ESPN Men's Basketball

I love the term "mid-major."

It's an accurate description, and I laugh when people get indignant about it. I never was insulted to have that label as an assistant coach at Ohio University or as the head coach at Manhattan College. In fact, to me it describes the level of college basketball where the term "student-athlete" is most apt to be defined.

Yes, there are great students in the Big Ten and in the ACC. And, yes, there are good basketball players in the Patriot League and Ivy League. But, to me, the confluence from which a team like Gonzaga or Creighton can have national success on the court without compromising the academic mission of the school is most likely to happen at the mid-major level.

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