KC’s Mid-Main High 10 – Murray State hangs on to prime spot, plus our 2021-22 Mid-Main All-America Workforce
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Kevin ConnorsESPN
Inform me you did not react. Inform me you did not spring off your loveseat or lounger. Inform me there is no pleasure in watching a younger man make the shot of his life — a gaggle dwell out its wildest goals. Inform me the mid-major insanity is just not actual.
When David Jean-Baptiste hit the shot heard ‘spherical Chattanooga on Monday it not solely despatched the Mocs to the NCAA event, it confirmed for the umpteenth thousand time, there isn’t a month like March.
ABSOLUTE MADNESS‼️
Chattanooga wins the SoCon and a visit to the NCAA tourney AT THE BUZZER! pic.twitter.com/mQ77OIjOWM
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 8, 2022
Inform me you possibly can’t get behind Griff Aldrich, the previous Division III participant, turned Division III assistant, turned regulation pupil, turned training lawyer, turned oil and gasoline firm government, turned assistant once more (at UMBC for the Retrievers’ historic 2018 NCAA event upset of Virginia, no much less) turned head coach at Longwood College. The 47-year-old adopted his hoop dream, galvanized a program and a fan base, and led the Lancers to the college’s first ever Large South Convention championship on Sunday, and with it, a visit to The Large Dance.
The tickets-punched panorama is crammed with unimaginable tales and from Newark, Delaware to Murray, Kentucky to Atlanta, Georgia to Hamilton, New York, Dayton, Ohio to Smithfield, Rhode Island and various faculties and universities in between, these tales are being shared. As of Thursday, 12 tickets to the NCAA event have been punched with the lion’s share nonetheless to return.
After all the flip facet of that actuality is the top of the street for greater than 250 packages that will not be collaborating in postseason play. So with that in thoughts, we elected to have fun the sport’s prime gamers, from the “Energy 25” conferences (each mid-major convention), within the first-ever version of KC’s mid-major All-American workforce:
First Workforce
The Cowboys loved one of many most interesting common seasons in program historical past and Ike — together with Hunter Maldonado — had been as accountable for that as anybody. In Ike’s case, the sophomore made a big leap from his freshman season, averaging 19.9 PPG (up 8.7 PPG) and 9.6 RPG (up 4.2 RPG) each among the many prime 25 nationally. Coach Jeff Linder’s polished lefty eclipsed 25 factors in 9 video games and his 33-point, 10-rebound masterpiece in February — whereas taking part in 39 of 40 minutes — helped topple eventual league champ Boise State. I like Ike … and the whole lot the Pokes star provides one of the vital harmful mid-major groups in America.
What’s left to say about one of the vital prolific scorers in all of school basketball? McGhee missed out on main Division I in scoring by 0.1 PPG (24.6 PPG, behind solely Bryant’s Peter Kiss) en path to his second straight ASUN Participant of the Yr trophy. His 765 whole factors did lead the nation, as did his 135 made 3-pointers. McGhee’s 48 factors in a January win over FGCU had been probably the most in a single recreation this season and his 47 factors in a win over Kennesaw State six weeks later had been the second-most. In the future, when KC’s Mid-Main Corridor of Fame opens its ultra-luxe handcrafted sandalwood doorways, McGhee might be amongst its inaugural class.
Isiaih Mosley, Missouri State Bears
An All-Missouri Valley Convention first-team decide for the second yr in a row, Mosley is a first-teamer right here within the brightest galaxy in hoops thanks to a different stellar marketing campaign. After ending final season a shade underneath 20.Zero PPG (19.8) the Bears bucket-getter completed this season at 20.1 PPG, second within the MVC to solely Northern Iowa’s AJ Green. Mosley was fifth within the league in rebounding (6.2 RPG) and his 43.4% mark from 3-point vary was the best in Division I amongst gamers averaging a minimum of 20.Zero PPG. Over 1,100 factors in two seasons warrants a critical tip of the KC mid-major snap-back trucker cap. (merch out there for order quickly!)
