TheObserver wrote:Again, you have certain Redbird fans seriously underestimating the loss of WSU. The only reason WSU is in the at-large picture right now is because of name recognition. Their resume is highly questionable at best. And the main reason Illinois State is in the at-large picture is because of their win over WSU. That win is the only thing that's carrying them because they have no other quality wins on their resume.
Nobody is underestimating the loss of Wichita State. We've proven over the past week that you seriously overestimated it, but nobody is underestimating it.
TheObserver wrote:Statistically, the Valley would drop if WSU left. Unless the Valley magically found themselves a team that was a perennial Top 30 RPI team that regularly went to the NCAA Tournament. Perception wise, the Valley would take an enormous hit for obvious reasons.
Perennial top 30 huh?
2017 - 67
2016 - 47
2015 - 17
2014 - 4
2013 - 37
2012 - 12
2011 - 60
2010 - 43
2009 - 158
2008 - 198
3 times in the past 10 years you've been top 30. This is your problem Fever. You don't backup any of your talk with actual facts or stats. You've been a very good team for the past 8 years, but quit throwing around accolades you actually don't have. It makes your arguments weak and nobody takes you seriously.
TheObserver wrote:A few of the Redbird fans here today remind me of Indiana State fans in 2011. There are HUGE assumptions being made that Illinois State would be an at-large contender every year after WSU left, when they haven't had any sort of success proving otherwise. I believe they only have 3 or 4 NCAA Tournament bids in their entire history, with the last one being in 1998. And we're supposed to assume that Illinois State is going to be the Wichita State of the Valley if WSU leaves? Really?
Ahh there we go... had to get back to 1998. You're famous for that you know. In the last 8 years (just using data I've had handy from the other analysis), Northern Iowa has the best RPI average after Wichita at 79.38. Illinois State's is 111.13. In more recent history, in the past 4 years since Loyola was added, ISU has actually had the better average at 85.25 to Northern Iowa's 87.75. Illinois State has flirted with at large bids several times since 1998, and were often on the very cusp of getting in. Does the mean ISU will automatically be what Wichita has been in the past 8? No, it doesn't. But Wichita came from relative obscurity at one point too, so who's to say that's out of the question. Just a decade ago, Wichita had a 16-14 record (8-10 in conference) and an RPI of 100. With good hires, recruiting, and a commitment to the program from all levels it became what it is today. That can absolutely happen at ISU. We've had very good recruiting classes recently, a coach who's improved our record every year, and a strong commitment to the program from administration. That's the recipe to prolonged success. To say someone else can't rise up and take the throne is crazy talk. Wichita just recently did it.
TheObserver wrote:Until proven otherwise, you assume that, if the team that's consistently carried the Valley banner the longest and farthest, leaves then there will be a huge vacuum leftover with a conference that hasn't proven it can do anything remotely close to replace it what it had lost. UNI is the closest resemblance to that but is still not comparable to a WSU.
YOU might assume that, because YOU overvalue Wichita. We've shown you through data (from several different reps from several schools now) that you're incorrect. The Valley would take a hit, as losing any top tiered team would do, but as long as the middle can grow and a team or two produce at the top... we're right back to being the Valley.
