In the latest Conference RPI rankings, the Sun Belt Conference came in at No. 14. That's a major improvement over last season's 19 and the 24 and 23 posted the two years previous to that. It's the highest the Sun Belt has been rated since a 13 in 2004.
While the Sun Belt only has one top 100 team in Middle Tennessee (No. 45), it also has avoided any 300 or worse teams. Troy comes in a Sun Belt worst 275.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/conference
Not surprising that Middle Tennessee is still complaining about it:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20130115/BLUERAIDERS02/301150010/Winning-enough-Blue-Raiders-
