Where is all of the mid major bravado today?

cyclonenum1

Well-Known Member
Nov 30, 2006
7,191
330
83
Down to the Sweet 16 and only 3 schools left that are not from the major / BCS / power conferences. And those three (Memphis, Gonzaga, and Xavier) have really catapulted themselves into "major" programs over the past 10-15 years even though they play in mid major conferences because they schedule a bunch of non conference games against major schools and then wipe the court with their conference opponents.

And as I said last week when some of you were bemoaning the lack of respect from the NCAA selection committee for the mid majors...the selection committee does a tremendous job...only 2 of the Sweet 16 were not seeded to get this far...Purdue as a #5 and Arizona as a #12...everything else went exactly according to seeding.
 
  • Like
Reactions: clintr

isunorth

Well-Known Member
Mar 3, 2009
1,212
93
48
Minneapolis
Down to the Sweet 16 and only 3 schools left that are not from the major / BCS / power conferences. And those three (Memphis, Gonzaga, and Xavier) have really catapulted themselves into "major" programs over the past 10-15 years even though they play in mid major conferences because they schedule a bunch of non conference games against major schools and then wipe the court with their conference opponents.

And as I said last week when some of you were bemoaning the lack of respect from the NCAA selection committee for the mid majors...the selection committee does a tremendous job...only 2 of the Sweet 16 were not seeded to get this far...Purdue as a #5 and Arizona as a #12...everything else went exactly according to seeding.

Lol. Yeah, it was pretty quiet over the weekend. :smile:
 

BryceC

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 23, 2006
26,472
19,648
113
I have just as much fun no matter who is in the tourney. I really don't get into the mid-majors though. I just want to see good basketball, whether that be the mids or not.
 

jbhtexas

Well-Known Member
Oct 20, 2006
14,327
4,377
113
Arlington, TX
Question: What does the better seeds advancing have to do with which of the bubble teams deserved to get into the tournament (mid-major or otherwise)?

Answer: Absolutely nothing...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: CycloneErik

Steve

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,211
778
113
Down to the Sweet 16 and only 3 schools left that are not from the major / BCS / power conferences. And those three (Memphis, Gonzaga, and Xavier) have really catapulted themselves into "major" programs over the past 10-15 years even though they play in mid major conferences because they schedule a bunch of non conference games against major schools and then wipe the court with their conference opponents.

And as I said last week when some of you were bemoaning the lack of respect from the NCAA selection committee for the mid majors...the selection committee does a tremendous job...only 2 of the Sweet 16 were not seeded to get this far...Purdue as a #5 and Arizona as a #12...everything else went exactly according to seeding.

Not trying to defend the mid majors, but your sweet 16 argument doesn't hold water. The mid majors competing for an at large bid are not competing with teams like Pitt, KU, UNC, MSU, etc. They are competing with the middle of the pack majors who, with the exception of Ariz, have all been eliminated.
 

balken

Well-Known Member
Apr 14, 2006
2,744
345
83
Here are the teams in the Sweet Sixteen from non-BCS conferences, excluding Memphis, Xavier, Gonzaga and UNLV. Average 2.4 per year.

2008 Davidson, Western Kentucky
2007 Butler, Southern Illinois
2006 Bradley, Wichita State, George Mason
2005 UW-Milwaukee, Utah
2004 Nevada, UAB, St. Joseph
 

isunorth

Well-Known Member
Mar 3, 2009
1,212
93
48
Minneapolis
Question: What does the better seeds advancing have to do with which of the bubble teams deserved to get into the tournament?

Answer: Absolutely nothing...

It has quite a bit to do with it, actually. The way I read the post, I interpreted it to be as much about the power conferences as it was the seeds.

Take Arizona for example. They were one of the main culprits named in the mid-majors case against the selection committee this year. I guarantee had they lost first round people would be crying louder than ever. As a #12 seed, they went on to win their first two games over mid-majors (two conference champions, in fact). Wisconsin, another culprit, wins one game over a hot Florida State team and gives #4 seed Xavier a tough game. Maryland won their first game as well.

I think the posters point was that 3 of the majors complained about most all won their first game as lower seeds and that this somehow justified their selection.

I do agree with your point that there isn't really a direct correlation with "deserving" to get in. However, what I think the poster is pointing out is that the complaining likely would have gotten much louder had said teams lost in the first round.

In which case, I'd be interested to see if you agree with the posters logic.
 

