The Mid-Majority: Coffee and Deep Thoughts
January 11, 2010 Jim O'Brien How much of a class act is The Mid-Majority's Damon Lewis? He volunteered to write the intro to his interview with the Blackburn Review. Gary Parrish would never dream of doing something like that.
As a proponent of all things mid-major, Lewis likes to mix pleasure and painDamon Lewis is one of mid-major college basketball's newest voices. He's the Managing Editor of the Horizon League Network (http://www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv), an online portal for anything and everything related to the Horizon League. With hundreds of live games, weekly video segments, interaction through social media and message boards, HLN has it all. He's also the color analyst for the Horizon League's 8-game syndicated television package, which can be found on television networks across the Midwest (Saturdays at 2pm on "The CW" in Dayton) and on ESPN Full Court. His efforts over the past two years resulted in an opportunity to join Kyle Whelliston and contribute to The Mid-Majority this season, where he's helping spread the gospel of mid-major basketball on a national level. We recently caught up with Damon to ask him a few questions about the Flyers and mid-major basketball in general.
O'Brien: There are a lot of people in Dayton that are upset about UD's lack of strength of scheduling year in and year out. Unlike football, basketball schedules (for the most part) are made the year before. Therefore, teams have a good idea of who will be good and who won't. Is Dayton stuck in the middle, where they are not good enough to host top level teams from the major conferences, but too good to go to those teams' gyms? How can Dayton fix this?
Lewis: I think you just about nailed it. Everyone around the nation knows that each game at UD Arena is going to be a very difficult environment for any opponent. But, the Flyers aren't always a slam dunk shoo-in to be a "good loss" for power conference teams should they travel to Dayton and come up short. That kind of uncertainty will send Big 6 teams running for the hills. They have the advantage of playing good opponents consistently during their conference season, so they can pick and choose how tough they want their non-conference schedule to be. Dayton and other mid-majors don't have that luxury, despite the Atlantic 10 being a pretty solid conference compared to the MVC, CAA, WCC, etc..
Honestly, I'd like to see the Flyers play more road games in the non-conference. While I won't pretend to know the inner-workings of Dayton's program, and their philosophy on scheduling, I will say that I see an awful lot of non-conference home games scheduled each and every year. I'm not accusing anyone of anything, but I'd imagine it's gotta be difficult for the athletic administration to pass up guaranteed sellouts and all the money that comes with it. At the same time, knowing it's next-to-impossible to bring in a good major conference opponent to UD Arena, something's gotta be done. I'm not talking about an "anyone, anytime, anywhere" philosophy, but maybe an occasional 2-for-1 wouldn't hurt. Maybe you try to find a regional power that's willing to do a neutral site game, where both teams' fans can easily make the trip. Also, with the current plethora of exempt tournaments, Dayton should be in one every single year. A little flexibility and creativity, and the schedule will improve. Aside from last season, it's been steadily getting better.
O'Brien: Gonzaga, Memphis, Xavier, even maybe Butler (probably a stretch) seem to be perennially respected by both the BCS, the voters, and the selection committee. What sets these teams apart as the power houses of the Mid Majors? What do they all have in common? What advice would you give a mid-major who wants to be on par with programs like those?
Lewis: The reason these teams are perennially respected across the board is simply due to post-season success. Each of these teams have made multiple Sweet 16s in the past decade, and in the case of Xavier and Memphis... multiple Elite 8s (and a Nat'l Final appearance for Memphis). Sustained success in the post-season is the quickest way to sustained respect year-round. Period. Oddly, I feel as though these teams have very little in common. After a run to the Elite 8 in 1999, Gonzaga was hand-picked by the "Worldwide Leader" to be thrust into the national conversation every year. Memphis spent FBS money to go out and get one of the top basketball coaches in the game. Don't forget, that program was awful when John Calipari took over in 2000-01. Xavier and Butler are somewhat alike, parlaying a string of successful coaching hires into a long run of NCAA Tournament appearances and wins.
For Xavier, Pete Gillen's architecture was followed by Skip Prosser, Thad Matta, and Sean Miller. At Butler it was Barry Collier who put it all together, followed by Matta, Todd Lickliter, and currently Brad Stevens. To me, that's the best way to build a program. It's all about finding the right coach who understands the predicament of the mid-major. It's gotta be a guy who's creative enough to recruit good players despite significant monetary disadvantages.
