The Atlantic Sun Conference is among the weakest of the 32 Division I conferences.

FORBES: Cinderella Flying High: Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Generating Millions in Future Conference Revenue, University Exposure

Bernard Thompson had 23 points and Sherwood Brown added 17 for FGCU, the Atlantic Sun champion.

NPR: No. 15 Seed Florida Gulf Coast Beats SDSU 81-71

Unlike other Cinderellas, the Atlantic Sun Conference champion didn't slow down the game or hit a whole lot of three-pointers.

WSJ: Florida Gulf Coast: The First 15-Seed in the Sweet 16

For his recruits, one season before entering the NBA. For the Atlantic Sun, one game before bowing out of the Big Dance.

FORBES: Cinderella Flying High: Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Generating Millions in Future Conference Revenue, University Exposure

They won the Atlantic Sun tournament, and had the league's player of the year in Sherwood Brown and defensive player of the year in Bernard Thompson.

NPR: USC Hires FGCU's Enfield As Men's Hoops Coach

"I'm from Orlando, so even being from Florida, a lot of people that I'm close to, they didn't even know where Florida Gulf Coast was or they never heard of it, " said Sherwood Brown, the Atlantic Sun player of the year, who led the Eagles against Georgetown with 24 points.

NPR: Coach Leads Florida Gulf Coast To NCAA Success

Mid-Major, as defined by the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, are schools that play in the following conferences: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Great West, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, WAC, and West Coast.

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Happy hipster crowds at Aproador Beach cheer and applaud nightly as the sun disappears into the glimmering South Atlantic.

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