Good morning! If you’re reading this, you’re clearly starting your day off right with an effort to better yourself by becoming more educated about the goings-on in the mid-major world.
In a landscape so dominated by the biggest schools and conferences, it’s quite hard to winnow down the information you want and need to hear about your favorite mid-major programs.
Thankfully, Mid-Major Madness is here to aggregate the news and links for you, providing you with a brand-new, daily post about the world of mid-major hoops.
#Content to Read
Utah State’s Duryea has a bone to pick with an AAU-affiliated individual (Deseret News)
Tim Duryea is not a happy man. A recent interview with Deseret News’ Jeff Hunter illustrated just that, as Duryea expressed a great deal of displeasure about an AAU-affiliated individual supposedly “shopping” Utah State’s Koby McEwen.
The entire article is really quite riveting, and it provides some excellent insight into the mind of Duryea when it comes to player transfers.
“We’ve put more emphasis on recruiting our own players and really taking the scholarship as a year-to-year scholarship,” he says. “… It used to be that you get your kids in the program and as long as they were having success, you didn’t worry about anything. They’re settled into where they are, and you figured, Hey, we’re going to the finish line.
“But now I don’t think you can have those blinders on. Every spring I think you have to re-recruit the best kids in your program. You need to communicate with them about what they’re thinking and ask them if anyone has made contact with them.
David Collins finally shines for Bradley (Peoria Journal Star)
For hoops fans who aren’t particularly fond of baseball or Gold Cup soccer or friendly matches featuring Premier League teams smashing MLS squads, The Basketball Tournament has been something to hold their attention.
One person who has been particularly interested in TBT is the Peoria Journal Star’s Dave Reynolds, a Bradley Braves writer for well over two decades. Since a team of ex-Braves — called ‘Always A Brave’ — is in the field, one can easily guess why he’s so enthralled with TBT.
Reynolds detailed Always A Brave’s win on Saturday, writing about one particular performance that he was exceptionally pleased to witness:
But the best part of the day for me was seeing a guy whose Bradley career was at least somewhat marked by disappointment, 7-footer David Collins, become the dominant inside force for AAB during its comeback. It was the kind of showing that Bradley fans always hoped for in his college days.
In 15 minutes, Collins blocked three shots, altered others and snagged eight rebounds. Most memorably, he threw down a thunderous dunk in the midst of a key 10-0 second-half run for AAB in its 68-63 win.
This from a mild-mannered 32-year-old who hasn’t played professionally for years and was added to this team late as a backup center to Patrick O’Bryant.
Former William & Mary player Bill Chambers passes away (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Our condolences are extended to the family of Bill Chambers, a former big man for William & Mary in the 1950s. As the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s John O’Connor wrote, Chambers recently passed away at the age of 86 after battling Parkinson’s Disease.
Chambers’ biggest accomplishment as a member of William & Mary’s basketball team was setting the NCAA record for rebounds in a game: 51(!). It’s unlikely that such a tremendous feat will ever be bested, and Chambers’ name will live on for quite a long time in the NCAA record books.
Clippers waive former Gonzaga big man Kyle Wiltjer (The Spokesman-Review)
It has been a while since I’ve included Gonzaga big men news in the morning Minutes piece, and today’s iteration unfortunately features some sad news. Kyle Wiltjer, a former big man for both Kentucky and Gonzaga, was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Yahoo’s Shams Charania first reported this news.
Tweets of Interest
LMU basketball had a treasure hunt on a picturesque beach
LMU Basketball Treasure Hunt=2 teams, compete, enjoy each other, & enjoy location=BEST IN WEST! pic.twitter.com/sPE6odv6qG
— Mike Dunlap (@CoachMikeDunlap) July 15, 2017
Tom, what’re you doing??
Michigan St. Head basketball coach Tom Izzo dropping popcorn on floor then eating it. #5SecondRule @ahammsportsgeek @World_Wide_Wob pic.twitter.com/Ca6VtXulTd
— Tyler Cupp (@TCupp13) July 14, 2017
Evan knows I love Coach Byrd
#NewProfilePic @morrisoncrying
— Evan Bradds (@EasyBreezy_35) July 16, 2017
Extra! Extra! Get your Dakota NCAA tournament odds here!
If I'm ranking the 4 in terms of tourney odds: 1. SDSU 2. NDSU 3. ND 4. SD. All 4 should win 15-20 or more games. https://t.co/5AR6OovgZW
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) July 16, 2017
He needs something to keep himself occupied. You can only create so many preseason NCAA Tournament brackets...
Lunardi breaking down the TBT bracket seems exceedingly unnecessary
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) July 15, 2017
Congrats to Jordair Jett & Company!
.@MSluCrew wins! Advances to face @GoldenEaglesTBT tomorrow at 4:15pm in Peoria! ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/frIhSsSYF0
— SLU Men's Basketball (@SaintLouisMBB) July 16, 2017
The Weber State alum team couldn’t get it done in TBT
Final box score of @WeberStateMBB alum squad Wasatch Front in @thetournament pic.twitter.com/ilcssgFKOS
— Brett Hein (@bhein3) July 16, 2017
Time to start talking about the Bears, people!
Mercer returns its top seven scorers from last season's group that went 9-9 in the SoCon, yet nobody is talking about the Bears in '17-18?
— College Court Report (@CC_Report) July 16, 2017
The Gonzaga alumni team couldn’t have looked much better.
HIGHLIGHTS: @ZagMBB alumni team @AFGM_TBT rolled through their opening round #TBT2017 game. pic.twitter.com/pdqcX94IsE
— TBT (@thetournament) July 16, 2017
Bryan has completed the Loyola Trinity
The @RamblersMBB @LMUMBB @LoyolaMBB Trifecta all aboard! @MVCsports @ValleyHoops @PatriotLeague @WCCsports #FightEpilepsy pic.twitter.com/Khqh2iC8TR
— Bryan Black (@350jerseys4hope) July 16, 2017
Recruiting News
Indiana, PSU, UMass, VCU, VA Tech & Wichita State offered 2018 Gaston Day (NC) G Nate Hinton. (HT @teamloadednc) https://t.co/aoGStm9gw2
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) July 15, 2017
High Point, New Mexico and UMBC offered 2018 Springbrook (MD) G Matthew Balanc. @MBalanc https://t.co/Hyj17GRe09
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) July 15, 2017
Former St. Bonaventure G Tareq Coburn is transferring to Hofstra. @tareqcoburn https://t.co/TsvqTT62eg
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) July 15, 2017