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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 9, 2019 16:50:41 GMT -5
I sometimes see some interesting mid major related items that I think this group might be interested in hearing, but the information doesn't fit into one of our existing threads. I am going to use this thread for such items for the 2019-20 season. First item: CollegeInsider.com put out this Mid Major Top 25 in April. (Note: The Titan schedule is tough, even beyond the "big schools" we play. In this poll, Gonzaga is #1, UC-Irvine is #6, Northeastern is #12, and Toledo is #18. Conference opponent NKU is #23.) www.collegeinsider.com/mens-mid-major-top-25.php1. Gonzaga (29) 33-4 West Coast 2. Wofford (1) 30-5 Southern 3. Buffalo 32-4 Mid-American 4. Murray State 28-5 Ohio Valley 5. Belmont 27-6 Ohio Valley 6. UC Irvine 31-6 Big West 7. Liberty 29-7 Atlantic Sun 8. New Mexico State 30-5 Western Athletic 9. Vermont 27-7 America East 10. Lipscomb 29-8 Atlantic Sun 11. UNC Greensboro 29-7 Southern 12. Northeastern 23-11 Colonial 13. Saint Mary's 21-12 West Coast 14. Yale 22-8 Ivy League 15. Hofstra 22-8 Colonial 16. Georgia State 24-10 Sun Belt 17. Furman 25-8 Southern 18. Toledo 25-8 Mid-American 19. Montana 26-9 Big Sky 20. Abilene Christian 27-7 Southland 21. ETSU 24-10 Southern 22. South Dakota State 24-9 Summit 23. Northern Kentucky 26-9 Horizon 24. Sam Houston State 21-12 Southland 25. Gardner-Webb 23-12 Big South
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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 9, 2019 18:01:36 GMT -5
Grand Canyon is a mid major worth watching this season. Michigan's own Dan Majerle is a media favorite and his Grand Canyon program has gotten a lot of attention during his tenure. However, so far the steak hasn't matched the sizzle. Don't get me wrong, I'd gladly trade win/loss records with GCU for the past six years. They haven't had a losing season, they won 27 games in 2015-16, and they have developed what is, by all accounts, a great game atmosphere. However, during that time, they haven't sniffed the NIT or NCAA, going to two CBIs and three CITs. Also, they are trending in the wrong direction, as records since the 27 win season have been 22-9, 22-12, and 20-14. I think such a record would have had a lot of University of Detroit fans calling for a coaching change, but Dan seems safe. This could be an interesting year for the Antelopes; they only bring back three returning players, but they add some talent, including TCU grad transfer point guard Jaylen Fisher. The WAC coaches poll predicts GCU to finish 2nd in the league, behind New Mexico State. The Lopes have their first six games at home, including a home clash with Illinois. Note: If things work out, I will be seeing Grand Canyon vs Liberty in the Jerry Colangelo classic while in Arizona in December. gculopes.com/index.aspx?path=mbball
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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 10, 2019 20:46:14 GMT -5
Another mid major of interest this season:
The Pepperdine Waves haven't gotten a lot of buzz nationally for the coming year, but they are generating some excitement among the fan base. Coach Lorenzo Romar is in his second year of his second stint with Pepperdine. Last season, he took over a team that had won six games and racked up 16 victories. The Waves return three starters, including all conference point guard Colbey Ross, who averaged 19 points and 7 assists last year. The Kessler brothers return; Cameron averaged 15 and 6, but missed 14 games with injury, and Kessler averaged 10 and 6. Joining the roster are Oregon transfer Keith Smith, who had two non-descript seasons with the Ducks but was a highly ranked high schooler, and Skylar Chavez, who led all California JUCOs in scoring at 28 points per game.
Most pundits pick the Waves to finish fourth in the conference, behind Gonzaga, St. Mary's, and Brigham Young. The team will take on California, Arizona, and USC in the non-conference portion of the schedule.
Note for the future: Romar got a couple of nice commitments recently that will pay big dividends down the line if they stick. 2020 Power Forward Kendall Monroe committed to Pepperdine this week. He's a three star recruit, rated 139 in the nation by Rivals and 162 by 24/7. He's a Chicago native currently living in Washington, and he had offers from Washington and Washington State. The other recruit is Mike Mitchell Jr., in the class of 2021. Mitchell is a point guard, and a three star recruit per 24/7. He had offers from mid majors like San Diego State and Santa Barbara, and had reportedly received an offer from USC in June, two months before he committed to the Waves.
