College Basketball Mid-Major Power Rankings: MVC Stands Tall

10. Akron (14-4)

The Zips stay in at tenth, plugging along to a 6-0 start to conference play. They truly don't have any bad losses, with all their defeats coming to teams within the top 100 of the NET. Akron also has a sneaky good win over Bradley from non-conference play. They are the clear favorite in the MAC, but injuries have derailed them slightly. We'll see if they can get starters Greg Tribble and Nate Johnson back before a loss finally hits their doorstep.

2. Drake (16-3)

The Bulldogs have rebounded well from a tough stretch of losses at the turn of the New Year. They dropped games to UAB and Belmont, powerhouse mid-majors who are on a bit of a down year. It hasn't broken their stride in league play, though, as they sit atop the MVC at 7-1 with a win over top contender Indiana State. Their offense is a marvel, and superstar Tucker DeVries is on an absolute tear, taking home KenPom MVP in three of their previous six games.

3. Indiana State (16-3)

Metrics like KenPom, Bart Torvik, and the NET have Indiana State well ahead of Drake, but we will stick to what's been seen on the court after the Sycamores fell to the Bulldogs two weeks back. They'll get their chance at revenge on February 3rd, but until then, this will be the pecking order if the two keep winning. That being said, Indiana State's offense is a complete nightmare to defend, with the country's highest effective field goal percentage and the 24th-most efficient offense.

4. Grand Canyon (17-2)

The Antelopes finally took a stumble last weekend, seeing their 14-game win streak snapped at the hands of Seattle. Grand Canyon remains the class of the WAC, but it seriously hinders any at-large hopes, with not many valuable opportunities remaining on the schedule. We'll see if they can bounce back in another tricky matchup on the road against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday night.

5. McNeese (17-2)

The Cowboys are starting to feel like a team of destiny. McNeese pulled off an improbable comeback after trailing by 18 in the second half to Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Monday night. They stunned the Islander faithful with a buzzer-beating tip-in from Christian Shumate, a player we have mentioned to watch for his high-flying athleticism in the past. The Pokes have now won 12 straight and are a true contender for a #12 seed in the bracket as things stand.

6. Samford (17-2)

Samford now has the longest active win streak in college basketball, at 17 games and counting, including a 6-0 record in Southern play. They've ousted their biggest contenders in the conference in UNC Greensboro and Western Carolina and are the only team in the league inside KenPom's top 100. Achor Achor is an unbelievable talent and could give a high-major team 25 and 10 come NCAA Tournament time.

7. James Madison (17-2)

After spiking in early November with a win over Michigan State and a 14-0 start to the season, the Dukes continue to slip down the ranks after their losses to Southern Miss and Appalachian State. They are still a true contender within the Sun Belt, but Appalachian State may be close to overtaking them as the conference favorite. It's a must-watch game when these two rematch this weekend.

8. Appalachian State (15-4)

As mentioned, the Mountaineers are hot on James Madison's tail in the metrics, and they have sole possession of first place in the conference. Their stunning win over Auburn continues to improve with age, as the Tigers are a metric darling and possess a top-35 defense in all of college basketball. A grind-it-out, hard-nosed team that scores nearly 60 percent of their points inside the arc, Appalachian State is an exhausting opponent.

9. UC Irvine (13-6)

Irvine dropped a tricky road game to Elijah Pepper and UC Davis over the weekend, but it didn't do much to their metrics. They fall two spots here, but these blips happen throughout conference play, and it mostly stays the same on our projections for the Anteaters moving forward. Their next opponent, Long Beach State, already has a win over Michigan this season and is coming off a solid victory over Hawaii. We'll see how Irvine responds to their most recent defeat.

10. Akron (14-4)

The Zips stay in at tenth, plugging along to a 6-0 start to conference play. They truly don't have any bad losses, with all their defeats coming to teams within the top 100 of the NET. Akron also has a sneaky good win over Bradley from non-conference play. They are the clear favorite in the MAC, but injuries have derailed them slightly. We'll see if they can get starters Greg Tribble and Nate Johnson back before a loss finally hits their doorstep.