Small schools ready to end power struggle

GLENDALE, Ariz. — North Carolina is king again. Once again, a traditional power is atop college basketball.

It is how seasons usually end. It is how seasons will almost always end.

Following Gonzaga’s loss in the national championship, 27 straight title winners have come from one of the power five football conferences or the Big East, with UNLV the last outsider to cut down a net.

But the breakthrough could be coming.

The Bulldogs were less than two minutes from capturing the school’s first national championship. If Gordon Hayward’s heave was a bit softer, Butler could have celebrated a national title in 2010.

Even 11-seeds George Mason (2006) and VCU (2011) were just two wins from winning it all.

Is it likely to happen next season? Probably not. In the next five years? It could be more likely than it seems.

No one could have imagined Gonzaga would be in position to win a national title at the start of the century. No one could have envisioned Wichita State as a contender at the start of this decade.

Multiple programs are in position to upset the establishment — and several more just need one magical run.

Here are some teams that could end the string of power conference dominance:

Gonzaga

Obviously. The Zags will take a step back next season, but star guard Nigel Williams-Goss and Johnathan Williams will keep Gonzaga firmly entrenched in the Top 25. Because of Mark Few’s consistently tough non-conference scheduling, the Bulldogs are always in position to earn a high seed in the tournament, and thus, an easier road. Though Gonzaga just reached its first Final Four, it has won at least one tournament game for nine straight years.

Wichita State

As long as Gregg Marshall sticks around — his reported $3.3 million annual salary has him in no rush to leave — the Shockers will always be a threat. In 2013, Wichita State reached the Final Four as a No. 9 seed, and could have returned the next year as an undefeated No. 1 seed, if not for an incredibly talented Kentucky team being placed in its bracket as an eight seed. The Shockers were screwed again this season, and grossly under-seeded, falling just short of upsetting Kentucky in the second round. But, the core of a 31-win team will be back, and a potential move to the AAC could prevent future bad luck in the bracket.

VCU

The Rams have to start over again with new coach Mike Rhoades, but the infrastructure remains in place. Starting with the surprise Final Four run, VCU has reached seven straight tournaments, and now has a brand name — and excellent facilities — to maintain the bar that has been set.

Saint Mary’s

Like Gonzaga, the Gaels are continually underrated because of their location and conference. Coach Randy Bennett has averaged 26.3 wins over the past 10 years, and the Gaels have enough talent to challenge Gonzaga for the West Coast title next season.

SMU

The Mustangs fell in the first round this year, but were a popular sleeper to make a deep run after winning 30 games. SMU has won at least 25 games in each of the past four seasons, and could remain extremely dangerous next year if former Duke forward Semi Ojeleye returns.

BYU

Since arriving in 2005, Dave Rose has led the Cougars to 11 NCAA Tournaments, while winning at least 20 games every year. Being the rare basketball team outside of a power conference to have a successful football program — the last non-power conference team to win college football’s national championship — only helps.

San Diego State

The Aztecs have missed two straight NCAA Tournaments, but made six straight prior to that, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2011 and 2014. During the past 12 years, under former national champion coach Steve Fisher, San Diego State has averaged over 25 wins per season.