KC MVC FAN wrote:Interesting piece in Yahoo Sports (NCAABB). Bill Self still feels a series with Wichita State isn’t in Kansas’ best interest.
I have lived in Kansas for 33 years. KU has been great basketball almost every year under great coaches: Larry Brown, Roy Williams and Bill self. Wichita State is a second tier university currently having great success under coach Greg Marshal--not nearly as often as KU--or even Kansas State. When, and not if, Marshal leave WSU for a bigger school and a much bigger paycheck, WSU will return to being a second class program in a second tier conference (the Missouri Valley Conference)(with all second tier member schools). Self is right to not get into any kind of contract--or even a one time game. Yes WSU is doing good now and may even beat KU. But, a one game success by WSU would lead them to argue for a long term time contract--which, if they can't continue their current success, becomes an anchor around KU's neck. This same discussion has been going on in Kansas for at least the past 33 years. If WSU has outgrown the MVC competition, they need to get a football team and join another conference. They have 1 and 1/2 D1 mens' athletics program (BB and baseball)(no FB, no wrestling, no soccer, track and field???? no etc.)
Just for the purposes of correction, There are only a handful of schools currently paying more than WSU pays Marshall, 1.75 million. He turned down over 2 million to coach UCLA. Turgeon had some success at WSU prior to Marshall including a sweet 16. Prior to that we were pretty good in the 80s as well. KU has been more successful than WSU, and an argument could be made that KSU has had equal success, but I would argue that.
KC MVC FAN wrote:Why???? I have a team in the MV----MO State--previously SMS--a 1965 SMS grad. Probably the best BB history in the MVC---at least in the 50s, 60, ands 70s (2 NAIA National Championships, one NAIA 3rd place finish, 3 or 4 NCAA small college/D2 2nd place trophies (I was sitting in a jungle clearing in 19677 trying to get a score on the SMS vs Winston Salem D2 championship game--won by WS with future NBA great Earl "the pearl" Monroe. Hell, 75% of the people on this forum weren't even born before 1967). And yes I know, not so hot MSU BB history since--but still, similar number of visits to "Big Dance" as most other MVC schools.
In the 50s and 60s, when MSU was having great success, the MVC was the best conference in the country with Cinci winning two National Championships (and three more final fours), but at that time WSU had an E8 and a final four team, Bradley had 2 F4 and an E8, Drake had 2 E8s and an F4. Heck, even Loyola had a National Championship. I imagine that if WSU, Bradley, and Drake had been in the teacher's college division that they might have had some success. Meanwhile, the Bears haven't been to the dance this century. I just don't think a sane person would come to the same conclusions as you.
