As each week of this basketball season comes and goes, the Summit League as a conference continues to rank near the top third in conference strength. It's too bad that the average fan still doesn't know that.
"The Summit League currently is ranked higher than the Horizon League (13th), Western Athletic Conference (14th), and Mid-American Conferences (15th), and it crushes the Ohio Valley Conference (21st)."
Oral Roberts is ranked 45th currently in NCAA D-I RPI, their last in the Summit League before moving to the Southland Conference next season. Although that move makes total sense economically and geographically, their level of competition will be missed in the Summit League.
How much the view of the Summit League has improved would be tested in March if Oral Roberts fails to win the Summit League tournament and the automatic NCAA tourney bid. Since the Summit League has been considered a one bid conference historically, it would be interesting to see if Oral Roberts would receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Based on their ranking and performance this season, Oral Roberts deserves an at-large bid. But the NCAA, like life in general, is not always fair.
Summit League earning higher recognition - News-Sentinel.com
