker Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota.
austin pea
The ASUN team won 19-16 (10-6) under head coach Corey Gipson. They have won eight regular-season conference championships, but not since 2008. They won the conference tournament in 2016, making their seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament. They will play at the 5,500-seat F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee.
University of Missouri Kansas City
The Summit League team went 16-16 (10-6) under head coach Marvin Menzies. They played a schedule that included Baylor, Colorado State, and Kansas State. And they will perform at his UMKC Campus Recreation, circa 1941, on his 1,500-seat campus in Kansas City.
bellarmine
The ASUN team finished a tough year under longtime head coach Scott Davenport with an 8-23 record (4-12). His total record is 421 wins and 171 losses. They perform at the 18,000-seat Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.
Dave Eminian is a sports columnist for the Journal Star, covering Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes his sports column “Cleve In The Eve” for pjstar.com. Contact him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him at X.com @icetimecleve.