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During the 2006-07 season, Butler and Southern Illinois figured prominently in the national polls all season, and each ended up taking a trip to the Sweet 16. Many were flummoxed as to how either could have succeeded. Butler was tragically undersiz...

Blog | Conversation | January 07, 2009

The heady days of Gonzaga's multiple-year tourney runs and George Mason's Final Four run are past. Mid-major conferences have fallen on hard times the past few years come tourney time. But don't be surprised to see some familiar faces in this year's tourney, writes Kyle Whelliston.

Here is a viewers' guide and breakdown of the BracketBusters matchups this weekend.

Memphis and Butler are pretty much where we expected them to be, but Creighton, Ohio and Gonzaga may be pretenders this season, writes Kyle Whelliston.

Davidson is the leader of the mid-major pack in Kyle Whelliston's preseason list of mid-major teams to watch.

Kyle Whelliston breaks down the Patriot League, MEAC, SWAC, WAC, America East and Big West conference tournaments.

George Mason provided hoops fans with the NCAA run of a generation, but the miracle tale almost ended before it started against Georgia State in the CAA quarterfinals, Kyle Whelliston writes.

What does GMU's Final Four run prove? That mids should get a fair bracket shake and that team ball is in, Kyle Whelliston writes.

Florida flipped the shootings script on George Mason, bringing an abrupt end to the Patriots' run, Kyle Whelliston writes.

Hoosiers have adopted George Mason and what the Patriots have been brewing, Kyle Whelliston writes.

George Mason's run shows you should never count out a mid-major with dodgy defense that's picked to finish fifth in its league, Kyle Whelliston writes.

George Mason handled the bizarro world of the Sweet 16 better than Wichita State and is on to the regional finals, Kyle Whelliston writes.

The mid-majors have had a remarkable year despite extreme monetary disadvantages. Now they need to do it again and again, writes Kyle Whelliston.

George Mason knows there is still work to done, but coach Jim Larranaga and his players are enjoying every minute of the fact that they're still playing basketball.

George Mason was an afterthought in the Washington Regional, but after blowing through half of last year's Final Four teams, the Patriots are returning home for a mid-major showdown.

The Colonial Athletic Association has been passed over, disrespected and often forgotten. But CAA teams just keep on winning.