Again, I'm not sure he ever said non-conference schedule didn't matter. He often said they have to win in the MAC Tournament to ensure getting there because the committee didn't typically award MAC teams with at-larges, and he wasn't wrong. Look at the 06-07 team.
I'm also not sure where this revisionist history comes from that his teams didn't play anyone non-conference.
16-17 - Creighton, Gonzaga
15-16 - Villanova, Arkansas
14-15 - Miami, Penn State, South Carolina
13-14 - Oregon State, South Carolina, Iowa State
12-13 - Penn State, Oklahoma State, Creighton
11-12 - Mississippi State, West Virginia, VCU
10-11 - Minnesota, Dayton, Temple
09-10 - Texas A+M, VCU
08-09 - Pittsburgh, VCU, Dayton