I remember reading my pops Converse yearbook every year including the ones he had gong back to the 50's. Creighton was a power that came east and beat some of the best out east every year. Nebraska has always....even before Nee been a 2nd though. In the Big 8 going back to the 20's they were, for the ext 30 years, always trying to catch up in the big 8 with Henry Iba at Okie State and Phog Allen assisted by his old coach and mentor James Naismith at Kansas t a time when only the conference champ went to the NCAA's. Add in the insult of a good Creighton squad stealing their thunder and you have a recipe for a pretty good in state rivalry.
Moving east Illinois, indiana and Ohio had multiple teams. Going further east the density really increased in PA, NJ, NY etc. The state of Nebraska is unique in that regard but there are a number of others with 1,2 or 3 schools in state that have those rivalries going back.
Nebraska is getting legit in a much expanded BIG but I don't see them taking over as NO 1 just yet.
tO$U has been ducking in state comp since Cincy was the big dog in the early 60s. Not just a Thad thing. For the record it is not like Cincy or Dayton has been particularly good about coming out and playing other natural rivals since either had success in the post NIT/ Post NCAA appearances by each in the early 60 s
Last Edited: 12/8/2014 4:44:27 PM by bornacatfan