Busting Brackets
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NCAA basketball: 3 thoughts on the latest AP Top 25

By Holden Walter-Warner

DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 27: Cameron Crazies and fans of the Duke Blue Devils taunt Devon Hall
DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 27: Cameron Crazies and fans of the Duke Blue Devils taunt Devon Hall /
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ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 20: Head coach Kermit Davis of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders looks on with Reggie Upshaw
ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 20: Head coach Kermit Davis of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders looks on with Reggie Upshaw /

3. Welcome to the big time

For the first time ever, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders find themselves in the AP Top 25 (at No. 24). Kermit Davis’ team has broken through repeatedly in the NCAA Tournament in recent years, so it’s remarkable it’s taken this long for the AP voters to recognize his squad.

This season, the Conference USA leaders are 22-5, including 14-1 in conference play. Their non-conference losses are all acceptable: Auburn, USC, and Miami count among the defeats, all by two possessions or less.

The next best teams in the conference – Old Dominion and Western Kentucky – suffered two of their four combined conference losses against the Blue Raiders.

Senior forward Nick King is one of the country’s most underrated stars. He’s averaging 21.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, while also shooting just shy of 50% from the floor.

The biggest question facing the Blue Raiders is whether or not expectations will weigh heavily on them. They knocked off Michigan State as a No. 15 seed in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. They knocked off Minnesota at as No. 12 seed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

If their poll position holds (and is respected), they could be a No. 6 or No. 7 seed in March.

Next: Mid-major NCAA Tournament droughts in danger

There are an astounding eight mid-majors in this week’s poll, but Middle Tennessee can officially consider themselves among the elite of the category.