What mid-major conference is performing the best? Which mid-major conferences should be on your radar for the NCAA tournament? Here are the best of the best.
The Mid-major conferences may not get the attention they deserve, but they are of the utmost importance to college basketball. Without the mid-majors, the excitement of an unexpecting Cinderella story in March is gone. Without the mid-majors, we lose Jon Rothstein’s famous “epitome of brutality” tweet year after year. Without mid-majors, college basketball just isn’t the same.
Before we can get to business ranking the mid-major conferences, we must define what a mid-major conference is. At CBB Review, Matt Waldman and myself took the time to define what we believe a mid-major is. A Mid-Major is an evolving term. One year a conference or a team may be considered to be a mid-major and the next season they could have established themselves enough to be considered a perennial national title contender, cough, cough…. Gonzaga.
With this in mind, we dove deep into the past to research teams and came up with the thought that a conference is a mid-major as conference if it sends ≤ 20% of their teams to the NCAA tournament in the past five seasons. We know finances play a major role, but we believe that this is a solid starting point. So for the sake of these rankings, using our definition, the AAC, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC were not rated.
Now, with the mid-major conferences decided, what’s next? I took the time to use this season’s metrics as a starting point. I compiled KenPom, NET, BPI, and Torvik ratings. I averaged them together and focused on conferences that were deeper, conferences that had better teams at the top, and lastly using the eye-test to divide the mid-major conferences into five tiers.
The first tier, are the conferences that have the potential to earn multiple bids to this year’s NCAA tournament. The second tier has multiple teams in each conference who could win a game in March. And the last three tiers, of course, could surprise us in March, but most likely have only one team who could make their own Cinderella story.
Tier One
Despite Gonzaga being in tier one of the mid-majors, the Atlantic 10 took the top spot due to a large part because of the depth of the league at the top. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the top seven teams in the conference were able to win the A-10 tournament. The WCC, MW, and MVC all have two teams for sure with some playing with a third quality team.
Atlantic 10
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Saint Louis
30
14
24
21
22.3
Richmond
50
52
40
47
47.3
VCU
61
47
73
45
56.5
St. Bonaventure
58
59
61
62
60.0
Davidson
65
72
43
64
61.0
Rhode Island
63
67
64
70
66.0
Dayton
75
107
84
81
86.8
Massachusetts
104
108
109
82
100.8
Duquesne
117
204
93
123
134.3
George Mason
145
175
175
132
156.8
La Salle
179
210
210
187
196.5
George Washington
206
266
189
203
216.0
Saint Joseph’s
186
239
268
172
216.3
Fordham
257
331
299
245
283.0
Average
139.7
177.9
153.4
135.9
151.7
West Coast Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Gonzaga
1
2
3
2
2.0
BYU
52
3
42
53
37.5
Saint Mary’s
83
76
101
74
83.5
San Francisco
82
88
93
88
87.8
Pacific
116
77
157
93
110.8
LMU
124
110
106
105
111.3
Sant Clara
131
120
133
141
131.3
Pepperdine
143
183
130
128
146.0
San Diego
188
288
199
179
213.5
Portland
296
290
329
283
299.5
Average
121.6
123.7
129.3
114.6
122.3
Mountain West Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
San Diego St.
43
43
37
33
39.0
Boise St.
56
15
38
54
40.8
Utah St.
48
46
57
39
47.5
Colorado St.
78
56
81
89
76.0
Nevada
108
125
138
111
120.5
UNLV
127
154
103
125
127.3
Fresno St.
126
225
218
198
191.8
Wyoming
197
199
295
191
220.5
New Mexico
272
293
282
279
281.5
Air Force
294
263
333
294
296.0
San Jose St.
326
339
341
316
330.5
Average
163.2
171.5
188.6
169.6
173.2
Missouri Valley Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Loyola Chicago
36
41
28
41
36.5
Drake
57
11
49
49
41.5
Bradley
101
113
75
86
93.8
Missouri St.
121
74
135
91
105.3
Indiana St.
150
128
187
127
148.0
Northern Iowa
152
212
140
153
164.3
Southern Illinois
192
179
245
175
197.8
Valparaiso
193
267
256
200
229.0
Illinois St.
