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College basketball, much like a lot of things in life, is defined by a small percentage.
Out of the 346 teams in Div-1 hoops, 73 of those programs reside in the power conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, SEC and Pac-10), making up only 21 percent of the entire NCAA landscape.
But it is that small percentage that holds all the power. That capitalist setup is the reason why so many fans, writers and analyst believe this is a down year for college basketball as a whole.
You can blame a shallow talent pool or bad recruiting classes – or even the NBA for luring away the NCAA’s top talent – for the downfall of league’s like the ACC, Pac-10 and SEC, who just a few years ago were stacked top to bottom with tournament contenders.
But while the masses sob over the “current state” of college hoops and how things used to be, they’re missing what could be the best year ever for the small programs or mid-majors, as the talking heads politely tag them.
Last year’s tournament was a forerunner of the growing strength in the bottom 79 percent of the NCAA. March Madness brackets were busted wide open with teams like Northern Iowa, St. Mary’s, Murray State and Butler shocking power conference opponents, laying the ground work for 2011.
This season had two mid-major teams out of the Mountain West Conference, BYU and San Diego State, permanently parked in the Top 10 in the polls and in the running for a No. 1 seed in the tournament heading into the postseason.
The Colonial Athletic Conference, known best for George Mason’s Cinderella Final Four run back in 2006, produced three tournament teams (George Mason, VCU and Old Dominion). That’s just one short of the Pac-10, which sent three programs to the second round and one (USC) to the “First-Four” opening round.
Other mid-majors who enjoyed stellar seasons were Oakland, Bucknell, Wofford and Utah State, just to name a few of the smaller, “unknown” programs who could mess your bracket up this week. Plenty of these teams danced with power-conference foes early in the season and won’t be intimidated in their second-round matchups.
And the debate over the lack of NBA-level talent hurting the NCAA must only be looking at the top six leagues, ignoring the future pros building experience and character at the mid-major level.
Of course, everyone points to BYU’s Jimmer Fredette. However, outside of the should-be Player of the Year, there are a number of guys ready to make waves in the NBA that cut their teeth at smaller programs.
San Diego State’s Kawhi Leonard, Moorehead State’s Kenneth Faried, Cleveland State’s Norris Cole, Oakland’s Keith Benson, Richmond’s Justin Harper, Southern Mississippi’s Gary Flowers, George Mason’s Cam Long, Tulsa’s Justin Hurtt and NIU’s Xavier Silas are all projected to be first or second-round picks in the 2011 NBA Draft this spring.
On top of those names, players like Andrew Nicholson from St. Bonaventure, Dario Hunt from Nevada, Alex Young from IUPUI, Damian Lillard from Weber State, Jarrod Jones from Ball State, Drew Gordon from New Mexico and Tu Holloway from Xavier, are on NBA scouts’ radars for the 2012 class.
As the next couple days unfold, the strength of these small schools will be unveiled. And those who complained about a down year for college hoops will be the ones freaking out over how crazy the tournament is and how awesome these upsets are.
Unfortunately for them, that joy will be bitter sweet after doubting these mid-majors on their NCAA brackets, which will have more red ink than Charlie Sheen’s psychological examination.
I’m expecting the maddest of the mad this March, picking underdogs like Old Dominion, George Mason, Utah State and Belmont to advance to the third round – and beyond.
And if they don’t, well, I’ll just blame it on a down year for college basketball. Everyone else is.
Out of the 346 teams in Div-1 hoops, 73 of those programs reside in the power conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, SEC and Pac-10), making up only 21 percent of the entire NCAA landscape.
But it is that small percentage that holds all the power. That capitalist setup is the reason why so many fans, writers and analyst believe this is a down year for college basketball as a whole.
You can blame a shallow talent pool or bad recruiting classes – or even the NBA for luring away the NCAA’s top talent – for the downfall of league’s like the ACC, Pac-10 and SEC, who just a few years ago were stacked top to bottom with tournament contenders.
But while the masses sob over the “current state” of college hoops and how things used to be, they’re missing what could be the best year ever for the small programs or mid-majors, as the talking heads politely tag them.
Last year’s tournament was a forerunner of the growing strength in the bottom 79 percent of the NCAA. March Madness brackets were busted wide open with teams like Northern Iowa, St. Mary’s, Murray State and Butler shocking power conference opponents, laying the ground work for 2011.
This season had two mid-major teams out of the Mountain West Conference, BYU and San Diego State, permanently parked in the Top 10 in the polls and in the running for a No. 1 seed in the tournament heading into the postseason.
The Colonial Athletic Conference, known best for George Mason’s Cinderella Final Four run back in 2006, produced three tournament teams (George Mason, VCU and Old Dominion). That’s just one short of the Pac-10, which sent three programs to the second round and one (USC) to the “First-Four” opening round.
Other mid-majors who enjoyed stellar seasons were Oakland, Bucknell, Wofford and Utah State, just to name a few of the smaller, “unknown” programs who could mess your bracket up this week. Plenty of these teams danced with power-conference foes early in the season and won’t be intimidated in their second-round matchups.
And the debate over the lack of NBA-level talent hurting the NCAA must only be looking at the top six leagues, ignoring the future pros building experience and character at the mid-major level.
Of course, everyone points to BYU’s Jimmer Fredette. However, outside of the should-be Player of the Year, there are a number of guys ready to make waves in the NBA that cut their teeth at smaller programs.
San Diego State’s Kawhi Leonard, Moorehead State’s Kenneth Faried, Cleveland State’s Norris Cole, Oakland’s Keith Benson, Richmond’s Justin Harper, Southern Mississippi’s Gary Flowers, George Mason’s Cam Long, Tulsa’s Justin Hurtt and NIU’s Xavier Silas are all projected to be first or second-round picks in the 2011 NBA Draft this spring.
On top of those names, players like Andrew Nicholson from St. Bonaventure, Dario Hunt from Nevada, Alex Young from IUPUI, Damian Lillard from Weber State, Jarrod Jones from Ball State, Drew Gordon from New Mexico and Tu Holloway from Xavier, are on NBA scouts’ radars for the 2012 class.
As the next couple days unfold, the strength of these small schools will be unveiled. And those who complained about a down year for college hoops will be the ones freaking out over how crazy the tournament is and how awesome these upsets are.
Unfortunately for them, that joy will be bitter sweet after doubting these mid-majors on their NCAA brackets, which will have more red ink than Charlie Sheen’s psychological examination.
I’m expecting the maddest of the mad this March, picking underdogs like Old Dominion, George Mason, Utah State and Belmont to advance to the third round – and beyond.
And if they don’t, well, I’ll just blame it on a down year for college basketball. Everyone else is.
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