How many losses for WSU+UNI?

by **rlh04d** » February 11th, 2015, 8:21 pm

With WSU and UNI both up by 14+ at halftime over the #3/4 teams in the Valley, I was starting to wonder if this might be the best top two separation in Valley history.

Obviously the Evansville loss for UNI means that the two teams will have to lose at least three games combined ... even if one of the two drops another game outside of the remaining UNI/WSU matchup, this would still likely be the most separation in modern Valley history.

2002-03 seems to be the closest, with SIU and Creighton combining for five losses, which UNI/WSU are almost guaranteed to at least tie at this point.

You'd have to go back to the 1959-60 season to find a year where the top two teams combined to only lose three total games ... they played 14 conference games then.

You'd have to go back to 1947-48 season to find a year where the top two teams combined to only lose two total games ... they played 10 conference games then, and there were only six teams in the conference.

In 1928-29, Washington went 7-0 and Creighton went 4-1 for a combined single loss. I have no idea what kind of ridiculous schedule they used to come up with one team playing seven games and one playing five, but there were five teams in the MVC that year.

From a pure winning % for the top two teams, UNI and WSU (91.67%) could have the highest combined separation from the rest of the Valley since the 1922-23 season, when Kansas & Missouri combined to go 30-2 against the rest of the conference (93.75%). The nine team Missouri Valley Conference went 6-6 out of conference that year, combined.

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by **unipanther99** » February 11th, 2015, 11:32 pm

I was thinking about this sort of thing on the way home tonight... Thanks for looking this stuff up. I think it's safe to say this year will feature the best conference runner up in the Valley's history.

by **Cdizzle** » February 11th, 2015, 11:35 pm

unipanther99 wrote:I was thinking about this sort of thing on the way home tonight... Thanks for looking this stuff up. I think it's safe to say this year will feature the best conference runner up in the Valley's history.

We shall see. The 2013 runner-up wasn't bad. Of course, if they hadn't been decimated by injuries, probably wouldn't have been the runner-up.

Definitely enjoying 2 teams just going at it. It seems like every game they play not just to win, but to prove a point to their counterpart.

by **Wufan** » February 12th, 2015, 6:20 am

WSU still has to play at both ISUs.

by **valleychamp** » February 12th, 2015, 8:10 am

Cdizzle wrote:
unipanther99 wrote:I was thinking about this sort of thing on the way home tonight... Thanks for looking this stuff up. I think it's safe to say this year will feature the best conference runner up in the Valley's history.

We shall see. The 2013 runner-up wasn't bad. Of course, if they hadn't been decimated by injuries, probably wouldn't have been the runner-up.

Definitely enjoying 2 teams just going at it. It seems like every game they play not just to win, but to prove a point to their counterpart.

The champ in 2013 had 5 losses, which was more than any champ in like 15 years.

by **Drakey** » February 12th, 2015, 11:01 am

unipanther99 wrote:I was thinking about this sort of thing on the way home tonight... Thanks for looking this stuff up. I think it's safe to say this year will feature the best conference runner up in the Valley's history.

Nonsense. Unless history only goes back to the 90's.

by **unipanther99** » February 12th, 2015, 11:05 am

Drakey wrote:
unipanther99 wrote:I was thinking about this sort of thing on the way home tonight... Thanks for looking this stuff up. I think it's safe to say this year will feature the best conference runner up in the Valley's history.

Nonsense. Unless history only goes back to the 90's.

"In history" is maybe a bit of a stretch. But barring a meltdown, it appears the runner-up (if there is one) will finish in the top 20, maybe top 15. When was the last time that happened?

by **rlh04d** » February 12th, 2015, 11:49 am

Drakey wrote:
unipanther99 wrote:I was thinking about this sort of thing on the way home tonight... Thanks for looking this stuff up. I think it's safe to say this year will feature the best conference runner up in the Valley's history.

Nonsense. Unless history only goes back to the 90's.

I literally just showed it went back to the 20s

If the runner up is top 15 with two conference losses, great argument there for best runner up in history.

by **Khan4Cats** » February 12th, 2015, 12:03 pm

rlh04d wrote:
Drakey wrote:
unipanther99 wrote:I was thinking about this sort of thing on the way home tonight... Thanks for looking this stuff up. I think it's safe to say this year will feature the best conference runner up in the Valley's history.

Nonsense. Unless history only goes back to the 90's.

I literally just showed it went back to the 20s

If the runner up is top 15 with two conference losses, great argument there for best runner up in history.

The question is, will both of us stay in the top 15 after the 28th game? We are both barely there now and unless we both make it in to the top 10 before then, I think whoever loses will drop out of the top 15.

by **unipanther99** » February 12th, 2015, 12:08 pm

That's why I said top 20 first... Unfortunately I don't think we'll get the same respect from voters that the Power conference teams do when they lose to good conference foes.

That said, still... when was the last time we even ended the regular season with two teams ranked?