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Palindrome University

The Gonzaga comparison is just wrong.  The WCC has always been a 1-2 bid conference (at least as far back as 1994).  I'll post the same thing I posted on the Butler board.  The WCC has 3 teams this year because they added BYU to their conference.  Before BYU, they only had more than two bids once -- the same number of times as the Horizon League.  People say that the other teams in the WCC grew into at-large programs because they had to after Gonzaga became an elite program.  However, if you look at the number of bids they received and the conference's RPI since Gonzaga's first run in 1999, that's not really the case.  Some years are okay, but other years not so much.  Furthermore, the WCC was receiving multiple bids before Gonzaga had their run in 1999.  I'd argue that the WCC hasn't actually gotten much better and is really only slightly better than the Horizon, if at all.

Teams in the NCAA:

	'12	'11	'10	'09	'08	'07	'06	'05	'04	'03	'02	'01	'00	'99	'98	'97	'96	'95	'94
WCC	3	1	2	1	3	1	1	2	1	2	2	1	2	1	1	1	2	2	1
Horizon	1	1	1	2	1	2	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	3	1	2	2	0

Conference RPI Rank

	'12	'11	'10	'09	'08	'07	'06	'05	'04	'03	'02	'01	'00	'99	'98
WCC	11	14	13	15	15	14	12	7	12	12	17	18	9	15	11
Horizon	14	11	14	12	11	12	15	20	15	13	16	11	25	16	10

I'm pretty sure Temple doesn't leave the A-10 until the 13-14 season anyway, although they start Big East football in 12-13.

For what it's worth, I also have enjoyed playing Valpo and I know I'm not the only Butler fan who likes the rivalry.  Good coaches, good kids, and good games.  I wish you had a better gym, but I'm sure there are some of you who may not like Hinkle.

To the people who root for Butler in the post-season -- I was rooting for you guys in the NIT.  Disappointing loss, but hopefully you can build on this season for next year.  The fact of the matter is that Butler is the only team in the league that has received, or would have received if needed, an at-large bid since 1998.  I'd like to see that change, but HL teams seem to have problems winning against good opponents out-of-conference. 

While some Butler people are certainly smug, I think some of the cases of smugness you perceive are actually frustration with other teams in the league who under-perform.  Generally, we want the other teams in the league to do well.  Believe it or not, I don't revel in your defeat.  When you do well, it makes the conference look good, which makes my school look good.  I don't want you to beat Butler, but I do want you go beat Miami.

I could write more, but you've probably already stopped reading.   

I've never found the methodology anywhere.  If you find it, please let me know.

Wasn't this two separate threads about 10 minutes ago?

That makes sense (he says trying to improve his post count).  Valpo has a season article on wikipedia, too.  Actually, all of the HL teams have one this year.  You can find them by going to wikipedia and searching "2011–12 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team".

Samford is in the SoCon, not the OVC.  The Horizon versus other leagues is also available at the 2011-12 Horizon League men's basketball season's article on wikipedia.  I'd post the link but apparently I'm not allowed.