SeanPaulCBB's top-10 mid-major team rankings
I am an avid fan of mid-major hoops and follow every conference in America and the mid-major teams bring some of the most entertaining basketball. Today, I'll rank the ten best mid-major schools in the country and talk about some of my favorite teams to watch. Trust me -- there are plenty of high-level hoops played every night in every conference.
Without further ado, let's rank some hoops teams.
*NOTE: I don't consider BYU, Gonzaga, A10, or Mountain West teams for mid-major rankings.
1.) UAB Blazers
PG: Jordan "Jelly" Walker
SG: Eric Gaines
SF: Ledarrius Brewer
PF: KJ Buffen
C: Trey Jemison
Bench: Ty Brewer, Javian Davis, Rongie Gordon, Tony Toney, Efrem Johnson, Tyler Bertram,
Deparutres: Mike Ertel, Jamal Johnson, Josh LeBlanc, Quan Jackson
Surprise, Suprise! The Blazers take the top-ranking spot with the return of Jelly Walker, KJ Buffen and Trey Jemison from last year's NCAA Tournament team. Walker averaged over 20 points and is one of the best guards around, but adding Eric Gaines from LSU gives UAB one of the best guard duos in the country. The sophomore, Gaines played nearly 30 minutes per game and helped turn LSU from a horrid defensive team to the best in college basketball thanks to elite athleticism and instincts. I have UAB ranked as my top mid-major, but UAB also sits at number 25 in my current national top 25 rankings.
2.) North Texas
PG: Tylor Perry
SG: Rubin Jones
SF: Tyree Eady
PF: Jayden Martinez
C: Abou Ousmane
Bench: Aaron Scott, Matthew Stone, Kai Huntsberry, Rasheed Browne, Bryce Zephir
Departures: Thomas Bell, Mardrez McBride
The Mean Green finished top-80 in KenPom's rankings in three straight seasons and won 25 games last season thanks to elite defensive play and the emergence of Tylor Perry. The conference's sixth-man of the year had a flare for the dramatic, drilling several game-winning shots, and should only improve as a senior. I like transfers Tyree Eady (10.3 points, 5.0 rebounds at North Dakota State) and Jayden Martinez (14.9 points, 5.5 rebounds) to help replace the production from Mardrez McBride and Thomas Bell. UAB takes the narrow edge over North Texas here, but let's get the two-bid CUSA talks going early.
4.) Furman Paladins
PG: Carter Whitt
SG: Mike Bothwell
SF: Marcus Foster
PF: Jalen Slawson
C: Garrett Hien
Bench: Joe Anderson, JP Pegues, Johnny Lawrence, Tyrese Hughes, James Repass, Alex Williams, Davis Molnar, Ben Vanderwal
Departures: Alex Hunter, Conley Garrison
The Paladins hunger to end their ever-elusive NCAA tournament drought has to be bigger than ever after David Jean-Baptiste ended their season in mere seconds. Super seniors Mike Bothwell and Jalen Slawson guide the charge. Slawson averaged 14.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and a block and steal per game. Also, keep an eye on Wake Forest transfer Carter Whitt, who's the likely starting point guard replacing Alex Hunter. A former top-150 recruit, Whitt seldom played but has the makings of a longtime staple in Furman's backcourt. It's Furman's time to shine!
4.) Saint Mary's Gaels
PG: Augustus Marciulionis
SG: Logan Johnson
SF: Alex Ducas
PF: Kyle Bowen
C: Mitchell Saxen
Bench: Quinn Clinton, Mason Forbes, Matthew Van Komen, Leemet Bockler, Aidan Mahaney, Joshua Jefferson, Harry Wessels
Departures: Tommy Kuhse, Mattias Tass, Dan Fotu, Judah Brown, Jabe Mullins
Saint Mary's loses its top-two players, Tommy Kuhse and Mattias Tass; however, Randy Bennett figures out how to win regardless of the roster. The established trio of Logan Johnson, Alex Ducas, and Kyle Bowen all started 34 games and will play pivotal roles in 2022-23. SMC's season hinges on youngsters Augustus Marciulionis and Mitchell Saxen's development in starting spots. Saxen scored seven points, grabbed four rebounds, and blocked three shots in the late-season Gonzaga upset.
Marciulionis has all the talent in the world but struggled scoring-wise and made too many questionable plays to carve out any considerable playing time. Should the young guard struggle, it could lead to Johnson taking over at point guard and putting the Gaels in a challenging situation.
5.) Kent State
PG: Sincere Carry
SG: Giovanni Santiago
SF: Malique Jacobs
PF: Chris Payton
C: Miyrne Thomas
Bench: Ci'Ron Hornbeak, Jalen Sullinger, Brendan Moss, Mike Bekejia, Voncameron Davis, Julius Rollins, Delrecco Gillespie
Departures: Justyn Hamilton, Tervell Beck
Kent State won 12 consecutive games to finish the regular season after starting the season 9-9 with some tough losses, carrying the upward momentum into the MAC tournament. Akron won the title game from the first buzzer to the final buzzer, and Kent State came just short like Kevin Dyson in the 2001 super bowl from making the dance. Returning is Sincere Carry, who averaged 17.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists and claimed the conference player of the year award for his efforts. Also back is elite-defender Malique Jacobs at the wing and sharpshooter Giovanni Santiago running the guard spot next to Carry. I foresee Kent State carrying the positive momentum ahead.
