Tired of Valley bashers

[Wushockduke]

OK.
I am getting tired of reading media, other posts on news sites, etc., about how the Valley is garbage, not strong schedules, etc., etc., etc.

From what I can tell, its a pretty decent conference, and gets bashed anyway. Greg McDermott had an interview on Yahoo in the last week or so, and they asked him about the mighty Big East and such a step up in competition, and to McDermott's credit, he basically said the Valley is a tough conference and is underappreciated.

The past 15-20 years, I believe half of the Valley schools have made Sweet 16 runs. Tulsa in the mid 90's, Missouri State late 90's I believe, Southern Illinois, Bradley, Wichita State, Northern Iowa. I wonder how many conferences cay say half the schools have made a decent tourney run in the past 20 years? I realize the bigger conferences probably do, but if I had time I could go research that, and I would bet it would be surprising of what conferences where maybe that is not true.

Anyway, anybody else get tired of this? I see these people bash the Valley, but then when it comes time to schedule non conf games, the Valley is digging around trying to get a good schedule, because many schools don't want to play Valley schools, especially on the road. I especially get tired of it around Kansas, because lots of Kansas fans think they are "the HARVARD of the Midwest." Its annoying. I cheer for all Kansas schools, of course Wichita State first and foremost, but I don't go around bashing Kansas when they lose a game they should not have or something. Kansas does not want to play Wichita State, fine, whatever, but then don't go bash the Shockers schedule either. I may start another post about that topic itself, playing other Div I in state schools, maybe later.

I would be interested in your comments.

[Wufan]

This is just a bit of a down year for the conference as a whole and it is compounded by the fact that last year's regular season and post season champion took it's All-American and went to another good non-BCS conference. Additionally, while we are usually the 7th to 10th best conference, the separation of the big east into the big priest and AAC has added another good conference pushing the Valley to the 11th best conference.

There are three things I can see that will help conference perception:

1) Publicity. WSU (or any other MVC team) needs to constantly be in the top 25. Also winning big games either in the NCAA tournament or in exempt pre-con tourney's. Always having our brand in front of the casual basketball fan helps to build a sense of belonging.

2) Schedule up. Each school can't expect to play the 250th best non-con and get any respect. If all or most of the schools do that, then there is no opportunity to improve your resume in the conference games. Instead, it appears that bad teams are just beating other bad teams.

3) Just Win! If we win non-con games, even against mediocre competition, we will be hard to ignore. Schedule competitively and beat the middling BCS schools, and top end schools from other conferences such as the AAC, Big East, MWC, WCC, etc.

[uniftw]

This is just a bit of a down year for the conference as a whole and it is compounded by the fact that last year's regular season and post season champion took it's All-American and went to another good non-BCS conference. Additionally, while we are usually the 7th to 10th best conference, the separation of the big east into the big priest and AAC has added another good conference pushing the Valley to the 11th best conference.

There are three things I can see that will help conference perception:

1) Publicity. WSU (or any other MVC team) needs to constantly be in the top 25. Also winning big games either in the NCAA tournament or in exempt pre-con tourney's. Always having our brand in front of the casual basketball fan helps to build a sense of belonging.

2) Schedule up. Each school can't expect to play the 250th best non-con and get any respect. If all or most of the schools do that, then there is no opportunity to improve your resume in the conference games. Instead, it appears that bad teams are just beating other bad teams.

3) Just Win! If we win non-con games, even against mediocre competition, we will be hard to ignore. Schedule competitively and beat the middling BCS schools, and top end schools from other conferences such as the AAC, Big East, MWC, WCC, etc.

UNI played the 14th toughest OOC SOS...or something like that.

Sadly we didn't win as many as we should have/wanted too.

The conference is BAD this year and we are still right there as a 8-11 rated conference. I don't know if that says more about the strength of the conference or the shittiness of other conferences though

[Wufan]

This is just a bit of a down year for the conference as a whole and it is compounded by the fact that last year's regular season and post season champion took it's All-American and went to another good non-BCS conference. Additionally, while we are usually the 7th to 10th best conference, the separation of the big east into the big priest and AAC has added another good conference pushing the Valley to the 11th best conference.

