They're no longer the cute, overachieving underdog. They'll never be confused with a Kentucky or even a Louisville. They actually used to get more hype back when Dan Dicau and especially Adam Morrison were there.
I don't even know if I can call them a tweener, if Few leaves and they fall to irrlevancy they'll be like Jacksonville, who was really good in the 70's but might as well be Stetson now. They're not even Butler, who went to back-to-back title games and now play in a primere conference. I suppose they're like San Francisco used to be but even they won national titles.
What say you?
When Dan Monson left to coach Minnesota, seems everyone predicted the downfall of Gonzaga too, but they only improved. As long as the Gonzaga AD has some fresh young coaches to tap, Gonzaga will be fine.
Fresh young coaches? They've had one coach for much of this run. He stepped up admirably for Monson but it remains to be seen if they can sustain what Few's built, obviously because he's still there. His coaching tree hasn't exactly bore out that he's a supreme genius that like the mythical Hydra will just keep producing more heads if one is cut off.
I could see them sustaining it for the length that his recruits are still there once he leaves but anything beyond that has to be proven.
(03-23-2016 11:08 PM)_C2_ Wrote: [ -> ]Fresh young coaches? They've had one coach for much of this run. He stepped up admirably for Monson but it remains to be seen if they can sustain what Few's built, obviously because he's still there. His coaching tree hasn't exactly bore out that he's a supreme genius that like the mythical Hydra will just keep producing more heads if one is cut off.
I could see them sustaining it for the length that his recruits are still there once he leaves but anything beyond that has to be proven.
Xavier keeps replacing coaches and doesn't miss a beat, and that was before Big East membership. Why can't Gonzaga?
Because it hasn't been proven. Xavier and Butler have proven it. And unlike a Kansas, UNC, Indiana or even a Texas they can't just shell out whatever cash is necessary to sustain the level of program they want nor do they have the same platform as them, the resources just aren't there. They could go the way of Houston and DePaul once their great coaches abandoned ship.
Like I said, it can be done but more than likely, I see them as an A-10 type program that will routinely be in the bubble mix or what Tulsa used to be if they don't fully regress to the typical WCC level and caliber.
Gonzaga > Houston
End of story
Yeah, 19 NCAA Tournament appearances apiece but 0 Final Fours for the Zags (and it isn't as if they haven't had some teams more than capable of going that far), 5 for Houston, 0 national titles apiece and just 2 Elite 8 appearances for the Zags. And Houston played in three of the most important games in the history of college basketball and hasn't been considered an overachieving small school in many decades.
But other than that, yeah, both Houston and Gonzaga are complete look-a-likes. The Zags at least have a chance to add to their stats though. Stop turning this into a flaming war.
Top mid major their in the WCC and really good.
Wichita state ,Butler and VCU have taken turns taking over the spotlight.
The top non-power conference school west of Amarillo.
(03-24-2016 08:44 AM)johnbragg Wrote: [ -> ]The top non-power conference school west of Amarillo.
Ahh....thanks to David St and his West Texas A&M additions, good to see Amarillo getting more press.
By the way....I'll be moving back there in June. Lived there when I move from Oregon for a couple years and still own a house there so moving the family to a nice smaller city.
(03-24-2016 09:12 AM)MWC Tex Wrote: [ -> ] (03-24-2016 08:44 AM)johnbragg Wrote: [ -> ]The top non-power conference school west of Amarillo.
Ahh....thanks to David St and his West Texas A&M additions, good to see Amarillo getting more press.
By the way....I'll be moving back there in June. Lived there when I move from Oregon for a couple years and still own a house there so moving the family to a nice smaller city.
Eh, Yankee know-nothing prejudice. Lubbock, Amarillo, wherever Texas TEch is. I was thinking non-Pac-12 school west of Texas Tech.
A well coached team regardless of conference. They would be an ideal candidate to join the Big East except for...well the location thing.
(03-24-2016 09:14 AM)johnbragg Wrote: [ -> ] (03-24-2016 09:12 AM)MWC Tex Wrote: [ -> ] (03-24-2016 08:44 AM)johnbragg Wrote: [ -> ]The top non-power conference school west of Amarillo.
Ahh....thanks to David St and his West Texas A&M additions, good to see Amarillo getting more press.
By the way....I'll be moving back there in June. Lived there when I move from Oregon for a couple years and still own a house there so moving the family to a nice smaller city.
Eh, Yankee know-nothing prejudice. Lubbock, Amarillo, wherever Texas TEch is. I was thinking non-Pac-12 school west of Texas Tech.
Texas Tech is in Lubbock. but got your drift.
I posted this in another thread a few weeks ago, but we have completely bastardized the term mid-major.
Are you trying to tell me schools with the history and commitment to basketball of UConn, Cincinnati, Memphis and Gonzaga are mid-major programs but Clemson and TCU are major basketball programs? That is complete lunacy. The first groups commit significant portions of their budgets to basketball, pack their home arenas and have national titles, final fours, etc. in the trophy cases. Mid-major by arse.
(03-24-2016 09:16 AM)ivet Wrote: [ -> ]A well coached team regardless of conference. They would be an ideal candidate to join the Big East except for...well the location thing.
Exactly. They would be competitive in the Big East, which is one of six basketball power conferences. 18 straight tournament appearances, 19 straight 20+ win seasons, averaged 27 wins a year during that stretch (.803 win%).
So they have't made it to the Final Four. A lot of very good programs rarely make it top the Final Four. Why do they need to be classified?
