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Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Part 3 of our reflection, research and review of Selection Sundays and the NCAA Tournament bubble over the last 35 years looks year-by-year at 1995-99. The stretch saw conference champions like Manhattan and Miami (Ohio) rewarded in 1995, a shift towards mid-pack majors as the 90s drew to a close but also surges by a trio of Midwestern leagues.
The last game of the day was a big one in Ames, where the home team got a much-needed quality win. Plus the other team lost more than a game, an ACC power’s scoring struggles continue, and two teams got big road wins on the day.
Few may have known it, but the Mid-American Conference was a top-10 league in 2018-19. Most were plenty familiar with the team leading it, though, as Buffalo continued an historic run with one of the finest seasons in league history.
Recapping the mass of conference tournament games Thursday, as well as the bubble winners and losers, a list that included mostly losers among those truly on the fence.
The Mid-American Conference has shown very well so far this season and had a deserved television showcase Friday night. A chance to show off the league’s depth instead saw Ball State and Buffalo deliver authoritative, impressive performances, both on the road.
Saturday was a wild day full of Power 5 teams losing to mid-majors, with one struggling conference being the worst offender. Plus a rivalry game tells us something about the winner, a big man returns to action, and one undefeated team falls at the buzzer while another one beats a good road team.
With two championship games on tap, one was won by a team that needed it and another was not. Plus the tournaments continue with some entertaining games out west, a captain will move on, and another big pickup for a new head coach.
Presenting our now-annual list of 20 teams we’re watching this season, an open-ended wide view of nation with teams we think are on the way up, might face pivotal seasons, or we just plain enjoy watching.
As consistently balanced as it is, the MAC has rarely had a program that is a true bully, but Buffalo may be nearing that stage.
The Big 12 is ready to give us the great finish we have come to expect from it thus far this season, with history or an unlikely champion appearing to be the result. Plus home teams rule one conference, a road losing streak ends elsewhere, and some news in a big off-court story.
