Mid-majors 2019-20 predictions: What's a mid-major, anyway?

As the countdown continues toward the start of the 2019-20 college basketball season on Nov. 5, ESPN.com's panel of experts is making its predictions. After looking at the Big East, the American and the Pac-12, we continue by looking at the best of the "mid-major" conferences, a term that once again looks like a moving target within the college hoops sphere.

Mid-majors 2019-20 predicted order of finish

Mid-majors 2019-20 superlatives

Player of the Year

Medcalf: Jordan Ford, Saint Mary's
Borzello: Sam Merrill, Utah State
Gasaway: Neemias Queta, Utah State

Newcomer of the Year

Since the first thing many readers are going to do is quibble with our definition of "mid-major," please identify (1) the league above that you think is closest to qualifying for the "high-major" group, (2) the league that you'd put closest to the mid-major relegation line, and (3) the league below our "mid-major" cut line (i.