This college basketball season is flying. Selection Sunday will be March 16 and then the madness starts when the First Four tournament begins two days later. When discussing the best mid-major basketball teams, the first team that comes to mind is Gonzaga, which has the second-longest current streak of qualifying for the NCAA tournament, 25 consecutive seasons.
Only Michigan State, with 26 consecutive appearances, has more.
Below is a look at this year’s top mid-major basketball teams. The Kenpom.com ratings which we use, are analytical rankings that literally change day to day. The ratings and statistics are through Feb. 5. For this exercise, we took the highest-rated teams in these ratings.
Here are just a few of the mid-major teams (listed alphabetically) that will be major contenders to be part of March Madness. The Mountain West is the deepest conference and is well represented in this group.
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Best Mid-Major Basketball Teams
BOISE STATE (16-7)
The skinny: The Broncos have been highly competitive in the killer conference, the Mountain West. This is a team with a highly effective offense, which is 42nd in the country in offensive rating, averaging 115.9 points per 100 possessions, according to Kenpom.com.
Kenpom.com rating: 50
Player to watch: Tyson Degenhart, a 6-8 senior, averages 17.7 points and 6.0 rebounds to lead the team in both categories.
Best win: The Broncos beat Saint Mary’s 67-65 in OT on Dec. 14 on a neutral court in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Worst loss: On Nov. 26, Boise State lost 63-61 to Boston College on a neutral court in the Cayman Islands.
Outlook: There are five potential Mountain West contenders for an NCAA berth and Boise State is among them.
GONZAGA (16-7)
The skinny: The Zags have lost several close games to quality opponents. They have the 22nd-best non-conference schedule in the country, according to Kenpom.com.
Kenpom.com rating: 12
Player to Watch: Senior point guard Ryan Nembhard is the NCAA leader in assists (10.0 per game) and is second in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.40) while averaging 11.0 points and shooting .391 from three-point range.
Best win: On opening night, Nov. 4, Gonzaga earned a 101-63 home win over Baylor
Worst loss: A 103-99 home loss to Santa Clara on Jan. 18. (This really isn’t a bad loss, which shows how difficult Gonzaga’s schedule has been).
Outlook: Even though Gonzaga lost three of its first 10 West Coast Conference games, the Zags have been the top-ranked mid-major in the Kenpom.com ratings. If they can turn the tables and begin winning some of the close games, this will be a dangerous team in March.
MEMPHIS (19-4)
The skinny: The Tigers have benefited from playing a difficult schedule. Kenpom.com rates it as the fourth toughest non-league schedule.
Kenpom.com rating: 42
Player to watch: Redshirt sophomore guard PJ Haggerty has exploded in his first year at Memphis after transferring from Tulsa. Haggerty is second in the American Athletic Conference in scoring (21.7 PPG) while shooting .429 from three-point range.
Best win: The Tigers beat UConn, 99-97, in OT on Nov. 25 in Hawaii.
Worst loss: On Jan. 16, Memphis lost an 88-81 AAC game at Temple (which is a talented team).
Outlook: The Tigers have benefited from playing the fourth toughest non-league schedule, according to KenPom.com. Averaging 79 points per game, the Tigers remain the team to beat in the AAC.
NEW MEXICO (19-4)
The skinny: Last year’s Mountain West Tournament winner, the Lobos have been the class of the league this season.
Kenpom.com rating: 39
Player to watch: Donovan Dent, a 6-2 junior, was a second-team All-Mountain West selection last year, and is averaging 19.3 points and 6.4 assists to lead the team in both categories.
Best win: The Lobos beat UCLA 72-64 on Nov. 8 on a neutral court in Henderson, Nevada.
Worst loss: On Dec. 7 the Lobos lost an 89-83 OT home game to New Mexico State.
Outlook: Unless a deep slump occurs, the Lobos should again be NCAA-bound.
SAN DIEGO STATE (15-5)
The skinny: The Aztecs lost to UConn in the national championship game in 2023, and then fell to UConn in last year’s Sweet 16. San Diego State may not be up to the caliber of the previous two teams, but it is still a major contender to earn an NCAA bid.
Kenpom.com rating: 46
Player to watch: Miles Byrd, a 6-7 sophomore, has gone from averaging 4.0 points as a reserve last season to a team-high 13.8 points this season. He is shooting .363 from deep and .857 from the foul line.
Best win: The Aztecs beat Houston, 73-70, in overtime in the third-place game of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas on Nov. 30.
Worst loss: On Jan. 18, the Aztecs lost 76-68 at home to UNLV (which is a solid team in its own right).
Outlook: The Aztecs have played a killer non-league schedule, ranked No. 13 by Kenpom.com. San Diego State has rebuilt well after losing more than 75 percent of its offensive production from last season. The defense will always keep the Aztecs in the game. They have allowed 62.9 points per game, which is 13th nationally.
SAINT MARY’S (20-3)
The skinny: The Gaels have been the class of the West Coast Conference, winning their first 10 conference games.
Kenpom.com rating: 23
Player to watch: Augustas Marciulionis, a 6-4 senior from Lithuania, averages 13.4 points while shooting .366 from deep.
Best win: The Gaels earned a 62-58 home win over Gonzaga on Feb. 1.
Worst loss: On Nov. 29, Saint Mary’s lost 68-64 to Arizona in the championship of the Acrisure Classic in Palm Desert, California.
Outlook: The Gaels appear to be coasting toward this year’s regular season West Coast Conference title. Have they already secured a berth? Unless a total collapse, it appears so and the Gaels could be a dangerous team because of their strong D. They are 21st in defensive rating, allowing 94.6 points per 100 possessions, according to Kenpom.com
UTAH STATE (20-3)
The skinny: Last year’s regular season Mountain West champ and NCAA participant began this year by winning its first 10 games. This is a high-powered offense, ranking 37th nationally in offensive rating, averaging 116.9 points per 100 possessions, according to Kenpom.com.
Kenpom.com rating: 49
Player to watch: Mason Falslev, a 6-3 sophomore, contributes in so many areas. He averages 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.3 steals.
Best win: On Dec. 22, the Aggies won 75-68 at Saint Mary’s.
Worst loss: The Aggies lost 65-62 on Jan. 15 at UNLV.
Outlook: Nothing seems easy for the Aggies, who are 7-1 in Mountain West games decided by six points or fewer. The ability to win close games against quality teams is what should lead to another NCAA berth.
VCU (18-5)
The skinny: The Rams are battling for the Atlantic 10 championship. The record is strong, but there aren’t any major prestige wins. Non-league strength of schedule is 303rd in the country, according to Kenpom.com.
Kenpom.com rating: 35
Player to watch: Max Shulga, a 6-5 senior, who was a first-team All-Atlantic 10 choice last year, averages 15.3 points while shooting .404 from three-point range.
Best win: A 78-62 home victory over St. Louis on Jan. 14.
Worst loss: On Nov. 21 in Charleston, South Carolina, VCU fell 69-66 to what has been a struggling Seton Hall team.
Outlook: This is one of the top defensive teams in the country, which was 12th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 62.7 PPG. That defense should be especially beneficial in March.
