The Mid Major Thread

[BoiseStateFan27]

I'm not expecting UTEP to have a shot at the tournament this year but they did lose by only 7 at Marquette last night.

I'm pretty stoked about that. The nightmare that was Tim Floyd is over.

WHOA

@Deep Creek THERE'S MORE OF YOU!!

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

There's a MWC thread, but we don't even deserve it

 

[ericd7633]

It seems as though we have threads dedicated to the Power 6 conferences and nothing for the Mid Major leagues. For the sake of this thread, I'd like to exclude leagues that historically receive more than 1 bid per year to the NCAA Tournament, because of that the AAC, A-10, Mtn. West and WCC should have their own thread if anyone is interesting in starting one.

I really wanted to do this, because I noticed there were a number of mid major teams, from historically 1 bid leagues that have gotten off to great starts. I know OOC play is halfway over, so the chance for some of these teams to pull upsets will lessen, but I still think these teams are worth following into their respective conference play.

Just some things I've noticed thus far:

Out of the A-Sun, Lipscomb is off to a 5-1 start(against D1 teams). Three true road wins @TCU, @SMU, and @Morehead St. Still have road games @Clemson, @UL, and @Belmont. Not only have they played well thus far, this is a really fun team to watch. They get up and down(avg. 83 ppg), and have one of the best mid major players in the country in guard Garrison Mathews, who could eclipse 2,500 career points this season.

Out of the Big South, Radford, fresh off a tournament appearance last year is off to a 3-1 start(against D1 teams). Including a true road win @Notre Dame. Carlik Jones, who you may remember sent the Highlanders to the tournament with his buzzer beater against Liberty as a Freshman, is off to a fantastic start to his sophomore season avg. almost 20 ppg. Certainly is a name to look out for in the Big South this season.

C-USA is off to a promising start. And not from the teams you'd expect. I'm sure most of us expected Western Kentucky(based on talent), MTSU(based on program) and Marshall(based on winning the C-USA CG, and beating Wichita State in the tournament) to battle it out for the top spot in the league this year. And while that still may be the case. Some other teams have gotten off to good starts. North Texas is 5-0(against D1 teams) Florida Atlantic is 5-1(against D1 teams) and La. Tech is 3-2(against D1 teams) with a win over Wichita State and close losses to LSU and UNC-Greensboro.

Out of the MAC, Buffalo has picked up right where they left off last year, and even then some. Buffalo is 5-0 with a win @WVU and has a couple big games later in the OOC with games against Syracuse and Marquette. There is a real shot to pick up an at-large, should someone else win the conference tournament. Who might be able to knock off Buffalo. Kent State is off to a good start 4-1(against D1 teams) with a road win @Vandy. Toledo is 4-1(against D1 teams), and don't sleep on Ball State despite the 3-3 record. They've lost to Purdue, Virginia Tech and Alabama, but my guess is they are the biggest challenger to Buffalo.

Out of the Ohio Valley, it appears it's another two team race between Belmont and Murray State. This has turned into a really good rivalry ever since Belmont joined the league a couple years back. Belmont already has wins against solid mid major programs in Illinois St, MTSU and Lipscomb and they still have to play @Samford, @UCLA, vs. WKU and @Purdue. If they can manage an upset(most notably against UCLA/Purdue) entering the at-large discussion is a real possibility.

And finally, one other noticeable thing I wanted to touch base on was how good the So Con has been this year. Just a tremendous start for the top half of the league thus far. Furman is 4-0(against D1 teams) with road wins @Nova and @Loyola(Ch). Samford is off to a 6-1 start(against D1 teams) with it's lone loss coming @Ohio State, a game in which they lead at half. And UNC-Greensboro is 5-1(against D1 teams) for a team coming off a tournament appearance last year, that gave Gonzaga all it could in the 1st round.

There's obviously a ton more of great things happening at the mid major level, but I wanted to get this up and running to really keep track, and see if it's viable for one or even a couple of these historic one bid leagues to have a chance at getting two in the bracket.

Feel free to post anything relevant to the topic in this thread. I know I will. I'll also post some important upcoming games when necessary, and instead of starting up the tournament threads, I'll post them into this thread, once conference tournament season rolls around, so the main board doesn't get cluttered with them.

Furman moves to 7-0(against D1 teams). With I think that's 5 true road wins now. Still have road games left at LSU and at ETSU. A split there, and I think they can afford a couple losses in the So. Con and still have a great case for an at-large bid. Nova is for sure going to be a Q1 win. Loyola has an outside shot to be a Q1 win, looking more likely a Q2 win though.

 

[Fitbud]

Anyone see New Mexico St. almost beat Kansas on their home floor?

They had Kansas on the ropes.

 

[Deep Creek]

I'm not expecting UTEP to have a shot at the tournament this year but they did lose by only 7 at Marquette last night.

I'm pretty stoked about that. The nightmare that was Tim Floyd is over.

