The Real Prestige Rankings: Part II

T-7) High Point – 0 (T-273, DNQ)

T-7) Virginia Military Institute – 0 (T-273, T-294)

The recent success of the Winthrop basketball program is what gives this conference all of its rating.  The rest of the conference is traditionally very weak.

Winthrop burst on to the scene of college basketball by easily handling No. 6 seeded Notre Dame in the 2007 tournament as a No. 11 seed.  This win was on the heels of a last second loss to No. 2 seeded Tennessee in the 2006 tournament on a last second fade-away three-pointer by Chris Lofton.  Winthrop has represented the Big South conference in the NCAA tournament in eight of the last ten seasons.

Top 50 Teams:

45) Iowa State Cyclones – Total Points:  304

• 1 Elite Eight Appearance, 2 Sweet Sixteen Appearances, 12 Missed Tournaments
•  ESPN Rank: T-57

Iowa State as a basketball program never really recovered after a devastating loss as a No. 2 seed in the first round of the 2001 NCAA tournament to No. 15 seeded Hampton.  From 1985-2001, Iowa State qualified for 11 of 17 NCAA tournaments.  They have only appeared in the eight years since.

The Cyclones’ lone Elite Eight appearance came in 2000 when they lost to eventual champion Michigan State as a No. 2 seed.

44) Auburn Tigers – Total Points:  310

• 1 Elite Eight Appearance, 3 Sweet Sixteen Appearances, 17 Missed Tournaments
• ESPN Rank: T-90

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