270. Portland Pilots - Last Season Ranking: 160
Conference: WCC
Portland had a star last season and depth. However, they couldn’t stop anyone and allowed almost 80 points per game. The Pilots only scored about 72 points per night, which explains the 12-21 record. This season's roster is extremely young, with many freshmen and unproven depth. Vukasin Masic hopes to build from his breakout year.
269. Wagner Seahawks - Last Season Ranking: 306
Conference: Northeast
If you like to watch pretty basketball don’t turn on a Wagner game. The Seahawks play slow and muddy up games with their brand of physical defense. Head coach Donald Copeland has found a formula that works because Wagner made a run to the NCAA tournament last season and won a First Four game after barely making the league tournament. Zaire Williams returns from injury and will have a breakout season.
268. Utah Tech Trailblazers - Last Season Ranking: 241
Conference: WAC
The Trailblazers and head coach Jon Judkins had a horrible time trying to play defense last season. It led Utah Tech to finish with 11 wins and in 9th place in the WAC. Utah Tech acquired some talent in the transfer portal, hoping to improve the defense and be a little more competitive. Noa Gonsalves returns to lead the offense.
267. South Dakota Coyotes - Last Season Ranking: 291
Conference: Summit League
The Coyotes were young last year but had some individual talent and could light up a scoreboard. The problem was South Dakota needed help to stop anyone. It will always be hard to win games, giving up 80 points per game. South Dakota has more experience in the transfer portal and should improve. Kaleb Stewart might lead the Summit League in scoring this year.
266. Lehigh Mountain Hawks - Last Season Ranking: 273
Conference: Patriot League
In this era of basketball, not losing anyone to the transfer portal is rare. That is what happened to Lehigh, as all their eligible players are returning. Experience counts for something in college basketball, and the Mountain Hawks hope to turn that into a better season. Tyler Whitney-Sidney is a pure scorer and natural leader for Lehigh.
265. Grambling State Tigers - Last Season Ranking: 265
Conference: SWAC
Grambling finally got the job done last year when they qualified for the NCAA tournament and won a first four game. Head Coach Donte Jackson has done a fantastic job of building this program from the worst in the country to the best in the SWAC. Grambling enters the season as one of the teams to beat in the SWAC hoping to make it two years in a row for the tournament. Kintavious Dozer is a SWAC Player of the Year hopeful.
264. Navy Midshipmen - Last Season Ranking: 295
Conference: Patriot League
Navy had been one of the better teams in the Patriot League over the last few seasons, but last year the Midshipman struggled. Their depth was not as good as in years past and the Patriot League was just overall better. The Service Academies don’t get transfers due to their enrollment requirements, so the roster will always be the same every year. Austin Benigni should average close to 20 a game.
263. Radford Highlanders - Last Season Ranking: 172
Conference: Big South
The Highlanders struggled in the Big South last season and finished in 8th place. That is the first time that Radford has finished outside of the top 3 in the league in quite some time. Radford is in a bit of a rebuild, head coach Darris Nichols lost a lot of talent from last year and enters this year with a young and unproven roster. Tj NeSmith has an extremely high ceiling.
262. Lafayette Leopards - Last Season Ranking: 332
Conference: Patriot League
The Leopards started 1-12 and then went on to win 9 of their next 11 games, including a win over conference power Colgate. Then, they lost seven of their last eight games but could still finish in second place in the Patriot League. Most of the roster returns, and we expect Lafayette to play slow and keep games in the 60s. Mark Butler had a great freshman season as the point guard and is ready for the next step in his development.
261. Long Beach State 49ers - Last Season Ranking: 124
Conference: Big West
Long Beach State decided to fire Dan Monson before the Big West tournament, and the 49ers went on to win the league tournament and qualify for the NCAA Tournament. It was a great way for Monson to go out. Long Beach State hired Chris Acker as their new coach, and he has built a roster using freshman and the transfer portal. Given the roster construction, it might be a rough year for the 49ers. Devin Askew has had a lot of success at the college level.
