Mid-Major Basketball

Stetson has an interesting team this year and I think they're being very overlooked. Despite the last 2 seasons being not what they had hoped for, the Hatters have had their highs. Do I think they'll be at the level of that 2024 March Madness team? Not exactly, but I do think it's possible and that they can win a lot of games in an ASUN that will be weaker than recent years. First off, they return Colin Kuhl was 5th in the whole nation in field goal % while averaging 13 PPG, 6 REB, and shooting 37% from 3. 2 other of their bigs are back too in Alex Doyle and Finley Sheridan as they arguably have the best front court depth in the conference. Their guard play is gonna be make or break for them, but they have a lot of versatility in that area with scoring from MARFO Alec Oglesby and playmaking from Daniel MacGregor and FIU transfer Thiago Sutcatzky. I also Mason Fuentes should be one ASUN's best freshmen.

Despite the Golden Flashes losing a lot, you can never bet against Rob Senderoff. Obviously the big addition for this team is Chansey Willis Jr. who was really solid at the Big 10 level. Just an explosive 2 way player that will immediately be in the running for MAC player of the year. Fordham transfer, Christian Henry is also a huge addition to this team as he's another good all around player coming putting up double figures and 5 AST in the 2-bid A-10. Another transfer guard to mention is former ranked recruit who redshirted at Rutgers his freshman year last year in Dorian Jones. That could be a scary 1, 2, and 3 in the starting unit if they decide to go that route. Their big man depth is also tremendous with multiple impactful mid-major transfers highlighted by the addition of Cameron Williams who averaged double figures for Portland out of another high level mid-major conference.

UC Irvine ranks 1st in Defensive Efficiency with a decent gap between 2nd place in Torvik and nearly top 50 in that category in the nation. 42% of their minutes returning helps a lot with that. UC Davis transfer Nils Cooper is a big addition to this team as he was a really good defender and bucket getter for the Aggies this past season, but a downside is he has just never been able figure out that 3 point shot in his career. I don't think this team is as good as the past few years because the offense declines a bit, but will still be a really strong Big West team with the amount of guys they have returning, the talent of their incoming freshmen, and the fact that you can never count out Russ Turner. Olivier Rioux is also on this team making them must watch and is expected to play a big role!

The main highlight of this Southern Miss team is the return of Isaac Taveras who was their second leading scorer last season and will be in the running for Sun Belt player of the year. They also get many huge transfer additions starting with Brandon Weston who didn't play in 2025-26, but the season prior averaged 16 PPG and about 5 REB for Tennessee State. Jalyke Gaines-Watts is another pickup from Hampton who averaged double figures and 3 AST in the CAA. I think out of all of their transfers 2 6'8" forwards stick out the most. Those being Cameron Wallace who averaged 12.7 PPG 7 REB for Little Rock and Mike Montano who averaged a whopping 29 PPG and 12 REB in limited games for Frostburg State. Oh, and add about 5 AST and 2 STL to those already crazy explosive numbers. Aside from their additions and returning talent their depth is very solid too. The Golden Eagles currently rank first in Projected Effective Experience in the Sun Belt!

Wright State finished 1st by two games for the regular season in the Horizon League and return 3 key contributors from that team 2 of them being starters. Kellen Pickett was the Horizon League freshman of the year and looks to be the cornerstone of this Raiders team as just a Sophomore. Very talented and versatile big. They also add Green Bay's leading scoring last season from out of the transfer portal in C.J. O'Hara. He was All-Conference third team. Experience could be a concern, but it's not a bad idea to trust those 3 returners along with your only 2 seniors being transfers from some of the best conferences. Tons of upside there. Chadlyn Traylor, freshman Terrance Hayes Jr. and Sam Johnson are amazing as bench pieces as well especially in league like the Horizon.

What a starting 5 and more for the Wildcats this upcoming season. This could be one of the best SWAC teams in years, but obviously there's always gonna be some questions if your whole team consists of new faces. In terms of the whole mid-major landscape on paper, this team is very talented with 4 transfer guards who have put up double figures a night for other mid-majors. Highlighting that group is Koron Davis and Karmello Branch, though Kevin Patton Jr. from New Mexico and Jaylen Jones from Jacksonville I think could be all-conference guys. They have such an underrated forecourt as well with Vuk Boskovic coming over from the WCC and an elite rim protector and 7 footer from Louisiana Tech in Melian Martinez. All these guys I've mentioned so far will be seniors too, so despite no continuity, there's still a lot of collegiate experience on this roster. They rank first in every category on Torvik too for the SWAC that isn't returning minutes!

 Another deep team for sure. Team is highlighted by 2 of the conference's best returners in Quinton Perkins II and Brady Shoulders. At first glance, their transfer class looks average, but listening more into it, there's a lot of promise! 2 high level D2 transfers, 2 transfers who were impactful pieces on the #2 JUCO in the nation last year, and a combination of Keelan Steele, Petras Padegimas, Dimitrije Kovacvic in the front court is absolutely threatening and could eat alive not just SoCon teams, but even other teams in the top 100 if played out to their fullest potential.