Well, I think it's never too early to start beating that Missouri Valley drum - the conference that I was told was not deserving of four bids last year is currently ranked 3rd in average RPI (behind the Pac-10 and ACC), with the worst team holding a ranking of 105. Everybody was in awe of Wichita State (who won at George Mason, at LSU, and at Syracuse), until they started playing their conference schedule and were promptly handed two losses, one at home by Northern Iowa. WSU currently has the sixth best RPI rating in the conference.

Looked through the top five teams to see how their schedules looked. SIU has two losses so far - one on a neutral court to Arkansas, the other at Indiana. They've beat Virginia Tech and SLU. MO State has two non-conference losses - one on a neutral court to OK State, the other at SLU on a tip-in that replays showed should not have counted - they beat Wisconsin on a neutral court and won at USF (is that ACC or Big East? I can't remember). Bradley beat Depaul, Loyola-Chicago, and Iowa St, and has just one bad loss (at TN Tech; also lost at Michigan State and on a neutral court to Illinois). Creighton beat George Mason and Xavier. Northern Iowa beat Iowa State and won at Iowa (not such a big deal anymore).

Overall, the conference lost one non-conference home game - to an ACC team.

I think the Valley is shaping up for another big year. I probably can't say that you heard it here first, but remember when the talk starts about bids this March, this conference has paid the dues in its non-conference schedule like few others.

hey this conferance always has my favorite 12 seeds.

Don't forget Indiana State, who beat in-state rivals Purdue and Butler. I believe Butler was ranked #16 at the time. Purdue is considered by many to be back on the upswing.

I've always respected and enjoyed Mo Valley basketball.

I was just listing the teams that are currently higher in the RPI than Wichita State. But, yes, Indiana St. has some good wins, as well as the other teams not listed. Like I said, the worst team in the league is at 105. That's the best "worst" team of any conference in the country. SEC is next, with Ole Miss, Vandy, Georgia, and Auburn all below that rating.

J, i remember reading a similar thread last year during tournament time and i think you are right about the MVC playing some pretty darn good ball.

Actually, Iowa has won 25 of its last 26 games at home (including last year's entire Big Ten home schedule) with Northern Iowa getting the only win in that time.

I meant Iowa and Iowa St., but Iowa hasn't really beat anyone this year. Their best win is at home against Iowa St. They did show fairly well at ASU and VT, and if they had won either one (or especially both), I think you could say they were having a reasonably good start. As it is, not so much.

The MVC is tough and will get several NCAA bids again this year.

Look for UConn to get a lot of mileage out of their very young team. The Big East will be tough and physical again.

I didn't say they're off to a relatively good start - they're not. But all of their losses except Northern Iowa were away from Iowa City.

I just pointed out that a road team winning at Iowa is very rare and Northern Iowa did that.

Fair point. UNI beat them last year, too, at their place.

I'm so thankful football season is almost over. Texas A&M is a basketball school. We just play football to kill the time in between seasons.

I thought Texas was big on football...I thought you guys were big on everything!

nah, were a basketball school. always have been and always will be.

what? TB are you on crack? A&M is not a basketball school. 3 seasons ago you won 1 game in conferance. The team has a history of ineptitude. Do the girls kiss the cadets after every basket?

A&M is lucky, they now have a decent football and basketball program.

We're mentioned in the same breath as the Kansases, North Carolina's, UCLA's, etc. We sell out every game (unlike football) and we have a tradition of winning. How are we not a basketball school?

Mainly because for years A&M has been known for their football program, not their basketball program. Now they are starting to get known for both.

A&M won their first NCAA tournament game in 25 years last year. And I would like to correct my statement from earlier, they won 0 conferance games two seasons ago. A&M has no basketball tradition. That would be like me saying OU has basketball tradition. At least they have played for a National title in my lifetime.

but i will concede Gillespie is a great coach and could take them to higher levels.

i have NEVER associated A&M with basketball.

I have to say I've never thought of A&M as a basketball school either.

ever hear of Bear Bryant? the Junction Boys? were you being sarcastic?

Umm... That was football Xodus...

right which is my point that is the tradition of A&M. not basketball as TB is trying to say.