Top Mid-Major Teams of the Decade
I always like to give a special focus to mid-major teams in my bracketology, and mid-major hoops is a big part of what makes college basketball so special. So I figured it would be a good exercise to rank the top mid-major teams of the decade. An exercise like this has to always grapple with the tough question of defining a mid-major. To avoid this list being entirely Gonzaga and Wichita State teams, I've decided to omit Gonzaga entirely and omit Wichita State teams after their undefeated regular season in 2014.
10. 2019 Buffalo Bulls
Buffalo came into the 2019 season with some hype after their upset over Arizona in the 2018 tournament. The Bulls, led by senior guard CJ Massinburg, roared to a 31-3 regular season which included a big rivalry win at Syracuse. They easily could've gotten an at-large if they needed it, but they won the MAC tournament and got a 6 seed in the NCAA tournament. After a win over Arizona State in the first round, they fell victim to Texas Tech's relentless defense and bowed out in the Round of 32, the best season for a MAC team since Kent State's Elite 8 run in 2002.
9. 2016 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
In 2016, the Lumberjacks were the victim of possibly the worst mis-seeding in tournament history, as the top 50 'Jacks were awarded a 14 seed. Led by senior forward Thomas Walkup, SFA had tournament pedigree as they knocked off VCU in the first round in 2014. I, along with many other mid-major fans, picked SFA to make the Sweet 16 and they did not disappoint- in the first round, Walkup went for 33 and 9 as they demolished West Virginia. The round of 32 featured one of the most heartbreaking tournament games of the decade, as a late tip-in for Notre Dame spoiled the 'Jacks chance of becoming the first 14 seed to make the Sweet 16.
8. 2018 Nevada Wolfpack
The Mountain West is not what it was at the beginning of the decade, but the 2018 Wolfpack are the best team to come out of the conference in years. Led by identical twins Cody and Caleb Martin, they ran through conference play to grab a 7 seed in the NCAA tournament. However, the real magic for Nevada was in March Madness- in the first round, they clawed back from a 13 point deficit to beat Texas. More notable was their second round game against Cincinnati, where they were down 22 with 12 minutes to play. After Eric Musselman got T'd up, Nevada went on a massive 32-8 run to send the Bearcats packing from the tournament once again. In the Sweet 16, Nevada fell to a team that we'll see later on in this list.
7. 2010 Northern Iowa Panthers
This list wouldn't be complete without some representation from the Missouri Valley, and it especially needs a Ben Jacobson Northern Iowa team. A 15-3 record in MVC play meant that the Panthers would have an at-large if they needed it, but they won Arch Madness and got a 9 seed. The round of 64 featured a dramatic buzzer beater against UNLV, but this team is remembered for their next game. The Panthers took on #1 overall seed Kansas, and with a 1 point lead and 36 seconds on the clock, Ali Farokmanesh hit the shot. A few days later, they bowed out to Michigan State in the Sweet 16.
6. 2019 Wofford Terriers
Most of the teams on this list have significant basketball history, but that's not really the case for Wofford. Last year's Terriers ripped through the best SoCon of the millennium, going 18-0 and easily earning an at-large bid. Throughout the season, they were one of the most entertaining teams in college hoops as they shot 42% from 3, led by sharpshooter Fletcher Magee. I've also spent a decent chunk of my life watching random regular season mid-major hoops, and their OT comeback over Samford stands as one of the most ridiculous games I've seen unfold in that time. They blew past Seton Hall in the first round of the tournament before succumbing to Magee's 0-12 3 point shooting against Kentucky in the round of 32.
5. 2011 Butler Bulldogs
The most famous Brad Stevens Butler team is covered below, but the 2011 Bulldogs were a fantastic bunch as well. Despite a frankly mediocre resume, they earned a 9 seed. They then went on one of the all-time tournament runs, beginning with a tip-in over Old Dominion at the buzzer. They then beat #1 seed Pitt in the last 5 seconds and knocked off Florida in OT to make the Final Four. After beating fellow mid-major VCU, they fell in the national title game for the second year in a row, this time to UConn.
