Wednesday night featured a slate of high-quality matchups in the mid-major ranks, delivering some thrilling games. As conference play continues to unfold, here are five key takeaways:
Dayton is in trouble
After a hot start to the season, including non-conference wins over Big East contenders UConn and Marquette, the Flyers have faltered. They looked out of sync in their last two games, suffering a 20-point road loss to George Washington on Saturday and falling to UMass, a team projected to finish in the bottom half of the Atlantic 10. What once seemed like a strong case for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid now feels precarious. To stay in the conversation, Dayton must avoid further losses before the A-10 Tournament — a challenging task.
Saint Louis has hit its stride
Despite the challenges of roster transitions, the Billikens appear to be clicking. After some tough non-conference losses, Saint Louis is now 3-0 in A-10 play, including a key win over St. Bonaventure at home on Wednesday. The trio of Isiah Swope, Robbie Avila, and Gibson Jimerson might just be the best in all of college basketball.
Drake gets a bounce-back win
Remaining undefeated as a mid-major heading into conference play is tough, and even one loss can significantly impact at-large bid hopes. After a two-game skid against UIC and Murray State, the Bulldogs bounced back with a crucial Quad 2 road win over Bradley. Given Bradley’s standing as a contender for the regular-season title, this victory could prove pivotal.
St. Thomas is the team to beat in the Summit
Although South Dakota State boasts last year’s NCAA Tournament bid and a standout player in Oscar Cluff, the Tommies are emerging as this season’s team to beat. Keep an eye on Miles Barnstable, a name basketball fans should know. Unfortunately, the team is still transitioning from Division III and remains ineligible for the Big Dance.
Rhode Island: The DePaul of Mid-Major Basketball?
For those unfamiliar, the comparison to DePaul highlights a troubling trend: a promising non-conference start followed by struggles in league play. Rhode Island seems to be following that script, now 1-2 in A-10 action after a home loss to George Washington. Despite an 11-1 record before conference play and standout performances from Sebastian Thomas, the Rams must prove they can win against their A-10 peers.
