Mid-major Basketball: 5 programs to watch for 2020-21 season
By Tim Edmonds
Which mid-major basketball programs are the ones to watch for the 2020-21 season?
Across the country, a select group of mid-major basketball programs captured the country’s attention during the 2019-20 college basketball season and looked poised to make runs to the NCAA Tournament’s deepest rounds and contend for a national title in the process.
A few of these teams that flashed major potential all season included the University of Dayton Flyers (29-2, 17-0), the Utah State University Aggies (26-8, 12-6) and the University of San Diego State Aztecs (30-2, 17-1) as the trio recorded their best seasons in program history.
Alongside this group were mid-majors around the country who had excellent seasons, including Eastern Tennessee State, Bradley University, Liberty University and New Mexico State University all of which were waiting for their chance to hear their names called on Selection Sunday and make some noise in the NCAA Tournament — that was before The Big Dance was canceled.
Despite this difficulty and overall disappointment involving March Madness, all is not lost for the country’s mid-majors, their fans, and their overall chances to continue to make deep NCAA tournament runs. As we look to next season, a new crop of teams looks primed for their best seasons in years and to achieve just that.
With this in mind, here are six mid-majors that check all the boxes when looking for college basketball’s next Cinderella, loaded with experience, talent, length, scoring, and youth it would surprise no one to see all five make extended NCAA Tournament runs next year and maybe even reach Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the Final Four showcase.