But one of the biggest and long standing rivalries on USI’s basketball schedule will be no more starting in the 2013-2014 season.
If the move is complete, the Panthers are in talks of forming a new conference with several schools from Ohio among others.
“From a conference stand point you hate to see schools from the eastern division leave,” Athletic Director Jon Mark Hall said. “It’s disappointing because they have been such a great rival, especially in men’s basketball.”
The Great Lakes Valley conference will be losing one of the original members.
“You hate to see one of the founding members take off, but they have to do what they have to do,” Hall said.
Not only is the game between the Panthers and the Eagles crucial for the men’s basketball team, but it also key to the women’s teams as well.
“We are going to play whoever the league tells us to play when it comes to the Great Lakes Valley Conference,” women’s head basketball coach Rick Stein said.
“You hate to see a member like Wesleyan not going to be a part of the conference anymore,” Stein said. “It’s been a special rivalry between our school and their school.”
Both schools are working out a plan to be able to schedule each other after the 2014 season. Although it will not be a conference game, the rivalry can still continue after Kentucky Wesleyan vacates the Great Lakes Valley and joins another league.