260. Cal State Fullerton Titans - Last Season Ranking: 179
Conference: Big West
The Titans and head coach Dedrique Taylor struggled last season because there was not much depth outside of the top two players. Fullerton became very predictable on the offense end of the floor due to two players dominating the touches and scoring. The roster is young this year and has some question marks, but these are the years Coach Taylor does his best job. Freddie Cooper had a good year in JUCO.
259. Maine Black Bears - Last Season Ranking: 250
Conference: America East
Maine is improving and consistently becoming one of the top four teams in the America East. The problem for the Black Bears is that the top three teams in that league are all very good and hard to take down. Head coach Chris Markwood has built the program using international players and stifling defense. Kellen Tynes returns for one last go-around at Maine and has a chance to make it to the All-Conference.
258. Western Carolina Catamounts - Last Season Ranking: 183
Conference: Southern
Western Carolina was a team I wanted to make the tournament so badly last year because its star was the best player in the country for my money. The Catamounts didn’t make it, and their coach left for a better job. Tim Craft from Gardner-Webb takes over, and it won’t be long before he has Western Carolina competing at the top of the conference again. Ice Emery can be the next star in the Southern Conference.
257. Bowling Green Falcons - Last Season Ranking: 202
Conference: MAC
Bowling Green is trying to do everything possible to return to the NCAA tournament. It has been 56 years. Coach Todd Simon is a program builder. Last year, he flipped the roster, and the Falcons won 20 games. This year, the roster is flipped again with some quality transfers, and Bowling Green will likely be competitive in the MAC again. Trey Thomas returns for his final year to lead the Falcons.
256. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks - Last Season Ranking: 212
Conference: Big Sky
The Lumberjacks have been on the cusp of breaking through in the Big Sky for a few seasons. The one problem has always been defense. Under head coach Shane Burcar, Northern Arizona has always had a hard time defending, which has led to some losses to teams they should beat. This is the best roster coach Burcar has had in his time at Northern Arizona. Oakland Fort is going to have a big-time breakout year.
255. Fairfield Stags - Last Season Ranking: 192
Conference: MAAC
The 2011-2012 season was the last time Fairfield won 20 games before last year. That saw the Stags finish in second in the MAAC. It was alright for head coach Chris Casey and his first go around as a college head coach. The real test will be this year. Fairfield lost their top 4 scorers and had to find replacements in the transfer portal. Deon Perry averaged 18 a game at Loyola Maryland a season ago.
254. North Carolina Central Eagles - Last Season Ranking: 260
Conference: MEAC
North Carolina Central finished in second place in the MEAC again last year. Head coach LeVelle Moton has built the Eagles into a powerhouse program in the conference and is a threat to make the NCAA tournament every single year. This season, North Carolina Central has another competitive roster and is going to finish at the top of the MEAC again. Po’Boigh King might win the MEAC Player of the Year award.
253. Rider Broncs - Last Season Ranking: 223
Conference: MAAC
Rider had an older team last year, with all five starters being seniors. That usually means that the next year will be a rebuilding year with new younger players. Fortunately for coach Kevin Badgett and the Broncs the transfer portal exists, and some players still had an extra year. Rider will be a tough out in the MAAC. TJ Weeks returns to lead the Broncs with his six years of experience.
252. Morehead State Eagles- Last Season Ranking: 204
Conference: Ohio Valley
The Eagles may have a new coach, but until someone unseats them from the top of the Ohio Valley, they will be the favorites. Morehead State is the team in the league that gets the best collection of talent, and this year is no different. New head coach Jonathan Mattox has gotten some quality transfers to fill the roster, including another NAIA standout. Kade Ruegsegger hopes to be the next star for Morehead State.
251. North Dakota Fighting Hawks - Last Season Ranking: 258
Conference: Summit League
North Dakota was on the brink of having a great Summit League team. Still, the best players entered the transfer portal, leaving coach Paul Sather with a good team, but not the team that everyone expected to compete for the league title at the end of last season. The Fighting Hawks are still good enough to finish in the league's top half, and Treysen Eaglestaff is a first-team All-Conference performer.
