I did a top mid major list for this season, and fans called me it. Which I love. Here are four schools they said I left out. I actually have a connection with tu of the programs and got some good info. I bet your know one of the schools I dont have a connect tu. LOL
I left UC Irvine, San Francisco, San Diego State, and BYU off my top mid-level college basketball list. My Bad because these are serious basketball schools with identities, coaching, toughness and enough talent tu make life miserable for bigger name schools.
UC Irvine deserves my respect because they sent tu players tu UVA. They are one of those programs that never beat itself. They play smart, tugether and usually have grown men on the floor who understand their roles. They are not always the flashiest team. But that is what makes them dangerous. They defend, rebound, execute and force opponents tu play disciplined basketball for 40 minutes. Its a real chore playing these BULLS. That is why UC Irvine stays near the top of the Big West. They have a real system and when a mid major program has a system, experience and confidence. They become the kind of team nobody wants tu see in March. They may not have five-star names all over the roster. But they have players who know how tu win games.
Writing
On a side note. I was just told that Jurian has a DAWG mentality. Tillis is funny and playful. Everything Jurian does is with a purpose tu improve. He trained against Mikey Williams because he was considered the number one PG in HS and wanted all the smoke. By the way, Robert Dillingham was the number one PG. Well I waa told that.
Anyway, the person said he makes winning plays, and not afraid of contact, big moments, or guarding the other team's best perimeter player. What separates him is that he can hurt you on both ends of the floor.
San Francisco is another program I should have included because they have quietly built themselves intu a respected West Coast basketball program. People focus so much on Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s that they forget San Francisco has been right there fighting behind them for years. That is not easy. The WCC is not some soft league at the top. If you are competing in that conference. You better have guards, shooting, toughness and coaching. San Francisco usually has all of that. They recruit good basketball players, develop them and play with confidence. What I like about San Francisco is that they do not look scared when they play bigger programs. They have that city toughness.
San Diego State is different because I almost feel disrespectful calling them mid-level. That program has moved past mid-major label. They are a real national basketball brand now, like Hoos Defense mentioned. They defend like crazy, play physical and always seem tu have long, athletic players who make every possession difficult. When you play them. You are not just playing against talent. You are playing against culture. They are going tu guard you, hit you, pressure you and make you earn every basket. That is why they have been successful. They are not built on one player. They are built on toughness, defense, depth, and belief. When a program can lose players and still come back looking dangerous. That tells me the foundation is strong.
Finally, BYU!! They are very good but I dont like what they represent and wont get any props up here from me. FACTS