261
269
272
246
262.0
Evansville
275
265
293
257
272.5
Average
153.8
155.9
168.0
142.5
155.1
Tier Two
Tier two contains some quality teams and conferences. These three mid-major conferences will be on the radar of every major program come March.
Conference USA
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
UAB
93
64
78
67
75.5
Marshall
86
87
73
94
85.0
Western Kentucky
88
89
80
102
89.8
North Texas
92
102
85
94
93.3
Louisiana Tech
106
124
105
112
111.8
Charlotte
163
143
174
147
156.8
Florida Atlantic
182
106
165
184
159.3
Old Dominion
151
153
172
166
160.5
UTEP
170
170
168
189
174.3
Rice
196
174
219
178
191.8
FIU
205
244
215
215
219.8
Southern Miss
251
242
231
213
234.3
UTSA
202
279
274
212
241.8
Middle Tennessee
254
306
243
262
266.3
Average
188.0
194.1
196.6
187.8
191.6
Mid-American Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Toledo
72
63
76
66
69.3
Buffalo
113
104
116
110
110.8
Kent St.
120
79
120
126
111.3
Bowling Green
115
93
125
124
114.3
Ohio
130
137
136
118
130.3
Ball St.
135
145
148
145
143.3
Akron
132
159
144
163
149.5
Miami OH
204
251
265
182
225.5
Eastern Michigan
223
312
260
196
247.8
Central Michigan
241
277
248
256
255.5
Western Michigan
236
303
269
223
257.8
Northern Illinois
319
330
327
315
322.8
Average
185.5
208.6
204.2
184.8
195.8
Southern Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Furman
79
50
82
85
74.0
Wofford
125
80
102
138
111.3
UNC Greensboro
122
122
95
151
122.5
Mercer
160
105
146
161
143.0
East Tennessee St.
158
152
177
150
159.3
Chattanooga
181
151
170
181
170.8
Western Carolina
195
186
159
190
182.5
VMI
238
196
255
199
222.0
Samford
265
214
232
214
231.3
The Citadel
298
193
209
244
236.0
Average
182.1
144.9
162.7
171.3
165.3
Tier Three
Tier three conferences may not provide the fireworks in March, although it is certainly possible. These mid-major conferences will provide excitement throughout the regular season, ultimately cannibalizing one another.
Big West
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
UC Santa Barbara
114
95
112
129
112.5
UC Riverside
134
91
121
113
114.8
UC Irvine
123
141
115
122
125.3
Cal St. Bakersfield
140
129
123
136
132.0
Hawaii
220
162
201
192
193.8
UC Davis
183
182
178
233
194.0
Long Beach St.
264
275
264
225
257.0
Cal St. Fullerton
305
250
216
289
265.0
Cal St. Northridge
287
247
263
292
272.3
UC San Diego
235
314
337
251
284.3
Cal Poly
342
334
328
324
332.0
Average
223.3
212.5
214.6
217.7
217.0
Sun Belt
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Georgia St.
111
62
77
106
89.0
Coastal Carolina
154
103
134
146
134.3
Texas St.
147
135
207
155
161.0
Little Rock
161
163
184
180
172.0
Louisiana
166
177
262
162
191.8
Appalachian St.
200
217
162
216
198.8
UT Arlington
184
226
202
202
203.5
South Alabama
214
207
208
221
212.5
Georgia Southern
270
274
251
265
265.0
Troy
291
285
281
302
289.8
Arkansas St.
291
313
298
309
302.8
Louisiana Monroe
307
320
323
306
314.0
Average
223.1
231.7
237.8
231.8
231.1
Colonial Athletic Association
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Northeastern
149
131
180
140
150.0
Drexel
162
176
150
158
161.5
Hofstra
174
174
156
156
165.0
UNC Wilmington
185
155
163
173
169.0
James Madison
229
168
154
197
187.0
Charleston
217
234
186
239
219.0
Towson
233
260
212
227
233.0
Elon
225
235
226
247
233.3
Delaware
248
262
277
249
259.0
William & Mary
286
268
304
290
287.0
Average
210.8
206.3
200.8
207.6
206.4
Tier Four
Summit League
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
South Dakota St.
