I hate the term mid-major...

The 'March Madness' path still maddening for mid-majors


...If there’s any coach in the country who could relate to the disappointment Monmouth felt on Selection Sunday, it’s Kermit Davis at Middle Tennessee.

Davis and the Blue Raiders became one of the stars of this year’s NCAA Tournament after busting America’s collective bracket by upsetting highly regarded two seed Michigan State.

But it was only four years ago that Middle Tennessee was Monmouth; sitting on the outside of the NCAA Tournament in 2012 despite 27 wins, the best record in the Sun Belt and wins over UCLA, Ole Miss and tournament participant Belmont.

The Blue Raiders won 28 games, beat SEC Tournament champion Vanderbilt and Ole Miss again the next season, but were one of the last four teams in the NCAA Tournament after being upset again in the Sun Belt Tournament.

“Our nonconference schedule was so good that year, but even then we had no margin for error,” Davis said. “The whole thing is you’ve got to win games and schedule smart for the selection committee to even consider you.

“That’s hard for mid-major coaches to do who are trying to progress their programs and keep their jobs.” .....