NCAA Tournament: Why Mid-Majors Struggle

0:00On March 23rd, this year's NCAA tournament has been chalky from the start, with favorites dominating early rounds. Texas, the 11th seed, stands alone as the only double digit team reaching the sweet 16. It's the fourth year in a row without multiple lower seeds advancing that far, a first internment history. Coaches like Enzaga's Mark Few point out that these underdogs are talented squads, not true Cinderella's. Team, image, and likeness deals plus the transfer portal are big factors. Top programs with deep pockets scoop up elite players from smaller schools, weakening mid-major rosters. Players now stay in college longer for better pay and development, instead of jumping to the pros right away. Conference realignment has shuffled the deck too. PowerLeague's graph strong mid majors like Butler and VCU, leaving weaker teams to fill tournament spots. Beta shows double digit seeds now rank much lower preseason, making upsets tougher. Better metrics like the net rankings help seed teams more accurately, reducing mismatches.

1:04High major squads also play bigger, focusing on paint scoring and rebounding to control games physically against smaller opponents. Coaches from both sides agree mid majors can still surprise, as fans crave those underdog stories. Deeper runs might be rare, but the magic of march lingers for those who break through.