Sometimes that means playing "system ball" to be successful, and recruiting players who will fit a certain style of play. Butler is a good example of that. For years, they won by playing at a turtle's pace, and having four three-point shooters on the floor at all times. Now that they're recruiting at a higher-level (due to the sustained success), the style of play is a product of the talent...not the other way around.
O'Brien: Last year, only 4 mid-major programs (Dayton, Xavier, Butler, and BYU) received at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament. 2003 and 2004, in which mid-tier leagues received 10 and 12 at-large bids respectively, seem a long time ago. Do you feel this is good or bad for college basketball? Observers are quick to point out that George Mason was an at-large bid and made the Final 4 in 2004. However, to play devil's advocate, that George Mason/Florida Final 4 match-up was the lowest TV rating of all time. Is there a middle ground?
Never forget...Lewis: It's really irrelevant and, if anything, pure coincidence that the number has declined each year since 2004. The selection committee looks at teams, and nothing else. Conference affiliation has absolutely nothing to do with the selection process. I'd really encourage everyone to go to The Mid-Majority and read Kyle's in-depth piece about his experience with the NCAA Mock Selection last season. (http://www.midmajority.com/2009/02/mock-selection-2009.php) It's a long read, so strap in. But, it really shows how there is nothing in the selection process that allows for a Major vs. Mid-Major conversation. If fewer mid-majors are getting at-large births, it's because there are fewer "good" mid-majors out there. Or, perhaps the "good" mid-majors are winning their conference tournaments more often, and not getting into the Big Dance via the at-large bid.
O'Brien: Favorite college to visit? Favorite college arena/atmosphere? Favorite tradition?
Lewis: Unfortunately I don't visit as many schools as Kyle does each year. I spend 99% of my time in Horizon League arenas, so I'm partial to Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse. There's just so much history there, and I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. I'll admit though, I really need to get to UD for a game. I've heard so much about it, but never experienced it. Who knows, maybe later this year I'll be able to make it happen. As for traditions, one of my favorites has nothing to do with actual games. I really enjoy the mandatory "open practice" each team is required to have on the day before their first game of the NCAA Tournament. Now, some fans take it for granted because they've been there so many years in a row, but for the fans of teams who are new to the experience, it's awesome. I love watching the fans take pictures during practice, and getting autographs from players as they exit the court. They're so happy just to be there. For the fans, that's what it's all about...enjoying the experience.
O'Brien: Finish this sentence. Dayton will win the National Championship in _________.
Lewis: ...Rudy Flyer's lifetime. Is that optimistic, or pessimistic? You decide...
Reader Comments (12)
I love the mid-majority website. I read it all the time.
I also love their Friday chats, I frequent it.
Blackburn ever think of having a chat one day a week? It would be ridiculous.
Every chat we've ever had devolves into discussions about leggings, hot or nots, etc. I'm sending you out cash this week John. Look for it.
@Johnny: We also don't have enough fans. The chat would be awkwardly silent when we've answered your two legitimate questions, DiSab's uncomfortable joke, printed Roseaux's hilarious diatribe, and then got ripped apart by Secaur. Over under on us requesting naked photos of girlfriends? 20 minutes.
Under
Way under
BTW, O'Brien is sitting courtside for the Fordham game, make sure you come down and have him buy you a beer.
You say over/under of pictures of naked girlfriends like it's a bad thing.
I'll be sitting with my probation officer. Distract him for me.
@ O'B
Are we talking the "I just need him to look away long enough to plunge this shiv into his kidney" kind of distraction or the "I need at least 10 minutes to clear the arena before he notices i'm gone" kind?
I'm actually really glad you did this interview. Damon is awesome, and the Mid-Majority is one of my favorite sites. If you're not up for the 4,000 long word essays that Kyle posts (though they are fantastic) at least make a point to show up for the Friday chats.
Good stuff. I'm glad y'all touched on the struggles in scheduling and how important having a good coach (and history of coaches) is to being a successful mid-major.
I mean it in the "you shiv him and give me enough to get away" kind of thing.
No but seriously. Punch the old man sitting next to me.
@O'Brien: he's not that old...