The Real Prestige Rankings: Part III

1) Murray State – 54 (120, T-30)

2) Austin Peay – 40 (T-132, 122)

T-3) Eastern Kentucky – 4 (T-191, T-253)

T-3) Samford – 4 (T-191, T-192)

T-3) Tennessee State – 4 (T-191, T-251)

T-3) Eastern Illinois – 4 (T-191, T-233)

7) Southeast Missouri State – 2 (T-226, T-210)

T-8) Jacksonville State – 0 (T-273, DNQ)

T-8) Morehead State – 0 (T-273, T-258)

T-8) Tennessee Tech – 0 (T-273, T-192)

T-8) Tennessee Martin – 0 (T-273, T-258)

Although the Ohio Valley Conference is the first with an average point total over 10, it is extremely top-heavy.  Almost all of the points come from Murray State and Austin Peay. 

Murray State has made the tournament 11 times since 1985, notching a win in 1988 as a No. 14 seed over No. 3-seeded NC State.  They have had several other very successful years and received many better seeds.  They were actually tied for 30th place in the ESPN Prestige Rankings, which again illustrates the major flaw in their rankings.

Austin Peay has only made the NCAA tournament four times in the last 24 years, but they have a high point total from their win in 1987.  They defeated No. 3-seeded Illinois as a No. 14 seed. 

While all of the tournament wins for the Ohio Valley Conference came in a two-year span, the conference has had several very good teams throughout the years.  The serious lack of depth keeps this from being a more prestigious conference.

22) Big West – Average Score: 13.33

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