The best mid-majors for 2024-25

Good morning! We’re so close to the season that you can count the days on one hand.

1. The 25 teams who could make noise in March

We’ve spent so much time previewing high-major conference teams that it was time for a Top 25 that didn’t feature all the usual suspects. Here’s who I think the best teams are outside of power conferences plus the A-10, MWC and WCC.

1. Grand Canyon (Last season: 30-5)

This shouldn’t be a shocker. The Lopes finally won an NCAA tourney game last year, beating St Mary’s 75-66, but their sights are set higher this season. The roster features a ton of firepower with WAC POY (and possible NBA Draft selection) Tyon Grant-Foster, Ray Harrison and Collin Moore, plus TCU transfer JaKobe Coles (10.2 ppg). They will be the hunted team every night in the WAC, but if there’s a team that could be a Top 25 mainstay this season, it’s Grand Canyon.

2. Princeton (Last season: 24-5)

Princeton boasts the Ivy League’s two best players with standout guard Xaivian Lee and reigning POY Caden Pierce. If the defense improves — the offense was one of the 30 most efficient in the sport last season — the Tigers could be the top team on this list.

3. McNeese State (Last season: 30-4)

Will Wade is operating this Southland program like a power conference upstart. The Cowboys return three double digit scorers (Christian Shumate, DJ Richards, Javohn Garcia) and made some huge portal moves in high-major caliber players in Sincere Parker (Saint Louis), Joe Charles (Louisiana), Quadir Copeland (Syracuse) and Brandon Murray (Ole Miss). Having more scoring options should allow Wade to push the tempo a bit more than last year.

4. High Point (Last season: 27-9)

Alan Huss won the Big South regular-season title in his first season before taking a rough loss in the Big South tournament to the eventual champions, Longwood. Huss returns six key cogs from a season ago. Kezza Giffa is the Big South preseason POY, along with All-League options Kimani Hamilton and 7-footer Juslin Bodo Bodo. The transfers, namely Chase Johnston (North Florida), Terry Anderson (Lamar) and former national champion Bobby Pettiford (East Carolina) should play key roles.

5. Bradley (Last season: 23-12)

Although the Valley appears “down” with the Drake and Indiana State in coaching transitions, Bradley is a constant. The Braves return guard Duke Deen and defensive stalwart Darius Hannah. They also brought back Zek Montgomery, who spent last year at Rhode Island and should be the Braves second scoring option behind Deen. Brian Wardle’s won at least 20 games in five of the last seven seasons and should do so again.

6. Arkansas State (Last season: 20-17)

Bryan Hodgson quickly turned things in Jonesboro. The Red Wolves made the Sun Belt 2024 title game, and is the favorite in Hodgson’s second season. If Arkansas State can win the league, a big reason why is Kobe Julien, the preseason conference POY and 6-10 big Izaiyah Nelson.

7. UC Irvine (Last season: 24-10)

The Anteaters just win under Russ Turner. That won’t change with four starters — Justin Hohn, Devin Tillis, Andre Henry and Bent Leuchten — returning. If Hohn can handle lead0-guard duties, there shouldn’t be a drop-off here.

8. Ohio: (Last season: 20-13)

I LOVE the MAC. I also love great guard play; and the Bobcats have the MAC’s best guard corps — Shareef Mitchell, plus budding star AJ Brown and newcomer Jackson Paveletzke. That trio could easily combine for 45-50 ppg. If we flipped ahead to January, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Bobcats had a top 50 offense. Every starter can shoot, and each of the guards can make plays or facilitate. This could be the league’s best team.

9. Samford (Last season: 29-6)

After making the NCAA tourney last season, coach Bucky McMillan will try for a return with a largely different roster. Gone are Achor Achor, Jermaine Marshall and AJ Staton-McCray. In are potential SOCON POY candidate Collin Holloway (12.8 ppg at Tulane), sharpshooter Trey Fort (5 ppg at Miss. State) and experienced guard Julian Brown (10 ppg at Wagner). The most important returning player is floor general Rylan Jones. He’ll continue to setup the offense with nice pieces to feed.

10. Vermont (Last season: 28-7)

Vermont’s won a share of the AmEast title in eight consecutive seasons, with five NCAA Tournaments appearances in that span. The Catamounts don’t have a star like Anthony Lamb or Ryan Davis, the real star is coach John Becker. He finds the best way to utilize his roster and make guys a star in their own roles. Five players who averaged 7+ ppg return, and forward Shy Odom will be a key facilitator.

11. Purdue Fort Wayne (Last season: 23-13)

Look, sometimes I make mistakes. But I’ve never been more wrong than Fort Wayne last season. Is this an overcorrection on the Mastadons? Maybe. But they return Rasheed Bello, Quentin Morton-Robertson and Jalen Jackson, who combined for around 45 ppg. This is the favorite in the Horizon.

12. Chattanooga (Last season: 21-12)

The Mocs might earn some national pub against USC on opening night. Even if the Mocs can’t secure the win over USC, it’ll be a great chance for the elite guard tandem of Honor Huff and Trey Bonham. The lingering question — what does Chattanooga get from its interior? — will dictate whether the Mocs challenge Samford in the SOCON.

