Mid-major basketball: 10 of the biggest mid-major March Madness snubs
By Logan Butts
2013-14 Green Bay (24-7, 14-2 in the Horizon)
The Phoenix had a trio of future G-League players, including two-time Horizon Player of the Year Keifer Sykes, and beat Virginia and only lost to Wisconsin by three, but an overtime loss in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament did them in.
Green Bay was denied again the following year after posting a similar record, but then losing to Valparaiso in the championship game. The Phoenix got their revenge the next season….
2015-16 Valparaiso (30-7, 16-2 in the Horizon)
The Crusaders became a victim of the Green Bay revenge tour. Valpo lost to the Phoenix in overtime in the semifinals of the Horizon Tournament.
Future NBA draft pick and Crusaders legend Alec Peters was unable to lead Valpo back to the big dance after their 2014-15 appearance.
The 2015-16 squad was a rare case of a 30-win team missing out on a bid.
2010-11 Missouri State (26-9, 15-3 in the Valley)
It’s hard to believe considering the Missouri Valley Conference had multiple multi-bid seasons, but the Bears had to settle for the NIT in 2011 despite being the regular season champs.
Kyle Weems, the MVC Player of the Year, went just 3-16 in the conference title game, and the Bears were left on the outside looking in.