250. North Florida Osprey - Last Season Ranking: 279
Conference: Atlantic Sun
If you like offense, North Florida is the team for you. The Osprey will lead the country in three-point attempts, score many points, and shoot at a high efficiency. North Florida doesn’t play much defense and usually gets into shootouts. They lost a lot of talent from last season but still have enough to be competitive in the Atlantic Sun. Nate Lliteras is ready for his breakout year. m
249. Cal State Northridge Matadors - Last Season Ranking: 319
Conference: Big West
Head coach Andy Newman has the Matadors moving in the right direction, and this may finally be the year they see it come to fruition. Northridge has a loaded roster, and the coaching staff secured a lot of quality talent in the transfer portal. Marcus Adams Jr. went to Kansas for a year and BYU and now is home, ready to prove the doubters wrong.
248. Southern Jaguars - Last Season Ranking: 325
Conference: SWAC
Go ahead and pencil Southern in as one of the top teams in the SWAC again this year. The Jaguars will take their place near the top of the league and be a threat to win the automatic bid for the SWAC. Head coach Kevin Johnson filled the roster with talented JUCO players led by Michael Jacobs, who averaged 22 a game in JUCO last season.
247. Delaware Blue Hens- Last Season Ranking: 199
Conference: Coastal Athletic
The Blue Hens had two great players last season and used that to win 19 games and finish in the middle of the CAA. Delaware has been competitive under head coach Martin Inglesby for a while, but the top of the league is deep. The Blue Hens have built the roster with quality depth, and they will have a different player every night. Tahron Allen was the MVP of the NEC tournament last season.
246. Bucknell Bison - Last Season Ranking: 338
Conference: Patriot League
Bucknell will be one of the top teams in the Patriot League and still may not finish over .500 for the year. The Patriot League is not great overall, but it is competitive within the league. The Bison are led by coach John Griffin, who is an alumnus and understands Bucknell's history. Colgate is still in the league. Noah Williamson is going to build off his breakout season last year.
245. Old Dominion Monarchs - Last Season Ranking: 173
Conference: Sun Belt
The Monarchs were a mess last season. They went through a mid-season coaching change, saw their star freshman get dismissed from the team, and lost a lot more than Old Dominion is usually accustomed to. Mike Jones is the new head coach, and he has a young roster with some intriguing transfers who should help with the overall defense. The offense may still be a struggle. Sean Durugordon can have huge games scoring and rebounding.
244. Oral Roberts Golden Eagles - Last Season Ranking: 193
Conference: Summit League
It was weird not to see Oral Roberts finish near the top of the Summit League, but that is to be expected when you lose your coach and the two best players the program has ever seen. The Golden Eagles also expect to be better in year two under head coach Russell Springmann. The roster has a star in Issac McBride but has some questions about its overall depth.
243. Marist Red Foxes - Last Season Ranking: 290
Conference: MAAC
The Red Foxes won 18 games last season, their most since 2007-2008. Marist finished 3rd in the MAAC and did it with minimal offense and one of the best defenses in the country. That is the signature of head coach John Dunne. The Red Foxes are hoping they can secure a tournament bid this season. Josh Pascarelli is a fantastic shooter and will lead Marist in scoring.
242. Little Rock Trojans - Last Season Ranking: 245
Conference: Ohio Valley
It is hard to know what Little Rock will do every season under current head coach Darrel Walker. He has had two 21-win seasons out of his 6 seasons, and the other four have all been losing records. The Trojans lost 4 out of 5 starters and have a new roster from the transfer portal. The roster is older, but that doesn’t mean it will win. KK Robinson is the best player on the floor almost every night.
241. Charleston Southern Buccaneers - Last Season Ranking: 321
Conference: Big South
Charleston Southern only won 10 games last year but ended up winning six games in the league and finishing in the middle of the pack. Head coach Saah Nimley had the interim tag removed, which meant good news for the Buccaneers. Their production returned, and they head into the season with expectations. Taje Kelly is one of the best players in the Big South conference.