David Roddy, Colorado State Rams
No workforce has loved the luxurious way of life inside probably the most unique zip code in sports activities fairly like Colorado State in KC’s High 10, and nobody is extra accountable for it than Roddy. The Mountain West Convention Participant of the Yr powered the Rams to a 24-Four common season — together with an 11-Zero begin — and a 14-Four mark in convention play second solely to Boise State, which CSU swept. Roddy was third within the MW in scoring (19.5 PPG), sixth in rebounding (7.6 RPG), 13th in assists (2.Eight APG) and was far and away the league chief in FG% (57.5%). He additionally shot a shimmering 46% from 3-point vary, 15th in Division I amongst certified gamers, and an enchancment of practically 20% from his freshman season. “Rowdy” Roddy is the actual deal.
KJ Williams, Murray State Racers
Williams joined former teammate Ja Morant (what ever occurred to that man?) by taking dwelling Ohio Valley Convention Participant of the Yr following a season by which he led the OVC in scoring (18.2 PPG) and completed second in rebounding (8.6 RPG) to Morehead State’s Johni Broome. With Williams because the driving drive, Murray State grew to become simply the sixth OVC workforce to complete the common season unbeaten, simply the second to additionally win the convention championship recreation and the primary to do all of it within the highlight of a season-long High 10 rating in KC’s Ballot of Report.
Second Workforce
Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco Dons
The driving on-court drive behind San Francisco’s winningest season in 40 years, Bouyea led the Dons in scoring (17.1 PPG), assists (4.1 APG) and steals (1.Eight SPG), all of which rank contained in the top-10 within the West Coast Convention. The USF star additionally shot a profession finest 38% from 3-point vary, an enchancment of greater than 15% from his freshman season. Most significantly, Bouyea has the Dons in place to succeed in the NCAA event for the primary time since 1998. As a Fifth-year graduate pupil he might or might not be older than his head coach, Todd Golden, however Bouyea will go down subsequent to Invoice Russell, Invoice Cartwright and Quintin Dailey among the many greats in program historical past.
One of many switch portal stars of the yr, Estrada elevated Hofstra to a top-Three end within the Colonial Athletic Affiliation within the Delight’s first season underneath former star Coach Speedy Claxton. Estrada averaged 18.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG and 5 APG, turning into the primary Hofstra participant to common 15-5-5 since … Claxton! After spending one season at Saint Peter’s, then the subsequent at Oregon, Estrada discovered a house on Lengthy Island within the 2021-2022 season, incomes CAA Participant of the Yr honors. His 22-point, 10-rebound, 8-assist effort in opposition to Arkansas in Little Rock in December highlighted one of the vital spectacular wins in program historical past and one in every of KC’s most memorable mid-major coups of the yr.
Rollins took over the keys to the Rockets’ ship from 2021 Mid-American Convention Participant of the Yr Marreon Jackson, and piloted Toledo to new heights this yr. Coach Tod Kowalczyk’s crew wrapped up the common season with a 25-6 report, ok to earn the highest seed within the MAC event. Ought to it run that gauntlet, UT would set a college report with 28 wins. Rollins is a pick-and-roll maestro with nice measurement at 6-4 — measurement that helped him lead the Rockets in rebounding (6.1 RPG) — and his 19.2 PPG was third-best within the MAC. Toledo hasn’t been dancing since 1980, but it surely’s been even longer because it has had a future NBA guard like Rollins.
Malachi Smith, Chattanooga Mocs
Title a solution to rating, and Smith does it. Threes, drives, post-ups, floaters … they’re all a part of the repertoire of probably probably the most versatile headliner on KC’s forged of mid-major megastars. Together with fellow KC All-America 1st-teamer Isiaih Mosley, Smith is one in every of two gamers in Division I averaging 20 PPG on 50% FG and 40% 3-point FG. The Southern Convention Participant of the Yr led the league in scoring (20.Four PPG) and per Bart Torvik, is the one Division I participant with 100 baskets on the rim, 50 from mid-range, and 50 from 3-point land versus Division I opposition. After a heart-stopping win within the SoCon Championship, do not be shocked if Malachi and the Mocs Chattanooga Choo-Choo past the primary spherical of The Dance.