There are three things I can see that will help conference perception:

1) Publicity. WSU (or any other MVC team) needs to constantly be in the top 25. Also winning big games either in the NCAA tournament or in exempt pre-con tourney's. Always having our brand in front of the casual basketball fan helps to build a sense of belonging.

2) Schedule up. Each school can't expect to play the 250th best non-con and get any respect. If all or most of the schools do that, then there is no opportunity to improve your resume in the conference games. Instead, it appears that bad teams are just beating other bad teams.

3) Just Win! If we win non-con games, even against mediocre competition, we will be hard to ignore. Schedule competitively and beat the middling BCS schools, and top end schools from other conferences such as the AAC, Big East, MWC, WCC, etc.

UNI played the 14th toughest OOC SOS...or something like that.

Sadly we didn't win as many as we should have/wanted too.

The conference is BAD this year and we are still right there as a 8-11 rated conference. I don't know if that says more about the strength of the conference or the shittiness of other conferences though

No qualms about UNI's schedule. Wish they could have beat more teams in the 75-150 RPI though

[uniftw]

This is just a bit of a down year for the conference as a whole and it is compounded by the fact that last year's regular season and post season champion took it's All-American and went to another good non-BCS conference. Additionally, while we are usually the 7th to 10th best conference, the separation of the big east into the big priest and AAC has added another good conference pushing the Valley to the 11th best conference.

There are three things I can see that will help conference perception:

1) Publicity. WSU (or any other MVC team) needs to constantly be in the top 25. Also winning big games either in the NCAA tournament or in exempt pre-con tourney's. Always having our brand in front of the casual basketball fan helps to build a sense of belonging.

2) Schedule up. Each school can't expect to play the 250th best non-con and get any respect. If all or most of the schools do that, then there is no opportunity to improve your resume in the conference games. Instead, it appears that bad teams are just beating other bad teams.

3) Just Win! If we win non-con games, even against mediocre competition, we will be hard to ignore. Schedule competitively and beat the middling BCS schools, and top end schools from other conferences such as the AAC, Big East, MWC, WCC, etc.

UNI played the 14th toughest OOC SOS...or something like that.

Sadly we didn't win as many as we should have/wanted too.

The conference is BAD this year and we are still right there as a 8-11 rated conference. I don't know if that says more about the strength of the conference or the shittiness of other conferences though

No qualms about UNI's schedule. Wish they could have beat more teams in the 75-150 RPI though

Agreed. Up by double digits on Maryland and Iowa State. Those two wins alone would have UNI squarely in at large position right now...also would have boosted rpi and sos by beating Maryland.

This UNI team is MUCH better now than it was in December. That team struggled to over come a small in game slump and would let it snowball....if last nights have was 3 weeks ago UNI loses by 10-15. Instead we finished on a 18-5 run the last 4 minutes to win by 10.

UNI always plays a highly rated OOC. it's why they usually enter conference play at 7/8-6ish. Could schedule like ISUr, Drake, SIU, etc... and be a 10 win team entering conference but what good does that do. Doesn't prepare for conference grind at all....over 10 years since the last PIG for UNI

[PowderBlue]

Eastern Illinois and IUPUI are teams who don't ever need to show up on ISUb schedule again after next year. Ball State (who I thought would be a top 125-150 opponent this year) has just been awful and gives the Sycs three opponents in the 300 RPI range. Awful.

On the flip side, Lansing has been very public with his thoughts that BCS schools in Indiana don't want to schedule ISUb. There was an article put out this year after the ND game in which Lansing said they contact every DI Men's basketball program in Indiana on a yearly basis.

As far as disrespect to the valley...I've just stopped caring. Just win.

[Wushockduke]

I remember in 2006, though, two teams in the Sweet 16 from the Valley, and the next season, same old thing, people had already forgot. I think the TV/Media like CBS really blows it out of proportion too, every year there are upsets in the tourney, and CBS starts talking about how UNBELIEVABLE it is. Well CBS, it happens EVERY YEAR, so really not that surprising. But the general Joe public thinks that when its preached to them all year by the talking heads.

[KC MVC FAN]

OK.
I am getting tired of reading media, other posts on news sites, etc., about how the Valley is garbage, not strong schedules, etc., etc., etc.

