Despite losing Coach Pat Kelsey to the Louisville Cardinals job, College of Charleston still was one of the top mid-major programs in college basketball last season, going 24-9 and finishing in the top tier of the CAA.
The Cougars got some big wins in the non-conference, including over FAU, St. Joe’s and Loyola-Chicago. The program is set to have another strong non-con group of opponents for the 2025-26 season.
non-con drop ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/o68NcKvEM7
— Charleston Basketball (@CofCBasketball) June 25, 2025
Here’s a list of the top four confirmed foes Charleston will have to face next year.
4. Liberty Flames
The top two scorers are gone, including CUSA 6th Man of the Year Taelon Peter, who got picked in the NBA Draft. But the 28-win Flames still bring back a pair of key starters in forward Zach Cleveland and Collin Porter, who averaged 9.1 ppg and 4.3 apg last season.
3. Florida Atlantic Owls
Just about all of the key Owls from last season are gone, with point guard Niccolo Moretti (6.4 ppg and 3.4 apg) the one key returning piece. Joining him are some high-upside transfers, including Isaiah Elohim (USC), Kanaan Carlyle (Indiana), and Devin Williams (UCLA). If a couple if these players break out, FAU could fight for a top spot in the AAC.
2. Drake Bulldogs
It’s a complete rebuild for Drake Basketball, as HC Ben McCollum and MVC Player of the Year guard Bennett Stirtz now at Iowa. The program was able to bring in some notable names to fill out the roster, including Jalen Quinn (Loyola Chicago), Isaiah Carr (Grand Canyon), and Owen Larson, who averaged 9.2 ppg at South Dakota State. They might not be the favorites in the MVC next season, but expect the Bulldogs to remain one of the better mid-majors in the nation.
1. South Florida Bulls
One of the biggest team winners from outside the power conference was South Florida, landing Coach Bryan Hodgson from Arkansas State and bringing with him double-digit scorers, Joseph Pinion and Izaiyah Nelson. James Madison transfer Xavier Brown and former RMU wing Josh Omojafo adds to the impressive collective depth. On paper, South Florida looks to be the team that could contend most with Memphis for the conference crown.