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

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 3, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego State Aztecs guard Matt Bradley (3) looks on during the second half against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego State Aztecs guard Matt Bradley (3) looks on during the second half against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Virginia Military Institute Keydets center Jake Stephens Michael Thomas Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports
Virginia Military Institute Keydets center Jake Stephens Michael Thomas Shroyer-USA TODAY Sports /

22. Chattanooga Mocs

2021-22 record: 27-8 (14-4 in SoCon)

The Mocs lost a ton of production this offseason after winning 27 games and making the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Lamont Paris went to South Carolina, Conference Player of the Year Malachi Smith transferred to Gonzaga, and the other starters ended up graduating and moving on. Yet the team opted to stay inside the Southern Conference to help rebuild, starting with former VMI head coach Dan Earl to replace Paris.

Two of his best players opted to follow him to Chattanooga. Jake Stephens started 98 games in four years at VMI and is one of the more skilled bigs in NCAA Basketball. The 6’10 big averaged 19.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, and 3.0 apg last season while shooting 55% from the field and 49% from three-point range. Joining him is All-Freshman guard Honor Huff, who averaged 10.0 ppg last season on 37% from deep and is a capable combo guard at the SoCon level.

There are other incoming transfers to help replace all of the lost production. Khristion Courseault averaged 9.5 ppg last season at Houston Baptist, Dalvin White was a four-year starting point guard at USC Upstate, while Jamal Johnson is looking for a bigger role after coming over from UAB. And there are some returning role players that are still leftover on the roster in A.J. Caldwell, KC Lankton, and Grant Ledford. There’s enough depth here to be more than viable in the SoCon for the Mocs, despite the many new faces.

*As of now, the SoCo has made Honor Huff ineligible for the upcoming season after transferring within the league. There’s an appeal but if he’s unable to play this season, the Mocs won’t be a top-25 team.

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