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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JACKSONVILLE, FL – MARCH 21: Nick Muszynski #33 and Dylan Windler #3 of the Belmont Bruins (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – MARCH 21: Nick Muszynski #33 and Dylan Windler #3 of the Belmont Bruins (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

18. Belmont Bruins (25-7, 15-3 OVC)

Despite losing longtime head coach Rick Byrd and best player Nate Sestina to the Kentucky Wildcats, Belmont still remains the top program in the Ohio Valley Conference. A ton of credit goes to elite sophomores Adam Kunkel and Nick Muszynski, who combine to average nearly 32 ppg. The other sophomore Grayson Murphy is one of the top passers in the country, averaging 6.3 apg.

Ever since the Bruins lost back-to-back road games to fellow top teams Murray State and Austin Peay, they’ve won 10 straight games to end the regular season and land the top seed in the conference tournament, which was huge since there was a clear gap between the top three teams and the rest of the OVC.

Related Story. OVC Tournament preview. light

Belmont took care of business in the semifinals against Eastern Kentucky and now will face Murray State, who got past Austin Peay. The traditional juggernauts of the Ohio Valley split their first two battles this season and this looks to be as even a matchup as you can ask for. Both teams made the Big Dance last year but this time, only one can make it. This is a must-watch title game on Sunday.

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