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#TMM9
Having recently completed its 9th season, The Mid-Majority is a community chronicle of the smaller Division I college basketball conferences. Last year, the theme was Team. Six groups of five (plus a fantasy mid-major player) were engaged in friendly Amazing Race-style competition, criss-crossing Hoops Nation to provide awesome college basketball content. Season X (2013-14) will be our final one.

Recent Game Recaps

Epilogue, The Ninth: Only Love Can Break Your Heart

Memories

So We Meet Again

Rte. 139 - End of the Line

Hanging On

A Championship in Pictures

This Time of Year

Dotson Leads Ducks to the Sweet Sixteen

Grizzlies Overwhelmed by Orangemen

Empire

Challenge 11: Final Four Memories

By George, UConn is Dead

Butler and Us

Donning the Black and Gold

Challenge 10: Tourney Memories

The Madness of the Horizon League

The Rare Ivy League Conference Tournament

MAC Madness

Anything Can Happen in the MAAC

Challenge 9: Shock The Neighborhood

A Youthful Surprise

From Worst to First

Peers and Seers

Author Archives Craig Hanford
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S9 March 26, 2013 Game 11 of the Atlantic 10 tournament was the championship game between the league's two best teams. Last month, in its Chaifetz Arena, Saint Louis had defeated VCU handily, keyed by a 21-1 first half run that left little doubt as to the ultimate result. In this rematch at the Barclays Center, th...
S9 March 24, 2013 The UMass Minutemen entered the second A-10 semifinal with a chance to make a strong case for an NCAA tournament bid. Entering this game with a 21-10 overall record, and wins in five of their past six games, a UMass win over VCU might be enough to attract the attention of the selection committee. ...
S9 March 20, 2013 In the A-10 tournament's fourth quarterfinal, the Temple Owls opened up against UMass. Coach Fran Dunphy's team had a fairly good conference season, finishing in a three-way tie for third place, and entering the tournament as the #3 seed due to their win over league champion Saint Louis. During ...
S9 March 19, 2013 The A-10 tournament was into the evening session on the second day before the VCU Rams took to the court. While the Rams were idle up to that point, their fans were certainly not. Throughout the opening round, during which its team had a bye, VCU fans were frequently seen inside the Barclays Cen...
S9 March 17, 2013 Those of us who have followed the Atlantic 10 Conference this season have likely been a bit overbearing about the depth of quality teams in this conference, and perhaps I've been as guilty of that as anyone. However, on Thursday night, when Xavier took the court against Saint Joseph's in a 7-vs-1...
S9 March 17, 2013 The final opening round game of the A-10 tournament featured #6 seed Massachusetts and #11 seed George Washington. While fatigue was starting to set in by this point, I was interested to see a matchup of teams that I'd not previously seen in person. Much like the Richmond-Charlotte game to begin...
S9 March 17, 2013 Butler got its third shot at Saint Louis this season in the A-10 semifinal. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the Billikens were determined to be their "local rival," so that they were the one team that Butler played twice in conference play. Gee, thanks a lot! Saint Louis blasted Butler at their ...
S9 March 16, 2013 Saint Louis University has been the class of the Atlantic-10 Conference this season. They have ridiculous balance and good depth, so while no particular individual may scare you significantly coming into a game, they have six or seven guys who are more than capable of being the star on any given n...
S9 March 16, 2013 Heading into Butler's quarterfinal matchup against LaSalle, I had a relatively high (for me) comfort level about this game. I didn't attribute this to any particular overconfidence on my part, especially since LaSalle had won the prior meeting between the teams, but there's a certain stigma when y...
S9 March 15, 2013 Thursday's initial opening round game between #8 seed Richmond and #9 seed Charlotte seemed to be a fairly routine clash of styles. In the basketball equivalence of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sprat, Richmond would take no inside shots, and Charlotte would take none from outside. Richmond knocked down fou...
S9 March 15, 2013 Can you imagine the excitement that can be generated from a Thursday mid-afternoon game at a neutral site? After sitting through one, I'd give it a less than hearty endorsement. Nevertheless, the schedule dictated that Butler and Dayton would square off here in Brooklyn among a largely empty hou...
