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

No. 6 - Bradley Braves

The Bradley Braves have been a model of consistency under Brian Wardle. Looking to get back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, the Braves are unquestionably a mid-major team worth investing stock in.

Despite losing leading scorer Connor Hickman to Indiana, Duke Deen, who earned First Team All-MVC honors last season, is back. Darius Hannah, who emerged from a reserve to a high-impact starter last season, is also back, immediately bolstering the Braves frontcourt alongside Christian Davis. Davis expects to play a bigger role this upcoming season.

Last season, Bradley was among the better shooting teams at the mid-major level. If they can carry its shooting over to this year, the Braves make a strong case to be preseason No. 1 in the MVC.

No. 5 - San Francisco Dons

Entering year three of the Chris Gerlufsen era, the San Francisco Dons are expected to make a push toward an NCAA Tournament bid thanks to a blend of returnees and quality transfers.

Despite losing Jonathan Mogbo to the NBA, Marcus Williams and Malik Thomas return in the backcourt. In the frontcourt, Ndewedo Newbury -- who blossomed into a starting role last season -- returns. The Dons also added 7-foot big man Carlton Linguard (UTSA) and Jason Rivera-Torres (Vanderbilt) from the transfer portal.

Amidst the flurry of WCC chaos, such as Gonzaga reloading into a consensus Final Four threat and the newcomers of Oregon State and Washington State, the Dons have fallen under the radar, meaning it is the perfect time to invest in the 2024-25 San Francisco Dons.