Does a mid-major like SIU really have a chance to win the tournament?

Question

What are the chances that a mid-major could actually win the 65 team tournament?

Thanks- SIU Student

Answer 1

The last mid major to have a genuine chance to win was Indiana State in '79, and that was only because they had Larry Bird. I would say that no other mid major team has a chance without a similarly transcendent player. The talent gap is just too wide. How many McDonald's All-Americans have you recruited lately? Even in Larry Bird's case there were extenuating circumstances leading him to such a small school. Remember, he started his career as a Bobby Knight Hoosier and left. SIU has a good chance to do what a handful of good "bracket busters" do every year: make it to the sweet 16, maybe the elite 8, then bow out when the competition gets too tough. This won't be best answer because it's not what you wanted to hear, but it's the truth.

Answer 2

Yes as an SIU student, its hard for people to say im not biased when i answer that but there is an outside chance. Lets sit back for a second and think how the hell UCLA got into the championship game? they were up against some pretty weak competition and had the style of gameplay that could easily take them to the Final Four. With a little bit of luck, SIU could follow down the same route. They need to be a little bit more appreciative of the ball, and also need to move, because sometimes they look like they have no idea what they need to do. But their defense is probably the best I've seen in D1 this year, just seeing how they rotate. Also i've been saying this all year, there isn't like one or two teams this year that are dominate to the point where there is a safe bet on any team to win it all. This is the year of the upset, but its not really an upset because of the fact that everyone sucks this year, so its a level playing field. Honestly I would love Duke and SIU to play each other just to show what i'm saying is true. GO DAWGS!!!

Answer 3

As much as I would LIKE to say yes, i think the disparities in recruitment put the championship out of reach for even the best of the (true) mid-majors. The big conference teams have better players to work with from their first day on campus, not to mention the ability to recruit competently for EACH position. Mid-majors can do some major damage, but with how one-sided recruiting has become, even the mid-majors that luck out with several great recruits are simply going to be hit by the the more consistent teams with a full squad of top recruits. Moreover, the experience the big conference teams going against more consistent opponents (with more tournament-like atmospheres) gives a decided advantage in player maturity entering the tourney. I would love to see recruiting become more even, though, and see some mid-majors actually get some of the top players, but I'm not sure if it's going to ever happen.

Answer 4

This is no disrespect to Southern Illinois, who have been consistently good now for about five years, but this year probably not. One thing that hurts the Salukis is that the "BCS" schools higher ranked that they are have a certain talent gap over them. However, that doesn't mean if Southern Illinois is a 4 or 5 seed they can't catch the 1 and 2 in their bracket sleeping and become the George Mason this year.

Answer 5

Not a very good chance. Several of them are really good, but there just isn't enough talent. I bet one (probably SIU, Butler, or either VMI or VCU... don't remember which one is good) will make at least the elite 8, but i don't think they can win it all. Too much combination of talent/experience at Florida.

Answer 6

1 in 600,000

Answer 7

the way they're going this year, pretty darn good.

Answer 8

yes.