The Latest From the Honorable Bilas

[ZonaPanther]

From Jay Bilas's latest Insider column...

"Missouri Valley (10): Southern Illinois, Creighton, Missouri State and Wichita State are the programs that have been solid enough over time to be termed on par with the better teams in major conferences. Clearly, of the mid-major leagues, this one is the best, with the most really good teams. Bradley, Northern Iowa and Indiana State have been good at times, but not quite as good as the top four above. Southern Illinois has been the best program since the mid-1990s, and has been clearly the most consistent since 1999. Because of the success of several Valley teams over the last couple of years, let's give the MVC Southern Illinois, Wichita State, Missouri State, Creighton, Northern Iowa and Bradley."


UNI is not "quite as good" as Missouri State historically? Let's see...

NCAA Appearances:
UNI 4
SMS: 6
Last Appearance:
UNI: 2006 (including THREE straight)
SMS: 1999

Hmmm.

[General_Panther]

Overall I thought it was a good little tid bit from Mr. Bilas, but again He's one of those DUKE Biased guys, I mean he plaid there so that sunderstandable. Having said that, I often wonder when watching ESPN and/or reading articles on ESPN.com of from ESPN analysts if they every really even watch anything but MAJOR CONFERENCE basketball. Sometimes they seem to have SOME of their facts straght and others completely WRONG. Well It doesn't matter, UNI is very much comparable to MSU/SMS no matter what some Coach K lover says. LOL

[UnderParPanther]

I didnt have a problem with what Bilas wrote, its pretty much right on. He may be ACC/BCS biased, but if you watched the SIU/IU game the other night he was very positive about SIU and the Valley..

[SteinPizza]

Missouri St. made the Sweet 16 in 1999, Steve Alford's last year before going to Iowa. They lost to Duke. Bilas probably remembers that game, and also remembers them being a Cinderella story - the Valley wasn't near as strong a league top to bottom then as now. If he's going back to the mid 90s, and factoring in NCAA tourney success, then he's got an arguement. I'd agree with what he says above, and it's too easy to blame "east coast bias" on everything.

[tcondon]

Wichita? The team that found a way to lose cames down the stretch every season but last year to get to the NIT? Wow.

Just shows you what a Sweet 16 run and a good start can do for a program. Hopefully the Panthers have a run like that in their system this season.

[DWadle1983]

Perhaps what he's thinking is that prior to Greg McDermott, UNI was a constant second division MVC team. It doesn't matter. When any commentator says, "Southern Illinois, Creighton, Missouri State and Wichita State are the programs that have been solid enough over time to be termed on par with the better teams in major conferences," along with the comment at the end, he is giving the MVC recognition and respect most commentators would not.

He's also right on one point. This season, Wichita State would be the 3rd best team in the Big 10 behind Ohio State and Wisconsin. I'm not familiar enough with the other BCS conferences to say where a Wichita State would finish.

[Matt Trump]

Missouri State has a bigger win than UNI does. Bottom line. This stuff will sort itself out on the court. Bilas has been doing a fine job with his comments about the Valley. Success is measured by NCAA tourney wins in DI college basketball and MSU has had more success historically.

[tcondon]

Is that Newlin's 'stache Trump?

[Matt Trump]

Is that Newlin's 'stache Trump?

Of course it is!!!

[igo4uni]

Missouri State has a bigger win than UNI does. Bottom line. This stuff will sort itself out on the court. Bilas has been doing a fine job with his comments about the Valley. Success is measured by NCAA tourney wins in DI college basketball and MSU has had more success historically.

Yup. I agree.