March Madness wasn’t for mid-majors this year.
For the first time since the NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1994, no programs from mid-major conferences advanced to the second round, leaving 32 teams representing the sport’s five most powerful leagues: the Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. In the men’s tournament, five mid-major teams made the second round.
“NIL at work,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo told The Associated Press, referring to players being able to profit from their name, image and likeness, which along with the NCAA relaxing rules on transfers and immediate eligibility giving players more incentive then ever to seek the greenest pastures.
“There have got to be some players who helped mid-majors last year and excelled that are now on (power conference) rosters because they could make more by jumping ship. Typically you wouldn’t do that if it meant less playing time. That’s a big part of that.”
There were 23 teams in the first round from outside the power conference ranks, and they went 0-23. Colorado State, a No. 12 seed from the Mountain West Conference, got the closest, losing 65-62 to Michigan State of the Big Ten.