NCAA Basketball: Which mid-major are poised for a deep run in 2018-19?
Buffalo Bulls
The Bulls finished last season at 27-9 with a Mid-American East division title, a MAC Tournament title, and a first-round upset of tournament favorite Arizona in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Nate Oats returns one of the younger teams in the country at just over an average age of 20. Buffalo likes to get up and down and score. They ranked No. 6 nationally in points at 84.6 per game and were 34th in offensive efficiency at KenPom last season.
With the Bulls up-tempo style, they had nine players average at least 12 minutes per game. They return seven of those players and three of their double-digit scorers, only looking to replace Wes Clark and his 15 points, five assists, and three rebounds. They do return a lot of senior leadership in guards Jeremy Harris and C.J. Massinburg as well as forward Nick Perkins. The triumvirate returns 48.7 points and 18.9 rebounds.
With nearly an entire roster returning from the most successful team in the program’s division one history, Oats’ current recruiting class consists of three players. Four-star 6-foot-5 shooting guard Jeenathan Williams leads the class and point guards Ronaldo Segu and Javion Hamlet will give the Bulls more depth that will continue to play their up-and-down style.