NCAA Basketball: Preseason top 25 mid-major power rankings for 2022-23 season

23. New Mexico State Aggies

2021-22 record: 27-7 (13-4 in WAC)

The Aggies have been one of the best mid-major programs in the country for more than a decade and have managed to remain the best team in the WAC, despite what’s become the yearly turnover of most of the roster. They’ll be tested this season more than ever, after losing 10 rotation players from last year’s Round of 32 roster. That includes star wing Teddy Allen, who scored over 30 points to beat UConn in the Big Dance.

The new former power conference starter for New Mexico State is Xavier Pinson, who averaged 9.8 ppg and 4.8 apg as a point guard at LSU but in the year prior, had 13.6 ppg when playing more off-ball at Missouri. The 6’3 veteran guard proved that he can play at the SEC level so there’s no question that he’ll be one of the top players in the WAC and the guy that leads this team.

The rest of the roster is loaded with Junior College transfers, which is a tradition that has worked out great for them. Key names to watch include forward Doctor Bradley (Salt Lake CC), 6’7 wing Deshawndre Washington (Northwest Florida State College), and guard Kyle Feit (Indian River State).

With other D-I transfers such as DaJuan Gordon (Missouri), James Beck (Miami OH), and former All-Big Sky guard/forward Kim Aiken (Arizona), there’s plenty of depth and athleticism for the Aggies this season. There certainly are question marks outside of Pinson but the program gets the benefit of the doubt that a couple of more All-WAC players will emerge this season.