Missouri Valley Conference
MVC is taking the mid out of its mid-major college basketball status
Dec 15, 2006
The Missouri Valley Conference is considered a college basketball mid-major basketball conference. Mid-majors don't get the same respect as the so-called major college basketball leagues. The Big Tens, ACCs, Big Easts and SECs of the world are the media darlings of all NCAA basketball conferences.
These conferences are homes to the likes of Ohio State, Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse and Florida. They get the TV coverage; they get the top 20 rankings.
The Missouri Valley Conference is trying to alert college basketball that it is changing this. The Missouri Valley Conference is packed with teams that are winning. And those little teams from that conference in the Missouri Valley aren't just beating up on their little mid-major brothers.
Wichita State, the pride of the Missouri Valley Conference, is undefeated and ranked 10th in the nation, 4th in our Suite 16 Poll.
The Shockers won consecutive games against 2006 Final Four teams, George Mason and LSU. A December victory over then 14th-ranked Syracuse, and Wichita State was jerking the Missouri Valley Conference from the midst of other mid-major NCAA basketball leagues.
Along for the ride is the remainder of the amazing Missouri Valley Conference -- Missouri State (8-1), Northern Iowa (8-1), Southern Illinois (7-1) and Evansville (6-2). The bottom half of the Missouri Valley -- Drake, Bradley, Creighton, Indiana State and Illinois State are a combined 29-13.
What makes these relatively unknown MVC schools more impressive than your average mid-major college basketball conference is that they beat up on schools from major conferences more often than they take the beatings.
In addition to Wichita State's impressive wins against two ranked opponents early this season, Missouri State defeated Wisconson (No. 7); Northern Iowa beat Big Ten power Iowa; Creighton defeated George Mason, and Indiana State knocked off 12th-ranked and then undefeated Butler.
Historically, mid-major conferences are the NCAA's Cinderellas. Some get invited to the party but few ever get a chance to dance.
In recent years this has changed. Mid-major team George Mason made the Final Four in 2006. Many onlookers figured this was just a fluke -- Cinderella's one chance to turn the Minuet.
Some mid-majors, though, are breaking away from the small-conference and Cinderella stigma.
And some conferences, like the Missouri Valley, are taking the mid out of mid-major, altogether.
