NCAAB · 1 year ago

Top 10 Mid-Major Teams in College Basketball

David Connelly

Host · Writer

10. Louisiana Tech
The Bulldogs do come in behind McNeese but have a win over the Cowboys last month. They have climbed into the top 85 nationally on KenPom, led by second-year head coach Talvin Hester who is quickly becoming a name to know in college basketball circles. In what's shaping up to be quite a down season for Conference USA, they may be the lone competitor to Liberty for the league's crown.
1. Princeton
It made sense for everyone to expect some regression for Princeton after losing some studs from last year's Sweet 16 team, like Tosan Evbuomwan and Ryan Langborg. Instead, the Tigers are even better than last season. They are currently 51st in KenPom, 40 spots higher than where they finished last season. An NCAA Tournament win may no longer be a hopeful for Princeton but rather an expectation this season.
2. Liberty
The Flames fit a similar mold as Princeton following last season. They were one of the best mid-majors in the country all year thanks to superstar point guard Darius McGhee. His departure meant that head coach Ritchie McKay would have his hands full finding ways to make up for his scoring production, and they've done exactly that. Liberty ripped off four consecutive top 150 KenPom wins away from home. Some recent losses have slowed down the excitement, but we're still all-in on the Flames long-term.
3. James Madison
The lone team within the AP Top 25 among this group, the Dukes pulled off a stunner over Michigan State on the opening night of the season and haven't looked back. They're now 8-0 and are expected to be favored for every game except a road trip to Appalachian State for the remainder of the season. If they can finish up the season with only one or two slip-ups, an at-large bid will be well within the discussion for James Madison.
4. Indiana State
It's hasn't happened often since Larry Bird left campus, but Indiana State is the best team in the state of Indiana this season. The Sycamores are a fun watch, playing at one of the fastest paces in the country and led by point guard Isaiah Swope and big man Robbie Avila. They play off each other, similar to Denver Nuggets duo Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic and are due for some seriously awesome highlights on any given night.
5. Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon is home to one of the best stories in college basketball. Star guard Tyon Grant-Foster is having an incredible start to the season with the Antelopes just two years removed from collapsing twice while playing basketball. After being fully cleared by doctors, he is putting up ridiculous numbers for the 'Lopes, including a 30-point outburst to open the season. Their victory over San Diego State on Tuesday was the first win over a ranked program in school history.
6. UC Irvine
The Anteaters made some early noise this season with a road victory over USC last month, helping them shoot up into the double-digits on KenPom. While they have since dropped three straight contests, they've been in tight road matchups against quality opponents, and KenPom has only docked them five spots in the rankings. We're not going to put too much into the recent skid and expect them to put up a solid fight against New Mexico before Big West play begins.
7. Drake
The Bulldogs are the class of the Missouri Valley, led by MVC Player of the Year Tucker DeVries, who is starting to get some NBA looks. A lone lackluster performance against a talented Stephen F. Austin team has kept them from being undefeated, but this looks like the Drake program that has made two of the previous three NCAA Tournaments.
8. McNeese
Shahada Wells is the name you need to get familiar with on this list. The TCU transfer has found some footing with the Cowboys as their leading scorer, pouring in 18.5 points per game on 55 percent from the floor. McNeese also thrives on taking care of the basketball, boasting the lowest turnover percentage in the entire country this season.
9. Appalachian State
There are few teams more balanced in their offensive attack than Appalachian State. The Mountaineers have eight players scoring seven points or more per game through their first ten contests. Their signature win came at home over Auburn, when they shot a scorching 47 percent from beyond the arc. This team is balanced on both ends of the floor, in how they score, and with who scores. They're a terrifying matchup for anybody.
10. Louisiana Tech
The Bulldogs do come in behind McNeese but have a win over the Cowboys last month. They have climbed into the top 85 nationally on KenPom, led by second-year head coach Talvin Hester who is quickly becoming a name to know in college basketball circles. In what's shaping up to be quite a down season for Conference USA, they may be the lone competitor to Liberty for the league's crown.
1. Princeton
It made sense for everyone to expect some regression for Princeton after losing some studs from last year's Sweet 16 team, like Tosan Evbuomwan and Ryan Langborg. Instead, the Tigers are even better than last season. They are currently 51st in KenPom, 40 spots higher than where they finished last season. An NCAA Tournament win may no longer be a hopeful for Princeton but rather an expectation this season.

Top 10 Mid-Major Teams in College Basketball

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