We're now past the holiday season and into conference play across the country. This is the point in time where teams from mid- and low-major conferences slide into the background for their two-month long attention hibernation. While we focus on the jockeying amongst the power leagues, most of the other competitors go along their merry way, working to get into a position to become the next March Cinderella.
These are the programs that help make March special in the realm of sports. Their journeys to the NCAA tournament, along with their attempts to knock off the traditional giants, help to build the brand of the Big Dance. But for all those that enjoy seeing the "little guys" make a run to the Final Four, there's not a lot of boogie about.
Looking at the list of college champs, you would have to scroll down to 1990 to find the last titleholder with an affiliation outside the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, or SEC. That honor went to the high-flying act known as the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. Going back a bit further, there are other schools that have won from outside the "elite." However, if you consider the current status of Louisville and Marquette as Big East members, the previous champion to UNLV with no power conference ties won it all in 1966. It was Texas Western, which now goes by UTEP.
This is what makes Butler's back-to-back runs to the National Finals so remarkable. And, at the time, it's what made George Mason's 2006 path to the Final Four so outstanding. Despite the fact that more talent is being spread across all D-I conferences, the majority of five-star recruits still land with the big names. That means the known commodities play against other top-tier talent more often and have more preparation for the riggers of the tournament.
The next step in expanding the landscape would be for one of these Cinderellas to not only hold on to the "Glass Sneaker," but to kick the door in and say "Gimme my crown!" There are some that might be ready to make that dream a reality. Whom, you might ask?
Honorable Mention: Oakland Grizzlies
This is the big stretch out of the group. However, if there are leagues starting to gain on the mid-majors, I think the Summit is right up there. The Grizzlies are in rebuilding mode after last year's run that saw them beat Tennessee and take Texas to the wire in the tourney. Greg Kampe has recruited quite a few athletes to play in the shadow of Ann Arbor. If he stays, there's no reason for that to dry up.
10) VCU Rams
Last season's Final Four darlings are going through some turnover this time around. The biggest move after the loss to Butler last April was extending Shaka Smart's contract for eight more years. Of course, this isn't set in stone. However, it does give some stability to a program that will have more expectations on it over the next couple of years. And if Smart can recruit to his frantic pressing style, another late run is possible.
9) New Mexico Lobos
There have been a lot of "coach reclamation projects" over the years. A successful coach gets booted from a high-profile job and lands under the radar. Mike Davis and Larry Eustachy have followed this pattern to Conference USA. Dan Monson has stunned two ranked teams (at the time) this season with Long Beach State. For my money, though, the reincarnation project with the most upside is taking place in Albuquerque.
Steve Alford has turned the Lobos into a perennial postseason presence in his four years there. Three NIT bids and one NCAA bid might not meet standards when he was stalking sidelines in the Big Ten, but in a Mountain West that annually struggles to get three school into the Madness, it's a step in the right direction.
8) Old Dominion Monarchs
With Jim Larranaga off to Miami, Blaine Taylor is one of the gold standards in the CAA. The Monarchs have also been a mainstay in the postseason, with four NCAA and one NIT showing in the last seven years. Unlike VCU, the Monarchs have built their brand on tough, half-court, rebounding-minded philosophy. This strategy can keep teams in many games. If they add a couple an additional scorer or two to that brand, you can make strides in March.
7) Saint Mary's Gaels
Randy Bennett has built quite the program in Moraga, and now the Gaels are second in the WCC pecking order to Gonzaga. The combination of West Coast kids and Australian imports has made this squad a yearly threat for the NCAAs ... and their results are getting better.
In 2008, Saint Mary's lost in the first round as a 10-seed. In 2010, the Gaels returned to the tournament (as a 10-seed again) and upset Villanova to make it to the Sweet 16. With it being 2012, it might be time to expect another trip to the Big Dance. Where they'll take it ... who knows?
6) Wichita State Shockers
The Missouri Valley Conference is known for being giant slayers. The next step would be to throw a few giants out there themselves. Out of all the programs that could take up the challenge, WSU appears to be the most solidified. They've locked up coach Gregg Marshall for the next seven seasons. Plus, they're the defending Postseason NIT champions.
This information should provide enough of a springboard to get the Shockers into this year's Madness. But Marshall's looking to build a consistent contender in the Heartland. And doing that in a conference like the Valley can really set them up to make return trips to the field of 68.
5) BYU Cougars
The Cougars have the history. They have 26 all-time appearances in the NCAAs, along with the dubious distinction as the school that currently tops the list of most entries with no Final Four results. Jimmer Fredette couldn't end that streak last year, but the fact that this program has provided itself that many chances means that a breakthrough will happen at some point.
And this year could start driving them in that direction. I believe BYU joining the West Coast Conference is a win-win situation for the school and its new affiliation. Having two games a year with programs including Gonzaga, Saint Mary's, and Santa Clara should bring some added sizzle (and eyeballs) to the left coast.
4) Temple Owls
For as much history as BYU has, it's got nothing on Temple. The Owls finished third in the country twice (1956 and 1958), but hasn't been back to the Final Four since. There have been five other Elite Eight appearances since 1988. Fran Dunphy has continued the tradition of hard-nosed Philadelphia basketball at the school. Get a Mark Macon-type shooter to come back on campus, and they might be my favorite off this list to kick in the door…
3) Butler Bulldogs
... unless Hinkle Fieldhouse becomes home to the latest Hoosier story. Butler is now the gold standard for "Magical March" stories. Going to back-to-back national championship games gives you more than street cred. It gets you attention and, possibly, higher recruits. And don't sleep on the Horizon League for competition. Cleveland State, UW-Milwaukee, and Valparaiso aren't exactly the Big East, but they will test your resolve.
Now we get to see how Brad Stevens handles the success of the last two years. So far this year ... not so much. But didn't we say the same thing about them last year, too?
2) Gonzaga Bulldogs
The standard before George Mason and Butler came along. The Bulldogs have been in the conversation for "the team to break down the barrier" since 2000. Many times, they've underachieved. However, they've stayed in the conversation for the last 12 seasons, which is hard to do for most power conference programs. The key to their staying power has been coach Mark Few. Few's ability to recruit outside the box has helped him grab players that might be more raw, but very talented. The question is, "Will the 'Zags ever take the next step?" They stay close, but that can only last for so long.
1) Xavier Musketeers
Xavier hasn't reached the deep waters that Butler has. The Musketeers have been less consistent as Gonzaga (but only slightly). However, they have become the biggest presence in what I would consider the seventh power league. The Atlantic-10 can ball. Temple's proved it. Saint Joseph's has proved it. Richmond is proving it. And the X-men lead them all, even through a rotation of head coaches (Pete Gillen, the late Skip Prosser, Thad Matta, Sean Miller).
Now it's Chris Mack's turn to lead the school to its first Final Four berth. The talent is there, as evidenced by their top-10 ranking a few weeks back. The team is as tough as anybody. My problem is that under Mack, the toughness seems to have run amuck (a brawl with crosstown rival Cincinnati will show that just a bit). If they can reign in the "thuggish" attitude, this program has the capability to make more deep runs in March.
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