Conference play is in full swing, and while several top contenders have begun to separate themselves in the college basketball rankings, the bubble is as unpredictable and contentious as ever. That’s especially the case among mid-majors, many of whom are vying for limited NCAA tournament berths in one or two-bid leagues.
This week’s AP poll saw two new mid-majors cracking the field with several others hovering just outside. Here are the teams who received those votes and where they currently stand.
No. 24 Saint Louis Billikens
Saint Louis has climbed into the rankings for the first time since the 2020-21 season, riding a dominant 11-game winning streak into Atlantic 10 play. During that stretch, the Billikens picked up two rare quad one wins against Santa Clara and VCU, with even more opportunities coming up. The analytics back them up, as Saint Louis sits at No. 22 in the NET and No. 29 in the Ken Pomeroy-ratings.
Much of that success stems from their explosive offense, averaging 89.9 points per game, ranking top 10 nationally in both assists and rebounds per game. The Billikens are outscoring opponents by 20.9 points per game, displaying their utter dominance aside from a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss to Stanford. So far, Saint Louis has taken care of business and is rightfully a top 25 team in the country.
No. 25 Miami (OH) Redhawks
No team in college hoops has sparked more debate than Miami (OH). On one hand, they’re one of only three remaining undefeated teams, boasting a spotless 20-0 record. On the other, those wins include eleven quad four games and three games against Division II opponents. Unsurprisingly, the metrics are skeptical about the RedHawks, placing them at No. 49 in the NET and 90 in KenPom. In a weak MAC conference, it’s likely the RedHawks won’t play a single quad one game this season.
So, while the perfect record is impressive, their opponents are well below the quality of an at-large team. Regardless, the AP voters chose to reward them with a top 25 ranking.
Despite the schedule concerns, though, the RedHawks currently hold both the highest shooting efficiency and effective field goal percentage in the country. They’ve also proven their ability to win tight games, as proven by their back-to-back overtime victories fueled by clutch late-game shots. Regardless, Miami will need to continue to find ways to win to earn respect in March, but they have the makings of a dangerous upset candidate if they make it that far.
George Mason Patriots
Statement wins over VCU and George Washington have vaulted George Mason into the Atlantic 10’s top tier. The Patriots own an impressive 17-1 record on the season, with their sole blemish coming on the road against Virginia Tech. However, much like Miami, their résumé lacks marquee wins, with ten quad four victories propping up the win column. That has limited them to No. 62 in the NET and just No. 74 in KenPom.
Defense is George Mason’s specialty, holding opponents to just 67.3 points per game. While the offensive numbers aren’t overwhelming, it does just enough to complement a disciplined, veteran-led team that forces nearly ten turnovers per contest. The Patriots fit the profile of many Cinderella runs in the past, including their own historic run to the final four in 2006.
Saint Mary’s Gaels
Randy Bennett continues to build the growing culture at Saint Mary’s, replacing all four of their departed starters with returning players rather than transfers. That continuity seems to have paid off, as the Gaels are ranked No. 32 in the NET and No. 33 in KenPom thanks to a demanding schedule. Saint Mary’s boasts quality wins over teams like Virginia Tech and San Francisco, despite suffering two quad one losses against No. 15 Vanderbilt and Santa Clara and a quad two loss to Boise State.
Junior Paulius Murauskas has taken a major step as the lone returning starter, blossoming into one of the top forwards in the country with 19.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The team as a whole has thrived with its strong, physical play, limiting opponents to 66.2 points per game and being one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. The Gaels are consistently a tough team to play against and are on track to secure their fifth straight March Madness appearance.
Utah State Aggies
Utah State dropped from the rankings this week after consecutive losses to Grand Canyon and UNLV, their first defeats in conference play. Even so, they remain the highest- ranked mid-major in both the NET (26) and KenPom (32), largely due to a stronger schedule in the Mountain West.
Junior Mason Falslev has been a catalyst for the Aggies’ success on both ends of the floor, proving to be one of the top contributors in the Mountain West. His play has driven Utah State to rank top 30 in shooting efficiency and top 15 in steals per game. Overall, despite the rough stretch,the Aggies look to be well-positioned to rebound and remain in the at-large conversation.