13. Charleston (Last season: 27-8)

It’s a new era in Charleston with Chris Mack. He retained the second top scorer from last year (Ante Brzvoic) and the top assist getter (CJ Fulton), and made some waves in the portal by adding Derrin Boyd (17 PPG at Lipscomb), AJ Smith (16 ppg at the Citadel), Elijah Jones (8.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg at Green Bay) and Deywilk Tavarez (13 ppg at Delaware State). That group of transfers should complement Fulton and Brzovic and make Charleston the team to beat in CAA.

14. UC Santa Barbara (Last season: 16-15)

The Gauchos never found their stride last season. Things will different this year after a strong summer in the portal. Stephan Swenson (13 ppg, 5 APG at Stetson) and Deuce Turner (16 ppg at San Diego) will make for a good backcourt group next to perimeter marksmen Cole Anderson. The Gauchos’ biggest difference is they have actual shooting in the frontcourt. Each of the incoming forwards — Kenny Pohto, Collin Smith and Max Murrell can all hit 3s.

15. Yale (Last season: 23-10)

The Bulldogs won an NCAA Tournament game over Auburn last season, but Danny Wolf, August Mahoney and Matt Knowling departed. It’s not all bad. Point guard Bez Mbeng and sharpshooter John Poulakidis return, but the rest of the roster is filled with unknowns. I have faith in Mbeng and Poulakidis keeping the Bulldogs in the Ivy hunt.

16. UC San Diego (Last season: 21-12)

The Tritons are no longer a transitional team. And now, coach Eric Olen has a team capable of making the Big Dance in their first chance. The trio of Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, Tyler McGhie and Hayden Gray is ideal for UCSD’s high octane offense. It just needed some bigs, which are D-II transfers, Nordin Kapic, Milos Vicentic and Maximo Milovich.

17. Toledo (Last season: 20-12)

The Rockets lost three starting guards to high-major programs, but it’s a next man up situation! Javan Simmons and Sonny Wilson could be All-League first team candidates, while intra-conference transfers Seth Hubbard and Isaiah Adams have experience and playmaking pop.

18. Murray State (Last season: 12-20)

The Racers are back. Returning guard JaCobi Woods and forward Nick Ellington are good, and the transfer class is awesome. They brought in Kylen Milton (19 ppg at Arkansas Pine Bluff), Terence Harcum (12 ppg at App State), and former top-100 recruit KyeRon Lindsay. Milton and Wood provide scoring pop, while Harcum and Lindsey can defend.

19. James Madison (Last season: 32-4)

This is talented new-look roster and a superb coach. Preston Spradlin won plenty during his days at Morehead State, and brought a pair of former Eagles, Mark Freeman and Eddie Ricks, with him. The Dukes have a ton of guards, so it’ll be interesting to see which ones earn Spradlin’s trust.

20. Wofford (Last season: 17-15)

The Terriers return eight scorers, the most notable of whom is conference POY contender Corey Tripp. He could average 20 ppg if he shots better than 27% from 3. I’m banking on the combination of talent and continuity here.

21. Kent State (Last season: 17-17)

Kent State might not have a star, but it has a lot of good pieces. The grouping of VonCameron Davis and Jalen Sullinger (who could redshirt) headline the returners, but I’m most excited about the trio of Cian Medley (Saint Louis) Marquis Barnett (14 ppg at Presbyterian) and Morgan Safford (15 ppg at Miami (OH). It’s a team where any of those players could lead Kent State in scoring on any night.

22. Lipscomb (Last season: 20-12)

The Bison were snakebitten by injuries last season. Jacob Ognacevic missed the entire year, but the good news is he’s back and healthy. The trio of Ognacevic, Will Pruitt and Joe Anderson is enough to give the Bison the nod as ASUN favorites.

23. Louisiana Tech (Last season: 22-10)

The Bulldogs have a great shot to win Conference USA because big man Daniel Batcho is back and might be the league POY. Louisiana Tech needs more consistent guard play, something it lacked a season ago. Amaree Abram is a high upside guard scoring piece coming off a down sophomore year at Georgia Tech, but averaged 8 ppg at Ole Miss. He’s the key.

24. Kansas City (Last season: 16-16)

The Roos could end Oral Roberts and South Dakota State ruling the Summit League. Marvin Menzies’ squad returns three strong scorers in Summit POY contender Jamar Brown, Anderson Kopp and Cameron Faas. KC focuses on defense, which might be a difference-maker in an offensive-first league like the Summit.

25. UMass Lowell (Last season: 22-10)

The Riverhawks return four double-digit scorers, while adding DePaul transfer Caleb Murphy, who’ll help replace the departed Brayden O’Conner. It’s a solid group, but I don’t know if it can catch Vermont in the AmEast.

2. Virginia loses a likely starter to the portal

After Tony Bennett’s surprising retirement from Virginia earlier this month, its players had up to 30 days to enter their name into the transfer portal. The first one made that call on Tuesday.

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