GREENSBORO, N.C. — If any illusion remains that Tennessee's NCAA tournament foe today hails from some basketball bush league, let's throw out a score from days of March Madness past:

Illinois State 83, UT 82.

Remember that one from 1998 in Sacramento?

If not, maybe this one from 1999 rings a bell:

Southwest Missouri State 81, UT 51.

Yep, the Missouri Valley Conference ranks as the Vols' primary postseason nemesis, at least during the Jerry Green Era.

And now, Wichita State, which rolled merrily along to a 20-point rout of Seton Hall on Thursday.

Informed of the Southwest Missouri debacle on Friday, UT guard Jordan Howell was alarmed.

"That was in the tournament?'' Howell said. "That's something we need to think about.

"That's a good league.''

The Valley is a darn good league. It got as many teams in the bracket (four) as the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big 12, and the Pac-10, twice as many as Conference USA.

In fact, there are those who make the case that the Valley has transcended mid-majordom.

"They're a high major minus league," said UT associate head coach Tony Jones, creating a new category.

"They're better right now than the Atlantic 10. They're better right now than Conference USA. They're better right now than the Mountain West.

"We've got our work cut out for us.''

No kidding. If the Vols were extended to the final half-second to beat the champion of the Big South Conference, what will be required against the best of the Missouri Valley?

"These conferences are so underrated,'' said Chris Lofton, UT's savior against Winthrop. "People expect Tennessee will kill teams like this, but they don't understand this is a great basketball team.''

Tennessee hasn't exactly killed Valley teams through the years. The Vols are 4-6 against the league and lost their only prior match with Wichita, in the 1990 Rainbow Classic in Hawaii.

"I don't think we have to be concerned about the David and Goliath story any more,'' UT coach Bruce Pearl said.

As evidenced by its laugher against Seton Hall on Thursday, Wichita could hardly be cast as David. Physically, the Shockers look more like Goliath. Two starters measure out at 6-foot-10.

Wichita would like to have it both ways. On one hand, the Shockers embrace the underdog mantle. On the other, they don't think they deserve it.

"Most people look at the size the Valley doesn't have,'' said swingman PJ Cousinard. "You've got a lot of teams with a 6-5 or 6-6 four man (power forward).

"But talent-wise, I don't see any difference. There's no drop-off.''

Tad Boyle, Wichita's associate head coach, played in the Big 12 (Kansas) and coached in the Pac-10 (Oregon) and SEC (Tennessee).

"In the bigger leagues,'' said Boyle, "the bodies are bigger and (some of) the athletes are better, but the skill level isn't necessarily better.

"The Valley has tremendous basketball players. Some teams are blessed with better athletes than others, but everybody has really good basketball players.''

Wichita has athletes and basketball players.

Center Paul Miller is an NBA prospect. The other 6-10 guy, Kyle Wilson, started his career at Illinois. Cousinard, Sean Ogirri and sub Karon Bradley are SEC-caliber athletes. Mop-top point guard Matt Braeuer might be the fastest guy in the gym today.

Tennessee should regard the Shockers as an equal. To do otherwise will perpetuate a trend that began with Illinois State and Southwest Missouri.

Watch your step, Vols. You're walking once more through the Valley of the shadow of postseason death.