Your sagarin schedule strength has been slightly as an independent (except 2013) than as a member of the MWC since Bronco took over (except 2008 and 2006):

2017: 74
2016: 75
2015: 65
2014: 69
2013: 38
2012: 63
2011: 90
Avg: 67.7 (if you remove the two outliers, it's 69.2)

2010: 55
2009: 61
2008: 74
2007: 59
2006: 74
2005: 65
Avg: 64.7 (there aren't really dramatic outliers here, as every year is within 10 spots of the average, but if you remove the high and the low, it's 64.8)

So your two worst SOS in the MWC was equal to your 3rd-worst SOS of independence (and essentially equivalent to your 2nd-worst SOS). You had one significantly better year than any in the MWC (2013) but also one significantly worse (2011) and the average is about the same.

I guess what I'm saying is that your schedule is not dramatically tougher, top to bottom, as an independent. It's harder to win 11 games because you have 3 really tough games every year, but it also should be easier to win 8 games because you have 8 gimmies most years.