NCAA Basketball: Rhode Island, Marrow top mid-major performers
By Logan Butts
Mid-Major Bracketology
The first week of February yielded some major March Madness results in the mid-major department. Several of the country’s top mid-major squads were tested, especially on Saturday.
Gonzaga had its closest in-conference scare of the season so far, winning by four (83-79) at San Francisco. The Dons are a solid team again this year, but a loss like that could have plummeted the Zags off the top seed line in the NCAA Tournament.
Elsewhere in the WCC, BYU and Saint Mary’s battled back and forth in Provo, with TJ Haws heroics giving the Cougars a needed resume booster. Now, the Gaels might be starting to sweat a little.
Also out on the west coast, San Diego State dispatched arguably their toughest MWC competitor, Utah State, 80-68 at home. The Aztecs remain undefeated and in the hunt for a top seed, while the Aggies have long been shuttered to must-win-the-conference tournament status.
ETSU also faced off with its strongest competition at home, taking down UNC G 82-65. The Buccs have a serious at-large case.
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And in the ever-competitive A10, Dayton got a solid win at Duquesne (73-69), VCU blew out Richmond (87-68), and the league very well might get all four of those teams in the big dance anyway.
The weak bubble might open up some spots for mid-majors who are willing to take them.