The second installment of the Team power rankings takes us through teams 299-200. The first installment covered teams 365-300. Those are the bottom-of-the-barrel teams that likely won't come anywhere near the tournament. Teams 299-200 include many teams with records closer to .500 overall. Some of them, especially those in the lower mid-majors, will challenge for the NCAA Tournament.
Most of these teams are extremely average, and none of them come from a power conference. Don't forget these teams, especially as the list gets closer to 200, because many of them can beat the bigger schools.
299. Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers- Last Season Ranking: 242
Conference: Metro
Player to know: Wilguens Junior Exacte
The Mount has been the same team over the last 20 years and three coaches. The Mountaineers will play slow, get their three-point shots up, and then play physical defense that forces teams into bad shots. It's an easy system to win in. However, the 2025-2026 team turned the ball over 15 times per night. Fix the turnover issue and the Mount will be just fine.
298. UNC Asheville Bulldogs- Last Season Ranking: 227
Conference: Big South
Head Coach: Mike Morrell (9th season)
Player to know: Jaylon Johnson
Coach Morrell has perfected offense and player development at UNC Asheville. The Bulldogs will have at least two players average at least 15 points per game because that is what Asheville does. The Bulldogs likely won't pose much of a threat to win the Big South but will still finish close to .500 overall.
297. Air Force Falcons- Last Season Ranking: 267
Conference: Mountain West
Head Coach: Joe Crispin (1st season)
The Falcons head into the 2026-2027 season with a 25-game losing streak. The offense was one of the worst in the country; the defense was, too. Air Force desperately needed a new identity and got it with new coach Joe Crispin. Crispin has the entire roster back from the 2025-2026 season. Crispin hopes they can learn to win quickly.
296. Omaha Mavericks- Last Season Ranking: 197
Conference: Summit League
Head Coach: Chris Crutchfield (5th season)
Player to know: Marcus Gillespie
The Mavericks have already reached new heights under coach Crutchfield. Omaha made their first NCAA Tournament, first Summit Championship, and League Title during the 2024-2025 season. Heading into the 2026-2027 season, the Mavericks have another first with their highest-ranked freshman ever in Gillespie. Omaha is close to being a consistent force in the Summit.
295. Siena Saints- Last Season Ranking: 223
Conference: Metro
Head Coach: Nevada Smith (1st season)
Player to know: Pace Prosser
Siena almost beat Duke in the round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament last year. Unfortunately, it was also the last game that former coach Gerry McNamara would coach in Loudonville. The Saints have now brought in Nevada Smith, who has plenty of experience at the Power Conference level and in the G League. In the short term, the team has a ton of freshmen and will be lucky to finish in the top half of the league.
294. Southern Jaguars- Last Season Ranking: 183
Conference: SWAC
Head Coach: Kevin Johnson (4th season)
Player to know: Joseph Hunter
Southern has not made the NCAA Tournament in a while, but they have still been one of the top teams in the SWAC every year. Even with a roster that has a ton of question marks like the one in 2026-2027, it is still okay to give the Jaguars the benefit of the doubt. The program is too good in the SWAC to worry too much about them not being good, at least in that conference.
293. Detroit Mercy Titans- Last Season Ranking: 298
Conference: Horizon League
Head Coach: Mark Montgomery (3rd season)
Player to know: Ayden Carter
Three points separated the Titans from the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Mark Montgomery has Detroit Mercy on the verge of being the next yearly Horizon League tournament team. The Titans retained two key contributors from last year and added a lot of scoring in the transfer portal. The Titans may finally get over the hump this year.
292. South Dakota Coyotes- Last Season Ranking: 300
Conference: Summit League
Head Coach: Eric Peterson (5th season)
Player to know: Melo Sanchez
South Dakota is a lot of fun to watch under head coach Eric Peterson. The offense is full throttle for all 40 minutes. The Coyotes run an efficient offense built on low turnovers and heavy free throws. South Dakota is consistently one of the nation's leaders in free throws per game. That style usually leads to a lot of wins, but when the defense is one of the worst in the country, it usually leads to a .500 record.
291. Georgia Southern Eagles- Last Season Ranking: 279
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Charlie Henry (4th season)
Player to know: Josh Dixon
The Eagles love to shoot threes, as shown by the 1,000-plus threes Georgia Southern made in the 2025-2026 season. Coach Henry is an offensive guru, and he is going to put his guys in positions to score. Stopping other teams from scoring is another story, though. The defense needs to be much better, but the Eagles will win because they will outscore a lot of teams.
290. Saint Peter's Peacocks- Last Season Ranking: 290
Conference: Metro
Head Coach: Bashir Mason (5th season)
Player to know: Bryce Eaton
Three things are true about Peacock basketball, and they remain true no matter the personnel. Saint Peter's will be physical on the defensive end and make opponents work for everything they get. This has become the program's calling card. The offense will be slow-paced and clunky but will do enough to win most of their games. Finally, the Peacocks will finish near the top of the Metro conference every year.
289. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks- Last Season Ranking: 254
Conference: Big Sky
Head Coach: Shane Burcar (8th season)
Player to know: Ryan Abelman
The Lumberjacks were turning the corner under Coach Burcar, but then key players transferred to power-conference programs, leaving Northern Arizona in a true rebuild. Coach Burcar desperately needed more athleticism and better defense in the 2026-2027 season. The transfer portal seems to have solved the athleticism issue. Wait and see on the defense.
288. Alabama State Hornets- Last Season Ranking: 286
Conference: SWAC
Head Coach: Chris Wright (1st season)
Player to know: Paul McMillan IV
The SWAC is wide open, as it is every year, and this year Alabama State, with a new coach, has a loaded SWAC roster that can win both the league regular-season and tournament titles. Coach Wright comes to the Hornets from a very successful tenure at NAIA Langston. He wins a lot and can bring talent to Alabama State. The Hornets might be a good SWAC team for a while.
