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

No. 14 - Troy Trojans

The Troy Trojans were among the better teams in the Sun Belt last season, posting the program’s third-straight 20-win season under Scott Cross. It’s an impressive feat, nonetheless, considering they became the only team in its conference to win at least 20 games in each of the last three seasons, according to a release by the Sun Belt Conference. 

With the conference expected to be more open this season, the Trojans are the perfect team to buy stock in. They return Myles Rigsby, the 2023-24 Sun Belt ROY and Tayton Conerway, the 2023-24 Sun Belt 6th Man of the Year. Losing Christyon Eugene and Aamer Muhammad in the backcourt hurts, however, given the Trojans' consistency over the past three years, expect Troy to compete for a Sun Belt Championship come March.

No. 13 - UMass Lowell River Hawks

If there is one team in the America East to buy stock that is not named Vermont, it is the UMass Lowell River Hawks. Pat Duquette, who has quietly done quality work in northeast Massachusetts, has guided the River Hawks toward two straight 20+ win seasons -- and he will have no shortage of talent to work with entering the 2024-25 season. 

Incoming transfers include Mekhai Gray (NJIT), Caleb Murphy (South Florida, DePaul) and Quincy Clark (Jacksonville State), all of whom Duquette expects to make an immediate impact, according to Barry Scanlion of the Boston Herald. Additionally, the 2023-24 AEC 6th Man of the Year, Quinton Mincey, and Brayden O’Connor are back, giving the River Hawks a nice blend of returnees and instant-impact transfers, making UMass Lowell a dark horse contender in the America East this season.