Conference USA Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: Jon Elmore #33 of the Marshall Thundering Herd reacts after a three point basket in the second half against the Wichita State Shockers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 16: C.J. Burks #14 and Jon Elmore #33 of the Marshall Thundering Herd celebrate after defeating the Wichita State Shockers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Middle Tennessee captured the regular season title for Conference USA Basketball last year. Who are the favorites to do so this upcoming season?

Conference USA has always been an upper-tier mid-major league, with last season once again being an example. Throughout the season, there were two teams (Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky) that were serious at-large candidates for the NCAA Tournament.

And had it not been for the Blue Raiders losing to Southern Mississippi in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament, there was a chance they would’ve slid in the field. Instead, it was the Thundering Herd who got the automatic bid, which they turned into a first-round upset of Wichita State thanks to their high-powered offense.

Those top teams along with Old Dominion who leaders clear leaders of Conference USA. There was a solid middle group of teams who had star players which allowed them to win some league games, although none of them were able to sustain any kind of winning streak.

Then there was the bottom of Conference USA, with teams such as Rice, Charlotte, and UTEP unable to survive massive talent losses and struggled to remain competitive. For a couple of them, that led to some coaching changes.

Like all mid-major teams, there were a bunch of roster moves – both from a positive and negative standpoint. Some teams lost players to the transfer market, while others benefitted with an upgrade of talent.

With a good amount of turnover, who should be considered the preseason favorites for Conference USA’s regular season title? And are there any teams expected to take a major leap in the standings? Find out now for the answers.