With less than 25 days until Selection Sunday, the NCAA Tournament field is beginning to take shape. This is a crucial time for mid-majors to make their mark to earn their golden ticket.
Some programs have already earned their right to continue their season into March. For those programs, their goal is to put the madness in March Madness.
Below, we will look at the programs at the mid-major level that are in position to make a Cinderella run in the Big Dance.
Colorado State Rams
| Current Overall Record | 20-3 |
| ATS | 12-10 |
| KenPom Ranking | 32 |
| Current ESPN Bracketology Seed | 8 |
Before the season, Colorado State was a popular pick to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Fast forward just three months, and the program has lived up to the high expectations. Niko Medved’s group is 20-3 and owns more than an 81% chance to earn an at-large ticket to the Big Dance, according to teamrankings.
Colorado State’s success has been built off its top-15 offensive efficiency ranking. The group shoots over 56% from the field, which ranks ninth nationally. The Rams have been equally as efficient shooting from the perimeter, hitting 37% from 3.
The Rams are led by a dynamic duo in guard Isaiah Stevens and unorthodox big man David Roddy.
Stevens is putting up 15 points a game while dishing out 4.9 assists per game, which ranks fourth in the Mountain West.
David Roddy is a 6-foot-6, 255-pound center who has put the Colorado State basketball program on the map over the last three seasons. Roddy is built like a defensive lineman, but has an incredible motor coupled with a high-level basketball IQ.
He’s putting up nearly 20 points a game this season and is shooting 58% from the field and 47% from deep.
Roddy has fantastic touch, and his ability to guard opposing centers enables mismatches on the other end of the floor.
Colorado State led by 20 with 10:15 remaining.
San Diego State came all the way back to take its first lead in the closing seconds.
David Roddy closes it out.
pic.twitter.com/H9NcthmBk7— Heat Check CBB (@HeatCheckCBB) February 5, 2022
With Stevens and Roddy leading the charge, Colorado State is a program no opponent will want to see come Selection Sunday.
Davidson Wildcats
| Current Overall Record | 21-4 |
| ATS | 14-10 |
| KenPom Ranking | 67 |
| Current ESPN Bracketology Seed | 12 |
Davidson caught the eyes of the nation after its 15-game win streak, which included a victory over Alabama. The Wildcats own a 20-4 record after dropping two of their first three games to open the season.
The key to the Wildcats' success has been their electric offense. Davidson ranks in the top 10 in terms of offensive efficiency, and has hit 38% of their 3-point attempts on the year.
Any team that can light it up from 3-point territory is dangerous come tournament time.
That makes Davidson one of the scariest first-round matchups for any program, as its led by four snipers. Each of the four averages over a dozen points per game and connects on over 36% from deep.
| Player | PPG | 3PTA | 3PT% |
| Foster Loyer | 16.2 | 138 | 44% |
| Hyunjung Lee | 15.6 | 148 | 36% |
| Luka Brajkovic | 15.2 | 57 | 39% |
| Michael Jones | 12.3 | 116 | 44% |
To keep all the perimeter threats on the court together, the Wildcats have sacrificed on the defensive end. Davidson ranks outside the top 200 in defensive efficiency rating, and allows over 50% shooting from the field.
The lack of defensive pressure will ultimately doom Davidson in the tournament. But that’s not to say the Wildcats can’t make a run to the Sweet 16.
Montana State Bobcats
| Current Overall Record | 20-5 |
| ATS | 12-10-1 |
| KenPom Ranking | 137 |
| Current ESPN Bracketology Seed | 14 (AQ) |
Montana State opened the season 1-3 before ripping off 21 of its last 23 games, including its last 11. It’s just the second time in the program's history that it has started out 20-5.
The recent surge has jumped Montana State to the 17th spot on the CollegeInsiders Mid-Major Top-25.
The program lost to Eastern Washington in the conference tournament championship last season. It will need to win the Big Sky championship for any hope of hearing its name called on Selection Sunday for the first time since 1996.
Montana State starts three seniors from a team that just narrowly missed a berth last season.
The offense is a well-balanced group, with all five starters averaging between nine and 13 points per game. The group has been lights out with its perimeter shooting, hitting 38% on the season, which ranks 15th nationally.
6-foot-8 freshman guard Tyler Patterson has proven to be a huge addition in the offseason. Patterson has converted on 41% of his 135 3-point attempts this season, and has given the team another outside shooting threat.
The program has faced only one Power-Five opponent in the Colorado Buffaloes. The Bobcats took them to the wire, losing by four in overtime, though.
Winning the Big Sky Tournament will be no easy feat. There are half a dozen teams all clawing at the top of the conference standings, but it’s Montana State that holds the No. 1 seed — at the moment.
I will look to continue backing Montana State down the stretch, and throughout the conference tournament. And if the Bobcats can continue their win streak into the NCAA Tournament, Power-Five programs best be on notice.
