Who is the Best Mid-Major?

[DaBball]

South Dakota (10-1)
- The coyotes own a pair of top-25 wins over then #23 Iowa State 64-59 and #22 Missouri 74-61.
- Their lone loss is against Drake 64-76.
- The rest of their games seem pretty meaningless in terms of where they would rank.

South Dakota State (7-4)
- Although the Jackrabbit’s record is a little shaky, it’s because they have a brutal non-conference schedule.
- Their best win was an 80-71 victory over then #21 Drake. Other big wins include 77-47 over fellow mid-major Green Bay and 80-71 over Central Michigan.
- Their worst losses cane against then #19 Marquette 91-52 or Buffalo 61-55.
- Their two most impressive losses were then #4 Baylor 72-66 and then #7 Oregon 87-79.
- They have the best SOS, and it shows in their record.

Drake (8-2)
- Drake has a slew of Power 5 wins, 83-77 over Nebraska, 66-59 over Rutgers, and their most impressive was 90-85 over then #13 South Carolina.
- They suffered losses to then #1 Notre Dame 82-64 and South Dakota State 80-71.
- They have two more power 5s coming up in #16 Iowa and Iowa State.

Gonzaga (8-1)
- The Zags have their fair share of Power 5 wins, 57-40 over Rutgers, 76-53 over Washington State, and the most impressive was the 79-73 victory over then #8 Stanford.
- Their sole loss was 81-65 from then #1 Notre Dame.

Central Michigan (7-1)
- They are the only of the five here without a top-25 win (or opponent), but they have wins over UCF 75-68, over Virginia 74-61, and Quinnipiac 67-52.
- Their lone loss was against South Dakota State 80-71.

 

[Plebe]

I agree that Central Michigan deserves to be on this short list, but they're currently struggling with Vanderbilt, down 2 in the second quarter.

 

[nwhoopfan]

How about Buffalo? 6-2, win over South Dakota St. on a neutral court. Lost on the road to Oregon (by 20) and Dayton (by 13). Have an upcoming game against Stanford 12/21. They were similar to Central Michigan last year. Not sure about how many players they have back from previous year.

 

[nwhoopfan]

FTR I voted for Gonzaga based mostly on their win over Stanford. A number of good candidates in this category.

 

[Plebe]

How about Buffalo? 6-2, win over South Dakota St. on a neutral court. Lost on the road to Oregon (by 20) and Dayton (by 13). Have an upcoming game against Stanford 12/21. They were similar to Central Michigan last year. Not sure about how many players they have back from previous year.

Buffalo definitely lost a lot more to graduation than Central Michigan. But they do have Cierra Dillard back, who is a great player. The South Dakota State win is a good one, but Dayton is really not a good team this year (losses to Northeastern and James Madison).

 

[DaBball]

I agree that Central Michigan deserves to be on this short list, but they're currently struggling with Vanderbilt, down 2 in the second quarter.

They were definitely the team I was most hesitant to put in, mostly because they didn’t have any great wins and they lost to SDSU.

 

[DaBball]

Gonzaga is definitely a standout, but that is also because they are the only team who hasn’t gone up against one of the other four. 3 of the top 5 have a loss to the other.

South Dakota lost to Drake
Drake lost to South Dakota State
Central Michigan lost to South Dakota State

Pretty wild that two South Dakota schools are top mid-majors.

 

[triaddukefan]

 

[Plebe]

They were definitely the team I was most hesitant to put in, mostly because they didn’t have any great wins and they lost to SDSU.

If Vanderbilt can win this game against CMU, I'd call it a major upset. Vandy only has 7 players available to play, including a walk-on from the soccer team.

 

[DaBball]

Since you commented and were on the topic of mid-majors, NC State is up 60-20 against a Maine team that UNC lost to and Duke struggled with.

 

[triaddukefan]

Since you commented and were on the topic of mid-majors, NC State is up 60-20 against a Maine team that UNC lost to and Duke struggled with.

lets leave Duke outta this

 

[nwhoopfan]

lets leave Duke outta this View attachment 37425

UW has some players on their roster that probably should be at a mid major and they beat Duke...sorry.

 

[DaBball]

lets leave Duke outta this View attachment 37425

Has to make you feel a little better that UNC lost to Maine by 12 and NCA&T by 6.

 

[Plebe]

Central Michigan survives the scare at Vanderbilt. They finally caught fire in 4Q and Vandy ran out of gas. Presley Hudson was awesome, 24 pts and 6 assists. Reyna Frost had a double-double and hit two 3-pointers late in 4Q that gave CMU the lead for good.

I know it's off the thread topic, but worth noting: Vandy started the game with only 7 players and ended with only 6. Autumn Newby suffered a scary ankle injury when she stepped on her teammate's foot late in the game, and she was putting no weight on it as she was helped off the court. When another Vandy player fouled out a short time later, the walk-on from the soccer team had to take the court.

 

[Fightin Choke]

The walk-on is Jackie Welch.

 

[triaddukefan]

UW has some players on their roster that probably should be at a mid major and they beat Duke...sorry.

I wish there could be a rematch

 

[Plebe]

I wish there could be a rematch

Maybe in the WNIT? If both teams can rally back to finish over .500?

 

[triaddukefan]

Maybe in the WNIT? If both teams can rally back to finish over .500?

 

[nwhoopfan]

Maybe in the WNIT? If both teams can rally back to finish over .500?

UW is 7-3, riding a 4 game winning streak and already equaled their win total from last year.

 

[Plebe]

UW is 7-3, riding a 4 game winning streak and already equaled their win total from last year.

Yes, but to stay above .500 through the Pac-12 season, they'll need lots of improvement.

 

[veryolddog]

Maybe it's UConn. They are not in a power league. Think about it.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Yes, but to stay above .500 through the Pac-12 season, they'll need lots of improvement.

true statement

 

[Vowelguy]

I can tell you that SMU isnt. Why even bother with this Tweet?

 

[Plebe]

I can tell you that SMU isnt. Why even bother with this Tweet?

But Kayla White is having a great game!

That's a sad tweet. 16 points in a half is just sad.

 

[Plebe]

Here are the mid-majors rated in the top 50 according to Massey (results through yesterday):

13. Gonzaga
22. Drake
25. South Dakota State
26. Central Michigan
29. South Dakota
43. Green Bay
46. Buffalo