Non-conference helps conference

"At our level, conference games are the only ones that count." We say that frequently, but it is completely true? The reason that only conference games count is that we are so lousy as a conference. Thus, once conference season begins, the RPI of the league is, for the most part, locked in place: one team goes up while another goes down. It is only in the non-conference portion of the schedule that we, as a league, can help ourselves as a league. Every meaningful game that a Belt team wins helps everyone else in the league, at least indirectly. Sure, non-conference games count - unless we want to be a bottom feeder forever.