Jim Larranaga set precedence for mid-majors in the Final Four

They took control of the game with 10-0 run that began with just under six minutes remaining in the game. Michigan State never got closer than six the rest of the way. The Patriots win set up a second-round game against third-seeded North Carolina.

By most measures, George Mason was the first true mid-major to make the Final Four in the 64 team era in the NCAA Tournament. Other teams from mid-major conferences had advanced to the Final Four, but the teams were either traditionally strong teams, led by coaches that elevated their programs for a short time or from a conference that was full of mid-majors.

The Final Four teams that fit the above criteria were Louisville from the now-defunct Metro Conference in 1986 and Conference USA in 2005, Marquette from C-USA in 2003, Utah from the Mountain West in 1998, UMass from the Atlantic Ten in 1996, Cincinnati from the also defunct Great Midwest Conference in 1992, UNLV from the Big West in 1987, 90 and 91 and Memphis State from the Metro in 1985.

UNLV and Louisville in 1986 are the only one of those teams to win National Championships. Utah was the only other team to even advance to a National Championship game.