Around the Mid-Majors: Week of Jan. 29

The Mid-Majors are a major focal point when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. These teams are how the month and tournament became known as March Madness.

The panic button might have been hit for Gonzaga. A team that typically has less than five losses and is often ranked, is sitting at 16-6 and on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament.

Saint Mary’s went into Gonzaga and defeated the Bulldogs by two. The Gaels had four players in double digits including Aidan Mahaney with 20 points.

Saint Mary’s currently holds the lead and the automatic qualifier spot for the WCC. Gonzaga is going to have to dominate the rest of its schedule, and it still might not be enough.

It would be the first time since 1998 that the Bulldogs did not make the tournament. It would also mean it is the first time since 2015 that Gonzaga will not be playing in the second weekend of the tournament. The second streak could still end even if the team makes the big dance.

An under-the-radar team to keep an eye out for is Indiana State. This would be the fifth time in program history that the Sycamores go dancing.

If the school sounds familiar, it’s because this team made the National Championship back in 1979 with a 33-1 record, led by none other than Larry Bird.

This season, the Sycamores are projected to be an 11-seed.

In the Missouri Valley Conference, the team sits in first place with only one loss in the conference, to Drake. Overall, they sit at 20-3 with the other two losses being to then-No. 24 Alabama and Michigan State.

The Sycamores avenged their loss to Drake with a recent victory over the Bulldogs, 75-67.

They are led by junior guard Isaiah Swope, who averages 18 points per game on 45.4 percent shooting.

He is complimented well by big man Robbie Avila and don’t let the goggles fool you. Avila is averaging 16.2 points per game with 7.5 rebounds per game. In addition, he leads the team in assists per game at 4.1. Swope and Avila could become very popular once March hits.

Another mid-major that’s projected as an 11-seed is Grand Canyon.

The Lopes are 21-2 and have a loss to South Carolina.

They are led by guard Tyon Grant-Foster. He leads the team with 19 points per game on 43.8 percent shooting.

The mid-major conferences and teams can’t be brought up without mentioning Dayton.

The Flyers sit at No. 21 in the country and are coming off of a victory over St. Bonaventure.

What makes this team so dangerous is they have a superstar big man plus a lethal shooter from behind the arc.

DaRon Holmes II, a finalist for the Karl Malone Power-Forward of the Year Award, scored 34 points with seven rebounds.

To compliment him, Koby Brea comes off the bench and is currently one of the best shooters in the country. Brea actively leads all players in three-point percentage. He shoots 48 percent from behind the arc while averaging just over 10 points per game.

As March gets closer, these mid-major teams are going to start to become more familiar and are going to be talked about more. These teams are capable of not just one upset, but multiple upsets in the big dance.

Andrew Deal is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email asd5765@psu.edu