The Real Prestige Rankings: Part VI

Miami of Ohio gets the second spot with seven tournament appearances, including one Sweet 16 and one second-round exit. Ball State is third, with a Sweet 16 and a second-round exit, but only six tournament appearances. Eastern Michigan is only four points behind them; they also have one Sweet 16 and one second-round exit, but only have four total tournament appearances. 

The bottom part of the MAC is rather weak, which keeps it below some of the other mid-major conferences in the rankings. Buffalo, Bowling Green, and Toledo all have no tournament appearances in the time period of the rankings.

13) WAC – Average Score:  45.11

1) Nevada – 122 (T-78, T-74)

2) New Mexico State – 94 (T-87, T-61)

3) Louisiana Tech – 88 (T-93, T-74)

4) Utah State – 46 (T-124, T-61)

5) Fresno State – 36 (T-149, T-148)

6) Boise State – 8 (T-163, T-109)

7) Hawaii – 6 (T-175, 156)

8) Idaho – 4 (T-191, T-196)

9) San Jose State – 2 (T-226, T-282)

Much like the MAC, the WAC also has a fairly balanced and successful top of the division but a weaker bottom half. The difference is that Nevada has had exceptional tournament success for the WAC, and every WAC team has at least one tournament appearance in the last 24 seasons.

Nevada has four NCAA tournament victories in the time frame, all which have come in the past five seasons. Their best finish was a Sweet 16 appearance in 2004, as a No. 10 seed. 

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