S9 March 12, 2013 growth (n.) - development from a lower or simpler form to a higher or more complex form; evolutionIf we are to accept the above as a reasonable definition of the word, then how should we feel about growth? Should we celebrate growth in others or should we resent it? When given an opportunity for...
S9 March 8, 2013 The Horizon League was formed on June 4, 2001, as part of a rebranding strategy by the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. In part, the MCC had become somewhat annoyed by being confused with its nearby little brother, the Mid-Continent Conference, and so its leadership group told themselves that it w...
S9 March 3, 2013 As the end of February approached, we finally reached the first conference home game on the schedule that all Butler fans had circled - the rematch against Saint Louis. The Bulldogs were embarrassed by the Billikens in late January, and this game would allow them the opportunity to avenge that loss...
S9 March 3, 2013 For BracketBuster Saturday, I wasn't too intrigued with any of the matchmaking done to my local teams, so I decided to make a little weekend road trip. The two games that appeared to be most interesting were to be found five to six hours to the south of me; I passed up one last chance to see Nate...
S9 February 25, 2013 I had seen this before from the IPFW Mastodons. In a home game against a top-tier Summit League opponent, the Mastodons get off to an early lead, sustain that lead for a considerable period of time, gradually lose the lead, then fall behind and never get back up on top again. I saw that pattern in...
S9 February 21, 2013 It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fightRisin' up to the challenge of our rivalAnd the last known survivor stalks his prey in the nightAnd he's watchin' us all with the eye of the tigerAt the second media timeout of Butler's home game against Duquesne, with the Bulldogs leading 13-9,...
S9 February 17, 2013 I'm here to make a shameful confession as a Butler fan. I miss the Horizon League.While I do enjoy building potential rivalries with new teams in the Atlantic 10, the current sixteen team league allows for a home-and-home series with only one conference opponent. In some respects, it feels like p...
S9 February 16, 2013 When you don't need to worry, there'll be days like thisWhen no one's in a hurry, there'll be days like thisWhen all the parts of the puzzle start to look like they fitThen I must remember there'll be days like this Van Morrison - Days Like ThisButler returned home after a shaky weekend trip to Ge...
S9 February 15, 2013 After Thursday night's special performance, I decided to make a return trip to IPFW on Saturday night to see the Mastodons host the North Dakota State Bison. Actually, it wasn't quite a return trip, as the Memorial Coliseum (home to The Nate Wolters Show) was booked Saturday with both a high scho...
S9 February 10, 2013 awesome (adj.) - inspiring an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, or fear; causing or inducing awe.Early February always has been the most challenging part of the season for me as an occasional chronicler of Our Game. The freshness of a new season and the intrigue of certain non-confer...
S9 February 10, 2013 After a string of three straight Saturday sellouts at Hinkle Fieldhouse (Gonzaga, Temple, Rhode Island), the Bulldogs hosted St. Bonaventure this past Wednesday night, and attendance at the old barn was at about two-thirds capacity as a result. The resultant relatively low energy level in the bui...
S9 February 4, 2013 I was fortunate enough to have tickets to this week's big game, featuring the two brothers who are following the coaching legacy started by their father, one a veritable coaching lifer, the other a former star player who came into coaching after a high-profile playing career. Yes, I was able to w...
S9 February 3, 2013 January's schedule provided Butler with an unusual opportunity to become almost a temporarily adopted member of the famed Philadelphia Big 5. After a win over Penn at Hinkle on the 2nd, a road win over Saint Joseph's on the 9th, and a road loss at LaSalle on the 23rd that broke the Bulldogs' 13-g...
S9 January 26, 2013 When Nate Wolters is playing within a 150-mile radius of your home, you drop everything and go. - Daniel SpewakAfter confirming that "The Jungle," IUPUI's on-campus home for basketball and volleyball was 115 miles away from my home, I did indeed drop everything and go. As jungles are concerned, ...
