(02-25-2014 12:27 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote: First, I didn't make any comment, insinuations or perceptions about Wichita's resources. I wonder if some of you are even reading what I write. I'm going specifically off of results. Second, I don't know why you guys are trying to compare MT to Wichita. I'm pretty sure in the OP I made no mention of MT nor any comparison. But since you all want to make a comparison to either MT or C-USA....
From 1970 to 1989, Wichita St made five NCAA tournament appearances. During that same span, Middle Tennessee made six NCAA Tournament Apperances. Wichita had one more NCAA Tournament win than we did (theirs just all came in the same one).
The next decade plus they were atrocious as I pointed out previously - actually worse than Middle Tennessee and we were terrible during that period.
You can't talk about the past 10 years where they have been really good and ignore the previous two decades before that when the very question I'm posing is how they went from a program that had five winning seasons from 1986 to 2002 (two of which one game over .500) to a national title contender. You guys are glossing over the fact that they had 18 consecutive years without an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
During a 33 year period from 1970 to Turgeon's first winning season in 2003, Wichita had 19 losing/non-winning seasons and only 14 winning seasons including that pretty good four year run from 1981-84. But during this 33-year period that was more of an anomaly than a standard. What they have done over the past 10 years is different far more impressive particularly given the ESPN factor. I'm just trying to ask the question what changed for them to do all those things you referenced. They stopped playing football in '86 and their basketball got worse over the next 15 years, so it's not just that.
Perhaps you did answer the question though. Having great support even when the team is bad could be a key factor here. What else?
-It seemed like you were making insinuations about resources here: "And maybe even a bigger question how in the hell have they held on to Marshall." I'm not sure why you would ask that question unless you were assuming WSU like like any other mid-major.
If you weren't making assumptions about WSU's resources, then the answer of, "Why Wichita..." is easy....their resources. They have more resources than a lot of major conference teams.
Success in the 1980's: I was not comparing WSU and MTSU. I was refuting your claim that their program has always been garbage. I don't think a 186-79 record over a nine year stretch with three NCAA appearances--not including maybe their best two years when they were on probation--constitutes "garbage." There's some history of winning there.
I think you are overstating the importance of prior seasons, anyway. If you asked Mark Turgeon what was a bigger deal to him: That the program had been atrocious for ten years or that he had an athletic department that could pump lots of money into the program and a large fanbase that showed up to games win or lose, I'll give you a hint what he'd say. All the 90's meant for Turgeon was that he was taking over a sleeping giant.
Resources, resources, resources.
"You can't talk about the past 10 years where they have been really good." It is definitely relevant in showing why they are keeping Marshall, which was one of your original questions.