287. Nicholls State Colonels- Last Season Ranking: 226
Conference: Southland
Head Coach: Darion Brown (1st season)
Player to know: Christian Winborne
Nicholls State is one of the better programs in the Southland every season, but that was under coaches Austin Claunch and Tevon Saddler. Head coach Darion Brown has taken over, and while Brown has done well at his previous stop, the Colonels roster leaves a lot to be desired this year. Nicholls will get back to being the program they have been, but 2026-2027 will be a rebuilding year.
286. Chattanooga Mocs- Last Season Ranking: 110
Conference: Southern
Head Coach: Dan Earl (5th season)
Player to know: Tate Darner
Coach Earl teams have never had a problem scoring points. Chattanooga is going to take and make a ton of threes. The turnovers are low, the ball moves, and the offense is extremely efficient. That won't change no matter the personnel. Chattanooga is a young team with a lot of true freshmen and JUCO transfers. Those teams typically take a while to figure out the defensive end, and that spells disaster.
285. Houston Christian Huskies- Last Season Ranking: 287
Conference: Southland
Head Coach: Craig Doty (3rd season)
Player to know: D’Aundre Samuels
Houston Christian has no history and no expectations; even without that, you would expect them to win sometimes. The 2025-2026 season saw the Huskies win 12 games. The slow-paced offense can't score points, and the defense can't stop anyone. The 2026-2027 roster lacks dominant scoring, and most of it is new. The Huskies won't win much.
284. Fort Wayne Mastodons-Last Season Ranking: 218
Conference: Horizon League
Head Coach: Jon Coffman (13th season)
Player to know: DeAndre Craig
Not to sound like a broken record, but the Mastodons are another team who will go as far as their defense takes them. The defense is never very good, and it has been the reason that Fort Wayne has lost games they should normally win. The elite, heavy three-point-efficient offense is always one of the best in the country. The defense needs to improve for Fort Wayne to make the NCAA Tournament.
283. Idaho State Bengals- Last Season Ranking: 288
Conference: Big Sky
Head Coach: Ryan Looney (8th season)
Player to know: Kenyon DeMuynck
Coach Looney has not had a winning season since the COVID season, and as a result, the Bengals have not been anywhere close to the tournament. That may change this year, at least in terms of winning seasons. Idaho State has the best roster it has had under Coach Looney, and it can make some noise in the Big Sky this year.
282. Marist Red Foxes- Last Season Ranking: 205
Conference: Metro
Head Coach: John Dunne (9th season)
Player to know: Jadin Collins-Roberts
Marist isn't on many casual basketball fans' radar, but they are one of the most consistent teams in the country under Coach Dunne. The Red Foxes are consistently one of the best defensive teams in the country and frustrate opposing offenses by making it hard to score. Marist will go as far as their defense takes them, which may be to the top of the Metro.
281. Norfolk State Spartans- Last Season Ranking: 239
Conference: MEAC
Head Coach: Robert Jones (14th season)
Player to know: Anthony McComb
Norfolk State has become one of the MEAC's premier teams and is consistently one of the league's top teams. The Spartans enter the year as one of the favorites in the MEAC again, largely because they have one of the favorites for conference player of the year. Coach Jones has a loaded roster that can win the league. Another NCAA Tournament for Norfolk State.
280. Mercer Bears- Last Season Ranking: 235
Conference: Southern
Head Coach: Ryan Ridder (3rd season)
Player to know: KJ LaMonte
Coach Ryan Ridder will get Mercer back to the NCAA Tournament sooner rather than later, and last year, with 19 overall wins, was the best season the Bears have had since 2017-2018. The program is trending up, but this season may be a step back. Mercer lost a lot of talent off the 2025-2026 roster and had to replace it with JUCO and Division II players who don't always pan out. Mercer won't be down for long.
279. Southeast Missouri State Redhawks- Last Season Ranking: 249
Conference: Ohio Valley
Head Coach: Brad Korn (7th season)
Player to know: Marqueas Bell
The Redhawks have turned into an Ohio Valley power under head coach Brad Korn. Power may be the wrong word, considering SEMO has made only one NCAA Tournament, but they are a consistent top-of-the-conference performer. The Redhawks won 20 games for the third time in 4 years with smothering defense and efficient offense. No rebuilding year for SEMO as they have a roster built to compete near the top of the Ohio Valley again.
278. Central Michigan Chippewas- Last Season Ranking: 308
Conference: MAC
Head Coach: Andy Bronkema (2nd season)
Player to know: Phat Phat Brooks
Coach Bronkema gets a huge win before year 2 starts, with most of his roster back from 2025-2026, including his star. Most mid-major teams can only dream of having most of their roster back in the NIL era. Central Michigan won only 10 total games last season, but year 2 in the system is when things finally start to click for the returners. The Chippewas should be closer to .500 this year.
277. Cleveland State Vikings- Last Season Ranking: 251
Conference: Horizon League
Head Coach: Rob Summers (2nd season)
Player to know: Obie Bronston Jr.
It will never matter how good the offense is if your team gives up 86 points per night. That was the case for the Vikings last season, when they won only 11 games. The 2026-2027 season might be a long one as well. Cleveland State doesn't have a single player on the roster who earned a minute in the 2025-2026 season, and coach Summers didn't do much to address his defensive issues, at least not on paper.
276. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs- Last Season Ranking: 144
Conference: Conference USA
Head Coach: Talvin Hester (5th season)
Player to know: Ethan Blackmon
Louisiana Tech is a defense-driven team, and the Bulldogs will go as far as the defense takes them. That was proven last season when Louisiana Tech still won 20 games and finished near the top of Conference USA with one of the worst scoring offenses in the country. The 2026-2027 roster has a lot of unknowns, but it will be good defensively; offensively, it is a work in progress.
275. Morehead State Eagles- Last Season Ranking: 292
Conference: Ohio Valley
Head Coach: Jonathan Mattox (3rd season)
Player to know: Izaiah Day
The Eagles took their spot at the top of the Ohio Valley in the 2025-2026 season. Morehead State has become a powerhouse in the league, and when they don't win it, it is a surprise. The 2026-2027 season looks to be another dominant one for Morehead State. The Eagles have the likely newcomer and player of the year in the league, a likely dominant offense, and a smothering defense. NCAA Tournament appearance incoming for Morehead State.