Anyway, anybody else get tired of this? I see these people bash the Valley, but then when it comes time to schedule non conf games, the Valley is digging around trying to get a good schedule, because many schools don't want to play Valley schools, especially on the road. I especially get tired of it around Kansas, because lots of Kansas fans think they are "the HARVARD of the Midwest." Its annoying. I cheer for all Kansas schools, of course Wichita State first and foremost, but I don't go around bashing Kansas when they lose a game they should not have or something. Kansas does not want to play Wichita State, fine, whatever, but then don't go bash the Shockers schedule either. I may start another post about that topic itself, playing other Div I in state schools, maybe later.
I would be interested in your comments.

This is an age old issue---instate major universities not scheduling smaller instate teams. So, for fun and games you math/RPI/SOS/Ditto Heads do a routine of your MVC team playing your state's major university teams. Recommend you do it for the most recent five years (2010 through 2014 seasons) to iron out ups and downs. Should also be done for home and away games each season, and done against each of you major DI universities. FOR EXAMPLE:

2010 KU at WSU and WSU at KU
KSU at WSU and WSU at KSU
2011 KU at WSU and WSU at KU
KSU at WSU and WSU at KSU (continue through 2014 season)

2010 ISU at UNI and UNI at ISU
Iowa at UNI and UNI at IOWA
Same 5 year format and home and away for DRAKE and ISU and Iowa, all Illinois MVC school versus Illinois and Northwestern, all Indiana MVC schools versus INU, Purdue, and ND, MSU versus MIZZOU.

Have Fun!!! Be truthful

[m-v-c]

OK.
I am getting tired of reading media, other posts on news sites, etc., about how the Valley is garbage, not strong schedules, etc., etc., etc.

From what I can tell, its a pretty decent conference, and gets bashed anyway. Greg McDermott had an interview on Yahoo in the last week or so, and they asked him about the mighty Big East and such a step up in competition, and to McDermott's credit, he basically said the Valley is a tough conference and is underappreciated.

The past 15-20 years, I believe half of the Valley schools have made Sweet 16 runs. Tulsa in the mid 90's, Missouri State late 90's I believe, Southern Illinois, Bradley, Wichita State, Northern Iowa. I wonder how many conferences cay say half the schools have made a decent tourney run in the past 20 years? I realize the bigger conferences probably do, but if I had time I could go research that, and I would bet it would be surprising of what conferences where maybe that is not true.

Anyway, anybody else get tired of this? I see these people bash the Valley, but then when it comes time to schedule non conf games, the Valley is digging around trying to get a good schedule, because many schools don't want to play Valley schools, especially on the road. I especially get tired of it around Kansas, because lots of Kansas fans think they are "the HARVARD of the Midwest." Its annoying. I cheer for all Kansas schools, of course Wichita State first and foremost, but I don't go around bashing Kansas when they lose a game they should not have or something. Kansas does not want to play Wichita State, fine, whatever, but then don't go bash the Shockers schedule either. I may start another post about that topic itself, playing other Div I in state schools, maybe later.

I would be interested in your comments.

You're exactly right, the lousiness of the MVC gets overrated, even on this board. This is considered a rebuilding year and the league is still arguably a top 10 conference, no worse than 11th. WSU is a legit top 10 team & Final 4 contender, Indiana St., MSU, UNI, Dayton all have significant non-conference wins, Drake & Illinois St. have been pleasant surprises. Not always the consistency that would like and a few teams were poorer out of conference than should have been, but overall it's still not a 'bad' league.

But the general media-many of whom are blinded by their love of BCS schools-would much rather go with cheap stereotypes than a researched opinion, and in their eyes when Creighton left it became a 'terrible' league. If anything, CU's play should show just how tough the MVC was in the past, and even now a team like Indiana State deserves at least a little national respect, but again, for too many media you can't let facts get in the way of a good stereotype. Guess have just gotten used to it, but doesn't make it any more right.

[Cdizzle]

WSU is a legit top 10 team & Final 4 contender, Indiana St., MSU, UNI, Dayton all have significant non-conference wins, Drake & Illinois St. have been pleasant surprises.

1. Dayton is not in the Valley.
2. What MSU non-conference win is "significant"?