Busting Brackets
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Mid-major Basketball power rankings: Rhode Island, New Mexico State make moves

By Tristan Freeman

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 11: The Harvard Crimson huddles during the first half of the Men's Ivy League Championship Tournament at The Palestra on March 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 11: The Harvard Crimson huddles during the first half of the Men's Ivy League Championship Tournament at The Palestra on March 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 21: Johnny McCants #35 of the New Mexico State Aggies (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 21: Johnny McCants #35 of the New Mexico State Aggies (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

18. New Mexico State Aggies (18-6, 9-0 in WAC)

Injuries may have limited the overall ceiling for the Aggies but they’re still clearly the best team in the WAC. They showed that this past week, handling both Chicago State and Grand Canyon without issue. New Mexico State still has plenty of depth, led by Terrell Brown, Johnny McCants and Ivan Aurrecoechea.

No matter who is on the court for the Aggies, the top-10 scoring defense still remains too much for the other WAC teams. Cal Baptist is the only other team in the conference with a winning record in league play, and they face off in the regular-season finale. That might be the best shot for a WAC squad to knock off New Mexico State.

17. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (20-3, 11-1 in Southland)

After a somewhat easy opening stretch of games in the Southland, Stephen F. Austin had to face the other top Southland teams (Sam Houston State, Abilene Christian and Nicholls State) in consecutive matchups. The Lumberjacks won all three games to take a commanding three-game lead in the conference standings.

With a NET ranking in the 80’s and not likely to get much higher, Stephen F. Austin will have to win the rest of the way until the tournament title game to have any at-large hopes. But with the Duke win in their back pocket, it’s clear that this is a team higher seeds will want to avoid if they can make e Big Dance.

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