274. LSU New Orleans Privateers- Last Season Ranking: 299
Conference: Southland
Head Coach: Stacy Hollowell (3rd season)
Player to know: Nick Jones
The Privateers are interesting because they play slow on offense, but they score points and always have players with huge numbers. It's interesting because New Orleans doesn't shoot threes very often, turns it over, and doesn't play much defense. All of those things are correctable, and Coach Hollowell hopes the experienced roster he built in the transfer portal gives him more ball control and better depth. The Privateers are dangerous in the Southland.
273. Eastern Kentucky Colonels- Last Season Ranking: 178
Conference: United Athletic Conference
Head Coach: A.W. Hamilton (9th season)
Player to know: Drae Vasser
Colonels basketball is a lot of fun to watch; they play a wide-open style, and Coach Hamilton loves to play as fast as possible for the entire 40 minutes. The problem is that Eastern Kentucky has never been able to reach its full potential because it can't play defense. The offense may be one of the best in the country, but the defense is one of the worst.
272. Stetson Hatters- Last Season Ranking: 347
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Head Coach: Donnie Jones (8th season)
Player to know: Collin Kuhl
It has been a long road over the last two seasons as Stetson tries to find the magic that led them to the Atlantic Sun title and first NCAA Tournament appearance. The magic will have to wait another year. The top teams are too strong, and the Hatters don't have much depth outside their star.
271. Navy Midshipmen- Last Season Ranking: 209
Conference: Patriot League
Head Coach: Jon Perry (2nd season)
Player to know: Jinwoo Kim
It was a tremendous season for the Midshipmen in their first year under Perry. No one could have asked for a 17-1 Patriot League regular season championship team. If only Navy could have finished the job and made the NCAA Tournament. The Midshipmen lost a lot of talent from last year's team and will have to hope the incoming freshman can help fill the void until they develop. Navy won't win the Patriot League this year.
270. Florida Gulf Coast Eagles- Last Season Ranking: 186
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Head Coach: Pat Chambers (5th season)
Player to know: Bryson Lucas
Florida Gulf Coast plays at one of the fastest paces in the country under Coach Chambers and consistently has one of the best offenses. The defensive end is where the Eagles are losing games. Florida Gulf Coast doesn't defend the three-point line, and they foul way too much when teams get into the paint. Coach Chambers has not been able to figure that out. Until he does, .500 is the ceiling.
269. Southeastern Louisiana Lions- Last Season Ranking: 256
Conference: Southland
Head Coach: David Kiefer (8th season)
Player to know: Jackson Furman
The Lions are going through some lean times right now. Coach Kiefer had his team trending in the right direction a couple of years ago, and they looked like one of the best teams in the Southland. Then NIL happened, and the Lions don't offer much in that regard; as a result, the roster turns over every year, and new Rosters are always hard to find success with.
268. Quinnipiac Bobcats- Last Season Ranking: 215
Conference: Metro
Head Coach: Tom Pecora (4th season)
Player to know: Keith McKnight
Coach Pecora runs Quinnipiac extremely fast; they are one of the best rebounding teams in the country, protect the rim, shoot well from deep, and get a ton of steals. You would think that would lead to a large win total, but when the offense is horribly inefficient, and with the Bobcats being one of the worst free-throw shooting teams in the country, the good isn't good enough to outweigh the very bad.
267. UMBC Retrievers- Last Season Ranking: 291
Conference: America East
Head Coach: Jim Ferry (6th season)
Player to know: Flash Burton
UMBC had its best season in school history last year, winning 24 games and dominating the America East. The Retrievers weren't immune to the transfer portal, and UMBC, like so many other smaller schools, was gutted by it. UMBC has some talent but won't be nearly as good. The defense will be exceptional, but outside of Burton, the offense may be a giant question mark.
266. Long Beach State 49ers- Last Season Ranking: 213
Conference: Big West
Head Coach: Chris Acker (3rd season)
Player to know: Jaden Tengen
Long Beach State isn't in a good place as a program. The once-proud program is in the midst of a rebuild, and like any rebuild, it is going slowly. The 49ers improved by three wins, and the offense was better than in year one. The defense always comes together last in a rebuild, and Long Beach State desperately needs to improve on that end if they want to win games.
265. North Dakota Fighting Hawks- Last Season Ranking: 318
Conference: Summit League
Head Coach: Paul Sather (8th season)
Player to know: Zach Kraft
North Dakota was one game away from the NCAA Tournament in the 2025-2026 season. Coach Paul Sather lost a good portion of that roster to graduation and the transfer portal; however, it doesn't look like the Fighting Hawks are entering rebuild mode. Sure, the roster is young overall, but Coach Sather supplemented it with a lot of quality scoring options from JUCO.
264. Evansville Purple Aces- Last Season Ranking: 248
Conference: Missouri Valley
Head Coach: David Ragland (5th season)
Player to know: AJ Casey
Evansville is going through a never-ending rebuild, largely because the Aces haven't been able to get anyone on campus who can put the ball in the hole. Coach Ragland likes to play slow, but the offense he runs is inefficient; teams still win with a low-scoring offense. The problem was the complete lack of defense. Evansville is young and doesn't have much to fix the defense. Another year at the bottom of the Valley.
263. Radford Highlanders- Last Season Ranking: 167
Conference: Big South
Head Coach: Zach Chu (2nd season)
Player to know: Jordyn Kee
The pieces are there for Coach Chu and Radford to start building sustained success in the Big South. The Highlanders can score at a high level, but the defense has to improve. The coaching staff went out and got some dynamic defenders to help on that side of the ball. If the defense improves even marginally, Radford will be a threat for the NCAA Tournament.
262. Cal St. Bakersfield Roadrunners- Last Season Ranking: 241
Conference: Big West
Head Coach: Todd Lee (1st season)
Player to know: Bryce Cofield
Bakersfield needs some good fortune in the basketball program, and Todd Lee is the guy to bring it. Lee is a program builder and exceptional recruiter. He had a ton of success as the head coach in South Dakota. Recently, he was on the USC staff and was responsible for most of the Trojans' talent. The Roadrunners are rebuilding right now, but it won't be long before they are at the top of the Big West.
