Missouri State's Spencer laurie drives to the basket against St. Louis on Monday. Laurie, who transferred from Missouri University, and the Bears are off to a 9-2 start, including a win against then-No. 7 Wisconsin on Nov. 24.

A year ago, they cracked the code.

Now, they’re just cracking heads.

Missouri Valley Conference teams have a list of early-season victims that reads like a Selection Sunday roll call: LSU, Wisconsin, Syracuse, Iowa, Xavier. And, not to be forgotten, George Mason.

Led by Sweet 16-bound Wichita State, the Missouri Valley received four bids to the 2006 NCAA Tournament, which some power-conference bluebloods viewed with all the warmth accorded Rodney Dangerfield’s entry into Bushwood Country Club. Well, those folks better get ready for the sequel, opening March 15 at a tournament site near you.

Wichita State is ranked in the top 10 and still is underrated. Northern Iowa, Missouri State and Southern Illinois also are performing like top teams. Every program in the league is over .500. The Valley is so deep and dangerous it has outgrown – at least for now – the mid-major label.

“It’s unbelievable,” Southern Illinois Coach Chris Lowery says.

The conference ranks second in the Ratings Percentage Index standings, behind only the Atlantic Coast Conference. Valley teams have won 74 percent of their nonleague games, against the seventh-toughest schedule of any league. They won 43 of their first 44 home games against outsiders.

Wichita state's Phillip Thomasson goes up for a dunk against Kennesaw State on Tuesday. The Shockers' undefeated start has vaulted them to No. 8 in the AP poll.

It’s hard enough to believe Valley teams already have played that many home games.

This is where the conference is moving away from the mid-major designation and along the path Gonzaga pioneered. Investing in playing more at home and securing coaches such as Wichita’s Mark Turgeon and Creighton’s Dana Altman with lucrative long-term contracts have placed the Valley in a position to sustain its current success.

The greatest obstacle to long-term success might be the biggest reason for the league’s early-season surge: The Valley is loaded with veterans. Among the 50 players who are regular starters, only two are freshmen and six are sophomores. By comparison, North Carolina, The Sporting News’ preseason choice to win the NCAA championship, relies on five freshmen and four sophomores.

While Ohio State, Kansas University and Duke introduce young players to the demands of Division I, Valley schools turn loose teams filled with men.

Southern illinois coach chris lowery shouts instructions to his team during Sunday's game against Indiana. The Salukis' 8-2 record is only good enough for fourth place in the Missouri Valley Conference.

A year ago, teams in this league increased their volume of home dates. Success in those games turned into higher RPI marks, which led many to suggest the Valley somehow had manipulated the numbers. Now, league members have a batch of impressive nonconference wins to back up the high ratings.

On four consecutive Saturdays, Wichita State went on the road and won at George Mason, LSU, Syracuse and Wyoming. Turgeon is not the most excitable coach, but even he admits to being impressed by what the Shockers accomplished. Thing is, he knows it guarantees nothing when conference play starts, given the Valley’s strength and depth.

“You really can’t relax,” he says. “You know how difficult it’s going to be.”