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Forum nameOkay Sports
Topic subjectWhat does mid-major mean in 2014
Topic URLhttp://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=8&topic_id=2308162
2308162, What does mid-major mean in 2014
Posted by John Forte, Wed Mar-19-14 11:28 AM
Is it any non-BCS D-1 conference? What differentiates mid-major conferences from small or minor conferences?

Which of the following conferences do you consider mid-major:

A-10
Horizon
Conference USA
CAA
Missouri Valley
Mountain West
WAC
WCC


2308165, Those are all mid-major
Posted by Y2Flound, Wed Mar-19-14 11:38 AM
I don't really know how you would define mid major anymore now that mid major conferences are putting actual contendors into the tournament year in and out.

I would imagine you could still seperate the conferences by talking about them in terms of TV ratings and money that the league makes however.
2308166, fuck no. at the very least the WAC is minor now.
Posted by veritas, Wed Mar-19-14 11:42 AM
2308168, A mid-major is, in my book, usually a 1 bid league, at most 2.
Posted by Frank Longo, Wed Mar-19-14 11:44 AM
The Atlantic 10 is not and never has been a mid-major. It usually has a minimum of 3 bids.

Missouri Valley, even if Wichita State wins the title, is a mid-major. It's usually at most 2 bids, and one of those teams (Creighton) is gone from the conference now.

The Mountain West is right on the verge, as they generally have gotten three and no more, but one of them has always been BYU, and they're gone now. I know last year they had an absurd amount, like five or six... but they're back to two this year. I'd consider them somewhere between major and mid-major (three-quarters-major?).

EDIT: as Veritas points out below, I'm inclined to feel there should be separation between the mid-majors who are a higher level of competition than the others. C-USA is much better than the WAC.
2308178, I agree with you on the A-10, but I think we're a minority
Posted by John Forte, Wed Mar-19-14 12:09 PM
Mountain West is a major conference too.
2308194, Thrice sign on A-10
Posted by Ceej, Wed Mar-19-14 12:58 PM
NOT MID Major.


2308169, i hate when people call every non-bcs conf a mid-major
Posted by veritas, Wed Mar-19-14 11:44 AM
i mean, the MEAC is a minor conference. period.

The WAC is now too. Without a doubt.

WCC might be mid-major considering the strength of BYU and Gonzaga.

Mountain West ought to be its own category. It's nearly a major conference now.
2308172, It's good to point out the relative differences between "mid-majors."
Posted by Frank Longo, Wed Mar-19-14 11:46 AM
C-USA and WCC are clearly above the WAC and the MEAC. Missouri Valley is normally higher than they are this year too.
2308184, If this were the case, the Big East would be a mid-major
Posted by Marauder21, Wed Mar-19-14 12:28 PM
>Is it any non-BCS D-1 conference?

I think it depends on the sport. Here's what I see for basektball (admittedly, some of these mid-majors might actually be minor; I'm not an expert on the America East or Big South.)

Major
ACC
B1G
SEC
Big 12
Pac 12
Big East
American
A-10
MWC

Mid-Major
WCC
Missouri Valley
CAA
C-USA
Horizon
MAC
MAAC
OVC
Patriot
Southland
SoCon
Big South
Big West
NEC

Minor
Ivy (I know Harvard's been ballin since Amaker, but still)
WAC
MEAC
SWAC
A-Sun
America East
2308187, i like this division, but i'd probably divide the mid-majors in 2
Posted by veritas, Wed Mar-19-14 12:38 PM
still.

2308193, Georgetown.
Posted by Ceej, Wed Mar-19-14 12:56 PM
2308263, Here we go
Posted by The Real, Wed Mar-19-14 03:50 PM

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2308285, http://files.sharenator.com/Stanley_nod_Discrimination_of_Men-s275x155-95928-475a.gif
Posted by DJR, Wed Mar-19-14 04:55 PM
http://files.sharenator.com/Stanley_nod_Discrimination_of_Men-s275x155-95928-475a.gif
2308288, ha
Posted by BrooklynWHAT, Wed Mar-19-14 05:09 PM
2309589, looks like Dayton is the only 'Cinderella' left this year
Posted by ThaTruth, Sun Mar-23-14 10:25 PM