You too, Chris Lowery. Step aside, Dana Altman.
There's a new mid-major media darling on the block. Its name: the Horizon League.
By virtue of Cleveland State's 57-54 win against No. 17 Butler, the conference that doesn't even have an accommodating set of initials will have two bids in the NCAA Tournaments.
Sorry, Bluejay fans, your bubble has burst. At least if you make a run to the NIT Final Four, you'll get a chance to perform on the largest stage in basketball.
New York City > Detroit. Madison Square Garden > Ford Field.
But now, it looks as if the Horizon League has overcome the Missouri Valley Conference as the premier mid-major conference. The MVC struggled this year, and even though it has three tournament-worthy squads, it is more than likely that only Northern Iowa will represent the conference.
Creighton, as conference co-champs, should be in. And despite wins over bubble-mates George Mason and Dayton, they will not likely get in after that 24-point debacle against Illinois State.
Speaking of the Redbirds, they were blessed with the conference's most talented player, an equally talented sidekick and the most quotable coach in the MVC.
Yet, a weak out-of-conference schedule, coupled with a pair of losses to lowly Indiana State and its inability to close the Valley title game means Osiris Eldridge, Champ Oguchi, Tim Jankovich and gang will go out without their dancing shoes for one more year.
SIU ... um ... finished 13-18 and unless that loan I applied for to start the inaugural "The Big Dead Sidebar Tournament of Fallen Stars" comes through ... will get a nice view of all of the postseason action from the comforts of their homes and dorm rooms.
If this keeps up, people will have forgotten the Valley even existed.
Maybe this will start an upcoming TBDS series: God, Save The MVC.
That's got a nice ring to it.
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