A famous person, pure and easy, “Jelly” tied a UAB program report with 9 made 3-pointers in opposition to Louisiana Tech on January 22nd — then two weeks later, on February Fifth, established a program report with 42 factors in opposition to Center Tennessee. The Convention USA Participant of the Yr (and Newcomer of the Yr) completed third within the league in each scoring (19.Three PPG) and assists (5.1), whereas ending first in made 3-pointers (101). The spark to the Blazers’ mid-February rise to No. Three in The Ballot of Report, when Jelly’s on a roll ‘U Ain’t Beatin’ UAB.
Third Workforce
Fardaws Aimaq, Utah Valley Wolverines
Tevin Brown, Murray State Racers
Ryan Davis, Vermont Catamounts
Hunter Maldonado, Wyoming Cowboys
Baylor Scheierman, South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Honorable Point out: Max Abmas, Oral Roberts; Justin Bean, Utah State; Matt Bradley, San Diego State; Johni Broome, Morehead State; AJ Inexperienced, Northern Iowa; Hyunjung Lee, Davidson; Kenneth Lofton Jr., Louisiana Tech; Alex Morales, Wagner; Norchad Omier, Arkansas State; Mark Sears, Ohio
KC’s Mid-Main High 10 for this week:
Final week: tie-2nd
To paraphrase coach Matt McMahon following his squad’s 71-67 win over Morehead State within the OVC championship Saturday: No workforce in faculty basketball received extra video games this season and no workforce misplaced fewer. Exhausting to argue with, one thing The Committee has been preaching because the preliminary launch of KC’s mid-major Ballot of Peak Brilliance. MSU grew to become simply the sixth program in OVC historical past to run the desk in the course of the common season and solely the second to additionally win the OVC event championship. The Racers have not misplaced since Christmas and their solely defeat since Thanksgiving got here at AP No. Four Auburn. With OVC Participant of the Yr KJ Williams, fellow first-team OVC choice Tevin Brown and McMahon, the league’s Coach of the Yr, “KC’s mid-major Workforce of the Yr” might be a single-digit seed within the NCAA event and can win a minimum of one event recreation. Subsequent up: NCAA event
Final week: 1
Having already registered the most important win in faculty basketball this season, Coach Randy Bennett’s bunch fell wanting a repeat efficiency Tuesday in opposition to Gonzaga within the WCC championship recreation. However Saint Mary’s late February common season win over the Zags proved to the wine and cheese crowd that this workforce can beat anybody, wherever (the enlightened mid-major followers knew this in June.) Bracket fanatic and good friend of the “Energy 25” convention groups (the mid-majors) Joe Lunardi presently has Saint Mary’s as a 6-seed within the NCAA event, a product of 5 Quadrant 1 wins and High 20 standing in all revered metrics-based rankings.
Subsequent up: NCAA event
Final week: 5
To finest put into perspective what coach Niko Medved’s males have carried out this season, take into account this: The Rams have as many Quadrant 1 wins as Arizona and Duke! CSU additionally swept the season collection from Mountain West common season champion Boise State, misplaced only one dwelling recreation all yr and celebrated David Roddy’s MW Participant of the Yr honor in arguably probably the most aggressive race in any convention. Colorado State has been smoother than the entire catalogue of Curtis Mayfield with a snifter of Courvoisier, all season lengthy, and stands pretty much as good an opportunity as anybody to chop down the nets in Vegas.
Subsequent up: vs. Utah State in Mountain West event (Thursday)
Final week: 4
Solely a constant residence within the penthouse suite of the best high-rise in mid-major hoops — KC’s High 10 — matched the Broncos’ Mountain West common season title this season, this system’s first outright because the 1987-1988 season. However the feting of Boise State hardly ended there. Leon Rice claimed MW Coach of the Yr honors, Abu Kigab and Marcus Shaver Jr. had been second-team All-MW alternatives, and Tyson Degenhart was the MW Freshman of the Yr. A season sweep of San Diego State highlights a glittering résumé. A season sweep by the hands of Colorado State is all that is preserving BSU outdoors the highest 3.
Subsequent up: vs. Nevada in Mountain West event (Thursday)
Final week: 7
Drew Valentine is the youngest coach in Division I faculty basketball and subsequent week, when the NCAA event ideas, the 30-year-old (!!!) will lead his workforce into the Dance due to the Ramblers’ run by means of the Missouri Valley Convention event. Loyola toppled Bradley and Northern Iowa, then avenged a pair of standard season losses to Drake by dumping the Bulldogs within the championship recreation to assert victory at Arch Insanity. Resplendent of their designer pima cotton MVC Championship t-shirts, Sister Jean and firm await a vacation spot within the NCAA event and a date with a dance associate that undoubtedly needs nothing to do with these Ramblers.
