Arrasian Foolishness - A Look at the Mid-Majors
First off, thanks to my dear, dear Cousin for allowing me a weekly chance to grace his small, yet brilliant corner of the Internet. I am eternally grateful. May God bless your life with many healthy sons!
OK, since the theme of the moment seems to be college basketball, and I consider myself something of a mid-major fan, or even, dare I say, a guru, let's have a look at the little guys in what might be their best year yet.
Note: if you read Bracketology and Bubble Watch, I got nothing for you. Read no further. And if you don't read Bracketology, I have no respect for you, and don't want you to read this. Press the restart button on your computer immediately! (I'd swear at you, but I haven't noticed EA swearing too much, and I don't think it's my role to set any obscenity precedents on this blog.)
Another note: Those of you who have watched any March Madness with me know about my Archives. Unfortunately, I think they're at Old Home right now, so all my historical references will be random, undated, and probably incorrect.
MAC
Anyway, I was at the Buffalo - Kent State game last night. (Sounds like the opening line of a bad joke, but I'm serious. I love the mid-majors.) The MAC is as good as ever, and once again underrated. The MVC is solid, but the MAC is a great conference with unbelievable parity. Once again, they're beating up on each other and what should always be at least a two-bid conference is, as always, at most a two-bid conference. Buffalo is a deep team with a star (Turner Battle), a couple glue guys (Calvin Cage and Danny "Hustle" Gilbert) and some big white guys who can make lay-ups. You would not want to play this team in the first round. But they won't be getting an at-large unless they win out and beat some teams in the MAC tourney. Meanwhile, Kent State is solid as usual. They've got a couple Chevon Troutman* clones who play VERY physical. Almost Big East like. We're talking more physical than the finesse game of the ACC. And in this league, everybody except the big white guys and the bruisers can shoot the ball. Actually, half the big guys can hit a 3. Miami, with a 25 RPI, has to be in, right? Miami v. Wichita St = MUST SEE bracket buster.
MVC
Ah, my old favorite, ever since the great run by SW Missouri St to the Elite Eight (a guess, I won't even try the year. See note above). Southern Illinois is the conference's best program. Fear the Salukis. Wichita St gets the other bid, but watch out for Northern Iowa or Creighton if they win the conference tournament.
WCC
With the downswing of the PAC-10, Gonzaga is the best team on the west coast, and Ronny Turiaf is the best player. Seattle Chris tells me Gonzaga owns the state of Washington for recruiting now. They are here to stay. And they are bringing their conference with them. The WCC is to the west coast what the MAC is to the northeast and the MVC is to the midwest.
Big West
Utah St had a little cinderella run a few years back, then got screwed by the committee last year. They'll be tough if they win the conference bid. Pacific = sweet 16, at least.
Others
Vermont - Coppenrath = Szcerbiak, perhaps? Opened season with a loss by only 7 in Kansas. Always keep an eye on teams that shred their conference. Any conference.
Holy Cross - Patriot league often sends a 15 or 16 seed, but they aren't too bad this year. Holy Cross is running away from Bucknell, who beat St. Joe's in Philly and Pitt in Pitt.
Old Dominion - Beat Kent State. Beat St. Joe's (outside of the A-10, who hasn't?). Great conference record. Remember Coach Dukie Capel and VCU's gutsy first round effort last year? Same conference.
Western Kentucky - You have to like the Hilltopper's cameos in This is Sportscenter a few years back.
Wisc-Milwaukee - Horizon league is always tough. Butler is one of my favorites, but after 4 great years, they've dropped off and Wisc-Mil is back to take their place.
Texas Southern - Haha! Gotcha! They suck!
Boy! What a waste of time that was! For both of us!
*Chevon Troutman's mother's name is Gayanne. So is his sister's.
OK, since the theme of the moment seems to be college basketball, and I consider myself something of a mid-major fan, or even, dare I say, a guru, let's have a look at the little guys in what might be their best year yet.
Note: if you read Bracketology and Bubble Watch, I got nothing for you. Read no further. And if you don't read Bracketology, I have no respect for you, and don't want you to read this. Press the restart button on your computer immediately! (I'd swear at you, but I haven't noticed EA swearing too much, and I don't think it's my role to set any obscenity precedents on this blog.)
Another note: Those of you who have watched any March Madness with me know about my Archives. Unfortunately, I think they're at Old Home right now, so all my historical references will be random, undated, and probably incorrect.
MAC
Anyway, I was at the Buffalo - Kent State game last night. (Sounds like the opening line of a bad joke, but I'm serious. I love the mid-majors.) The MAC is as good as ever, and once again underrated. The MVC is solid, but the MAC is a great conference with unbelievable parity. Once again, they're beating up on each other and what should always be at least a two-bid conference is, as always, at most a two-bid conference. Buffalo is a deep team with a star (Turner Battle), a couple glue guys (Calvin Cage and Danny "Hustle" Gilbert) and some big white guys who can make lay-ups. You would not want to play this team in the first round. But they won't be getting an at-large unless they win out and beat some teams in the MAC tourney. Meanwhile, Kent State is solid as usual. They've got a couple Chevon Troutman* clones who play VERY physical. Almost Big East like. We're talking more physical than the finesse game of the ACC. And in this league, everybody except the big white guys and the bruisers can shoot the ball. Actually, half the big guys can hit a 3. Miami, with a 25 RPI, has to be in, right? Miami v. Wichita St = MUST SEE bracket buster.
MVC
Ah, my old favorite, ever since the great run by SW Missouri St to the Elite Eight (a guess, I won't even try the year. See note above). Southern Illinois is the conference's best program. Fear the Salukis. Wichita St gets the other bid, but watch out for Northern Iowa or Creighton if they win the conference tournament.
WCC
With the downswing of the PAC-10, Gonzaga is the best team on the west coast, and Ronny Turiaf is the best player. Seattle Chris tells me Gonzaga owns the state of Washington for recruiting now. They are here to stay. And they are bringing their conference with them. The WCC is to the west coast what the MAC is to the northeast and the MVC is to the midwest.
Big West
Utah St had a little cinderella run a few years back, then got screwed by the committee last year. They'll be tough if they win the conference bid. Pacific = sweet 16, at least.
Others
Vermont - Coppenrath = Szcerbiak, perhaps? Opened season with a loss by only 7 in Kansas. Always keep an eye on teams that shred their conference. Any conference.
Holy Cross - Patriot league often sends a 15 or 16 seed, but they aren't too bad this year. Holy Cross is running away from Bucknell, who beat St. Joe's in Philly and Pitt in Pitt.
Old Dominion - Beat Kent State. Beat St. Joe's (outside of the A-10, who hasn't?). Great conference record. Remember Coach Dukie Capel and VCU's gutsy first round effort last year? Same conference.
Western Kentucky - You have to like the Hilltopper's cameos in This is Sportscenter a few years back.
Wisc-Milwaukee - Horizon league is always tough. Butler is one of my favorites, but after 4 great years, they've dropped off and Wisc-Mil is back to take their place.
Texas Southern - Haha! Gotcha! They suck!
Boy! What a waste of time that was! For both of us!
*Chevon Troutman's mother's name is Gayanne. So is his sister's.
posted by Prof. A at 6:27 p.m.
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