4. 2013 Wichita State Shockers
In the middle of the decade, there was no better mid-major program than Gregg Marshall's Shockers. Their regular season was highlighted by 3 fierce battles with Doug McDermott's Creighton, and they easily earned an at-large bid and a 9 seed. They knocked off Pitt as a substantial underdog in round 1, took down #1 seed Gonzaga in round 2, and waltzed past La Salle in the Sweet 16. After beating #2 seed Ohio State in the Elite 8, they blew a 12 point second half lead to fall to Louisville in the Final Four. That Louisville team later (allegedly) went on to win the title.
3. 2018 Loyola Chicago Ramblers
I spent February and March 2018 hoping that the Ramblers could earn an at-large bid, but knowing they probably were destined for the NIT if they failed to win Arch Madness. Thankfully, they got the auto-bid and proceeded to go on one of the all-time tournament runs. In round 1, Donte Ingram hit a buzzer-beating 3 from the logo to knock off #6 Miami. In round 2, Clayton Custer's shot needed a few bounces off the rim to knock off #3 Tenenssee. In the Sweet 16, they knocked off fellow mid-major Nevada in a finish so intense I nearly got hit by a bus watching it on my phone. After defeating Kansas State in the Elite 8, Sister Jean and company made it to the Final Four. They held a double digit lead over Michigan before bowing out after one of the decade's iconic tournament runs.
2. 2014 Wichita State Shockers
Coming off their Final Four season, Cleanthony Early and Ron Baker led Wichita State to the best mid-major regular season since Jameer Nelson's 2004 St. Joe's team. The Shockers rolled into the NCAA tournament 34-0, not facing a serious scare from mid-January on. They went on to become the first real mid-major to earn a 1 seed since that St. Joe's team. After demolishing Cal Poly in the round of 64, they played one of the greatest tournament games of the decade, falling to Kentucky despite 51 points from Early and Baker.
1. 2010 Butler Bulldogs
No mid-major has come closer to a national title than Brad Stevens' 2010 Bulldogs. Led by Gordon Hayward, the Bulldogs stormed to a 28-4 regular season highlighted by a perfect mark in the Horizon League and wins over Ohio State and Xavier. They demolished UTEP in round 1, and survived a scare from Murray State in round 2. They then knocked out the region's top 2 seeds, Syracuse and Kansas State, to advance to the Final Four. In the semifinal, they won a thriller over Michigan State. And then in the championship game, Hayward was an inch away from the greatest win in basketball history.
10. 2019 Buffalo Bulls
Buffalo came into the 2019 season with some hype after their upset over Arizona in the 2018 tournament. The Bulls, led by senior guard CJ Massinburg, roared to a 31-3 regular season which included a big rivalry win at Syracuse. They easily could've gotten an at-large if they needed it, but they won the MAC tournament and got a 6 seed in the NCAA tournament. After a win over Arizona State in the first round, they fell victim to Texas Tech's relentless defense and bowed out in the Round of 32, the best season for a MAC team since Kent State's Elite 8 run in 2002.
9. 2016 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
In 2016, the Lumberjacks were the victim of possibly the worst mis-seeding in tournament history, as the top 50 'Jacks were awarded a 14 seed. Led by senior forward Thomas Walkup, SFA had tournament pedigree as they knocked off VCU in the first round in 2014. I, along with many other mid-major fans, picked SFA to make the Sweet 16 and they did not disappoint- in the first round, Walkup went for 33 and 9 as they demolished West Virginia. The round of 32 featured one of the most heartbreaking tournament games of the decade, as a late tip-in for Notre Dame spoiled the 'Jacks chance of becoming the first 14 seed to make the Sweet 16.
8. 2018 Nevada Wolfpack
The Mountain West is not what it was at the beginning of the decade, but the 2018 Wolfpack are the best team to come out of the conference in years. Led by identical twins Cody and Caleb Martin, they ran through conference play to grab a 7 seed in the NCAA tournament. However, the real magic for Nevada was in March Madness- in the first round, they clawed back from a 13 point deficit to beat Texas. More notable was their second round game against Cincinnati, where they were down 22 with 12 minutes to play. After Eric Musselman got T'd up, Nevada went on a massive 32-8 run to send the Bearcats packing from the tournament once again. In the Sweet 16, Nevada fell to a team that we'll see later on in this list.
