Conference Breakdowns Part 2 : Mid-Majors

Mid-Majors

There is no official definition of a "Mid-Major" conference, so for our sake the mid-major's include conferences that might actually have an at-large bid rather than only the automatic bid, or whatever I feel like including.

Atlantic 10 - Why?
An unexplainable 7 teams were drafted from the A-10, while a realistic 2 or 3 teams might actually go to the NCAA Tournament: Xavier (Phunmunki) and Dayton (Akaoni). For the other five, winning the conference regular season will get them 6 points, but winning the conference tournament (4 pts) is about the only ticket to success. Of course beating each other up helps, and St. Joseph's (Boaris) is off to a 4-0 start. Temple (Jutdog) might be able to make a case for an at-large bid (2-1, 10-7) if they beat up 'the rest' starting with Charlotte on Saturday. For Richmond (HippieD), St. Louis (Musashisan) and Charlotte (Babblemur) they have got to win the A-10 tourney if they want in the Big Dance. Are there any teams left in the A-10 worth drafting? Rhode Island has played a good schedule and has 5 games left against other players, none of them Xavier, but at 1-3, 12-7, they aren't getting an at-large bid.

Colonial - Competitive
The CAA is hot hot hot! George Mason (HippieD), Virginia Commonwealth (The CEO) and Northeastern (Jaybird) are all 7-1 in conference play, Old Dominion (Gunz) is 4-4 and likely going nowhere. George Mason's only conference loss was by 1 to Northeastern earlier this week. They play VCU on Saturday. VCU & Northeastern play early next week. Winning the conference is important, winning the conference tourney is critical, because the odds of two teams coming out of the Colonial this year is unlikely. If George Mason (7-1, 14-4) wins the regular season but loses in the tourney they might get an at-large. Any expansion draft teams in the Colonial? No. Drexel (5-3, 9-8) if you are really really desperate.

Conference USA - Yawn
C-USA could be a one-bid conference this year. Memphis (Gunz) is the only team that could get an at-large bid. UAB (Jaybird), Tulsa (Babs) and UTEP (Turtle) will have to get an automatic bid to get to the NCAA Tourney. All three have played good schedules but haven't done what it takes to be in the top tier. Are you thinking about taking Houston (3-1, 12-4)? Think again. Crappy schedule and not getting an at-large bid and not winning the conference tourney.

Horizon - Scrappy
Butler (8-0, 17-1) should be an at-large bid for Boaris if they don't get the automatic from the Horizon. Unlike C-USA Butler has some competition. Jutdog's Green Bay (6-2, 14-6) has stepped up since losing their first two games of the season, beating Cleveland St (Turtle) and Milwaukee. Cleveland St. (4-5, 13-8) couldaben a contender for Turtle until losing their last 3 games but they could be a force in the conference tourney. Same for Wright St (5-3, 11-8) who has won 9 of their last 10 after starting the season 0-6. UW-Milwaukee (7-2, 12-7) is definitely worth drafting, but no others I think.

MAC - Still Up in the Air
Miami (OH) for Gunz is 3-1, 10-6 over all, and should be the favorite to win the 1-bid MAC this year. They have lost to some of the best teams in Basketball (UCLA, West Virginia, Dayton, Pitt, Xavier) and beaten Temple, Wright St., and Milwaukee. But they are going to have to win the MAC and take the auto bid. Kent State (1-3, 8-10) has been disappointing for NotaTurtle, and Western Michigan (3-1, 6-11) has bounced back from their 2-8 start. The MAC may be worth a look for expansion draft teams, particularly Buffalo (3-1, 11-5), and Ohio (3-1, 10-7) who has already picked off Miami (OH) once already.

Missouri Valley - "Look At Us!"
Northern Iowa (7-1, 13-6) is surprising everyone by taking a two game lead in the competitive MVC, and should be at the top of draft consideration lists. However ProgressMedia's Illinois State (5-3, 16-3) is the team that could qualify for an at large bid if they don't get the automatic. Babblemur's Creighton (5-3, 15-5) could be a bubble team, especially if they can win 8 or 9 of their next 10 games and make a good run in the tournament. Akaoni's Drake (4-4, 13-7) and Gunz' Southern Ill (4-4, 9-10) are going to need an automatic bid at this point. Obviously UNI should be drafted, and Bradley (5-3, 11-8) and Evansville (4-4, 12-6) may be worth considering as well.

Mountain West - Too Early to Tell
The Mountain West is still shaking out, with the four teams currently owned still in the running along with two teams that haven't been drafted. On top right now is TCU (4-1, 3-6), who beat UNLV and Texas Tech and lost to BYU. Then there is Utah (3-1, 12-6), who beat Gonzaga & LSU and lost to San Diego St. Both TCU and Utah ought to get drafted. Babblemur's San Diego St. (3-1, 11-4) is in the running to win the MWC, as well as Phun's BYU (2-2, 14-4) and HippieD's UNLV (3-2, 15-4). Akaoni's New Mexico (2-2, 11-8) is showing signs of weakness, but in the end winning the MWC Tourney is probably the only ticket to the NCAA Tourney for any of these teams other than maybe Utah.

West Coast - Wrapped Up
ProgressMedia's St. Marys (5-0, 18-1) and Phunmunki's Gonzaga (4-0, 13-4) are in. Jut's San Diego (4-1, 12-8) is out. St. Marys first game against Gonzaga is next week, worth watching for sure. Stay away from the West Coast for drafting teams, Portland (3-1, 12-7) ain't worth it.

WAC - Won't Someone Pick Utah State?
No one picked Utah State (6-0, 18-1), no one picked Boise State (4-2, 13-5), both of which have a better chance of winning the WAC than Phunmunki's Nevada (5-1, 12-7). No one else is competitive in the WAC at this point. Utah State could even be an at-large bid at this rate, they should be an early draft pick.

All in all the "mid majors" have some competitive races and some good unpicked teams.
Summary - who to consider drafting:
Utah (MWC)
Utah State (WAC)
Boise State (WAC)
TCU (MWC)
Rhode Island (A10)
Evansville (MVC)
Bradley (MVC)
Buffalo (MAC)
Northern Iowa (MVC)
Southern Miss (C-USA)
Houston (C-USA)
Ohio (MAC)
Drexel (C0lonial)
Portland (WCC)
Milwaukee (Horizon)