College Hoops-Looking at the Mid-Majors

Every season fans around the country are found to be rooting for a mid-major team to make a deep run in the NCAA tourney. Here are a few teams that would be considered legitimate possibilities in the 2014-2015 basketball season.

Harvard- Coach Tommy Amaker knows how to coach and recruit. Freshman Chris Egi will anchor the frontcourt at 6’9” and will be impactful for the Ivy League. He spurned Marquette and Florida to make his mark at Harvard. Siyani Chambers and Wesley Saunders return to the backcourt with experience in big game play. Amaker has put together an upgraded non-conference schedule and will likely receive an at-large spot in the tourney if they can’t take the Ivy League title. Louisiana Tech- The Bulldogs come into the season as the 15th best offense from last year at 81 PPG. Returning will be Alex Hamilton (14.5 PPG), Rahemm Appleby (11.2 PPG) and Speedy Smith with over seven assists per game. Georgia State- A complete overhaul was made but the players are experienced and primed for action. Kevin Ware was added from Louisville and returning will be R.J. Hunter with his 19.3 PPG and Ryan Harrow, a former Kentucky Wildcat, with his 17.8 PPG and 4.2 APG to lead the team. Cleveland State- Returning will be six of seven from the scoring team that finished by winning 10 of 11 to end the regular season in 2013-14. This is a balanced team and could feature a different player each night. Bryn Forbes led the Vikings with 15.6 PPG.

Mid-Majors Next in line: Murray state, Florida Gulf Coast, New Mexico State   Two perennial mid-majors were left out (Wichita State and Gonzaga) as they tend to find a way to make the tourney virtually every season.