Mid-Major Basketball

What intrigues me about NDSU this year is their added potential from their transfers especially coming off an incredible season. The team may look a little less threatening than last year, but it's hard to not think a 27-8 team from last year would be in a top 100 mid-major heading into next year. They return one big piece in Andy Stefonowicz who was a huge all around player for the Bison. I also expect Carson Smith and Massey to have huge breakout seasons based on what they showed last year. The only thing that could hold them back is experience, but other than that, I believe they have a top 2 portal class in the Summit and according to Torvik, the Bison are first in projected effective talent in the league by a decent margin.

Despite the loss of their longtime head coach Ben Jacobsen and many key players, the panthers still cooked up some nice additions through the transfer portal making their starting 5 look very intriguing. North Dakota transfer Grayson Uelman at the 1 (led UND in scoring last season), Pock as the Panthers best returner at the 2, Tate McCubbin at the 3, and Isaiah Johnson-Arigu at 4 with Ian Smikle at the 5. All well known mid-major talents for the past couple seasons. Only concern is the depth especially at the big man spot which is needed in arguably the best Mid-Major conference. They do have multiple guards that can breakout though, and some underrated freshmen.

Demetrius Lilley and Jeremiah Quigley were Binghamton's top 2 leading scorers last season and guess what...they're BOTH back for their senior season. Lilley only appeared in 11 games last season, but absolutely dominated in that stretch. The Bearcats also return Stephan Snagg and Evan Ashe who redshirted last season, but contributed in the 2024-25 season. They also added in conference transfer KiJan  Robinson over from New Hampshire who averaged double figures for the Wildcats! 

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.