Monday so far has been a rough day for some of the best mid-major teams in the country.   First, Monmouth (whose RPI is #47) lost a close game to Iona in the MAAC Championship game.   There is some sad irony because Monmouth was known for the emotion that their bench displayed in major upsets, but it was a technical foul called on a player on the court trash talking that broke a tie late in the game – and Monmouth spent the rest of the game trying to chase down the lead.

Then, despite some amazing heroics to send the game to overtime, Valparaiso (whose RPI is #39) lost to Green Bay.   It would have been easy for the Phoenix to fold after Valparaiso came charging back in regulation – including an improbable baseball pass with 2 second left leading to the tying basket.  But Green Bay came out hot in the overtime and knocked out the Horizon Conference’s regular season champion.

So, now, two of the mid-major’s best need the committee’s help.  Monmouth beat UCLA and Georgetown on the road, and Notre Dame and USC on neutral courts – as well as played a tight game with Dayton.   Valparaiso went on a West Coast road trip where they played Oregon to the wire, and then upset Oregon State on way to a 26-6 record.

And that doesn’t even include the show that the Colonial regular season co-champions put on – as UNC-Wilmington triumped in another overtime game over Hofstra.  If you decided not to watch the games until the big tournaments started playing, you missed some really fun basketball games that really epitomize what March is all about.

6 more days to Selection Sunday!!!!!!