261. Northeastern Huskies- Last Season Ranking: 212
Conference: Coastal Athletic
Head Coach: Bill Coen (21st season)
Player to know: Mike Loughnane
Bill Coen is a legend and has turned the Northeastern program into one of the premier programs in the CAA, but the last 5 seasons have not been up to the standard that Coen has set. The Huskies had their worst season under Coen last year, winning only 7 games and having one of the worst defenses in the country. The 2026-2027 season may be worse considering how young and inexperienced Northeastern is.
260. UTSA Roadrunners- Last Season Ranking: 150
Conference: American
Head Coach: Austin Claunch (3rd season)
Player to know: Dorian Hayes
It was a tough year for the Roadrunners in 2025-2026, and UTSA and Coach Claunch head into the 2026-2027 season losing 22 of their last 23 games. The offense was dreadful, and the defense was worse. Coach Claunch needs to start getting American Conference-level players. A couple is on the 2026-2027 roster, but the rest may not be good enough.
259. Milwaukee Panthers- Last Season Ranking: 211
Conference: Horizon League
Head Coach: Bart Lundy (5th season)
Player to know: Danilo Jovanovich
2025-2026 was the first year the Panthers didn't win 20 games and weren't a top-tier team in the Horizon League under coach Lundy. The adage that defense wins championships rings true again; they had their worst defense under Lundy last season. It won't surprise anyone when the Panthers win 20-plus games and compete for the NCAA Tournament in 2026-2027.
258. Lamar Cardinals- Last Season Ranking: 221
Conference: Southland
Head Coach: Jordan Fee (1st season)
Player to know: Quante Berry
The Jordan Fee era begins for Lamar, and it is going to be a lot of fun. The style of basketball will be a complete 180 from what the Cardinals were used to under former coach Alvin Brooks. Coach Fee will open it up, run an efficient offense, and light up the scoreboard. Lamar is rebuilding, and year one will have some growing pains, but the program is in a good place.
257. UNC Greensboro Spartans- Last Season Ranking: 231
Conference: Southern
Head Coach: Jerod Haase (1st season)
Player to know: Braxton Stacker
UNC Greensboro is usually one of the top teams in the Southern Conference, and when they are not, people take notice, and it usually costs coaches their jobs. Mike Jones is out, and former Stanford head coach Jerod Haase is in. Haase is a great recruiter and is at a level in the Southern Conference where he will win and probably win a lot. The Spartans won't need much of a rebuild.
256. Campbell Fighting Camels- Last Season Ranking: 207
Conference: Coastal Athletic
Head Coach: Jimmie Williams (1st season)
Player to know: AJ Wright Jr.
Coach Williams heads to Buies Creek after a successful 4-year stint as the head coach of Division II Anderson University. Coach Williams won a lot of games in 4 years, and last season guided Anderson to 29 wins and a No. 1 seed in the Division II Tournament. The Fighting Camels program desperately needed a reset, and Coach Williams is the perfect coach to get Campbell back to the NCAA Tournament.
255. Lehigh Mountain Hawks- Last Season Ranking: 307
Conference: Patriot League
Head Coach: Brett Reed (20th season)
Player to know: Hank Alvey
The Mountain Hawks made the NCAA Tournament last season, losing in the first four to Prairie View A&M, but it was nice to see Lehigh finally get over the hump again in the Patriot League. The 2026-2027 season sets up for another Mountain Hawks run. Coach Reed retained most of the talent from last year's Patriot League Championship, and Alvey is the favorite for conference player of the year. Lehigh goes back-to-back in the Patriot.
254. Appalachian State Mountaineers- Last Season Ranking: 194
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Dustin Kerns (8th season)
Player to know: Ben Kopetzki
Appalachian State has been one of the best teams in the Sun Belt throughout Coach Kerns' tenure. The Mountaineers play a slow, low-possession, low-turnover, heavy three-point offense and pair it with aggressive, physical defense that makes it hard for opponents to score. Usually that is a winning formula, but only when Appalachian State hits their threes, which they do not do often enough.
253. Long Island University Sharks- Last Season Ranking: 282
Conference: Northeast
Head Coach: Rod Strickland (5th season)
Player to know: Matt Bewley
Long Island entered the 2025-2026 season as the NEC favorite. The Sharks dominated the regular season, winning both the regular-season and conference championship. Fresh off the NCAA Tournament, Long Island heads into the 2026-2027 season as the overwhelming favorite in the NEC. It will be back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the Sharks.
252. Southern Utah Thunderbirds- Last Season Ranking: 274
Conference: Big Sky
Head Coach: Rob Jeter (4th season)
Player to know: Jaiden Feroah
The Thunderbirds are back into the comfortable confines of the Big Sky conference. Southern Utah had its most success in the conference, so the hope is that coach Jeter can find some magic in the Big Sky and start winning games. Southern Utah doesn't have much depth behind their star. Coach Jeter's 32-62 overall record suggests he better figure it out quickly.
251. Missouri State Bears- Last Season Ranking: 189
Conference: Conference USA
Head Coach: Cuonzo Martin (3rd season)
Player to know: Trey Williams Jr.
The Bears hoped Cuonzo Martin would turn the program around quickly enough to warrant moving to a different conference in Conference USA. Conference USA isn't as good as the Valley, and Martin's move paid off last year with a .500 record and a run to the quarters of the conference tournament. Missouri State plays a slow, grinding style, but doesn't play good enough defense for that style to work. Another .500 record coming.
250. Oral Roberts Golden Eagles- Last Season Ranking: 304
Conference: Summit League
Head Coach: Kory Barnett (2nd season)
Player to know: Connor Dow
Year 1 under coach Barnett was a struggle for the Golden Eagles, but almost every team struggles under a new head coach. It is telling that Oral Roberts returns a good portion of their minutes from a season ago, including two young stars. Oral Roberts is in good hands, and we expect them to make a jump in the Summit League this year and start competing for championships again in short order.
