NCAA Basketball: Mid-major power rankings midway through 2022-23 season
By Ryan Kay
This is the second top 30 mid-major rankings for the 2022-2023 season going into the new year.
If you did not read the initial power rankings for this season, let’s take an in-depth look and explain which teams are eligible for these rankings and why.
There is well-known NCAA basketball power five conference teams as many college basketball fans are aware of and there are conferences with teams like Gonzaga and BYU from the West Coast Conference, who may have up to four teams qualifying for the NCAA tournament as well as the teams playing in the Big East, Atlantic 10, Mountain West, and American Athletic conferences.
These teams from the non-power five conferences from the conferences listed above are part of a significant size group of teams that are considered high-tier “mid-major” college basketball division one programs like Houston, Villanova, and Creighton.
Prior to explaining and going in-depth about the philosophy of these rankings, let’s take a look at what has transpired from last season to this season. According to the NCAA, “363 Division I teams; 352 will be eligible for the DI men’s basketball tournament and 363 will count in the NET rankings.” Part of this translates to 11 teams not being eligible for the 2023 NCAA tournament.
A particular difference from the power ranking from last season is that certain teams like Loyola Chicago will not be eligible for these mid-major power rankings like they were last season due to them moving to the A-10 conference from the Missouri Valley conference. There are also 248 teams that are eligible to be included in these power rankings in comparison to 236 from last season as well. Now here are some answers to some questions for those unfamiliar with these particular mid-major power rankings.
Answers to certain questions about these mid-major rankings
Why are there only 23 conferences, two independent teams, and most of the West Coast conference in these power rankings?
Why are there 248 eligible teams and 23 conferences plus some other teams in these rankings? Here is why, there are nine higher profile and financially high-generating conferences which are the Big 12, SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC, Big East, AAC, Mountain West, and the Atlantic 10 that are not part of these rankings, and are not considered for these top 30 mid-major power rankings for various and meaningful reasons.
The top reason is that the nine conferences mentioned get more media coverage and attention, have by most accounts, good and quality media rights deals, and are more than certain to get multiple teams from their conference, bids to the NCAA Tournament than the other 23 other conferences that are more than likely to get only one team into the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Are the criteria of the five rankings that have been picked for these power rankings and the total number of points for each team based on those rankings, the only variable to determine these rankings?
No, and with conference play not yet in full swing in this part of the season when many teams have not even played their fourteenth game of the season yet but a huge factor for these power rankings is determined by the five ranking systems that will be explained in these mid-major power rankings. For example, beating a traditional power five conference team on the road carries more weight in these rankings like how Sam Houston went on the road and defeated Oklahoma and Utah in comparison to Murray State defeating Illinois State at home.
A team like North Texas from Conference USA did not defeat any team of significance on the road in non-conference play in comparison. Certain teams not in the second Mid-Major Top 30 ranking do not have a quadrant one win but only some quadrant three victories and a decent amount of quadrant four victories possibly, without even having a quadrant two win on their resume.
Also, the team’s strength of schedule especially in non-conference play matters as well. Teams like Butler and Kent State are in the top 50 in the strength of schedule in the nation currently. Neither team is ranked high in the second installment of these power rankings but their strength of schedule with an upset win later in non-conference play may get them ranked in the Top 15 Mid-Major power rankings for the third power rankings of this season.
Are these ranking subjective and up for debate?
Yes, they are as no power rankings are flawless and perfect and these mid-major power rankings were created on specific chosen criteria that are different from any other college basketball power rankings. Ranking the top 30 mid-major teams are always challenging and open for discussion and debate among fans and those who cover and talk about mid-major basketball programs.
What are the five rankings used in these mid-major power rankings?
The formulas that are used to determine these power rankings within these five systems of rankings are listed below. The teams with the lowest overall point totals will be ranked the highest in these rankings. The rankings are based on all games played through 12/26/22.
Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings
The College Basketball Power Index (BPI)
Sagarin’s College Basketball Ratings
Now we will take a look at the second mid-major power rankings for the 2022-23 season.