Why...

[Sun Tzu]

do they keep saying Mason is the first mid-major school since Indiana State in 1979?

Penn made it in 1979 too.

Didnt UNLV -multiple times -and Utah come from mid-major conferences? Louisville's conference certainly wasnt major before CUSA.

 

[HoopsGuru]

but unlv had a wealth of talent and everyone in america knew larry johnson, stacy augmon, anderson hunt, etc. the average person before the tourney couldn't name one player on gm.

 

[Sun Tzu]

UNLV didnt have those guys when they made it in 1987......Utah had Van Horn ......Indy Satte had Bird and was ranked 1 or 2 all year so under that rationale why is that the reference point?

Your point is valid, but that doesnt change the fact that the reporting is inaccurate about the conferences.....

 

[bjfinste]

Was the WAC considered a mid-major back then? I honestly don't know, but they had some solid teams, esp. before the WAC/Mountain West split. I mean, it was certainly a far stronger conference than C-USA is now, and Memphis wouldn't have been considered a mid-major had they not choked against (nor was Louisville last year). Perhaps the WAC, back then, was considered a "big" conference? I don't know... hoping someone else in here can shed some light, because if not, then Sun is right. The Vegas teams and Van Horn's boys were def. mid-majors in the Final Four.

 

[gjn23]

well

the wac wasnt really a "mid major" conf in 1998

unlv was in the big west and played teams like ucsb and long beach.....yes, a "mid major" conf.....but unlv was more of a national team that just happend to be in a small conf

prior to that it was indiana state and penn from the 79 final 4

 

[Sun Tzu]

they were certainly mid-major conferences as was Louisville in many of their years........I dont know gjn how you can argue the WAC wasnt a mid major...

shit, hoops wise could argue SWC was a mid major when Houston kept going.....

Mason is certainly a different team, no question about it, but to me the conference comments are flawed...

 

[gjn23]

somewhat agree but i think the point they are making is that they are the first "mid major team"

utah
unlv
louisville

are were pretty solid hoops programs every year during those times getting 1-4 seeds fairly regularly

mason is the first non traditional power or "mid major" team since indiana state/penn

 

[spuds]

Has an 11 seed made the final 4? I dont know but i think most of the mid major teams brought up have been highly ranked def. not an 11 seed.

 

[Sun Tzu]

LSU was an 11 in 1986.

Gonzaga keeps getting called a mid major and where were they seeded?

Bottom line these are mid major conferences, even if one of thes teams occasionally is supposedly great.

I am not taking anything away from Mason -probably no other tournament feat compares - but the media is making things up along the way.

Poor CBS must be shitting right now. They are probably praying for Mason win to help the title game ratings. What is the over/under on "Hoosiers" references.

 

[spuds]

hell i was in high school back then, but do remember. the media wasnt as big as now. one thing about these days is the media is so much bigger than 10-20 years ago. A 6 seed would be getiin alot of attention.