I don't think it's location for those two (though, proximity between Xavier and Dayton doesn't help the Flyers). It's sustained success. SLU has never had the good, consistent, and deep run into the tournament. Dayton has finally had its first losing season since 2006, but only five of those seasons in that span resulted in tournament bids.

With Creighton, much like Dayton, it wasn't always consistent, nor deep in its appearances, but it hit its consistency at the right time. Seven tournament appearances ahead of the Big East split to Dayton's four from 2000 until the split.

And maybe more critical for Dayton...the absence of an appearance in the 90's, bookending it in '90 and '00, and totally familiar with, but on the losing end of games with your Marquette's, DePaul's, and then Xavier's. Maybe, to the current Big East schools, while we all see Dayton as a great program, deserving of major status...that's not the experience a good number of the current members had with them. And SLU. But, it wasn't something anyone had with Creighton. And it helped that Butler knew how to win anywhere it was, but had strong advocacy from Xavier, which could be one of the most consistent programs in all of men's basketball over the last three decades.