Mitchell's stated reason for committing so early was because of his relationship with Romar. I think the University of Detroit Titans now have a coach with the background and personality to get those early commitments once we get things rolling.
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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 15, 2019 17:43:41 GMT -5
The preseason Mountain West Conference poll is below. Utah State is getting some national attention as a potential mid major darling this year.
1. Utah State 2. San Diego State 3. New Mexico 4. Nevada 5. Boise State 6. Fresno State 7. UNLV 8. Air Force 9. Colorado State 10. Wyoming 11. San José State
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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 23, 2019 19:24:01 GMT -5
The AP preseason poll has some mid major representation.
17. Utah State 20. St. Mary's 25. VCU
Receiving votes: Davidson, Harvard, Vermont, Libery, Colgate.
(Gonzaga is #8, but I don't think we can count them as an actual mid major anymore.)
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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 25, 2019 19:56:26 GMT -5
Significant injury for New Mexico State. AJ Harris averaged ten per game last year and is the senior point guard. Tough loss for the first part of the season, when NM State had hoped to pick up a couple of noteworthy conference wins.
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Post by motorcitysam on Nov 3, 2019 18:35:55 GMT -5
Anyone wondering how Texas Southern is expected to fare this season? TSU hired Johnny Jones as head coach after Coach Davis came to U of D, and he did a good job last season, finishing 24-14, 14-4, snagging a CIT bid. This year, predictions for first in the SWAC generally call for Texas Southern, Grambling, and Prairie View to fight it out for the top spot. TSU brings back two starters and several reserves. They just received some good news that a transfer from Texas A&M had received a waiver and would be eligible this coming season. tsusports.com/index.aspx?path=mbball
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Post by Commissioner on Nov 3, 2019 19:19:07 GMT -5
Anyone wondering how Texas Southern is expected to fare this season? TSU hired Johnny Jones as head coach after Coach Davis came to U of D, and he did a good job last season, finishing 24-14, 14-4, snagging a CIT bid. This year, predictions for first in the SWAC generally call for Texas Southern, Grambling, and Prairie View to fight it out for the top spot. TSU brings back two starters and several reserves. They just received some good news that a transfer from Texas A&M had received a waiver and would be eligible this coming season. tsusports.com/index.aspx?path=mbballI don't know how TSU will do, but I noticed that they've added grad transfer Jordan Andrews from South Alabama this year. If that name seems vaguely familiar, Andrews was a member of the Horizon all-freshman team in 2016, when he played for Youngstown State. He started 19 games, averaging 8 points per game while shooting 37% from three. He started both games against the Titans. He's from Louisiana, so transferring south made some sense. He did his sit year, then started 6 games for South Alabama as a redshirt soph while playing less than at YSU, then saw his minutes cut again last year, when he started 1 game.
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Post by motorcitysam on Nov 15, 2019 16:57:23 GMT -5
Grand Canyon is a mid major worth watching this season. Michigan's own Dan Majerle is a media favorite and his Grand Canyon program has gotten a lot of attention during his tenure. However, so far the steak hasn't matched the sizzle. Don't get me wrong, I'd gladly trade win/loss records with GCU for the past six years. They haven't had a losing season, they won 27 games in 2015-16, and they have developed what is, by all accounts, a great game atmosphere. However, during that time, they haven't sniffed the NIT or NCAA, going to two CBIs and three CITs. Also, they are trending in the wrong direction, as records since the 27 win season have been 22-9, 22-12, and 20-14. I think such a record would have had a lot of University of Detroit fans calling for a coaching change, but Dan seems safe. This could be an interesting year for the Antelopes; they only bring back three returning players, but they add some talent, including TCU grad transfer point guard Jaylen Fisher. The WAC coaches poll predicts GCU to finish 2nd in the league, behind New Mexico State. The Lopes have their first six games at home, including a home clash with Illinois. Note: If things work out, I will be seeing Grand Canyon vs Liberty in the Jerry Colangelo classic while in Arizona in December. gculopes.com/index.aspx?path=mbball Grand Canyon is off to a rough start. They started out by losing to D2 Davenport in the season opener. Next, they hosted Illinois and lost by 12. No actual shame in that, but this was a true home game for GCU and they hoped to have a good showing. Illinois is not expected to be very good this year. In game three, the 'Lopes lost to San Diego State by a whopping 25 points. Not the start that GCU had imagined. After the San Diego State game: ''We're not going to turn this around anytime soon until they figure it out,'' GCU coach Dan Majerle said. ''It's just not good enough. We're not tough enough, we're not playing hard enough, we're not playing disciplined enough. Just very disappointed. We have stretches where we play well, and then we go away from it.''
