Wednesday, March 7, 2007
It’s championship week, and that means it’s time for the little guy to shine. In the shadows of the big boys all year, the best mid-major teams have a chance to show the nation what they can do in their do-or-die conference tournaments, which are played with enough intensity to make them as entertaining as NCAA tournament games.
While the major conference tournaments are dull due to the teams knowing they will receive at-large bids, most mid-majors are forced to win their conference tournament to receive a tournament bid. And as George Mason, Wichita State and Bradley showed us last year, these teams can go toe-to-toe with the big boys. Let’s take a look at who is capable of being this year’s George Mason and turning your bracket into as much of a red mess as your last English paper.
nutgraf
While the major conference tournaments are dull due to the teams knowing they will receive at-large bids, most mid-majors are forced to win their conference tournament to receive a tournament bid.
Winthrop (28-4) — Big South Conference — The Eagles return five starters from a team that lost to two-seed Tennessee on a buzzer-beater in the first round of last year’s NCAA tournament. Their only losses this season have come at Texas A&M, at Wisconsin in overtime, at Maryland and at North Carolina in a game they led in the second half. The Eagles are athletic and can shoot the three, as evidenced by a 14-for-27 performance behind the arc in an impressive double-digit victory at Missouri State. Currently projected as a No. 11 seed by ESPN.com, Winthrop could be the team to make a deep run similar to George Mason a season ago.
Virginia Commonwealth (27-6) — Colonial Athletic Association — The team, which was assembled by current Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel, won the CAA with a 14-2 record and the conference tournament with a victory against George Mason. That loss denied the Patriots a chance to repeat their magical run of a season ago. The Rams, led by the talented backcourt of B.A. Walker and Eric Maynor, have a history of putting a scare into high seeds, losing by one point to a Chris Paul-led Wake Forest squad as a 13 seed three seasons ago.
Drexel (23-8)/Old Dominion (24-8) — CAA — Only one of these CAA squads is likely to receive an at-large bid, but both have impressive non-conference resumes. Drexel, 13-5 in the league, posted victories at Villanova, Syracuse and Temple and a victory at Missouri Valley Conference tournament champion Creighton. Old Dominion claimed a 10-point victory at then No. 8 Georgetown and won 12 straight before a conference tourney loss to George Mason. Both teams would be a dangerous 12 or 13 seed.
Any Missouri Valley team — Bradley and Wichita State proved last season that the league is deep and talented, and nobody wants to see Creighton, Southern Illinois or Missouri State in its bracket. Creighton and SIU should both be seeded seven or better and should not sneak up on anyone. The Salukis, whose top non-conference victories come against Virginia Tech and at then-No. 12 Butler, play a stifling defense, giving up only 56 points per game, that will give it a chance to win any game. The Bluejays have the size to neutralize a major conference team’s big men, plus they have the spirit of the Phog with them in guard Nick Bahe, who is shooting 42 percent from the three-point line in 15 minutes per game.
Gonzaga (23-10) — West Coast Conference — With nine straight tournament appearances, the ’Zags are not really a mid-major anymore. Despite losing leading scorer and rebounder Josh Heytvelt to a psychedelic mushroom suspension, Gonzaga is starting to come together, having won five games in a row. Everybody’s favorite former Jayhawk Micah Downs somehow managed to stop pouting long enough to average 16 points per game in that span.
Sarraf is a Lawrence senior in journalism.
— Edited by James Pinick
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