249. East Texas A&M Lions- Last Season Ranking: 337
Conference: Southland
Head Coach: Jaret von Rosenberg (9th season)
Player to know: Alonzo Dodd
The Lions have not had anywhere near the success at the Division 1 level that they did at the Division II level. There are a lot of reasons for that; mainly, recruiting is harder at the upper levels. Coach von Rosenberg has done his best to build a competitive roster in 2026-2027 by bringing in some mid-major players to be his stars. East Texas A&M has a lot of international flavor, and while they may be young, this roster has some potential in the Southland.
248. Rice Owls- Last Season Ranking: 177
Conference: American
Head Coach: Rob Lanier (3rd season)
Player to know: Cam Carroll
After two 13-win seasons, the Owls and head coach Lanier appear to be headed for a long season. Rice lost a lot of talent over the last two seasons, and the 2026-2027 roster has experience, but none of the experienced players have done much at the college level. It would be a tremendous surprise if the Owls could climb out of the American basement this season.
247. Hampton Pirates- Last Season Ranking: 228
Conference: Coastal Athletic
Head Coach: Ivan Thomas (3rd season)
Player to know: Max Frazier
The Pirates have struggled to get their footing in the CAA. Usually, the defense has been responsible for Hampton losing games; recently, under Coach Thomas, it has been the offense. The Pirates were all kinds of stink on the offensive end of the floor. They were inefficient and were one of the worst shooting teams in the country. Frazier will help, but if the offense isn't better, it's going to be a long year.
246. Denver Pioneers- Last Season Ranking: 348
Conference: West Coast Conference
Head Coach: Tim Bergstraser (2nd season)
Player to know: Carson Johnson
Fresh off their best-ever finish in the Summit League, the Pioneers head to the new-look West Coast Conference. Denver loves to score points, plays extremely fast, and can light up a scoreboard. That style of play is exactly what the WCC needs. Carson Johnson is an all-conference-level player for a Denver team that is looking to find its footing in a new league.
245. Utah Tech Trailblazers- Last Season Ranking: 259
Conference: Big Sky
Head Coach: Jon Judkins (22nd season)
Player to know: Ethan Potter
It all came together for the Trailblazers in their final year in the WAC, and they had their best year at the Division 1 level. Utah Tech now moves to the Big Sky, which will present a new set of challenges for Coach Judkins, but having one of the Big Sky's favorite players return as player of the year is always a win.
244. Delaware Blue Hens- Last Season Ranking: 219
Conference: Conference USA
Head Coach: Martin Inglesby (11th season)
Player to know: Devin Dinkins
I figured Delaware would be a middle-of-the-pack Conference USA team in 2025-2026; in reality, they finished last. The Blue Hens didn't have nearly enough offense and couldn't defend. Not a good recipe to win games. Coach Inglesby secured some quality transfers that should help on both ends of the floor. This is the year Delaware finishes in the middle of Conference USA.
243. Drexel Dragons- Last Season Ranking: 234
Conference: Coastal Athletic
Head Coach: Zach Spiker (11th season)
Player to know: Josh Reed
Drexel plays extremely slow and has consistently been one of the best defensive teams in the country. Coach Spiker recruits defense, and the Dragons play it very well. Drexel denies the three-point line, rarely fouls, and contests everything. It's a shame that the offense is never very good. If Coach Spiker could find any offense, Drexel would be a force in the CAA.
242. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles- Last Season Ranking: 260
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Jay Ladner (8th season)
Player to know: Isaac Tavares
Southern Mississippi plays an interesting style in this era of basketball. The Golden Eagles rarely shoot threes but get downhill driving to the rim for easy baskets. As a result, Southern Mississippi is one of the highest-volume free-throw shooting teams in the country. Coach Ladner needs to replace a lot of last season's scoring, but the Golden Eagles should still be a middle-of-the-pack Sun Belt team.
241. UC Riverside Highlanders- Last Season Ranking: 273
Conference: Big West
Head Coach: Gus Argenal (2nd season)
Player to know: De’Undrae Perteete Jr.
The first season under coach Argenal didn't go very well. The Highlanders won only 10 games and finished their worst season in 10 years. The Highlanders are rebuilding, but coach Argenal has the pieces to be better in year two. Riverside will wait a few more years before they compete for their first NCAA Tournament berth.
240. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers- Last Season Ranking: 266
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Justin Gray (3rd season)
Player to know: Ashton Hardaway
Justin Gray is one of the best unknown coaches in the country. Coach Gray always has a player who can stuff a stat sheet, win games by himself, and often lands on a long list for Naismith Player of the Year. Players like that, especially at the mid-major level, make a huge difference. Hardaway will be that player this year. The Chanticleers finish at the top of the Sun Belt.
239. South Dakota State Jackrabbits- Last Season Ranking: 169
Conference: Summit League
Head Coach: Bryan Peterson (2nd season)
Player to know: Joe Sayler
South Dakota State had a losing record in 2025-2026, and it was shocking not to see the Jackrabbits dominate the Summit League as they have for so long. The 2026-2027 season appears to be another that will see South Dakota State back on top of the Summit League or at least competing for the league title again. The retooled roster is a perfect mix of stars and role players, and teams built like that typically win a lot.
238. Wofford Terriers- Last Season Ranking: 105
Conference: Southern
Head Coach: Kevin Giltner (2nd season)
Player to know: Chace Watley
If you have heard this before, Wofford finished near the top of the Southern Conference, and they did it playing Terriers basketball. The heavy three-point, high-efficiency, low-turnover offense has been a staple of the Wofford program for years, and has won them a lot of games. It's hard to expect the Terriers to be any different even with a largely unproven roster in 2026-2027.
237. Youngstown State Penguins- Last Season Ranking: 173
Conference: Horizon League
Head Coach: Ethan Faulkner (3rd season)
Player to know: Jeff Nwankwo
The Horizon League is all about scoring, and the Penguins have done their part with an explosive offense built around a huge volume of threes and extremely efficient shooting. The defense revolves around preventing the three-point shot; volume was low, but the percentage was high, and that alone cost Youngstown State some games last year. Expect the Penguins to shoot a ton of threes again in 2026-2027, but the defense should be better. Youngstown State will be dangerous in the Horizon in 2026-2027.