S9 January 22, 2013 There was a great deal of excitement this past summer around the Butler community when rumors started to fly that ESPN's College GameDay was considering a visit to Hinkle Fieldhouse for the upcoming basketball season. When it was confirmed that they'd be doing so for the Gonzaga game on January 19,...
S9 January 21, 2013 The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks.In a recent essay, The Hopping Cats captain, Ian McCormick, provided a two paragraph justification for his selection of USC Upstate's Torrey Craig as the second overall pick in the TMM9 fantasy player draft. As a Ballyfest Destiny member who definitel...
S9 January 7, 2013 "If you expect nothing from anybody, you're never disappointed."Sylvia Plath - The Bell Jar In the second of its two post-New Year, pre-Atlantic 10 contests, Butler hosted the Privateers of New Orleans. New Orleans was fresh off a 51-point loss at Mississippi State less than 48 hours before this ...
S9 January 6, 2013 Growing up in Indiana, it was an annual ritual to try to identify, whether by reading magazines or newspapers or by listening to some wise old sage, The Next Great One. The Next Great One referred to the state's next great high school basketball star. While the talents of relative giants and freak...
S9 December 26, 2012 Saturday was "Hoosier Hysteria Day at Hinkle", honoring the legacy of Indiana High School Basketball, particularly those events held at the old fieldhouse. When Butler Fieldhouse was built in 1928, it was partially funded by the Indiana High School Athletic Association to serve as the home site for...
S9 December 14, 2012 Game #9-159: South Dakota Coyotes at Ball State CardinalsDecember 8, 2012 1:00 pmWorthen ArenaBBState Stats/RecapIn a recent essay on this site, I wondered how rivalries were determined, and fretted a bit that there didn't seem to be as many obvious rivalries as there once were. We see some stories...
S9 December 7, 2012 Game #9-132: Miami (Oh.) Redhawks at IPFW MastodonsDecember 1, 2012 7:00 pmGates Sports CenterBBState Stats/RecapSaturday's schedule gave me a good opportunity to attend a Mid-Majority doubleheader, with the nightcap featuring the Miami Red Hawks and the IPFW Mastodons. I was interested to see Miami...
S9 December 5, 2012 Game #9-123: Ball State Cardinals at Butler BulldogsDecember 1, 2012 2:00 pmHinkle FieldhouseBBState Stats/Recap What constitutes a rivalry? Usually two teams need to be in the same general geographic area to fuel a rivalry, and they need to play each other on a regular basis in order to keep it re...
S9 November 30, 2012 Game #9-110: Hanover at Butler BulldogsNovember 27, 2012 7:00 pmHinkle FieldhouseBBState Stats/Recap After returning from a fairly successful trip to the Maui Invitational, Butler hosted Division III foe Hanover College Tuesday night. This matchup was scheduled late in the summer after Butler's rat...
S9 November 30, 2012 Oh, the weather up North is becoming frightful! And, as Mama used to say, most of your body heat escapes from your head. Fight off the effects of Old Man Winter with a gift from the Capital City of Hoops Nation - an IUPUI Adidas Knit Hat, With Tassels.This colorful and stylish hat has long been com...
S9 November 25, 2012 Welcome to The Mid-Majority! You've entered a community of creative individuals who have come together to celebrate the greatest game ever invented. Here at this site, we view the sport of college basketball a bit differently than the rest. Some would say that our focus is too narrow, but our conce...
S9 November 18, 2012 Game #9-048: Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns at Texas Southern TigersNovember 16, 2012 8:00 pmHealth & P.E. ArenaBBState Stats/Recap A business meeting in Houston gave me an opportunity to attend a game far from my Indiana home. Checking the Basketball State maps a couple of weeks in advance, I de...
S9 November 14, 2012 Game #9-030: Elon Phoenix at Butler BulldogsNovember 10, 2012 2:00 pmHinkle FieldhouseBBState Stats/RecapFor me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die. ...
S9 November 3, 2012 In many respects, though it was a full quarter-century before the creation of midmajority.com, the 1978-79 college basketball season would have to be considered the season of the mid-majority. That year's Final Four included three outstanding teams that I believe the Mid-Majority Institute of Basket...
S8 March 25, 2012 Game #8-786: Pittsburgh Panthers at Butler BulldogsMarch 21, 2012 9:00 pmHinkle FieldhouseBBState Stats/RecapThe CBI semi-final provided a rare opportunity for Butler to host to Big East opponent, with the Pittsburgh Panthers visiting Hinkle Fieldhouse. My review of the records indica...
