and media have effectively classified them this way in recent years.

While smaller conferences have always found it difficult to get multiple teams in the tourney, the more restrictive scheduling that exists in this environment (P5) makes it a struggle for small-conference teams to strengthen RPI out of conference, and in-conference games tend to lower RPI for these teams.

Furthermore, recently it seems as though the NCAA tournament committee has bought onto this narrative and has favored money conference at-large and bubble teams over similar or slightly higher-ranked small-conference teams. (This is largely just my biased observation)

Maybe this years committee will move the needle back towards equitable selection a little bit. http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/mens-basketball-selections-101-committee

Just one fan's perspective.