Subsequent up: NCAA event
Final week: 6
Coach Brian Dutcher’s squad was 12-6 on February Fifth and holding a firstclass ticket to Nowheresville. Then got here a victory over Nevada adopted by a street win at San Jose State, and sooner than you possibly can say Ron Burgundy, San Diego State had received 9 of 10 to complete the common season. The Aztecs will add a PDF file of their résumé to the powers that be and spotlight wins over Saint Mary’s (impartial website), vs. Colorado State and at Wyoming, to not point out a 13-Four mark in Mountain West play. After all it by no means hurts to win a recreation in Vegas, however from this Committee to the NCAA event committee, any bracket wants to incorporate second-team All-MW choice Matt Bradley, MW Defensive Participant of the Yr Nathan Mensah and SDSU.
Subsequent up: vs. Fresno State in Mountain West event (Thursday)
Final week: 8
Like 24 consecutive groups earlier than them, the Dons’ run within the West Coast Convention event got here to an finish within the semifinals, on the paws of Gonzaga. USF fell right into a 47-27 halftime gap and, regardless of pulling inside eight late, didn’t dig out. Nonetheless, the physique of labor is simple: double-digit wins within the Alcatraz-tough WCC, a 24 rating within the NET, 21 in KenPom and three Quadrant 1 Ws together with a neutral-site victory over Davidson. Coach Todd Golden’s group has earned its unique entry to the plush velvet sectionals and pretend chinchilla fur rugs of the swankiest speakeasy in sports activities, all season. An at-large invite to the NCAA event must be an absolute given.
Subsequent up: NCAA event
Final week: tie-2nd
It is simple for the nice people in Denton to be disillusioned with the end result of Saturday’s common season finale at UTEP. However for the love of “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin, Imply Joe Greene and Meat Loaf … do not lose sight of what coach Grant McCasland’s males have carried out this season. The Imply Inexperienced had been 2-Three earlier than profitable 22 of the subsequent 23 video games, together with a program report 15 in a row. The Convention USA common season champs might head into event play in Frisco on a bitter observe, however The Committee is hardly rescinding its most well-liked tee occasions on the most unique membership in mid-major hoops.
Subsequent up: vs. Rice in Convention USA event (Thursday)
Final week: 10
Upgraded to four-diamond standing within the Ritz-Carlton of mid-major polls in mid-February, coach Eric Henderson’s membership has greater than held up its finish of the discount. Tuesday night time, behind 21 factors and 11 rebounds from Summit League Match MVP Douglas Wilson, the Jackrabbits downed North Dakota State 75-69 to win their sixth championship in 11 seasons. Already the primary Summit League workforce to run the desk in-conference in the course of the common season, SDSU additionally grew to become the primary workforce in convention historical past to succeed in 30 wins. The Jacks will take the nation’s longest win streak — 21 video games — into the NCAA event subsequent week, music to the ears of your entire Brookings group.
Subsequent up: NCAA event
Final week: 9
Arguably the best coach in mid-major historical past, Bob McKillop claimed his 10th Coach of the Yr award (eight within the Southern Convention, two within the Atlantic 10) following a 25-5 season which included an A-10 common season title. Wildcats senior Luka Brajkovic was named A-10 Participant of the Yr after averaging 14.6 factors on 58.7% FG capturing, with Hyunjung Lee and Foster Loyer additionally incomes all-conference accolades. Nothing is assured, although it’s a must to suppose the NCAA choice committee has the Cats within the discipline it doesn’t matter what. Nonetheless, a protracted weekend in D.C. would make the parents in Mecklenburg County really feel slightly higher about their probabilities.
Subsequent up: Atlantic 10 event (Friday)
Others receiving votes: Wyoming, UAB, Dayton, BYU
Dropped out: None
ESPN Stats & Information researcher Jared Berson contributed to this text.
Comply with KC on Instagram: @kevinconnorsespn & Twitter: @kevconnorsespn
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