[media-credit name=’GREG SCHMITZ/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Somewhere right now, CBS college broadcaster Billy Packer is going absolutely crazy.

After all the proclamations of how much better the major conferences are than the mid-majors and bashing tournament director Craig Littlepage for some of the mid-major tournament bids (i.e., Air Force), Packer's worst nightmare came true: the mid-majors are here, and they're here to stay.

As "Miami" Dave explained in his column earlier this week, the gap in college basketball has begun to close over the years, and it won't be long before a 16-seed team will defeat a one-seed team.

"A 16 is going to beat a one," Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun said. "That gap is closing. Nobody ever thought a 15 could ever beat a two, and it's happened four times. … [The gap is] closing, and we all know that."

But it's not just the 16 seeds' improvements; it's mid-major conferences on a whole.

After all, almost all 16 seeds come from mid-major conferences, but they aren't the only ones making strides in the Big Dance.

A prime example of the progress of mid-major teams: Washington, D.C.'s Sweet 16 match-up between No. 7 Wichita State and No. 11 George Mason Friday.

Anyone who penciled in the Shockers and Patriots on their bracket was most likely looked at with the same look Packer has on his face now — one of sheer astonishment.

This isn't to say the mid-majors haven't gotten any love this year. In actuality, it wouldn't have been much of a shock to have the Shockers in the Sweet 16, considering they weren't the underdogs against Seton Hall in the first round and are a part of everybody's favorite new conference — the Missouri Valley.

All year long, college basketball analysts boasted how tough this mid-major conference was this season, but did anyone expect the MVC to produce results in the tournament?

Certainly not Packer, but, surprise, they produced four tournament teams — two of which are still alive. That's two more than the Big Ten, the conference with the highest RPI in the nation this year.

The fact of the matter is the Missouri Valley Conference has become on par with most major conferences. Its tournament bids, tournament success thus far and season RPI all justify this statement, and soon it could be argued that the MVC actually is a major conference.

But George Mason?

Nobody could've predicted the Patriots would topple two of last year's Final Four teams. Nobody. Especially considering one of their best players — Tony Skinn — was suspended for the first-round game against Michigan State for pulling a Chris Paul and punching an opponent in the groin during the Colonial Conference semi-final game.

Then again, the Colonial Conference isn't bad, either.

It certainly isn't on the same page as the MVC, but there are some quality teams in the conference. UNC-Wilmington also made the conference, and the Hofstra Pride and Old Dominion were serious contenders for bids as well, but settled for the NIT.

While the Wichita State-George Mason game will ensure a mid-major team advances to the Elite Eight, these two teams aren't the only mid-majors creating some March Madness.

Bradley's impeccable run to the Sweet 16 has turned the most heads, as the No. 13 Braves knocked off two potential Final Four picks in No. 4 Kansas and No. 5 Pittsburgh and now set to play the top-seeded Memphis Tigers, a team that has feasted on mid-major teams in the first two rounds by destroying both Oral Roberts and Bucknell, respectively.

But what's stopping Bradley now?

Going into the tournament, Memphis was said to be the weakest No. 1 seed, and Bradley is on a roll.

Not to mention sophomore big man Patrick O'Bryant has become a star with his dominating low-post game versus Pittsburgh.

His performance has already begun to garner NBA talk, as his name has been thrown into pro scouts' first-round draft projections — and he's just a sophomore.

While Bradley is ecstatic to make it to the Sweet 16, it wasn't an easy road.

The Braves had to survive the tough Missouri Valley Conference — yes, survive a mid-major conference schedule — to make it.

BU had to put it together late in the season to solidify its tournament bid, winning seven-straight games before falling to Southern Illinois — another MVC in the NCAA tournament — in the conference tournament.

And now the Bradley Braves are the talk of everybody's busted bracket.

No wonder former Wisconsin Badger DeAaron Williams wanted to transfer there. He knows the mid-majors will soon be the place to be.