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Last year around this time, I authored a two-part series that took a look at the mid-major conferences in NCAA basketball that are often not seen by the masses over the course of the college basketball season. It seemed to be popular amongst readers, so I have decided to make this a yearly thing. To switch things up a little for this season, however, I asked my cohort on the FIO NCAA page, Dan Rossi, to join me and offer up his opinions for each conference as well.

So, without further ado, here is the first of a two-part series that will take you inside the 25 mid-major conferences in America.

(NOTE: Standings are as of Completion of Games on Thursday 14 February, 2008)

America East Conference



DR: UMBC has been the cream of the American East's crop this season, and right now, they have to be the favorite to take the conference and go dancing. The road will not be easy, however, as leading scorer Brian Hodges has been out for the past three games. The Retrievers are 3-0 in those games, but two of those three games were decided by four points or less. Do not sleep on UAlbany either. The Great Danes have won the American East each of the past two years and almost rallied back against UMBC in their last meeting. The UAlbany also swept the season series against Vermont, who is second in the conference standings.

DM: While UMBC scores more points than any other team in the conference (75.1), they only rank 5th in points allowed per game (69.1). While it is true that they are the best team in this conference right now, it is defense that wins in March. They should be able to overcome that though, because they played well in big games this year against West Virginia and Ohio St. I would have to agree with Dan on this one. While Hartford, Albany and Vermont are all good teams, they are all too inconsistent and either do not score enough or do not play enough defense to slow down the Retrievers. I believe that UMBC will make their first NCAA Tournament since the field was expanded to 64 teams.

Atlantic 10 Conference



DR: While Xavier has been the most consistent team in this conference, I think that Dayton can come out of its recent funk and win the A-10. The Flyers started the season 14-1 and handed the Pitt Panthers their first loss of the season with an 80-55 win at the end of December. The Flyers also have a win over Louisville and are 3-1 against the Top 25. Yet, Dayton is in the middle of a 2-5 stretch that has dropped them out of the Top 25 and into the middle of the pack in the conference with a 4-5 record. If Dayton can start playing well by A-10 tournament time, then the Flyers should fly into the Dance.

DM: While Xavier is leading right now, and Dayton is one of the top teams in the conference, I am going to have to go with Rhode Island to take the A-10 this year. They score a lot of points, but they rank 11th in the conference in points allowed per game. What I like about them is that they know how to answer. They have not lost back-to-back games this season, and although they lost two of their last three, one loss was an OT heartbreaker at Temple while the other was a two point loss at UMASS - two tough places to play. Their next three games are against Xavier, UMASS, and Saint Joe's, all at home. If they win two out of those three, I think that it will give them confidence to make a run in the A-10 tournament. If they play bad over that stretch, I might have to rethink this pick. Unless they struggle down the stretch and lose in the first round of the A-10 tourney, Rhode Island should be dancing in late March.

Atlantic Sun Conference



DR: The Belmont Bruins are in the middle of a five-game winning streak that has seen them defeat the three times directly below them in the conference standings. The Bruins have won eight of their last nine games and are the only team in the conference to score over 80 ppg as a team. They have been taking care of business at home with an 8-1 record, and have three of their last five remaining games at home. The Bruins might want to work on their defense in those final games, as they are giving up 75.4 ppg, fourth highest in the league.

DM: Although Jacksonville and East Tennessee are making respectable showings in the conference this season, there is no doubt that Belmont is the class of the conference. They suffered two letdowns to Campbell and Kennesaw St. early in the Atlantic Sun season, but have defeated their opponents by an average of 11.1 ppg since their last loss on January 24. Belmont will represent this conference in the Big Dance.

Big Sky Conference



DR: Portland State is the hottest team in the conference now and I do not see that changing when tickets to the Dance are punched. They have swept the season series against Northern Arizona, and they have a chance to avenge their loss to Weber State when they face off at home in a few days. PSU is another team that is winning at home, but four of their final seven games are on the road.

DM: Portland St. is hot right now, but Weber St. might be just as good. Weber St.'s record does not look very nice because they have played a tougher out-of-conference schedule than Portland St. (Utah, Illinois, BYU and New Mexico), plus they have defeated Portland St. once this season (the rematch will take place on Saturday). I am going to take a flyer on the Wildcats because this is a team that has big-game experience over the past few seasons. I think that they can win the Big Sky again this year.

Big South Conference



DR: North Carolina-Asheville will go as far as 7'7" Kenny George will take them, and that should be to the first weekend of the NCAA's in March. Though he was posterized by Tyler Hansbrough in early January, George has held his own in the paint, averaging over 13 ppg and almost 8 rebounds. The Bulldogs have won 10 of their last 12 games, one of those losses coming to the then-top ranked Tar Heels.

DM: This conference is a two-horse race... (Read the full article here: Mid-Major Conference Outlook: Part 1)