2021 March Madness: 5 mid-majors capable of a Final Four run

San Diego State (23-4)

• SEED: 6th (Midwest)
• RANKINGS: 20th (KenPom), 18th (NET)

Outside of Baylor, there may not be a team more eager for a redemption tour in the NCAA Tournament than the Aztecs, who were robbed of completing their historic campaign last season – but are in, arguably, the best position of any team on this list in making a postseason run.

With the exception of Gonzaga, no team in college basketball owns a winning streak as dominant as San Diego State, now winners of 14-straight, with their last loss coming on January 16th.  The Aztecs have proven to be effective on both ends of the court, ranking in the top 50 nationally in offensive efficiency (44th) and defensive efficiency (11th) – as well as in the top 75 on both ends in effective FG% and turnover percentage, and defensively in offensive rebounding percentage.

More than anything, San Diego State has prided itself on its stellar defense, which ranks eighth in the nation in points allowed (60.6), sixth in FG% (38.7%), and 12th in 2P% (43.7%).  That is not a knock on the Aztecs offensively, either, considering Brian Dutcher’s squad shoots a 28th-best 37.5% from long range and just averaged 1.10 points per possession in their three wins in the Mountain West Tournament – which included 53.8% inside the perimeter.

The tandem of Jordan Schakel and Matt Mitchell has been the force behind San Diego State’s stellar season, with the duo being the lone double-digit scorers behind averages of 14.3 and 15.4 points, respectively – all the while hauling down over four caroms each.  This is a wildly experienced group with proven scorers, however – the Aztecs’ top six scorers are all juniors and seniors, with five of them belonging in the latter category.

The Aztecs’ defense will have an ample opportunity to showcase itself in the opening round against a highly efficient Syracuse offense.  The road after that is favorable for San Diego State, as well, with inconsistent West Virginia, Rutgers, and Clemson squads – or Houston – awaiting them in the Round of 32 and Sweet Sixteen.

Again, there are several mid-majors capable of pulling off first-round upsets and making deep runs in the postseason – with the possibility of the Final Four in reach for a handful of them.  For some, there is the worry of being stuck in Gonzaga’s region – hence the absence of upset-hungry squads like UC Santa Barbara and Ohio, two teams that are also capable of postseason runs.

If the 2020-21 season has proven anything, it is that this year has been wildly unpredictable – and this season’s March Madness will only continue that notion.  With the tournament right around the corner, mid-major programs are on a mission to prove something, particularly after so many of their fellow squads were robbed of the opportunity last year – and several of them, including those listed here, will almost assuredly put the college basketball world on notice.