http://godisagael.yuku.com/forums/2/Men39s-Basketball/Men39s-Basketball#.WIJjIxsrKUk
As other posters have pointed out, these are a different type of institution than your large, average academic state schools (such as the MWC, the University of Utah, etc.). They are much more academic, with a different demographic in their student bodies. The A-10 is by and large made up of the same type of institutions.
The Gonzaga's, Duke's, and Villanova's (high academic private schools that do have very passionate fanbases) are the exceptions. The key ingredient there that helped create a different program environment, IMO, was long-term sustained success.