Loyola (MD)

[NJCat83588]

Fairfield beat NU's next opponent Loyola (MD) in OT last night, 94-88. Fairfield gave NU a pretty good game so this probably means Loyola is better than their 1-9 record would indicate. NU will win but hopefully this will be a better tune-up for Big 10 play than was Sacred Heart.

Loyola is another mid-major who play without a true Center. They have a 6'9" F who averages 8 points and 4 rebounds but their best player appears to be a SF, 6'7" Jarred Jones who averages 14 and 8. They won't be intimidated playing NU having lost previously this season at Kansas in a game where they trailed by just 4 at the half.

 

[Mr. Stupor]

Fairfield beat NU's next opponent Loyola (MD) in OT last night, 94-88. Fairfield gave NU a pretty good game so this probably means Loyola is better than their 1-9 record would indicate. NU will win but hopefully this will be a better tune-up for Big 10 play than was Sacred Heart.

Loyola is another mid-major who play without a true Center. They have a 6'9" F who averages 8 points and 4 rebounds but their best player appears to be a SF, 6'7" Jarred Jones who averages 14 and 8. They won't be intimidated playing NU having lost previously this season at Kansas in a game where they trailed by just 4 at the half.

I'm just curious about the term mid-major. How far does that stretch? I don't think of a school like Loyola as any level of major. Is there an accepted working definition, or is this like "middle class", which everybody calls themselves whether they are or not?

 

[NJCat83588]

I'm just curious about the term mid-major. How far does that stretch? I don't think of a school like Loyola as any level of major. Is there an accepted working definition, or is this like "middle class", which everybody calls themselves whether they are or not?

90% of people consider themselves to be above average in just about anything......

 

[hdhntr1]

I'm just curious about the term mid-major. How far does that stretch? I don't think of a school like Loyola as any level of major. Is there an accepted working definition, or is this like "middle class", which everybody calls themselves whether they are or not?

I would say that a mid major conference is one that is D1, not power 5 or 6 or whatever it is in BB but still has a chance of getting one or more at large bids to the Dance. Typical conferences will be like MAC, WAC, CUSA, MVC, maybe even Horizon League but not really lower than that.

 

[mikewebb68]

Fairfield beat NU's next opponent Loyola (MD) in OT last night, 94-88. Fairfield gave NU a pretty good game so this probably means Loyola is better than their 1-9 record would indicate. NU will win but hopefully this will be a better tune-up for Big 10 play than was Sacred Heart.

Loyola is another mid-major who play without a true Center. They have a 6'9" F who averages 8 points and 4 rebounds but their best player appears to be a SF, 6'7" Jarred Jones who averages 14 and 8. They won't be intimidated playing NU having lost previously this season at Kansas in a game where they trailed by just 4 at the half.

Actually saw them play Toledo. Did not look terrible. But 1-9 is 1-9.

 

[Mr. Stupor]

To me there are the majors, the next level below that (which I could call mid major) and then there are the crap conferences that are D-1 but in all honestly do not deserve the mid-major label.

This reminds me how every girl who walks down a runway is a "supermodel" and how every chick who gets banged for money on film is a "porn star".

Mid major should mean something. Loyola ain't it.

 

[NUCat320]

To me there are the majors, the next level below that (which I could call mid major) and then there are the crap conferences that are D-1 but in all honestly do not deserve the mid-major label.

This reminds me how every girl who walks down a runway is a "supermodel" and how every chick who gets banged for money on film is a "porn star".

Mid major should mean something. Loyola ain't it.

When the term mid-major hit, it meant "multi-bid non-BCS" (or equivalent) conferences. That meant Missouri Valley, Mountain West, A-10, WAC, etc. It was an actual class of programs, always better than the Patriot or Ohio Valley, but clearly a step below the conferences with major state universities.

Over time, as its gained in popularity, it's come to mean 'any good program that's not in a BCS or equivalent conference.' George Mason when they made their run, or Davidson with Steph Curry, or Gonzaga every year since ~1999 gets/got called a mid-major even though the Colonial (?) or the Southern (at the time) or the WCC (typically, though St. Mary's is also a strong program, and San Diego has been, and did you realize BYU joined, so I guess WCC is a mid major) are one bid conferences.

No matter how good Oakland University gets, or how good Florida Gulf Coast got, those should always be called 'small conference programs', or at least they should.

By either the 'multi bid' or 'good small conference program' criteria, Loyola doesn't fit.

Stupor, I basically agree with your cranky-ass point. I have no idea why it spurred me to write an essay.