The Missouri Valley Is THAT Good
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by user Joebook
I've been meaning to write this article for several weeks, but last night cemented my thoughts.
I wonder how many of you truly follow college basketball, or just watch whatever ACC game ESPN broadcasts and then check the rankings in Monday's newspaper. For those in the latter group, you are missing a hell of a ride by the "Mid-Major That Could" -- The Missouri Valley Conference.
While most of you probably don't know much about the Valley, you soon will. Its teams have developed a pattern of slaying the giants, and stuffing crow in the mouths of national commentators who have belittled their chances to graduate to a national power.
Our tour of the Valley would normally begin many years ago, but we'll focus on recent events. Start with the 2005-06 NCAA season. While the MVC had six teams who posted excellent cases for the tournament, four got in. One of those sent trudging to the NIT was Missouri State, who with an RPI of 21, was statistically the best team ever left out.
During the tournament, two schools put themselves on the national map. The Wichita State Shockers, a 7 seed, knocked off Seton Hall in the first round before upsetting the second-seeded University of Tennessee. The Shockers lost their Sweet 16 game against Final Four participant George Mason.
More shocking than that was the run of Bradley University. Seeded 13th in the Oakland regional, BU stunned 4th-ranked Kansas in the first round, and dominated the 5 seed Pittsburgh in round 2. Their magic carpet ride ended against top-seeded Memphis in the Sweet 16 game. They drew enough national attention that their center, 7-0 sophomore Patrick O'Bryant, was the 9th player selected in the 2006 NBA draft.
Fast forward to this season, which has seen the MVC post a 61-18 non-conference record, including a 41-1 home mark. If you think the league loaded up their schedules with cakewalk games, look only to the fact that they are 5-1 against Top-25 teams.
Wichita State, after losing MVC Player of the Year Paul Miller, has erupted into a national power, currently ranked 10th by the AP. They've already posted wins against LSU and George Mason, both Final Four qualifiers from a year ago, and went into Syracuse and Wyoming for victories.
Missouri State has a win against #7 Wisconsin and Northern Iowa has already beaten in-state rivals Iowa State and Iowa. Other big wins for the Valley include:
-- Indiana State, picked to finish last in the MVC, beating previously undefeated and #15-ranked Butler
-- Creighton, who under Coach Dana Altman have been in the NCAA tournament seven of the last eight years, beating George Mason and #24 Xavier
-- Bradley, who's Sweet 16 run last season was the school's first in more than 50 years, beating DePaul in the first game of the season
-- Southern Illinois, who returns all five starters from the MVC Tournament Championship team a year ago, beating a tough Western Kentucky team on the road
While every MVC team currently has a winning record, Wichita State, Southern Illinois, Creighton, and Missouri State will be the four that emerge from the conference season as the teams to watch in March.
Come tournament time, watch this conference to see which games will be your upset specials or to find a diamond in the rough to project to the Elite Eight or better. They've proven they can play with the big boys...
The Missouri Valley has arrived.
