Summit League: No More Valpo

The Mid-Continent Conference has changed names to the Summit League, and they have also dropped Valparaiso from their list of member schools. The name change, while making it sound a little cooler, will probably have little effect on how the rest of the NCAA basketball world looks at the conference. The name change was designed, at least partially, to separate themselves from other similar sounding names, such as the MAAC, the MEAC and the Mid-American Conference. Losing Valpo, on the other hand, will mean that the team that many fans have come to associate with the conference is gone. A new image of the conference must be formed. A new identity discovered. Who will be the leader of this conference, starting out the year with a fresh face, new name and their past behind them?

Well, according to ESPN’s Shoot Around section, Oral Roberts, the leader for the past two years, will struggle after having lost their main players to graduation. Who makes it to the dance will be anybody’s guess. My pick for conference champion is North Dakota State. If you look at the section that highlights the top returning scorers and rebounders, ND State dominates. Of course, more and more freshmen are taking a bigger role in the NCAA, so you never know. Plus, the Bison can’t play in the NCAA Tourney as per the rules regarding conference changes.

To get Summit League basketball tickets, go to StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on September 12, 2007 - Post a comment