NCAAs shows not much separates mids from majors

	Star guard A.J. Graves and his Butler teammates haven't caught anyone by surprise in their run to the Sweet 16. AP
	MAILBAG Have questions or feedback? E-mail Bill Trocchi. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

One of the themes of this year's NCAA tournament is the lack of upsets, and therefore the lack of Cinderellas. The fact that Butler and Southern Illinois can reach the Sweet 16 and not at least raise some eyebrows is an indication of the increased parity in college basketball and the narrowing of the gap between mid-major and major programs.

No longer are the same top teams landing in the Sweet 16 each season. In fact, can you name how many programs have reached the Sweet 16 in each of the past three years? None. And only four -- Memphis, UCLA, Florida and Georgetown -- have made it two years in a row. So when you consider 28 different programs have reached the Sweet 16 in the past two years (and 39 have made it the past three years), parity is clearly spreading across the hoops landscape.

"North Carolina wins the championship two years ago and gets beat in the second round last year because they lost all those good players," said Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall, whose 11th-seeded Eagles knocked off Notre Dame in the first round before falling to Oregon. "With the landscape of going (to the NBA) early, there's a lot of parity."

Not that Winthrop would pass on an opportunity to sign a one-and-done rather than rely on a senior-dominated team.

"I'd give up three of my scholarship players for (Kevin) Durant," Marshall said.

For the second straight season, not only are there multiple mid-majors in the regional semifinals, but both received at-large bids -- Butler from the Horizon League and Southern Illinois out of the Missouri Valley Conference. In addition, for the second straight year, a February BracketBusters matchup paired two future Sweet 16 teams (Southern Illinois won at Butler this year and George Mason beat Wichita State last year).

"There are a lot of good players out there," Marshall said. "The gap between the mid-majors and the majors is narrowing."

In the second round, Butler took on an athletic Maryland squad and was able to emerge with a 62-59 victory by playing its patented slow-down game. The Bulldogs work the shot clock, then allow their perimeter players -- especially A.J. Graves -- to get in position for open looks. The result can be frustration from players at major programs who are built for speed.

"We've been good at that all year," said Butler forward Brandon Crone. "We don't panic in that situation, and to see it go through the net is very satisfying."

Southern Illinois earned its No. 4 seed and trip to the Sweet 16 with a similar, patient offensive style, but more of an in-your-face defense that has held nine opponents to less than 50 points, including Virginia Tech on Sunday. The Salukis have given up fewer points than any other NCAA tournament team except UCLA and have no plans on letting fast-paced Kansas get up and down the floor on Thursday.

The jerseys will still say Southern Illinois and Butler in the coming days, but because of increasing parity, the "stun" factor is diminished.

Now if they go and knock off either Kansas or Florida, feel free to whip out the glass slippers.