No Mo Valley

I have to admit, until about a couple of weeks ago I would have had a hard time telling you what schools were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

Now, after a media onslaught not seen since the Charles Woodson for Heisman campaign run by ESPN, you can't get away from the Valley.

The Sporting News has shoved the Valley down its readers throats for the past two months. The Sunday New York Times had a story pushing for five NCAA Tournament bids for the Valley. The AP wire has gotten into the act.

ENOUGH.

Yes, the Missouri Valley has figured out how to manipulate the RPI. Congratulations to them. Does that mean Bradley and Creighton are two of the best 65 teams in the country? No it means they figured out a way to bolster their RPI ratings.

Look, I'm the first person that tells you Northern Iowa ought to be in the NCAA field. Northern Iowa has good wins over LSU and I0wa. I've seen Northern Iowa play in the past and have no problem with that team in the field. No problem with Southern Illinois after it won the tournament.

But the rest of the conference's schedule outside of the league is nothing to get excited about.

Hopefully, the NCAA selection committee will see through this facade on Sunday. No more than three for me.