S8 March 18, 2012 Game #8-775: Buffalo Bulls at Oakland Golden GrizzliesMarch 17, 2012 3:00 pmAthletics & Recreation CenterBBState Stats/RecapAfter two consecutive twelve-hour days in front of the TV, I decided that I needed to take a road trip on Saturday and take in another game for the 800 Games Project. After sca...
S8 March 16, 2012 Game #8-762: Delaware Blue Hens at Butler BulldogsMarch 14, 2012 9:00 pmYBBState Stats/Recap When it comes to matters of science, I guess that I am a rather simple man. Whenever I had to fulfill a science requirement in school, I always sought (in vain) the easiest potential course. Biology, Chemis...
S8 March 4, 2012 Game #8-697: Butler Bulldogs vs. Valparaiso CrusadersMarch 3, 2012 8:30 pmValparaiso, INBBState Stats/RecapThe second semi-final of the Horizon League tournament featured the regular season champion Valparaiso Crusaders hosting the Butler Bulldogs. Butler advanced to this round with impressive wins ...
S8 March 4, 2012 Game #8-694: Detroit Titans vs. Cleveland State VikingsMarch 3, 2012 6:00 pmValparaiso, INBBState Stats/Recap The first of Saturday’s semi-final games featured two teams seemingly moving in opposite directions. The Detroit Titans entered with wins in eight of its last nine games, while the Clevelan...
S8 March 3, 2012 Game #8-677: Butler Bulldogs vs. Milwaukee PanthersMarch 2, 2012 8:30 pmValparaiso, INBBState Stats/Recap As has been widely discussed, Butler has had some recent success in the month of March. However, as CBS-proclaimed college basketball "expert" Charles Barkley might say, “Gordon Hayward (or does...
S8 March 3, 2012 Game #8-670: Youngstown State Penguins vs. Detroit TitansMarch 2, 2012 6:00 pmValparaiso, INBBState Stats/Recap The Horizon League tournament entered the quarterfinal round on Friday night, with the first game featuring Detroit against Youngstown State. One of the more controversial aspects of the H...
S8 March 1, 2012 Game #8-650: Wright State Raiders at Butler BulldogsFebruary 28, 2012 7:00 pmHinkle FieldhouseBBState Stats/RecapI entered Hinkle Fieldhouse to find a nearly funeral atmosphere Tuesday night for the first round of the Horizon League tournament, or as it now seems to be known, the Horizon League Tour...
S8 February 24, 2012 Game #8-614: Illinois-Chicago Flames at Butler BulldogsFebruary 21, 2012 7:00 pmHinkle FieldhouseBBState Stats/RecapSenior night can be an evening with a very unusual vibe. For teams like Butler who choose to honor their seniors after the game, there’s a strange pressure throughout the night to avoi...
S8 February 19, 2012 Game #8-589: Indiana State Sycamores at Butler BulldogsFebruary 18, 2012 2:00 pmHinkle FieldhouseBBState Stats/RecapBy April of 2005, my sixteen year-old daughter had nearly completed her first round of college visits. On a whim, I suggested that she visit Butler University before narrowing her lis...
S8 February 12, 2012 Game #8-550: Toledo Rockets at Bowling Green FalconsFebruary 11, 2012 4:00 pmAnderson ArenaBBState Stats/Recap#ALLCAPSDAY gave me motivation to take a little road trip to Bowling Green, Ohio. I had never before been to Bowling Green, and this visit introduced me to the Bowling Green-Toledo rivalry, ...
S8 February 7, 2012 Game #8-528: Miami (Oh.) Redhawks at Ball State CardinalsFebruary 4, 2012 4:00 pmWorthen ArenaBBState Stats/RecapMy recent visit to Ball State allowed me the chance to witness four individuals who have left very prominent marks in the Mid-Majority. One has long ago completed his career, another is n...
S8 December 15, 2011 Game #8-236: Dartmouth Big Green at IPFW MastodonsDecember 13, 2011 7:00 pmGates Sports CenterBBState Stats/RecapWhen I committed to the 800 Games Project, I knew that I’d want to document at least one game of my local mid-major, the IPFW Mastodons. Beginning just their eleventh season in Division I...
S8 December 8, 2011 Game #8-204: Xavier Musketeers at Butler BulldogsDecember 7, 2011 9:00 pmHinkle FieldhouseBBState Stats/RecapTGHT – “The Game Honors Toughness”. This has been one of the core tenets of Brad Stevens’ program at Butler University, and was referenced frequently as the Bulldogs progressed through the NC...
S8 November 16, 2011 Game #8-039: Chattanooga Mocs at Butler BulldogsNovember 15, 2011 7:00 pmHinkle FieldhouseBBState Stats/Recap Twice upon a time, a time not long ago, a team from below the red line made great marches throughout the NCAA Tournament. Those occasions were filled with a number of great moments for Butl...
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