It is easy to see how fans from WSU can scoff at the MVC and UE.
(Well everyone but MVCDRMVC of course)
The Shockers Valley history has been one of utter domination since joining in 1945. WSU is the second longest tenured member of this horrible conference. Do they just love to suck or what?
MVC Regular SeasonWSU holds a .497 all time winning percentage in MVC games, ranking 6th out of the 10 current members. Clearly dominant and impressive. They are followed UNI at .477 and UE at .410. The Shockers boast 6 outright MVC titles 2006, 1983, 1981, 1976, 1965, 1964. Notably only one of those titles has been earned after the dreaded additions of UNI and UE. Drake has also won a MVC title during that time, so it can't be that hard.
RPIThe average overall RPI since 1992 for WSU is 143 (timeframe determined by info in the media guide). That ranks 7th out of the current 10 Valley members and just puts WSU into the top half of all D1 Programs. UNI is 6th in the MVC with a RPI 139 and UE comes in at 8th with a 164.
Conference Tournament SuccessSince 1977 (that is as far as the online media guide goes), WSU has posted a .429 winning percentage at the conference tournament. 10 of their 21 wins came at home when WSU hosted the tournament in Wichita. Since moving the tourney to a neutral site WSU is 9-21. The Shocks won the tourney title twice in 1985 and 1987. They have winning tourny record against only 3 of the 10 current valley teams; ISUblue, SIU, and Drake.
Post Season8 NCAA appearances ranks the third in the conference and likely provides the foundation for the Shockers scoffing perch. They have an 8-9 record in those appearances and their NCAA win percentage ranks 3rd in conference.
1964 1-1 (note: some websites called this an Elite Eight but others did not. It doesnt' appear WSU claims it but I'm listing it just in case)
1965 2-2(Final Four)
(In the modern world, winning 1 game in the tourney isn’t called an Elite Eight….. it is called Dana Altman’s biggest achievement. And winning 2 games these days is a S16 not a FF. However I am
not going to give an asterisk to the 64 and 65 seasons. There were many fewer teams (22ish) competing in the NCAA tournament and WSU got a first round byes both years, but all D1 teams playing at that time had a similar opportunities. Basically I'm sure if CU had accomplished eithe of those, we would proudly boast of the FF or EE also. Side note: At this time UE was beating UNI in D2 hoops in a march to the National Championship. I think they try to boast of that also, but I don't know if anyone really lets them)
1976 0-1
1981 3-1(Elite Eight)
1985 0-1
1987 0-1
1988 0-1
2006 2-1 (Sweet Sixteen)
11 NIT appearances ranks 2nd in the conference behind Bradley (WSU's NIT record is 3-11)
WSU has the same number of NCAA appearances (1) as UE since the Aces joined the conference in 1994, although the Shockers were infinitely more successful in their appearance. WSU has the same number of Sweet Sixteens (1) as UNI since they joined the valley in 1991 (although UNI has been to 5 NCAA tourneys in that strech).
I guess it is just confusing why a team that hasn't been dominant in the Valley by really any measure since maybe the 1980s, would all of a sudden feel so much burden from one little formerly D2 private school? I mean seriously, if you want to kick someone out Drake and IndSt have worse numbers that Eville.
Face the fact guys you are in a midwest nonBCS conference. You have to earn your way in every year. Some years you have to be virtualy perfect to get at large consideration. Just adding WKU or Butler for UE isnt' getting you an auto ticket or guaranteeing the MVC multiple bids.