What's the current status of UTEP hoops Fit? I left El Paso in 2008. Viewing from afar, Haskins has to be turning over in his grave with how bad the basketball has been lately.

 

[Fitbud]

What's the current status of UTEP hoops Fit? I left El Paso in 2008. Viewing from afar, Haskins has to be turning over in his grave with how bad the basketball has been lately.

Barbie left the program in outstanding shape but Tim Floyd came in and ruined it. It was 7 years of hell where he ran off good recruits, embarrassed the himself and the brand. In the end, even his most loyal fans turned on him.

Now we got a new guy and he is turning this team around just like Gillespie did a few years back. Look for them to get some impressive wins this year and make some serious noise next year.

 

[jontaejones]

Eye test wise, keep an eye out for UPenn.

Man, those guys can score.

I expect them to make mincemeat out of the Ivy League.

 

[ericd7633]

Eye test wise, keep an eye out for UPenn.

Man, those guys can score.

I expect them to make mincemeat out of the Ivy League.

And they are doing this without their best player. Really impressive.

 

[rmilia1]

Big opportunity for Lipscomb tonight

 

[ozanaminn]

My all time favorite mid majors:
UTEP:always enjoyed watching aDon Haskins coached team.
Ohio U.: Growing up in southern Ohio allowed me to go to a few of their games.
App. St.:Always loved the school and in college I was my schools basketball manager and got the chance to play against them my freshman year.
St. Bonnaventure: loved the name and enjoyed watching their team last year.
Temple: Always enjoyed watching John Chaney coached teams.

 

[ericd7633]

ODU picks up a nice win for CUSA by beating Syracuse on the road.

 

[Hitman Hart]

ODU picks up a nice win for CUSA by beating Syracuse on the road.

another shitty OOC season for Syracuse

laughable that the media tried to hype them up

 

[rmilia1]

Grlood win for Belmont over ucla

 

[rmilia1]

I'll tell you what . Drake may be the best team in the MVC. 9-2 ( only losses to Colorado and Iowa St in a game they led the whole way ). Really nice neutral court win over New Mexico St tonight . With Loyola looking down the MVC is up for grabs and I think the Buildings may be the best bet

 

[rmilia1]

This Drake - San Diego game has been awesome

 

[ericd7633]

I'll tell you what . Drake may be the best team in the MVC. 9-2 ( only losses to Colorado and Iowa St in a game they led the whole way ). Really nice neutral court win over New Mexico St tonight . With Loyola looking down the MVC is up for grabs and I think the Buildings may be the best bet

The MVC is really up for grabs. Drake got a nice couple wins this weekend. Indiana St is looking good, relatively speaking with their only losses to TCU, North Texas and Ball State. Also has wins over WKU, UNLV and Colorado. Between them the resumes are very similar. I still think Illinois State has the best talent. But they are just 7-6. But they have played a much tougher SOS than the other two IMO. I'd still lean Illinois State, based on roster, but it wouldn't surprise me if 1 of 5 teams won it.

 

[rmilia1]

The MVC is really up for grabs. Drake got a nice couple wins this weekend. Indiana St is looking good, relatively speaking with their only losses to TCU, North Texas and Ball State. Also has wins over WKU, UNLV and Colorado. Between them the resumes are very similar. I still think Illinois State has the best talent. But they are just 7-6. But they have played a much tougher SOS than the other two IMO. I'd still lean Illinois State, based on roster, but it wouldn't surprise me if 1 of 5 teams won it.

That was a hell of a game tonight man Don't know if you watched it but really great game

 

[ericd7633]

That was a hell of a game tonight man Don't know if you watched it but really great game

I watched very little of it. And didn't see either overtime. Kind of bummed I missed it. I always enjoy a good game against high quality mid majors.

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

I've dropped off from paying attention the last few weeks

Do we have some mid-majors showing at-large bid potential?

You would think there will be more available with how awful the Pac-12 is looking

 

[ericd7633]

I've dropped off from paying attention the last few weeks

Do we have some mid-majors showing at-large bid potential?

You would think there will be more available with how awful the Pac-12 is looking

I think at this point Buffalo, Nevada and Gonzaga are clearly getting an at large big should they not win their respective conference tournament.

Teams that can probably afford maybe a loss or maybe two in conference(probably not though) Utah State, Belmont, San Francisco, and maybe one of St Louis or VCU in the A-10.

The problem this year for the mid majors is that alot of these are a lot deeper than they normally are, meaning it's going to be difficult to run through, for example, the So Con with just a loss. It's a bummer because there are some good mids this year. It'll be interesting to see how the committee treats the mids in comparison to the difference in the NET and the RPI. If you were a mid majors in the 30's/40's of the RPI you had basically a zero percent chance of getting an at large. Will they treat the similar rated teams in NET the same or not? That's what I'll be taking away the most in this first year.