Notebook: IUPUI & Valparaiso Make Conference Changes
Today, IUPUI announced that they will replace Valparaiso in the Horizon League. It is a chain of events that started months back when Valparaiso announce they were making the switch from the Horizon League to the Missouri Valley Conference.
This is a big move for both schools. More so for Valparaiso who goes from one of the best teams year in and year out in the Horizon League to, at least early on, a middle of the road team in the Valley. It is a move that will put Valparaiso in a position where they will no longer have to just win the conference outright to be able to make the tournament. The MVC in years past has been able to get other programs outside of the Conference Champion in the NCAA Tournament.
They will still have to perform enough to be worthy but like this past season, Valparaiso was the Regular Season Conference Champion but lost in the Conference Tournament with Northern Kentucky winning the Tournament and making it to the NCAA Tournament. Both Oakland and Valparaiso both were outstanding and could have been an At-Large team if they were in another league. Now with the move, Valparaiso could potentially be in that position next year.
As for IUPUI, they move out of one of the worst leagues in the country to the Horizon League. This isn’t a big move but it will definitely improve their Conference Strength-of-Schedule. It will also be a little bit of an easier travel schedule as they no longer have to go up to the Dakotas for games. They stay in the Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Kentucky range. From a financial standpoint, this makes quite a bit of sense as well as helping to improve their resume.
Another angle to look at is the style of play. While head coach Jason Gardner’s offense was solid within the Summit League, it may do even better in the Horizon. It’s a little more athletic and upbeat which plays into the guards in his system. He has smaller big men that like to run and if there is a concern, that might be the only part. Can his big men keep up in that league or will their lack of dominant size really hurt their progress. Either way, it is a better long term fit for the program.
Overall, this is a good move for both programs for different reasons. It will obviously change the level of talent both schools try to go after a bit as they either conform or try to take advantage of different styles of play. Anytime you can move up to a better level of play it should help.