7. 2010 Northern Iowa Panthers
This list wouldn't be complete without some representation from the Missouri Valley, and it especially needs a Ben Jacobson Northern Iowa team. A 15-3 record in MVC play meant that the Panthers would have an at-large if they needed it, but they won Arch Madness and got a 9 seed. The round of 64 featured a dramatic buzzer beater against UNLV, but this team is remembered for their next game. The Panthers took on #1 overall seed Kansas, and with a 1 point lead and 36 seconds on the clock, Ali Farokmanesh hit the shot. A few days later, they bowed out to Michigan State in the Sweet 16.
6. 2019 Wofford Terriers
Most of the teams on this list have significant basketball history, but that's not really the case for Wofford. Last year's Terriers ripped through the best SoCon of the millennium, going 18-0 and easily earning an at-large bid. Throughout the season, they were one of the most entertaining teams in college hoops as they shot 42% from 3, led by sharpshooter Fletcher Magee. I've also spent a decent chunk of my life watching random regular season mid-major hoops, and their OT comeback over Samford stands as one of the most ridiculous games I've seen unfold in that time. They blew past Seton Hall in the first round of the tournament before succumbing to Magee's 0-12 3 point shooting against Kentucky in the round of 32.
5. 2011 Butler Bulldogs
The most famous Brad Stevens Butler team is covered below, but the 2011 Bulldogs were a fantastic bunch as well. Despite a frankly mediocre resume, they earned a 9 seed. They then went on one of the all-time tournament runs, beginning with a tip-in over Old Dominion at the buzzer. They then beat #1 seed Pitt in the last 5 seconds and knocked off Florida in OT to make the Final Four. After beating fellow mid-major VCU, they fell in the national title game for the second year in a row, this time to UConn.
4. 2013 Wichita State Shockers
In the middle of the decade, there was no better mid-major program than Gregg Marshall's Shockers. Their regular season was highlighted by 3 fierce battles with Doug McDermott's Creighton, and they easily earned an at-large bid and a 9 seed. They knocked off Pitt as a substantial underdog in round 1, took down #1 seed Gonzaga in round 2, and waltzed past La Salle in the Sweet 16. After beating #2 seed Ohio State in the Elite 8, they blew a 12 point second half lead to fall to Louisville in the Final Four. That Louisville team later (allegedly) went on to win the title.
3. 2018 Loyola Chicago Ramblers
I spent February and March 2018 hoping that the Ramblers could earn an at-large bid, but knowing they probably were destined for the NIT if they failed to win Arch Madness. Thankfully, they got the auto-bid and proceeded to go on one of the all-time tournament runs. In round 1, Donte Ingram hit a buzzer-beating 3 from the logo to knock off #6 Miami. In round 2, Clayton Custer's shot needed a few bounces off the rim to knock off #3 Tenenssee. In the Sweet 16, they knocked off fellow mid-major Nevada in a finish so intense I nearly got hit by a bus watching it on my phone. After defeating Kansas State in the Elite 8, Sister Jean and company made it to the Final Four. They held a double digit lead over Michigan before bowing out after one of the decade's iconic tournament runs.
2. 2014 Wichita State Shockers
Coming off their Final Four season, Cleanthony Early and Ron Baker led Wichita State to the best mid-major regular season since Jameer Nelson's 2004 St. Joe's team. The Shockers rolled into the NCAA tournament 34-0, not facing a serious scare from mid-January on. They went on to become the first real mid-major to earn a 1 seed since that St. Joe's team. After demolishing Cal Poly in the round of 64, they played one of the greatest tournament games of the decade, falling to Kentucky despite 51 points from Early and Baker.
1. 2010 Butler Bulldogs
No mid-major has come closer to a national title than Brad Stevens' 2010 Bulldogs. Led by Gordon Hayward, the Bulldogs stormed to a 28-4 regular season highlighted by a perfect mark in the Horizon League and wins over Ohio State and Xavier. They demolished UTEP in round 1, and survived a scare from Murray State in round 2. They then knocked out the region's top 2 seeds, Syracuse and Kansas State, to advance to the Final Four. In the semifinal, they won a thriller over Michigan State. And then in the championship game, Hayward was an inch away from the greatest win in basketball history.
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