NCAA Basketball: Top-20 mid-major teams to buy stock into entering 2024-25 season

No. 18 - Milwaukee Panthers

Bart Lundy has done a stellar job leading the Milwaukee Panthers, earning back-to-back 20-win seasons, including an appearance in last year’s Horizon League Championship game. Entering the 2024-25 season, Milwaukee will be one of the oldest teams in college basketball, placing first in the country in projected effective experience, according to BartTorvik’s preseason projections. 

In college basketball, experience wins, making the Panthers a sure-fire mid-major team to buy stock into. Even if the Panthers lost last year’s leading scorer, BJ Freeman, its identity will remain the same, especially on the boards. AJ McKee, who averaged 18.8 PPG at Queens, is an instant-impact player to monitor as Milwaukee looks to put forth another strong campaign.

No. 17 - Ohio Bobcats

The Ohio Bobcats were among the better teams in the MAC last season, and they expect to be near the top again in 2024-25. Despite losing its leading scorer in Jaylin Hunter, Shereef Mitchell -- who was integral to the Bobcats’ last-season surge last year -- is back. AJ Clayton, a double-digit scorer who started in all 33 games last season, is also back. AJ Brown, who suffered a season-ending injury in December, looks to be healthy come November. 

In addition, the Bobcats were immune to the transfer portal bug and welcomed a solid transfer portal class, including Jackson Paveletzke (Wofford/Iowa State). The Bobcats had a tremendous offseason, making them the team to beat in the MAC. As they enter year six of the Jeff Boals era, the Ohio Bobcats are undoubtedly worth buying stock into.