UMMM, not sure if I agree with that statement.
College hoops is all about recruitment and the reputation of the university. The large school conferences have the ability to recruit the best players from around the country. These players make these conferences more talented and deeper. The mid-majors cannot compete for the same talent. While they may get their share of wins, as conferences they cannot rise to rank third in the nation. In my opinion, the MVC is given too much respect. Winthrop beating Missouri State was no fluke. Yet Winthrop must win their conference tournament to assure getting in the Dance even though they are 23-4 and have played some top teams extremely well.
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead vAlign=top><TD colSpan=5>2006-07 Schedule</TD></TR><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD width=43>DATE</TD><TD width=170>OPPONENT</TD><TD width=100>RESULT/TIME</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>11/10</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
North Gr</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
89-46</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>11/14</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
Iona</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
57-38</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>11/15</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at #2
UNC</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>L
73-66</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>11/18</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
Miss St</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
74-63</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>11/20</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at #24
Maryland</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>L
71-60</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>11/27</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
VAInter</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
90-46</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>11/29</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
Presbyte</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
76-51</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>12/02</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
N Illinois</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
72-62</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>12/04</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at #12
Wisconsin</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>L
82-79</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>12/09</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
Limeston</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
80-46</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>12/18</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
Mt St Marys</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
74-59</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>12/21</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
E Carolina</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
69-50</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>12/29</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
ODU</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
71-65</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>01/02</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at #11
Texas A&M</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>L
71-51</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>01/06</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
VMI</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
108-76</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>01/08</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
C Southern</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
75-52</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>01/13</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
Liberty</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
68-40</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>01/15</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
UNC-Ash</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
61-42</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>01/20</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
Radford</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
62-59</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>01/25</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
High Point</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
64-63</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>01/27</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
Coast Car</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
65-63</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>01/31</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
VMI</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
109-96</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>02/03</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
UNC-Ash</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
88-69</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>02/06</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
Liberty</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
80-76</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>02/10</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
Radford</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
77-58</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>02/14</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>
C Southern</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
78-54</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>02/16</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at
Missouri St</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W
77-66</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>