NCAA Basketball: Top 10 mid-majors from first month of 2018-19 season

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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: CJ Massinburg #5 of the Buffalo Bulls reacts in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

2. Buffalo Bulls 7-0

Like Nevada, Buffalo is nationally ranked and had a memorable victory in the NCAA Tournament, a 21-point win over Arizona. It was thought that the Bulls could carry that momentum into this season, and they have. Nationally ranked for the first time in school history, coach Nate Oats No. 17 Bulls are a senior-laden team that is led by star guard CJ Massinburg and his 18.8 points, 6.2 rebounds. Fellow seniors are Nick Perkins and Jeremy Harris are two of the team’s four double-digit scorers with 26.5 points while also grabbing 13.9 rebounds. Two other key contributors have been guards Davonta Jordan, who leads the team in assists with 3.4 and sophomore Jayvon Graves is 4th on the team in scoring and adds 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, one steal, and even one block per game.

The Bulls’ unblemished record is highlighted by a 99-94 overtime win over then No. 13 West Virginia, they have also knocked off Northeast Conference favorite Saint Francis (PA), Southern Illinois, and a solid San Francisco team to win their side of the Belfast Classic. The Bulls will be tested in December with a game at St. Bonaventure and a second meeting with Southern Illinois before back-to-back games at Syracuse and Marquette.

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