RE: The future of the Missouri Valley
Villanova, Georgetown, Xavier, and Marquette should be fine, so long as they win and continue to challenge themselves in the non-conference. Schools like Creighton should be in the middle or top most years, too. Butler's had a run of good coaches, so I think this year is an anomaly, but, if it's not, they should be no worse than Seton Hall. DePaul looks like they just gave up after they got their invite.
I think network contracts have given the major conference schools a reason to be needlessly picky about who they play in the non-conference. It's like they need an incentive to go out and schedule up, like if a camera isn't on them, they won't spend the money to host or travel. So be it. If that's the case, the new Big East is going to be the SEC. One or two great teams, and a lot of filler. Fans will thump their chests and scream "look at our conference, look at our SOS," but, there won't be a single good thing outside of the conference on the brag sheet.
The Big East is probably going to prey upon the A10 after this season. They might decide to block them in scheduling, which is their own foolish choice, because the A10 is a conference of smallish schools who have no problem packing their bags and going where the games are. Or, like what happened to Gonzaga there for a bit, go to virtually any holiday tournament and get your big games there, if schools perpetually refuse to schedule you.
I hope the MVC can follow the A10 in that methodology, although I don't think the MVC is as basketball-minded as the A10. And who knows what happens if MoSU is lured out of the conference, or if someone does offer Wichita State better accommodations...
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