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Post by motorcitysam on Nov 17, 2019 20:44:25 GMT -5
Another mid major of interest this season: The Pepperdine Waves haven't gotten a lot of buzz nationally for the coming year, but they are generating some excitement among the fan base. Coach Lorenzo Romar is in his second year of his second stint with Pepperdine. Last season, he took over a team that had won six games and racked up 16 victories. The Waves return three starters, including all conference point guard Colbey Ross, who averaged 19 points and 7 assists last year. The Kessler brothers return; Cameron averaged 15 and 6, but missed 14 games with injury, and Kessler averaged 10 and 6. Joining the roster are Oregon transfer Keith Smith, who had two non-descript seasons with the Ducks but was a highly ranked high schooler, and Skylar Chavez, who led all California JUCOs in scoring at 28 points per game. Most pundits pick the Waves to finish fourth in the conference, behind Gonzaga, St. Mary's, and Brigham Young. The team will take on California, Arizona, and USC in the non-conference portion of the schedule. Note for the future: Romar got a couple of nice commitments recently that will pay big dividends down the line if they stick. 2020 Power Forward Kendall Monroe committed to Pepperdine this week. He's a three star recruit, rated 139 in the nation by Rivals and 162 by 24/7. He's a Chicago native currently living in Washington, and he had offers from Washington and Washington State. The other recruit is Mike Mitchell Jr., in the class of 2021. Mitchell is a point guard, and a three star recruit per 24/7. He had offers from mid majors like San Diego State and Santa Barbara, and had reportedly received an offer from USC in June, two months before he committed to the Waves. Mitchell's stated reason for committing so early was because of his relationship with Romar. I think the University of Detroit Titans now have a coach with the background and personality to get those early commitments once we get things rolling. Pepperdine is off to a good start. They dropped their first game at Cal, 87-71, but have bounced back to win three straight over UC-Irvine, Cal State Northridge, and Abilene Christian. Pepperdine has already matched last season's road win total of two. Next up, another shot at a high major Tuesday at USC.
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Post by motorcitysam on Dec 27, 2019 21:17:32 GMT -5
Pepperdine's season has been streaky. They currently sit at 7-6, leading up to their game against San Jose State tomorrow. The Waves lost five in a row at one point in the season, in a murderers row that including games against USC, Providence, UCF, and Arizona. The soft touch in stretch was Sacramento State, and the Hornets are 7-2 so they aren't trash, but that's a game that I'm sure Coach Romar would love to have back.
The Waves have bounced back to win four in a row against softer competition.
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Post by motorcitysam on Dec 27, 2019 21:20:39 GMT -5
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Post by motorcitysam on Jan 8, 2020 15:52:27 GMT -5
Some MM thoughts:
Utah State was the consensus favorite to win the Mountain West and were ranked in the preseason top 25 by several outlets. However, they currently sit at 2-3 in conference.
San Diego State is still undefeated and has climbed all the way to #7.
Grand Canyon is 5-10, 0-1 in conference. But their fans still treat them like The Beatles.
Pepperdine is 7-9 after a three game losing streak, but looked good in a close loss at Gonzaga, 75-70, in their most recent game.
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Post by motorcitysam on Jan 17, 2020 14:38:09 GMT -5
Jon Rothstein with this note about Libery on Twitter.
"Mid-Major Note: Liberty has ONE team remaining on its schedule (North Florida) with a winning record. If Flames can get through their two meetings with the Ospreys, they'll enter the Atlantic Sun Tournament at 30-1 overall."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2020 10:09:07 GMT -5
Here's a scheduling note about a mid major hosting a power 5 team
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