NCAA Basketball: Revisiting preseason top 15 mid-majors for 2019-20

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 28: Jordan Schakel #20, Yanni Wetzell #5 and KJ Feagin #10 of the San Diego State Aztecs celebrate after teammate Joel Mensah (not pictured) #35 dunked against the Creighton Bluejays during the 2019 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 28, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aztecs defeated the Bluejays 83-52. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Taking a look back at Busting Brackets’ own preseason top-15 mid-majors a month (and a day) into the 2019-20 NCAA Basketball season

During the summer, Busting Brackets contributors came together and created a list of some of the top mid-major NCAA Basketball teams going into the new season. Each contributor took the time to go through a plethora of information for each college, eventually deciding on their individual “mid-major top 25” poll. Each of the contributor’s lists was then compiled together into a shorter “preseason top 15 mid-major” list.

Our staff has collectively compiled a preseason list of the top mid-majors this season.

1. Gonzaga
2. Utah State
3. VCU
4. SMC
5. Davidson
6. New Mexico State
7. Dayton
8. Harvard
9. Vermont
10. BYU
11. WKU
12. ETSU
13. Missouri State
14. San Diego State
15. UTEP

Do you agree?
— Busting Brackets (@BustingBrackets) November 5, 2019

It’s only been a month since the start of the college basketball season, yet so much has already happened. Some teams have impressed in their first couple of games, some have disappointed, and there certainly hasn’t been a shortage of surprises. In this slide show, I will take a look back at the teams in our preseason mid-major poll and see where they stand 32 days into the 2019-20 season. This article will be completed at the end of Thursday’s (December 6th) games.

*Records have been updated via editing through Dec. 7 games

#15 UTEP (5-1)

Key wins

11/12 vs. New Mexico St. 65-50
11/19 vs. New Mexico 66-63

Losses

12/3 @ New Mexico St. 56-59

Top Performer: Bryson Williams: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 73.3 FG%

UTEP is making an early case for being one of the most dangerous mid-majors in the country. Early statement wins over New Mexico St. in convincing fashion, and New Mexico solidifies the Miners as a team that could challenge the top teams in not only the C-USA, but Mid-major basketball. With a starting lineup stacked with transfers, they look to be meshing together pretty quickly. The inside presence of Efe Odigie and Bryson Williams looks like it will be a problem, as they have had no problem rebounding so far.

The preseason brought a lot of optimism to El Paso. Multiple high-level transfers were set to come in and make them contenders in the C-USA. It seems like they are coming together a little earlier than expected, but despite their win against a depleted New Mexico St. team, it may be too early to say. The X-factor will be the play of rising sophomore, Jordan Lathon (7.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG), who has size for a mid-major guard at 6’4.

#14 San Diego State (9-0)

Key Wins

11/9 at. BYU 76-71
11/28 vs. Creighton 83-52
11/29 vs. Iowa 83-73

Top Performer: Malachi Flynn: 16.9 PPG, 3 RPG, 5.4 APG

San Diego State is the biggest threat to Utah State in the Mountain West Conference. Coming into the season, the Aztecs had some questions about how all the new faces will fit into the lineup. Through the first month of play, it looks like it’s working out pretty well. They have already picked up big non-conference resume builders, thanks to a close win AT BYU and two neutral-site victories over Creighton and Iowa. It looks like if they can avoid a slip up against San Jose St. they will find their name in the national top-25 come Monday.

At the season’s start, San Diego State looked like they would rely heavily on the incoming transfer duo of KJ Feagin (Santa Clara) and Malachi Flynn (Washington State). While that still may be the case down the stretch, junior guard Jordan Schakel will be the X-factor for the Aztecs this season. His promising start (50% 3PT) has his fans with high hopes that he can be the third backcourt piece for San Diego State this season. Match this backcourt with a frontcourt of Vandy transfer Yanni Wetzell (6.2 RPG) and rising sophomore Nathan Mensah (7.0 RPG) and the Aggies might have to watch their back in the MWC.

#13 Missouri State (5-5)

Key Wins

12/3 vs. Murray St. 71-69

Bad Losses

11/5 vs. Arkansas Little Rock 66-67

Top Performer: Keandre Cook: 17 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.2 SPG

There was tremendous hype coming into the season about Dana Ford’s club. Ford, like Rodney Terry at UTEP, brought in a numerous amount of high-profile transfers. Unlike UTEP, however, Missouri State looks like they are going to take a little longer to perform. Through their first nine games, it has been an offensive struggle. While watching these games, it looks like their offense still has yet to constantly run smoothly. They rely on a lot of individual moves from their stars which has led to some ugly possessions. In spite of that, the Bears have lost to then ranked 21 Xavier, Miami, and Buffalo by an average of fewer than three points. Their only other loss being AT LSU.

Missouri State goes as Keandre Cook goes. The 6’5 Senior is wired to score and has to continue to do that if he wants his team to turn this season around. The big surprise during the early season has been the play of Gaige Prim. The Junior College transfer is the second-leading scorer for the Bears at 15.2 PPG and has dominated the paint.