Mid-Major Basketball

Aaron Bradshaw and Arterio Morris alone could be what keeps the Tigers near the top of the OVC and what helped them make the cut in my top 100, but of course I think there is other factors. For one they're riding off their first NCAA tournament appearance of the century and an OVC Championship in a conference that I believe to be is slightly weaker than last year. They also have multiple high upside freshman from last year that they return and add through the portal. If those pieces plus some other additions such as Leyton McGovern can complement their two stars well, they will win a lot.

Another team that doesn't look flashy on paper, but has multiple options that can win them games on any given night and multiple solid returners. Jac Mani and Caleb Blackwell are two notable transfers and could very well be their two best players. Blackwell put up double figures for UTEP and Mani averaged 6 PPG and around 3 REB for Fresno State. Three more transfers load up their size as well those being Trey Harris, JaVar Daniel, and Isaac Harrell. Overall, I believe there are many 1 through 5 lineups with this team that can be threatening with tons of experience as well.

Potentially the most underrated team in low major basketball for next season. A lot of you may think this is a crazy reach for a team that finished last in Southland last season and the teams I leave out of the top 100 and I get it, however I see the vision. The 4 seasons prior to last season the Lions finished near the top half of the league and I believe they have the roster construction to go back to that status once again. Their guard play will be outstanding and is DEEP highlighted by 3 experienced returners that will all be seniors next season and the additions of Tyler Rolison from Nevada and Tybo Bailey from East Carolina. Both were rotational pieces in two of the top 8 conferences in the nation. Adding guys like that is huge for a team in conference that I think will be a lot less loaded than recent years. 

What helped Bellarmine make the cut is the fact that they return 3 starters returning from last year's squad. In a revamped and shortened A-SUN, this team will thrive in conference play because of that. I also except Tucker Tornatta and Jacob Wassler to take big leaps wether it's off the bench or starting. This team has the potential to run very deep as well.

In just their second season at the DI level last season, the Lakers finished 10-8 in the NEC and 17-17 overall making it all the way to the conference title game where they fell to Long Island University. They are looking to finish near the top of the league again under Gary Manchel and a big part of that is the return of their second leading scorer last season, Jake Lemelman. Lemelman averaged 13.9 PPG, 2.5 REB,  3.2 AST, and 1.1 STL as a sophomore. They also added multiple key players in the portal with multiple senior guards but one in particularly goes by the name of Tennessee Rainwater from Le Moyne who is 6'6" and averaged north of double figures and 4 boards a night last season. The Lakers also added and maintained very nice big man depth returning Cameron Johnson and Chris Leman, but also picking up Deraje Agbaosi from Cal State Los Angeles and Bryan Akanmu over from Wagner. Both will be seniors. Overall, it's depth and experience that should win them north of 20 r...

This may come in as a surprise, but I think Alabama A&M is arguably gonna be the best team in the SWAC next season. They return multiple key pieces compared to the rest of the league and the most notable being starting forward James Graham III who averaged double figures. The Bulldogs also return 5 other contributors from last season and 3 of them will be seniors along with Graham III! It doesn't end there though as they also bring in 3 solid JUCO transfers who will contribute right away as well as Old Dominion transfer Stephaun Walker who averaged 7 rebounds for the Monarchs 2 seasons ago and freshman Canisius transfer Javante Edwards. Overall, the Bulldogs have phenomenal and experienced size and are very well rounded to build off of the flashes they showed last season.