(03-24-2016 09:24 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ]I posted this in another thread a few weeks ago, but we have completely bastardized the term mid-major.
Are you trying to tell me schools with the history and commitment to basketball of UConn, Cincinnati, Memphis and Gonzaga are mid-major programs but Clemson and TCU are major basketball programs? That is complete lunacy. The first groups commit significant portions of their budgets to basketball, pack their home arenas and have national titles, final fours, etc. in the trophy cases. Mid-major by arse.
There's more to it than success on the court or even fan support and no one would be surprised if Clemson and TCU advanced to the Final Four next year, at least not to the same extent they would be if Evansville, Charlotte or New Mexico State did. And unlike the first 3, Gonzaga has never been considered major and even with all of the respect they've gained they're still basically like St. Joseph's as an institution.
And you're right about the term, people use it for most any team that isn't in a premiere conference. There are 32 D-I leagues, you're telling me the AAC and Summit are both mid-majors? From there, the Horizon and Atlantic Sun. If there are majors, then there are mid-majors and if there are mid-majors there are low-majors.
(03-24-2016 10:23 AM)_C2_ Wrote: [ -> ] (03-24-2016 09:24 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ]I posted this in another thread a few weeks ago, but we have completely bastardized the term mid-major.
Are you trying to tell me schools with the history and commitment to basketball of UConn, Cincinnati, Memphis and Gonzaga are mid-major programs but Clemson and TCU are major basketball programs? That is complete lunacy. The first groups commit significant portions of their budgets to basketball, pack their home arenas and have national titles, final fours, etc. in the trophy cases. Mid-major by arse.
There's more to it than success on the court or even fan support and no one would be surprised if Clemson and TCU advanced to the Final Four next year, at least not to the same extent they would be if Evansville, Charlotte or New Mexico State did. And unlike the first 3, Gonzaga has never been considered major and even with all of the respect they've gained they're still basically like St. Joseph's as an institution.
And you're right about the term, people use it for most any team that isn't in a premiere conference. There are 32 D-I leagues, you're telling me the AAC and Summit are both mid-majors? From there, the Horizon and Atlantic Sun. If there are majors, then there are mid-majors and if there are mid-majors there are low-majors.
Gonzaga has been in the sports news for more than a ten year period. I doubt any of the other mid-major teams or AAC or Big East teams mentioned have had more wins or over the past ten to fifteen years than Gonzaga. Even their women's team has
had successes. If they had football, they would possibly be in the PAC 12 or at least the Mountain West. Their success has been maintained.
(03-24-2016 10:23 AM)_C2_ Wrote: [ -> ] (03-24-2016 09:24 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ]I posted this in another thread a few weeks ago, but we have completely bastardized the term mid-major.
Are you trying to tell me schools with the history and commitment to basketball of UConn, Cincinnati, Memphis and Gonzaga are mid-major programs but Clemson and TCU are major basketball programs? That is complete lunacy. The first groups commit significant portions of their budgets to basketball, pack their home arenas and have national titles, final fours, etc. in the trophy cases. Mid-major by arse.
There's more to it than success on the court or even fan support and no one would be surprised if Clemson and TCU advanced to the Final Four next year, at least not to the same extent they would be if Evansville, Charlotte or New Mexico State did. And unlike the first 3, Gonzaga has never been considered major and even with all of the respect they've gained they're still basically like St. Joseph's as an institution.
And you're right about the term, people use it for most any team that isn't in a premiere conference. There are 32 D-I leagues, you're telling me the AAC and Summit are both mid-majors? From there, the Horizon and Atlantic Sun. If there are majors, then there are mid-majors and if there are mid-majors there are low-majors.
Not to pick nits, but
everyone would be surprised if Clemson or TCU made it to the Final Four. Even the players' and coaches' mothers would be surprised.
(03-24-2016 11:20 AM)ARSTATEFAN1986 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-24-2016 10:23 AM)_C2_ Wrote: [ -> ] (03-24-2016 09:24 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ]I posted this in another thread a few weeks ago, but we have completely bastardized the term mid-major.
Are you trying to tell me schools with the history and commitment to basketball of UConn, Cincinnati, Memphis and Gonzaga are mid-major programs but Clemson and TCU are major basketball programs? That is complete lunacy. The first groups commit significant portions of their budgets to basketball, pack their home arenas and have national titles, final fours, etc. in the trophy cases. Mid-major by arse.
There's more to it than success on the court or even fan support and no one would be surprised if Clemson and TCU advanced to the Final Four next year, at least not to the same extent they would be if Evansville, Charlotte or New Mexico State did. And unlike the first 3, Gonzaga has never been considered major and even with all of the respect they've gained they're still basically like St. Joseph's as an institution.
And you're right about the term, people use it for most any team that isn't in a premiere conference. There are 32 D-I leagues, you're telling me the AAC and Summit are both mid-majors? From there, the Horizon and Atlantic Sun. If there are majors, then there are mid-majors and if there are mid-majors there are low-majors.
Gonzaga has been in the sports news for more than a ten year period. I doubt any of the other mid-major teams or AAC or Big East teams mentioned have had more wins or over the past ten to fifteen years than Gonzaga. Even their women's team has
had successes. If they had football, they would possibly be in the PAC 12 or at least the Mountain West. Their success has been maintained.
Umm UCONN?
Gonzaga has become a fixture program and will be as long as Mark Few is there. After that who knows, though I think they'll certainly continued to be the premier WCC program.