236. South Alabama Jaguars- Last Season Ranking: 175
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Richie Riley (9th season)
Player to know: Peyton Law
South Alabama has quietly developed into one of the best mid-major programs in the country. No one recognizes that, though, because head coach Riley has not made the NCAA Tournament in his tenure. Riley can recruit and has built a roster with a lot of talent, shooting, and defense. This may finally be the year for the Jaguars as they are one of the top teams in the Sun Belt again.
235. UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros- Last Season Ranking: 240
Conference: Southland
Head Coach: Brandon Chambers (1st season)
Player to know: Devon Pryor
UTRGV was trending up when former coach Kahil Fennell left for Western Michigan. New coach Chambers was on Will Wade's staff over the last couple of years. The Vaqueros will have a tough year, but one thing is certain. The UTRGV program is in good hands and will be one of the best defensive teams in the Southland once coach Chambers gets it rolling.
234. Montana Grizzlies- Last Season Ranking: 168
Conference: Big Sky
Head Coach: Travis DeCuire (13th season)
Player to know: Kenyon Aguino
Few teams can be guaranteed by the media heading into each season, but Montana happens to be one of them. The Grizzlies will have a winning record, finish near the top of the Big Sky, and push for an NCAA Tournament appearance. All of those things have been constants over the last two decades of Grizzlies basketball; 2026-2027 won't be an exception.
233. Fairfield Stags- Last Season Ranking: 312
Conference: Metro
Head Coach: Chris Casey (4th season)
Player to know: Declan Wucherpfenning
Coach Casey has had Fairfield on the cusp of becoming the next great Metro Conference team. The Stags play at one of the fastest paces in the country, don't turn it over, and rebound. Those three things will always lead to a lot of wins. If the Stags find more efficiency, they could win the league outright; they will likely finish in the top 4 with an outside shot at the NCAA Tournament.
232. Jacksonville Dolphins- Last Season Ranking: 246
Conference: Atlantic Sun
Head Coach: Jordan Mincy (6th season)
Player to know: Hayden Wood
2026-2027 is a good year for Jacksonville to make its first NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Jordan Mincy. The Atlantic Sun is smaller and much less competitive, which isn't necessarily a bad thing for a team like the Dolphins. Coach Mincy will slow it down to a snail's pace on the defensive end of the floor, and now that his team is a year older, the defense should be much improved. The offense has two Atlantic Sun stars who can potentially carry this team to the top.
231. Cal Baptist Lancers- Last Season Ranking: 195
Conference: Big West
Head Coach: Kyle Getter (1st season)
Player to know: Terry Coner Jr.
Cal Baptist made a run through the WAC tournament in 2025-2026 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament before losing to Kansas. The WAC no longer exists as a conference, so the Lancers are now part of the Big West. New conference, new coach Kyle Getter, and the unfortunate part is that usually means a new roster. The roster is new and loaded with freshmen. Tough year coming for the Lancers.
230. Green Bay Phoenix- Last Season Ranking: 339
Conference: Horizon League
Head Coach: Doug Gottlieb (3rd season)
Player to know: Marcus Hall
The Green Bay program appears to have been resurrected under coach Gottlieb. The Phoenix play physical defense that forces teams to play at an uncomfortable pace. Offensively, it is one of the slowest paces in the country with efficient shooters at all five spots. Green Bay is a tough matchup and can beat some power schools. The Phoenix are a top-tier team in the Horizon.
229. Elon Phoenix- Last Season Ranking: 275
Conference: Coastal Athletic
Head Coach: Billy Taylor (5th season)
Player to know: Bryson Cokley
Elon, like so many other lower Mid-major teams, has no problem scoring points. The Phoenix are extremely efficient on offense: they take and make a ton of threes, don't turn it over, and run a five-out style. Those are easy things to recruit towards. Phoenix lose games on the defensive end of the floor, and until that gets fixed, they'll have to outscore everyone.
228. Old Dominion Monarchs- Last Season Ranking: 185
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Mike Jones (3rd season)
Player to know: Adante’ Holiman
The move to the Sun Belt has been unkind for Old Dominion. The once-proud program has struggled over the last decade, and the Mike Jones tenure has only worsened it. The Monarchs are inefficient on offense and allow teams to shoot at a high percentage from the floor on defense. It isn't a good combination. The 2026-2027 roster doesn't have much depth, but a few pieces could turn Old Dominion around this year.
227. Idaho Vandals- Last Season Ranking: 247
Conference: Big Sky
Head Coach: Alex Pribble (4th season)
Player to know: Kristian Gonzalez
Over the three seasons Coach Pribble has been head coach, the Vandals have been trending up. Everything worked as intended when Pribble was hired, and Idaho made the NCAA Tournament, then promptly lost most of its talent to the transfer portal. The Vandals run a sustainable, heavy three-point offense that will always be hard to stop. Idaho will be a top Big Sky team for a while.
226. Tarleton State Texans- Last Season Ranking: 278
Conference: United Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Eric Haut (1st season)
Player to know: Caleb Blackwell
The Texans are undergoing a year of firsts. Tarleton State, like every other team in the conference, is in its first year in the United Athletic Conference. The new conference transition will be overseen by new coach Eric Haut, who had a ton of success as the Utah State associate head coach. Tarleton State is currently undergoing a rebuild, but the Texans are on an upward trajectory.
225. Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles- Last Season Ranking: 342
Conference: Southern Conference
Head Coach: Tobin Anderson (1st season)
Player to know: Davante Hackett
Tennessee Tech will play its first game as a member of the Southern Conference after 79 years in the Ohio Valley, and, most importantly, it will be the first game of head coach Tobin Anderson's tenure. Anderson brought in a lot of talent from the lower Division 1 ranks. All of them can score, and playing for Anderson, they will have to defend. Tech is a SoCon sleeper threat in 2026-2027.
