NCAA Basketball: Top 10 mid-majors from first month of 2018-19 season
5. Furman Paladins 8-0
Entering the season Furman was not likely to be seen on a list like this, but one month into the year they have certainly earned their spot. The Paladins are nationally ranked (No. 25) for the first time and 35-year old head coach Bob Richey has the Paladins playing well in his second full season. The SoCon member won 23 games last season and is 8-0 this season and they are on this list thanks to two wins, but not just any wins, wins over two Final Four teams eight days apart. On Nov. 9 they knocked off Loyola 60-58 and on Nov. 17 they went into Philadelphia and defeated the defending national champion Villanova 76-68 in overtime.
Junior guard Jordan Lyons is the Paladins’ leading scorer at 21.1 per game and he made headlines earlier this year when he scored 54 and tied an NCAA record with 15 three-pointers in a win over North Greenville. Senior forward Matt Rafferty, at 6-8 is 2nd on the team in scoring with 18.8 while leading the team in rebounding (9.5), assists (4.4), and steals (1.8) while shooting a scorching 62.8% from the field. Furman will have another chance to show their chops against tough competition when they face LSU in their final non-conference game.