96
94
97
117
101.0
Oral Roberts
165
164
169
165
165.8
North Dakota St.
156
167
197
160
170.0
South Dakota
173
172
221
164
182.5
UMKC
252
272
152
168
211.0
Nebraska Omaha
268
304
287
285
286.0
North Dakota
304
294
316
303
304.3
Western Illinois
333
321
314
323
322.8
Denver
335
341
340
341
339.3
Average
231.3
236.6
232.6
225.1
231.4
Big Sky
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Eastern Washington
133
138
143
137
137.8
Southern Utah
178
160
151
183
168.0
Montana
169
237
171
169
186.5
Weber St.
224
133
147
253
189.3
Montana St.
191
171
217
206
196.3
Sacramento St.
215
197
198
231
210.3
Northern Colorado
212
259
236
243
237.5
Idaho St.
277
261
232
280
262.5
Portland St.
306
283
290
310
297.3
Northern Arizona
322
328
301
330
320.3
Idaho
348
342
339
340
342.3
Average
244.2
237.1
228.2
254.5
241.0
Horizon League
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Wright St.
85
86
90
69
82.5
Cleveland St.
172
149
220
168
177.3
Milwaukee
222
191
189
194
199.0
Purdue Fort Wayne
199
189
182
255
206.3
Detroit
210
258
205
189
215.5
Illinois Chicago
218
209
237
207
217.8
Robert Morris
239
241
233
263
244.0
Northern Kentucky
236
240
258
261
248.8
IUPUI
278
252
275
259
266.0
Oakland
250
280
303
258
272.8
Youngstown St.
260
292
276
266
273.5
Green Bay
289
300
318
255
290.5
Average
240.1
245.2
247.6
240.7
243.4
Patriot League
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Colgate
107
22
66
116
77.8
Navy
167
106
175
174
155.5
Lafayette
189
115
160
167
157.8
Army
187
109
166
198
165.0
Loyola MD
249
203
227
228
226.8
American
253
194
246
235
232.0
Bucknell
266
220
222
286
248.5
Boston University
283
287
252
287
277.3
Holy Cross
337
219
315
325
299.0
Lehigh
315
278
324
307
306.0
Average
235.3
175.3
215.3
232.3
214.6
Ohio Valley Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Belmont
90
99
109
114
103.0
Eastern Kentucky
168
136
137
148
147.3
Murray St.
139
228
113
159
159.8
Jacksonville St.
219
192
194
177
195.5
Austin Peay
180
243
179
208
202.5
Morehead St.
208
198
228
188
205.5
Eastern Illinois
231
273
206
260
242.5
SIU Edwardsville
320
255
288
311
293.5
Tennessee St.
302
309
294
293
299.5
Southeast Missouri St.
325
299
305
301
307.5
Tennessee Tech
327
316
322
312
319.3
Tennessee Martin
345
335
338
342
340.0
Average
259.6
264.8
246.7
255.1
256.6
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Siena
136
90
119
142
121.8
Monmouth
164
147
153
152
154.0
Saint Peter’s
171
156
200
176
175.8
Iona
216
169
167
204
189.0
Canisius
240
223
203
217
220.8
Niagara
237
246
196
238
229.3
Marist
273
254
234
273
258.5
Quinnipiac
284
271
273
291
279.8
Manhattan
310
298
249
276
283.3
Rider
308
301
284
282
293.8
Fairfield
330
323
302
320
318.8
Average
253.3
238.8
226.1
242.9
240.3
America East
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Vermont
105
112
72
99
97.0
UMBC
177
139
145
171
158.0
Hartford
221
184
195
205
201.3
Albany
245
208
164
209
206.5
New Hampshire
226
216
204
232
219.5
NJIT
232
221
191
234
219.5
UMass Lowell
234
232
214
248
232.0
Stony Brook
262
257
223
252
248.5
Maine
240
297
307
321
291.3
Binghamton
247
332
325
335
309.8
Average
218.9
219.8
204.0
230.6
218.3
Tier Five
Big South
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Winthrop
109
49
96
108
90.5
Gardner Webb
207
190
192
186
193.8
UNC Asheville
211
229
185
201
206.5
Campbell
263
230
224
226
235.8
Radford
242
222
253
237
238.5
High Point
267
241
241
250
249.8
Longwood
301
286
308
277
293.0
Hampton
318
296
297
299
302.5
USC Upstate
316
305
334
327
320.5
Presbyterian
346
324
336
343
337.3
Charleston Southern
341
343
331
338
338.3
Average
281.2
266.6
270.1
268.4
271.6
Southland Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Abilene Christian
119
73
128
98
104.5
Stephen F. Austin
159
215
156
144
168.5
Sam Houston St.