224. Stony Brook Seawolves-Last Season Ranking: 289
Conference: Coastal Athletic
Head Coach: Geno Ford (8th season)
Player to know: Bryan Ndjonga
If you believe in patterns, this is the season Stony Brook will have a losing record and finish in the bottom half of the league. This is the year Coach Ford bucks the good-season, bad-season trend. The roster is loaded with former high-major bench guys and productive mid-major players. The Seawolves have a CAA sleeper this year.
223. Brown Bears- Last Season Ranking: 166
Conference: Ivy League
Head Coach: Eric Reveno (1st season)
Player to know: Adrian Uchidiuno
The Bears have been a bottom-tier Ivy League team more than a good one, and that needs to change. Coach Reveno has a track record of turning programs around and has done so at the mid-major level. Ivy League schools are harder to do that at given the strict enrollment rules, but it won't hurt that the 2025-2026 roster returns and Reveno didn't have to recruit much. Can he guide Brown to more than 9 wins?
222. Texas Arlington Mavericks-Last Season Ranking: 176
Conference: United Athletic Conference
Head Coach: KT Turner (4th season)
Player to know: Niko Bundalo
The tides started to turn for the Mavericks last year, and it appears head coach KT Turner has continued the momentum. The recruiting class is elite for a low-major team, and that makes the slow pace and dominating defense UT Arlington plays all the better. The Mavericks are one of the favorites in the United Athletic Conference this year.
221. Iona Gaels- Last Season Ranking: 237
Conference: Metro
Head Coach: Dan Geriot (2nd season)
Player to know: Keyshawn Mitchell
It has been three full seasons since the Gaels made the NCAA Tournament. Given Iona's status in the Metro Conference, that is a long time. The 2026-2027 season could be the year that ends. Iona does have a lot of freshmen, but the roster around them is elite and will get the Gaels back to competing for Metro Championships this year.
220. William & Mary Tribe- Last Season Ranking: 196
Conference: Coastal Athletic
Head Coach: Brian Earl (3rd season)
Player to know: Gavin Ward
The Tribe has been trending up since hiring Brian Earl. It took William & Mary only 2 seasons to win 20 games, tying for the most wins in Tribe history. The 2026-2027 season may be tough for the William & Mary program, though. The roster has a ton of new pieces, but the wide-open five-out style that Coach Earl runs is easy to recruit to and hard to stop when it is humming. The Tribe is a middle-of-the-pack CAA team.
219. Portland State Vikings- Last Season Ranking: 182
Conference: Big Sky
Head Coach: Jase Coburn (6th season)
Player to know: Koren Johnson
Portland State has improved every year under Coach Coburn. The 2025-2026 season ended with a conference regular season championship and a loss in the Semifinals of the conference tournament. Unfortunately, most of the 2025-2026 roster left. The Vikings coaching staff added several quality transfers for 2026-2027 who should keep Portland State at the top of the league and hopefully make the NCAA Tournament.
218. Northern Kentucky Norse- Last Season Ranking: 284
Conference: Horizon League
Head Coach: Darrin Horn (8th season)
Player to know: Eric Acker
Northern Kentucky has been consistent under Coach Horn. Northern Kentucky consistently has a winning record and consistently finishes in the middle of the Horizon League. The Norse have made the tournament under Coach Horn but have never been good enough to get themselves over the hump. Northern Kentucky will have a winning record but still won't make the tournament.
217. Cal State Fullerton Titans- Last Season Ranking: 338
Conference: Big West
Head Coach: Dedrique Taylor (14th season)
Player to know: Matthew Willenborg
Watch Cal State Fullerton play basketball because you won't be disappointed. The uptempo style leads to a ton of threes, and when the Titans aren't taking threes, they drive the lane, draw contact, and get to the free-throw line. All of that leads to an explosive offense, but like most teams who play an uptempo style, Fullerton doesn't play much defense. Titans can be a threat in the Big West.
216. Marshall Thundering Herd- Last Season Ranking: 192
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Corny Jackson (3rd season)
Player to know: Noah Otshudi
Marshall is on the cusp of becoming the next dynasty in the Sun Belt, and coach Corny Jackson is doing it with three things. Efficiency, threes, and rim protection. The Thundering Herd led the nation in three-point attempts, made a lot of them, and blocked almost 5 shots per game. The 2026-2027 roster is built to do these three things, and expect Marshall to remain near the top of the Sun Belt.
215. Fresno State Bulldogs- Last Season Ranking: 232
Conference: Pac-12
Head Coach: Vance Walberg (3rd season)
Player to know: Ross Candelino
Fresno State is in the middle of a rebuild, and it just got harder now that the Bulldogs are members of the new Pac-12. The Mountain West was already tough, but the new conference will bring a new set of challenges. Fresno State also can't ignore that they have a team with six freshmen getting their first taste of college basketball. It could be a rough year for Fresno State.
214. Georgia State Panthers- Last Season Ranking: 302
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Jon Cremins (1st season)
Player to know: Jaden Jackson
The Panthers struggled under Jonas Hayes, so the athletic department made a change and hired Jon Cremins, most recently a top assistant at Vanderbilt. If Georgia State is in a rebuild, no one told Coach Cremins. The Panthers have a sneaky roster that may win a bit; there is a lot of talent, with ultimate sleeper potential in the Sun Belt.
213. Samford Bulldogs- Last Season Ranking: 184
Conference: Southern
Head Coach: Lennie Acuff (2nd season)
Player to know: Cooper Noard
46% of Samford's shots came from the three-point line, and if you have been following college basketball over the last few seasons, you know that is very on brand for head coach Lennie Acuff. The Bulldogs lost a lot of scoring from 2025-2026 but retained much of their shooting and added two elite scorers in the transfer portal. Samford will be at the top of the Southern again.
212. Little Rock Trojans- Last Season Ranking: 146
Conference: United Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Travis Ford (1st season)
Player to know: Bradyn Hubbard
The Trojans are leaving the Ohio Valley and becoming one of the charter members of the United Athletic Conference. Little Rock decided to bring in a new coach for their move to the new conference and hired Travis Ford. Say what you want about Coach Ford; he hasn't won enough at bigger schools, but at a smaller school like Little Rock, he could build a power. He has the roster to do it in 2026-2027 too.
211. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats- Last Season Ranking: 165
Conference: SWAC
Head Coach: Reggie Theus (6th season)
Player to know: Daniel Rouzan
The Wildcats were the talked-about low-major team expected to surprise some teams and win games they shouldn't. That didn't happen, but Bethune-Cookman did win the SWAC regular season before falling in the conference tournament. The 2026-2027 season is another season for the Wildcats that should end with a SWAC championship. Hopefully this one results in an NCAA Tournament appearance. The 2026-2027 roster is better than the 2025-2026 roster, at least on paper.
210. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns- Last Season Ranking: 214
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Quannas White (2nd season)
Player to know: Trent Middleton Jr.
Last year was a long year for the Ragin Cajuns, at least on offense. Coach White is never going to have teams that score a ton because he loves to play low-possession basketball. That style only works if your team plays efficient offense, which Louisiana did not. In fact, by the numbers, they were one of the worst offenses in the country. The Cajuns are in for another long season.
209. Winthrop Eagles- Last Season Ranking: 151
Conference: Big South
Head Coach: Mark Prosser (6th season)
Player to know: Anthony Smith III
The Eagles lost a lot of talent from the 2025-2026 season, and it is hard to see how Coach Prosser will get this team to 20 wins and a top-four finish in the Big South. Most of the 2026-2027 roster is made up of small college and JUCO transfers who come with their own batch of question marks. The most concerning thing is how young the Winthrop roster is.
208. Western Carolina Catamounts- Last Season Ranking: 202
Conference: Southern
Head Coach: Tim Craft (3rd season)
Player to know: Isaiah Manning
After a miserable first season as head coach of the Catamounts, Craft got things moving in the right direction in 2025-2026 and will build on it in 2026-2027. Western Carolina has a lot of new transfer-portal talent that will make them better overall. The transfers have all played a lot of basketball and have had a lot of success at the previous stops. Western Carolina will be back near the top of the Southern again this year.
207. Longwood Lancers- Last Season Ranking: 222
Conference: Big South
Head Coach: Ronnie Thomas (2nd season)
Player to know: Alphonzo Billups
The Lancers attack off the bounce, finish at the rim, get to the free-throw line, and get an offensive rebound. Longwood has to improve in year two under Coach Thomas to reach its full potential. The Lancers turn the ball over a lot and don't shoot well from deep. Fix that, and the Lancers have enough talent to win the Big South.
206. Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders- Last Season Ranking: 269
Conference: Southland
Head Coach: Jim Shaw (4th season)
Player to know: Sebastian Robinson
Texas A&M Corpus Christi plays a smothering defense and makes everything a chore for the opponent. The offense is efficient but thrives on getting downhill and to the rim. The Islanders are hard to play because they are physical and will beat you without shooting threes. Under 40% of their shots come from deep. Corpus Christi is another top-of-the-conference finish.
205. Columbia Lions- Last Season Ranking: 255
Conference: Ivy League
Head Coach: Kevin Hovde (2nd season)
Player to know: Miles Franklin
I didn't have much belief in Columbia to crawl out of the basement of the Ivy League in 2025-2026. I was wrong, as Columbia finished a game out of Ivy Madness last year. Hovde and the Lions lost a lot of talent to graduation last year, but Columbia should still be one of the teams that qualifies for Ivy Madness. It would be Columbia's first time participating in the event.
204. Bowling Green Falcons- Last Season Ranking: 193
Conference: MAC
Head Coach: Todd Simon (4th season)
Player to know: Josiah Shackleford
Controlled chaos best describes the Falcons under head coach Todd Simon. Bowling Green plays extremely fast and causes chaos on both ends of the floor. Offensive chaos because of the speed and efficiency they play with. Defensive chaos because they force a ton of turnovers, get out in transition, and force teams to take bad shots. Bowling Green will be fighting for an NCAA Tournament and MAC title this year.
203. American Eagles- Last Season Ranking: 311
Conference: Patriot League
Head Coach: Duane Simpkins (4th season)
Player to know: Madden Collins
It is rare for a team to return most of its starters and try to run it back. That is exactly the case for American in the 2026-2027 season. The Eagles bring back 4 of their 5 starters and last season's sixth man. The Patriot League is wide open, but when you have a player like Collins who can win the conference Player of the Year, that makes your team one of the favorites in the league.
202. Tennessee State Tigers- Last Season Ranking: 244
Conference: Ohio Valley
Head Coach: Nolan Smith (2nd season)
Player to know: Ty-Laur Johnson
Transition is the Tigers' name of the game. Tennessee State uses their athleticism and their overall quickness to jump in passing lanes and get out in transition for easy points. Coach Smith coaches his players to do a lot of the same things he did as a player at Duke. Tennessee State has a loaded roster for an Ohio Valley team. It would be a surprise if it weren't back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.
201. Presbyterian Blue Hose- Last Season Ranking: 281
Conference: Big South
Head Coach: Quinton Ferrell (8th season)
Player to know: Carl Parrish
Winning at Presbyterian is painfully hard. They have only one winning season in their Division 1 history and have never been close to winning the Big South. Coach Ferrell has kept the Blue Hose competitive and turned them into a middle-of-the-pack Big South team. The outlook for the 2026-2027 season is bright. The roster features a lot of talent back from the year before. Could a winning season be in the cards?
200. Colgate Raiders- Last Season Ranking: 206
Conference: Patriot League
Head Coach: Matt Langel (16th season)
Player to know: Andrew Alekseyenko
The Raiders have turned into the premier program in the Patriot League. Coach Langel will make sure Colgate runs an efficient offense, makes their threes, and rarely turns the ball over. Those three things will always lead to wins, but for Colgate, it's different. The Raiders are doing it with player development. Langel gets players who don't leave the program and turn into stars. The Patriot League runs through Hamilton, NY again.
That was the list of teams ranked 299-200. The third installment, teams ranked 200-100, will be out later this week. Enjoy the list.
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