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Mid-major Basketball: 5 key questions and storylines for 2021-22 season

By Tristan Freeman

Apr 5, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few reacts on the bench against the Baylor Bears in the second half during the national championship game in the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few reacts on the bench against the Baylor Bears in the second half during the national championship game in the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mid-major Basketball Osun Osunniyi St. Bonaventure Bonnies (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Mid-major Basketball Osun Osunniyi St. Bonaventure Bonnies (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Playing last season in the middle of a pandemic affected all 350+ programs in college hoops last season but due to several varying factors, affected mid-major basketball even more. There still were plenty of highlights though, including several mid-major at-large teams, Loyola-Chicago making it to the Sweet 16 and the Gonzaga Bulldogs just one game away from accomplishing an unbeaten season.

With hopefully a fairly normal season on the court, there are lots to look forward to when it comes to the mid-majors, thanks to a ton of incoming transfers and many seniors taking an extra year of eligibility. But that also means that there are plenty of questions that need to be answered.

To help start the conservation, we here at Busting Brackets have created a roundtable just for mid-majors, featuring several writers that are very knowledgeable about the teams and players involved. Here is a list of the contributors, along with their respective social media handles to continue following them for their mid-major and college basketball takes.

Dominick Ferruci – @DomFerrucci

Cooper Watson – @coopertwatson

Harry Schroeder – @FatherHarry1

Joey Loose – @jloose128

1. Which mid-major conference will have the most bids for the NCAA Tournament?

Ferruci

A-10 (St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis, Richmond, VCU/Dayton)

You would have to go back to 2014 for the last time the Atlantic 10 had more than three teams play in the NCAA tournament when they had a total of six participants. That could change this year with a deep league highlighted by top 25 Saint Bonaventure. The Bonnies return nearly everyone and seem poised to make a deep run come March.

Behind them, however, is where the league could separate from other low major conferences with Richmond, Saint Louis, Dayton, and VCU all having legitimate chances to make the Big Dance. Richmond and St. Louis each returned key contributors from teams that had lots of promise last year, but injuries and COVID protocols interrupted things. VCU and Dayton each lost program staples in Bones Hyland and Jalen Crutcher respectively.

Yet, VCU will be hungry after COVID protocols stopped them from playing in their first-round matchup of the NCAA tournament last year, while Dayton seemed to gain momentum at times late last year, figuring out life without Obi Toppin. Transfer Marcus Tsohonis will be tasked with holding things down for Mike Rhodes at the point while starter Ace Baldwin recovers from an offseason Achilles injury while Dayton’s Mustapha Amzil will need to show more consistency in year two for Anthony Grant in order for the league to have four or more bids.

Each will have chances to find some resume-building wins in the non-conference slate where Dayton will appear in the ESPN Events Invitational with the likes of Alabama and Kansas and VCU will appear in the Battle for Atlantis with a field that includes Baylor, Arizona State, and a first-round matchup with Syracuse.

Watson

There are several mid-major leagues that have a legitimate shot at receiving multiple bids, but the West Coast Conference’s strength at the top is the safest bet. Gonzaga will be the preseason No. 1 overall team, and both BYU and Saint Mary’s have top 25 potential, not to mention Loyola Marymount and San Francisco teams that carry over large portions of their production from last season.

Schroeder

The Atlantic 10. I think four or more teams could be coming from the A10. St. Bonaventure with five returners and Richmond with all those super seniors returning are even money right now to get in the tournament. Saint Louis is a team that will surprise many. The league teams’ N.E.T. will be able to improve during conference play, so VCU, Davidson, Rhode Island & Dayton will be good and the whole league will elevate.

Loose

There’s a lot of excitement around the nation this year, especially with a slew of players getting that extra year of eligibility. While I’m sure there are several mid-major programs who think they can compete for an at-large this season, it’s likely going to be the A-10 again. St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis, Richmond, Dayton, and VCU could all be in the early conversation for NCAA Tournament bids, though clearly not all five will make the Big Dance.

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