NCAA Tournament Excitement
With Selection Sunday approaching in just under three weeks, we’re gearing up for the excitement of the NCAA Tournament, which will feature a 68-team bracket. Notably, a substantial portion of the tournament’s participants will emerge from outside the realm of the traditional power conferences — specifically, the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, and SEC. As the regular season for 2025-26 draws to a close, various teams from these mid-major conferences appear poised to challenge higher-seeded opponents and potentially cause upsets during the tournament.
Top Mid-Major Teams
Here’s an updated ranking of the top-performing teams that aren’t part of those five major leagues:
- Gonzaga (27-2): After suffering an unexpected defeat against Portland on February 4, head coach Mark Few has rallied his squad to secure five consecutive victories, winning by an average margin of 17.6 points. Senior Graham Ike has been a standout, posting an impressive average of 25.4 points over his last nine games.
- Miami (Ohio) (27-0): The RedHawks maintain their flawless record with a series of commanding wins, each by at least nine points and averaging 13.8 across the last four contests. Luke Skaljac, stepping into the point guard role after Evan Ipsaro’s injury, has excelled with averages of 16.5 points and 6.3 assists over the last eight games and was recognized as the Player of the Week after leading the team to victory against UMass and Bowling Green.
- Saint Louis (25-2): The Billikens suffered their first loss in the Atlantic 10 after an outstanding 18-game winning streak, which they quickly corrected with a decisive win against VCU. Their offensive strategy remains versatile, marked by different leading scorers across recent games.
- Utah State (23-4): A recent narrow loss to Nevada, where they squandered an eight-point lead, halted their eight-game winning streak. The road ahead is tough, with three challenging matchups left in the regular season against the top teams in the Mountain West standings.
- Saint Mary’s (25-4): The Gaels have showcased a strong defensive effort, allowing just 62 points per game during their current six-game winning streak. They’ll face critical tests in the final week of the season, with matchups against both Gonzaga and Santa Clara at home.
- New Mexico (21-6): The Lobos made headlines by overcoming a 22-point deficit to secure a stunning road victory over Fresno State, marking their fourth straight win away from home.
- Santa Clara (23-6): Enjoying a remarkable stretch, the Broncos have emerged victorious in 14 of their last 16 games, with their only defeats coming against Gonzaga since December. In their most recent outing, Elijah Mahi scored a career-high 30 points in a decisive win over San Francisco.
- Belmont (25-4): The Bruins have made a striking entrance into the top 10 with a formidable record in the Missouri Valley Conference, winning 12 out of their last 13 games. Notably, they excel in both two-point (61.3%) and three-point (40.3%) shooting percentages, ranking them among the best in Division I.
- San Diego State (18-8): Struggling toward the end of the regular season, the Aztecs have faced difficulties, including back-to-back losses, which has increased the pressure on them heading into important matches.
- VCU (21-7): Following a 10-game winning streak, VCU’s loss to Saint Louis emphasized the challenges ahead as they strive for a successful run in the A-10 Tournament, needing a strong performance to secure an at-large bid.
Conclusion
This weekly update reflects the dynamic landscape of mid-major basketball as teams prepare for the impending NCAA Tournament, where surprises and upsets are part of the expected excitement.
