Busting Brackets
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Mid-major Basketball power rankings: Dayton, Gonzaga and ETSU rises up

By Tristan Freeman

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: Matt Mitchell #11 of the San Diego State Aztecs steals possession of the ball in the second half against the Utah State Aggies at Viejas Arena on February 01, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: Matt Mitchell #11 of the San Diego State Aztecs steals possession of the ball in the second half against the Utah State Aggies at Viejas Arena on February 01, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images) /
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ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – DECEMBER 14: Jabari Rice #10 of the New Mexico State Aggies (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – DECEMBER 14: Jabari Rice #10 of the New Mexico State Aggies (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

11. New Mexico State Aggies (25-6, 16-0 WAC)

There wasn’t a question as to whether or not New Mexico State would win the conference yet again but if they would lose a game. It looked that way early on, thanks to a number of injuries the team suffered. The biggest one was starting point guard AJ Harris, who has missed all but a couple of games this season. Their best overall player Trevelin Queen missed nearly 10 games, while others have been dinged up as well.

The good news for the Aggies is that their depth, which was considered a strength heading into the season, played out exactly as anticipated. Players such as Jabari Rice, Ivan Aurrecoechea and Johhny McCants have been great sources of offense, while the top-10 scoring defense proved to be too much for the rest of the WAC. It also helped that Grand Canyon, viewed as New Mexico State’s biggest potential foe, had a miserable 2019-20 campaign and finished below .500.

With California Baptist, the second-best team in the conference this season, ineligible to participate in the WAC Tournament and possibly having a bye in the quarterfinals depending on what Chicago State does (would beat them by 30+ if they played anyway) the Aggies have a great shot of making it back to the NCAA Tournament, likely as a 12-13 seed. The next step, of course, would be to finally win the program’s first NCAA Tournament game.

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