NCAA Basketball: Top 25 mid-major teams through non-conference play

19. College of Charleston Cougars (11-2)

Led by a three-headed monster combination, College of Charleston won the Colonial Athletic Association’s conference tournament and nearly upset Auburn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Even without 18 ppg Joe Chealey around, the other two heads have picked up the slack for the Cougars. Grant Riller (22.2 ppg and 4.8 apg) and Jarrell Brantley (20.5 ppg and 8.4 rpg) are ranked second and third respectively in the CAA in points per game and have been the catalysts for the team’s success this season.

College of Charleston has a few impressive wins against the likes of Rhode Island, VCU, and Memphis, with their only losses coming to LSU and Oklahoma State from the Advocare Invitational. It’s not at-large worthy but it’ll give them the inside track to another 13-seed in the Big Dance if they can make it back.

The identity for the Cougars is clear, with both Riller and Brantley leading an eight-man rotation surrounded by role players. Brevin Galloway is the team’s third-leading scorer and top three-point shooter, while senior forward Nick Harris provides the muscle down low with his 6’10 frame. It’s hard to ask for them to do more offensively with the top guys having such high usage, but if they can be solid rebounders and defenders while Riller and Brantley continue to fill up stat sheets, College of Charleston will be at the top of the CAA.