6.) Drake Bulldogs
PG: Roman Penn
SG: DJ Wilkins
SF: Garrett Sturtz
PF: Tucker DeVries
C: Darnell Brodie
Bench: Sardaar Calhoun, Okay Djamgouz, Issa Samake, Bryceson Burns, Conor Enright, Eric Northweather, Nate Ferguson, Will Lovings-Watts
Departures: Tank Hemphill, Tremell Murphy, Jonah Jackson, Ayo Akinwole
Drake won 25 games last year, yet the season seemed disappointing. That's a testament to the Bulldogs' success under Darian DeVries, including an at-large berth in 2020-21. His son, Tucker DeVries emerged as a young star, averaging over 13 points and shooting 34 percent from three on 221 attempts. Drake also returns four other key cogs, including sensational point guard Roman Penn, who's played a crucial role in the team's recent success. With Loyola-Chicago bolting for the Atlantic-10 and Missouri State losing their two top players, it's pretty clearly Drake's league to lose.
7.) Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
PG: Max Abmas
SG: Isaac McBride
SF: Carlos Jurgens
PF: Patrick Mwamba
C: Elijah Lufile
Bench: Kareem Thompson, Nate Clover, Connor Vanover, Trey Phipps. Demari Williams, DeShang Weaver, Sir Isaac Herron
Departures: Francis Lacis
I would consider the 2022-23 Oral Roberts team much deeper than the 2020-21 team, which made the Sweet 16 and came seconds away from the elite eight. Although Max Abmas's efficiency dropped to 42 percent overall and 38.9 percent from three, he still averaged over 22 points and led ORU every night. Without Kevin Obanor in the fold, opposing teams keyed in on Abmas and wouldn't let the Texas native find easy perimeter jumpers. Paul Mills added some size from the transfer portal with the additions of UT-Arlington's Patrick Mwamba (10.0 points, 4.4 rebounds) and Arkansas's Connor Vanover. Vanover didn't play much for Arkansas last season but can drain threes at 7-3, and that'll work in pick & pop situations with Abmas.
Believe it or not: Oral Roberts finished six spots better last year than 2020-21 in KenPom's offensive efficiency metric. The additions of Mwamba and Demari Williams should help turn around the defensive issues that led to ORU's 290th defensive efficiency number.
8.) California Baptist:
PG: Taran Armstrong
SG: Joe Quintana
SF: Tre Armstrong
PF: Riley Battin
C: Timothy Igohefe
Bench; Blondeau Tchoukuiengo, Reed Nottage, Hunter Goodrick, Malik Wade, Juhlaweni Stone, Jackson Harding, Keanu Rasmussen
Departures: Dan Akin, Ty Rowell
I know I'm going against the grain, picking a lesser-known California Baptist over conference staples New Mexico State and Grand Canyon. That's because Taran Armstrong is one of the best point guards around and looks like a future NBA player. A trio of transfers of Joe Quintana (43 percent from three at Loyola Marymount), Timothy Igohefe (5.7 rebounds at Georgetown), and Riley Battin from the portal brings the Lancers to the next level. It's the first year California Baptist can participate in the NCAA or NIT tournaments after finishing the four-year transition from the Division two level, and they're my pick to win the WAC.
9.) Northern Kentucky Norse
PG: Marques Warrick
SG: Bryson Langdon
SF: Sam Vinson
PF: Trevon Faulkner
C: Chris Brandon
Bench: Xavier Rhodes, Imanuel Zorgvol, LJ Wells, Cesar Tchilombo, Isaiah Mason
Departures: Adrien Nelson, Seybian Sims
The Norse looked ready to snag the Horizon league auto-bid to March Madness until Wright State stormed back from down 16 with 11 minutes left to win the conference title. The conference looks different - Cleveland State lost nearly everything, and Wright State lost Tanner Holden and Grant Basile. Do you know who returns five starters? The Northern Kentucky Norse. Keep an eye on guard Marques Warrick, who averaged 16.8 points and shot 36 percent from three as a sophomore. Warrick could morph into a top guard in college basketball if he scores the ball efficiently. The Warrick and Sam Vinson duo will be tough for Horizon league teams to contain with the mix of scoring and playmaking the two provide.
10.) San Francisco Dons
PG: Marcus Williams (Needs waiver)
SG: Khalil Shabazz
SF: Julian Rishwain
PF: Toni Rocak
C: Vova Markovetskyy
Bench: Saba Gigiberia, Tyrell Roberts, Josh Kunen, Zane Meeks, Isaiah Hawthorne, Bryce Batchan Jr, Ndwendo Newbury
Departures: Jamaree Bouyea,
Sure, the Dons lost Jamaree Bouyea, Yauhen Massalski, and HC Todd Golden -- yet the Dons should stay competitive. Khalil Shabazz and Julian Rishawin returning matters, but transfers Marcus Williams, Tyrell Roberts, and Toni Rocak have the talent to make season-changing impacts. While at Wyoming, Williams averaged 14.8 points and 4.3 assists before transferring to Texas A&M. If Chris Gerlufsen unlocks the prior version of Williams, that's a game-changer. San Fran's depth puts them in a spot to win close to 20-games in a year where the WCC doesn't look strong past Gonzaga and SMC.