203
146
181
195
181.3
Nicholls St.
201
180
161
219
190.3
Central Arkansas
274
284
242
275
268.8
New Orleans
303
308
279
298
297.0
Texas A&M Corpus Chris
312
325
321
305
315.8
Lamar
323
319
310
326
319.5
McNeese St.
344
344
259
332
319.8
Northwestern St.
324
333
309
314
320.0
Incarnate Word
339
322
330
304
323.8
Southeastern Louisiana
332
310
326
334
325.5
Houston Baptist
343
329
319
333
331.0
Average
309.5
305.4
285.6
304.0
301.1
Atlantic Sun
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Liberty
102
75
89
92
89.5
Lipscomb
213
227
244
218
225.5
Bellarmine
230
224
270
242
241.5
Stetson
227
236
286
224
243.3
North Alabama
258
270
190
264
245.5
Florida Gulf Coast
281
295
250
269
273.8
North Florida
290
282
291
281
286.0
Jacksonville
300
281
280
300
290.3
Kennesaw St.
350
336
335
328
337.3
Average
250.1
247.3
248.3
246.4
248.1
Western Athletic Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Grand Canyon
141
132
91
143
126.8
New Mexico St.
118
256
132
90
149.0
UT Rio Grande Valley
209
205
238
222
218.5
Utah Valley
255
201
292
240
247.0
Seattle
285
253
240
270
262.0
Cal Baptist
297
264
247
271
269.8
Tarleton St.
331
311
317
322
320.3
Dixie St.
328
318
332
331
327.3
Average
245.5
242.5
236.1
236.1
240.1
Northeast Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Bryant
175
97
173
135
145.0
LIU
246
140
210
229
206.3
Mount St. Mary’s
247
173
230
211
215.3
St. Francis PA
269
202
271
274
254.0
St. Francis NY
288
195
257
296
259.0
Wagner
280
218
278
278
263.5
Fairleigh Dickinson
295
307
254
267
280.8
Sacred Heart
314
238
283
313
287.0
Merrimack
321
289
267
294
292.8
Central Connecticut
334
291
312
319
314.0
Average
276.9
215.0
253.5
261.6
251.8
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Norfolk St.
243
188
225
241
224.3
Morgan St.
282
161
229
236
227.0
North Carolina Central
259
157
261
254
232.8
Florida A&M
292
245
311
272
280.0
Howard
313
327
320
239
299.8
North Carolina A&T
317
315
296
317
311.3
Coppin St.
329
302
306
308
311.3
Delaware St.
351
340
342
336
342.3
South Carolina St.
335
345
345
346
342.8
Average
302.3
264.4
292.8
283.2
285.7
Southwestern Athletic Conference
Team
KenPom
NET
BPI
Torvik
AVG
Southern
256
211
239
220
231.5
Texas Southern
244
249
218
230
235.3
Prairie View A&M
293
233
266
288
270.0
Alabama A&M
336
150
299
318
275.8
Jackson St.
309
317
235
295
289.0
Grambling St.
311
276
289
297
293.3
Alcorn St.
338
326
314
329
326.8
Arkansas Pine Bluff
352
338
344
337
342.8
Alabama St.
353
337
343
345
344.5
Mississippi Valley St.
357
347
347
347
349.5
Average
314.9
278.4
289.4
300.6
295.8
All data was collected Tuesday afternoon.
Feature image photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Big East hoops writer for NCAAM Review
Bracketologist for Busted Bracketology (www.bustedbracketology.wordpress.com)
Twitter: @karner44
Instagram: @karner44