Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mid-Major fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
College basketball rivalries run deep, and some of the best are local rivalries. Particularly in-state rivals, like when schools are less than 10 miles apart. Looking at you, Iona and Manhattan.
So, that led us to ask which state is the best for mid-major college basketball programs: New York, California, Florida, Texas, Ohio, or New Mexico?
We start off with the Empire State. It has 19 mid-major schools. Iona has the most Metro championships of anyone in the conference in men’s basketball. St. Bonaventure is a fixture as an Atlantic 10 competitor. Buffalo had flashes of brilliance with Bobby Hurley and Nate Oats patrolling the sidelines. Siena had some brilliance in the Metro too, three straight titles from 2008-2010 and this year nearly knocking off Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Marist women had a dynastic run when they went to 10 NCAA Tournaments in an 11-year span under Brian Giorgis.
To the West Coast, we go to California. There are 21 mid-majors in this state, and we have to begin with San Diego State and Saint Mary’s. The Aztecs were one of the premier teams in the Mountain West, highlighted by the 2023 National Runner-Up run. They parlayed that success into a move to the reborn Pac-12, which we still consider a mid-major. The Gaels’ run in the WCC with Randy Bennett (now at Arizona State) was fantastic. We’ve seen some great teams from Santa Clara and San Francisco too. There are so many DI California teams that 10 of the 11 teams in the Big West reside in the Golden State, as well, including recent powerhouse UC Santa Barbara.
Nine mid-major teams call the Sunshine State home. Florida Atlantic’s two-year run under Dusty May was legendary. The biggest perennial power is the Florida Gulf Coast women, who have made the NCAA Tournament in 11 of their 19 Division-I seasons. While we’re talking about FGCU, shoutout Dunk City for its Sweet 16 run in 2013.
Everything’s bigger in Texas. We have 14 of our beloved mid-majors in the Longhorn State. Let’s start way back in 1966. Texas Western (now UTEP) won the national championship by slaying blue-blood Kentucky in a historic game (who doesn’t love Glory Road). The Miners were the first team with an all-Black starting five to win it all. Stephen F. Austin made five NCAA Tournament appearances from 2009-2018, including all three years with Brad Underwood. The Lumberjack women have been dominant too, with 22 trips to the Big Dance.
To middle America now, and Ohio has several top programs. There are 10 mid-majors in the Buckeye State. Thank you, Miami (OH) for last season. We have Dayton, who is the forever host of the NCAA Tournament First Four (now Opening Round). The Flyers have been highly successful on the court too: 19 NCAA Tournament appearances for the men and nine for the women. The Bowling Green women have danced 13 times. The Akron men have participated in March Madness four of the last five years.
New Mexico may not have the same quantity of programs as the others, with just two mid-majors, but the history is certainly there. The New Mexico State men have been a part of March Madness 26 times, highlighted by that 1970 Final Four run under Lou Henson. The Aggie women have six NCAA Tournament appearances with four in the last dozen years. The New Mexico men have gone dancing 17 times, with 14 of those coming in the last 35 tournaments. The Lobo women went to seven straight March Madnesses in the 2000s. And let’s not forget, The Pit is awesome.
