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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
Bryan Black’s jersey collection helps him cope with epilepsy (Mid-Major Madness)
Yesterday, our own Ellie Lieberman wrote a piece about Bryan Black, a college basketball fan who suffers from menial temporal lobe epilepsy. As a result of that, he suffers from seizures daily, but a major moment of tranquility comes for him when he is watching college basketball games.
As Lieberman wrote:
...Black decided to make it more than just a hobby. He’s been able to combine his love for the game with his effort to raise awareness for his condition simply by collecting jerseys. By seeking a jersey from all 351 Division I schools, it means sharing his story with 351 different communities.
“I said to myself, I can turn this epilepsy into something positive just by communicating with people on Twitter, adding every single one of the school’s basketball Twitters and communicating with as many sportswriters and as many people who are involved with these schools as possible,” Black said.
Bryan Black is a man full of resiliency, and if you think you can help him reach his goal, check out the information at the bottom of Ellie’s post!
BYU’s attendance is among the country’s best (Vanquish the Foe)
Though the quality of BYU’s play has diminished in recent seasons, their fans’ willingness to show up and support their Cougars has not taken quite that much of a dive. As Vanquish the Foe’s Robby McCombs notes:
Despite a relatively down year for the BYU hoops team, one that ended with a first round NIT exit, BYU ranked top 15 nationally in attendance for the 7th straight year. BYU’s attendance also ranked 1st in the west for the 8th straight year.
He goes on to note that BYU’s attendance has taken a bit of a dip compared to numbers from previous years, but not enough to unseat them from their spot of supremacy in the west.
Several mid-majors in the mix for Deontae Hawkins (WKU Rivals)
Grad transfer Deontae Hawkins—a former Illinois State Redbird—was initially slated to play for Boston College, but he has since decided that he no longer wants to pursue that (clearly agonizing) option.
With this talented player now up for grabs, many schools are throwing themselves into the fray in order to get this guy to play for them. Just last night, Jon Rothstein tweeted the four schools that Hawkins is consider. Three of them are mid-majors (Western Kentucky, Pacific, and New Mexico).
Tweets of Interest
Yale’s new court is here!
The final stages of our new floor design @Yale_Basketball #PWG #JohnLeeAmphitheater pic.twitter.com/AP2Hjl1UDG
— Matthew Kingsley (@yalekinger) July 6, 2017
I’m not sure what this means, but I like it
Current mood:
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) July 7, 2017
Jazz
Thunder
Pacers
Trailblazers ❤️
Rockets
Clippers
Celtics
Heat
Oh I see what it’s about now
Former Gonzaga star Kelly Olynyk agrees to sign with Miami Heat https://t.co/sjVATHw1Pa
— Jim Meehan (@SRJimm) July 7, 2017
We got some love from the commish
Good photo...and solid prediction for @UVMmbb next year. #AEHoops https://t.co/8XWN52FETW
— Amy Huchthausen (@AE_Commish) July 7, 2017
Yes, let’s!
Let's take a trip down memory lane to the 2010-11 season! Here are some highlights from the Miners' 25-win campaign! #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/bMALizpCuB
— UTEPMBB (@UTEP_MBB) July 6, 2017
#AJWeek continues on
#tbt @Justdewit12 flashing smiles and breaking ankles #AJWeek pic.twitter.com/VEOHaAATYl
— MasonMBB #AJWeek (@MasonMBB) July 6, 2017
Additional information on Deontae Hawkins
Deontae Hawkins also told me that he currently has no visits pending. Illinois State grad transfer is eligible immediately next season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 6, 2017
Best of luck to these former MTSU players!
Three Raiders are looking to impress in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League starting tomorrow!
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) July 6, 2017
Story: https://t.co/UsNxbNBBGH pic.twitter.com/NGteFlzHax
Kentucky’s non-conference schedule is a dream come true for me.
ETSU hoops to face Kentucky in Rupp Arena Nov. 17 https://t.co/Bd9AAMxwuv
— Steve Forbes (@ForbesETSUhoops) July 6, 2017
This former Gonzaga big man is killing it
Karnowski closes summer league with strong 20-point effort in Orlando's loss to his former team Charlotte pic.twitter.com/6Surt8turn
— Jim Meehan (@SRJimm) July 6, 2017
Recruiting News
2018 Madison (SD) F Aaron Fiegen has committed to South Dakota State. (HT @ny2lasports) @aaronfiegen34 https://t.co/8vG2YWJZ8w
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) July 7, 2017
Blessed To Say I've Committed To Stephen F. Austin University ⛏ pic.twitter.com/YOrYzGaYnY
— TTG.Mitch (@_Mitch00) July 6, 2017
Former Illinois State/BC commit F Deontae Hawkins (RS JR) reopened his recruitment. Eligible immediately. (HT @WZND) https://t.co/Pg7ZD7A1E0
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) July 6, 2017
Caldwell has decided not to transfer and will remain at Maryland Eastern Shore. https://t.co/0u0OS7lc26
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) July 6, 2017
2019 Garner-Hayfield (IA) F James Betz has committed to Northern Iowa. @jamesbetz34 https://t.co/HVUWApF3wh
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) July 6, 2017