The first half of the college basketball season has delivered exactly what fans expect from the mid-major ranks: consistency, quality wins, and teams that refuse to be overlooked. As conference play ramps up nationwide, several programs are building strong resumes with NET-friendly profiles, efficient offenses, and clean loss columns.
10. George Mason Patriots (14-1)
George Mason opens the Top 10 at 14-1 and continues to quietly put together one of the most consistent résumés in the Atlantic 10. The Patriots sit at No. 77 in the NET rankings, with their lone loss coming in a Quad 1 matchup against Virginia Tech. Since that setback, they have responded with five straight wins, including two conference victories. George Mason is one of five teams still unbeaten in A-10 play and faces an important stretch with a road game at Fordham before returning home to host VCU.
9. Illinois State Redbirds (12-3)
Illinois State leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks 56th in the NET. While the Redbirds are 0-2 in Quad 1 games, those losses came against Utah State and USC, with their third defeat occurring in the season opener against Ohio. Illinois State remains unbeaten in league play alongside Murray State and Northern Iowa. The Redbirds have a favorable short-term schedule with games at Valparaiso, home versus UIC, and a road trip to Indiana State before a much tougher run featuring Bradley, Northern Iowa, Belmont, and Murray State.
8. VCU Rams (9-4)
VCU checks in at No. 51 in the NET and carries one of the more balanced resumes in the mid-major landscape. The Rams’ four losses have come against Utah State, NC State, Vanderbilt, and New Mexico, with no damaging results to this point. Tuesday’s hom matchup with Saint Louis represents a massive opportunity, followed quickly by another key test at George Mason. VCU will also travel to Rhode Island on January 14, making this a defining stretch in the Atlantic 10 race.
7. New Mexico Lobos (11-3)
New Mexico continues to hold its ground in a deep Mountain West Conference. The Lobos sit just ahead of Illinois State in the NET rankings and own a Quad 1 win this season. They are 2-1 in league play, coming off a home win over Wyoming after a road loss at Boise State. New Mexico is averaging just under 80 points per game while allowing 67.4, and remains firmly in contention alongside Utah State, Nevada, San Diego State, and UNLV.
6. Yale Bulldogs (11-2)
James Jones once again has Yale positioned as a dangerous postseason team. The Bulldogs are 10-2 overall and 1-1 in Quad 1 games, highlighted by a home win over Akron and a loss to Alabama. Their other defeat came against Rhode Island. Yale is scoring 85.4 points per game and ranks 53rd in the NET, with Nick Townsend leading the offense at 16.5 points per contest. The Bulldogs continue to look like the clear team to beat in the Ivy League.
5. Miami (OH) Redhawks (15-0)
Miami (OH) remains one of the nation’s six unbeaten teams and the clear leader in the MAC. Despite sitting 58th in the NET, the Redhawks have gone 3-0 in Quad 2 games and are averaging an impressive 93.7 points per game. Brant Nyers leads the team with 15.4 points per game, but Miami’s strength has been its depth and pace. The Redhawks host Western Michigan before heading on the road to Toledo in what could be an early tone-setter for league play.
4. Utah State Aggies (12-1)
Utah State continues to rise in the national picture, checking in at No. 20 in the NET. The Aggies’ lone loss came on the road at South Florida, and they have responded with five straight wins, including an 18-point victory over San Jose State. Utah State sits atop the Mountain West standings alongside Nevada, San Diego State, and UNLV. Back-to-back road games at Air Force and Boise State will provide a strong test of their staying power.
3. Saint Mary’s Gaels (15-2)
Saint Mary’s looks comfortable once again near the top of the West Coast Conference. The Gaels are 15-2 with losses to unbeaten Vanderbilt and Boise State, and they are riding a six-game winning streak following a 17-point win over Seattle. Paulius Murauskas leads the way with 19.3 points per game. Saint Mary’s ranks 24th in the NET, scoring 79.4 points per game while holding opponents to just 63.9.
2. Saint Louis Billikens (13-1)
Saint Louis enters the week ranked 29th in the NET with one of the most explosive offenses in the country. The Billikens are averaging 95 points per game and rank fifth nationally in rebounding at 44.6 per contest. Their lone loss came at the buzzer against Stanford. A road matchup at VCU looms large, with first place in the Atlantic 10 potentially on the line.
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (16-1)
Gonzaga remains the standard among mid-majors and far beyond. The Bulldogs are eighth in the latest AP Top 25 and fourth in the NET, with their only loss coming against Michigan. Mark Few’s group is tied atop the WCC with Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara and continues to overwhelm opponents offensively, averaging 91.6 points per game. Braden Huff leads the team with 18.1 points and 4.8 assists per game as Gonzaga prepares for a key stretch featuring Santa Clara, Washington State, and Seattle.
Others in Consideration
- Santa Clara Broncos (13-4)
- Boise State Broncos (9-4)
- San Diego State Aztecs (9-4)
- Tulsa Golden Hurricane (13-2)
- Murray State Racers (13-3)
- Northern Iowa Panthers (12-3)
Moving Forward
As conference play deepens, separation will come quickly. Some of these teams will turn strong starts into national relevance, while others will face pressure as schedules tighten. What is clear is that the mid-major tier is once again loaded with teams capable of shaping March, not just participating in it.