Mid-Major Madness and the Anything But Mid Podcast went through each of the mid-major conferences and previewed the men’s basketball seasons ahead for each of them over the last several weeks. There were eight conference preview episodes hosted by Ian Sacks and Isaac Bourne. Below are links and brief descriptions for each episode.
Conference Preview Season Begins: A10, America East, ASUN
Listen on Spotify.Listen on Apple Podcasts.The Atlantic 10 shapes up to be competitive once again. The America East has perennial power Vermont looking to get back to the top. The ASUN saw five teams finish within two games of first last season.
Conference Previews for American, Big Sky, Big South
Listen on Spotify.Listen on Apple Podcasts.Memphis looks to run through the American once again but faces some stiff competition. Northern Colorado aims to build off last season, and Mike Bibby is in the mix at Sacramento State. Can High Point go dancing again out of the Big South?
Conference Previews: Big West, Coastal, CUSA, Horizon
Listen on Spotify.Listen on Apple Podcasts.There are several new head coaches in the Big West, including CSU Bakersfield, UC San Diego and UC Riverside. Charleston, Towson and UNCW are all threats to take home the CAA title. Can Oakland find more magic out of the Horizon?
MAC, MEAC, MAAC and Ivy Preview
Listen on Spotify.Listen on Apple Podcasts.Ian and Isaac bring on their first guest of the conference preview season in Sam Federman. The Wizard of the MAAC shares his outlook for the conference and also dabbles in his knowledge of the Ivy League. Akron looks to remain atop the MAC, and Norfolk State seeks to continue to be the class of MEAC.
Conference Previews for Missouri Valley, Mountain West, NEC
Listen on Spotify.Listen on Apple Podcasts.The Missouri Valley and the Mountain West have been two of the best mid-major conferences over the last handful of year. The MVC has been the Drake invitational the last couple of seasons. The MW has a lot of depth at the top and added Grand Canyon. The NEC saw Central Connecticut finish atop the standings but Saint Francis win the tournament.
OVC, Patriot and SoCon Conference Previews
Listen on Spotify.Listen on Apple Podcasts.Who else but SoCon John to talk SoCon Hoops? John Hooper joins the show to look into the Southern Conference. Chattanooga looks to carry momentum from its NIT championship run, and Furman has all the pieces once again. Plus, Isaac goes deep into his knowledge of OVC, where Little Rock shapes up to be the favorite in the OVC this season. Ian really likes Navy to contend in the Patriot League.
Southland, SWAC, Summit Season Previews
Listen on Spotify.Listen on Apple Podcasts.McNeese has run the Southland the last two seasons, but Will Wade is gone. What does that mean for the conference? Bethune-Cookman, Southern and Jackson State should all be promising to make a deep SWAC run. St. Thomas and Omaha look to be the top two teams in the Summit once again, but the conference has a lot depth as well with SDSU, NDSU and South Dakota.
Conference Previews: Sun Belt, WCC, WAC
Listen on Spotify.Listen on Apple Podcasts.James Madison and Arkansas State look poised for more success in the Sun Belt. But don’t sleep on Old Dominion. The WCC shapes up to have a top four with Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s, San Francisco and Santa Clara. And enjoy the final year of the WAC as we know it before it becomes the next victim of conference realignment.