CycloneErik

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2008
108,169
53,424
113
Jamerica
rememberingdoria.wordpress.com
Down to the Sweet 16 and only 3 schools left that are not from the major / BCS / power conferences. And those three (Memphis, Gonzaga, and Xavier) have really catapulted themselves into "major" programs over the past 10-15 years even though they play in mid major conferences because they schedule a bunch of non conference games against major schools and then wipe the court with their conference opponents.

And as I said last week when some of you were bemoaning the lack of respect from the NCAA selection committee for the mid majors...the selection committee does a tremendous job...only 2 of the Sweet 16 were not seeded to get this far...Purdue as a #5 and Arizona as a #12...everything else went exactly according to seeding.

I agree to a point. Obviously, as you say, the only mid-majors that made the Sweet 16 were major powers, and the Sweet 16 went pretty much as seeded.

At the same time, the fringe teams from the major conferences didn't do well, either, for the most part. So why not bring in the mid-major guys, if neither choice is likely to advance. Give them the chance that no one else is giving them. The other guys have had their chance during the season and failed to measure up.
 

ahaselhu

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2007
1,871
64
48
Clarinda, IA
I agree to a point. Obviously, as you say, the only mid-majors that made the Sweet 16 were major powers, and the Sweet 16 went pretty much as seeded.

At the same time, the fringe teams from the major conferences didn't do well, either, for the most part. So why not bring in the mid-major guys, if neither choice is likely to advance. Give them the chance that no one else is giving them. The other guys have had their chance during the season and failed to measure up.

+1
 

BryceC

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 23, 2006
26,472
19,648
113
At the same time, the fringe teams from the major conferences didn't do well, either, for the most part. So why not bring in the mid-major guys, if neither choice is likely to advance.

Ultimately it's about dollars and what teams have the physical ability to compete and make a run. That's why it happens.
 

BryceC

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 23, 2006
26,472
19,648
113
I'm curious. Which conferences would you consider to be "mid-major", as opposed to "low-major"?

I'd say the conferences that have a shot at at-large bids are mid major - Like the MVC, MWC, WCC, WAC, C-USA, Horizon...

Then there are a ton of conferences that are pretty much assured only one bid. Southern, Sunbelt, Patriot, Ivy, etc.
 

clintr

Active Member
Nov 12, 2007
441
30
28
Ames, IA
...

And as I said last week when some of you were bemoaning the lack of respect from the NCAA selection committee for the mid majors...the selection committee does a tremendous job...only 2 of the Sweet 16 were not seeded to get this far...Purdue as a #5 and Arizona as a #12...everything else went exactly according to seeding.

steve-the-pirate.jpg


haha!
 

Cydkar

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2006
26,922
12,722
113
I thought the mid-majors were impressive if only a hair short of getting it done.
 

CycloneErik

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2008
108,169
53,424
113
Jamerica
rememberingdoria.wordpress.com
Ultimately it's about dollars and what teams have the physical ability to compete and make a run. That's why it happens.

Davidson, Kent State, Gonzaga's early years (with their Elite Eight repeat), Providence in 1987, George Mason, Tulsa (any time)-----These are some Elite Eight runs that were highly competitive.

How many Sweet 16 runs should we throw in here? In college basketball, everybody with talent has a shot on any given day. On some days, so does Colorado.
 

balken

Well-Known Member
Apr 14, 2006
2,744
345
83
Down to the Sweet 16 and only 3 schools left that are not from the major / BCS / power conferences. And those three (Memphis, Gonzaga, and Xavier) have really catapulted themselves into "major" programs over the past 10-15 years even though they play in mid major conferences because they schedule a bunch of non conference games against major schools and then wipe the court with their conference opponents.

I understand why people exclude teams like Gonzaga from mid-major discussions. However, it is essentially saying that you must not be consistently good to be considered a mid-major. BCS schools will obviously shine in this comparison.
 

CycloneErik

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2008
108,169
53,424
113
Jamerica
rememberingdoria.wordpress.com
I understand why people exclude teams like Gonzaga from mid-major discussions. However, it is essentially saying that you must not be consistently good to be considered a mid-major. BCS schools will obviously shine in this comparison.

Touche. If the criteria for being excluded from the tournament is that a team stinks, then I would agree. Teams that stink should not make the national championship tournament.

I think that he's trying to say that the average mid-major teams aren't qualified to compete in the Dance.
 

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron