KC's Mid-major Top 10: 2022-23 Preseason edition

Last year's breakout prima successful assemblage hoops is back.

All the buzz, each the accolades, each the attraction -- it was each warranted -- and frankly, each the galore imitators are some understandable and mildly flattering. Indeed, KC's Mid-Major Top 10 returns for different play of utmost excellence, highlighting the brightest stars and programs successful assemblage hoops beyond the purview of the narrow-scoped.

As a reminder, our explanation of Mid-Majors excludes programs from the American, ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, arsenic good arsenic Gonzaga Bulldogs. It includes, arsenic we similar to notation to them, the Power-25 conferences.

Without further ado, feast your eyes connected the 2022-2023 variation of KC's Mid-Major Preseason Top 10.

1. San Diego State Aztecs

Heavy is the caput that wears the astir magnificently gilded crown successful sports.

Brian Dutcher's message was re-routed to KC's Top 10, fixed however overmuch clip the Aztecs spent successful the P.O.R. (poll of record) past season, and determination won't beryllium immoderate alteration of code forms needed this season.

San Diego State returns 4 starters from a 23-9 squad that earned an 8-seed successful the NCAA Tournament arsenic an at-large past season. Most notable among the returning radical is reigning Mountain West Newcomer of the Year Matt Bradley, who averaged 16.9 PPG connected 40% shooting from 3-point range. Nathan Mensah is the returning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and Darrion Trammell volition beryllium a large interaction transportation aft averaging 18.7 PPG implicit 2 seasons astatine Seattle.

The Aztecs ranked 2nd successful antiaircraft ratio past play per KenPom and, arsenic is the lawsuit each year, that volition beryllium their individuality again this year.

Early tests volition travel successful the signifier of BYU and Stanford, and the execution hornets' nest that is the Maui Invitational field. Still, for a squad that figures to beryllium regular successful that different canvass each season, the Aztecs commencement atop the game's astir consequential one.

2. Dayton Flyers

Thousandths of a percent constituent successful the KC mid-major algorithm of excellence are each that basal betwixt the Flyers and apical billing successful the Hope Diamond of mid-major preseason polls.

Anthony Grant's squad is loaded for carnivore again connected the heels of a 24-11 play that included aboriginal wobbles, past consecutive wins implicit Miami (Elite 8), Kansas (National Champion) and Belmont (25 wins) successful the ESPN Events Invitational successful Orlando, past eventual travel to the NIT.

Sophomore halfway DaRon Holmes II volition anchor a deep, balanced squad that includes chap each A-10 rookie squad subordinate Malachi Smith (brother of erstwhile Flyers standout Scoochie Smith.)

Circle an opening-round day with Wisconsin astatine the Battle 4 Atlantis -- arsenic good arsenic a imaginable second-round tilt with Kansas -- not to notation a mid-major steel-cage lucifer against Wyoming successful mid-December, arsenic large résumé-building opportunities.

3. Saint Mary's Gaels

Perennial members of the astir exclusive nine successful sports, the Gaels fig to support their Triple-Rhodium Club presumption successful KC's Mid-Major Top 10 this season, contempt cardinal departures. Tommy Kuhse and Matthias Tass nary longer stroll the welcoming footpaths of Moraga, but Coach Randy Bennett has battle-tested replacements astatine his disposal.

Logan Johnson, the team's apical returning scorer, showed he's poised for a breakout Fifth Year aft pumping successful a team-high 21 points successful past season's WCC Championship crippled nonaccomplishment to Gonzaga. Alex Ducas led the 2021-22 Gaels with 67 3s portion shooting 39% from heavy -- and don't beryllium amazed if Augustas Marciulionis (son of NBA Hall of Famer Sarunas Marciulionis) becomes the program's adjacent dependable constituent man.

A veritable Monterey Pop Festival lineup of mid-major opponents dot the schedule, including jam sessions with Oral Roberts, Vermont, North Texas, San Diego State and Wyoming! Coach Bennett, connected behalf of Mid-Major Nation, we are not worthy.

4. Wyoming Cowboys

The Pokes achieved mid-major enlightenment past season, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament a specified 2 years aft winning conscionable 9 games. This season, an betterment connected their 25-9 grounds seems arsenic apt arsenic a double-kicker aft a spur to the hind quarters.

Graham Ike and Hunter Maldonado are backmost to, erstwhile again, signifier the champion 1-2 operation successful mid-major hoops. The duo averaged 38 PPG past play portion finishing 2nd successful the league successful rebounding (Ike) and assists (Maldonado), respectively. Ike is the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year.

Coach Jeff Linder besides lassoed 3 Power 5 transfers successful Max Agbonkpolo (USC), Ethan Anderson (USC) and Jake Kyman (UCLA) to springiness adjacent much extent to an already heavy Cowboys team.

Neutral-site mid-major non-conference bare-knuckle brawls with Dayton and Saint Mary's are simply the undercard to the nightly no-holds barred fracas that is Mountain West play.

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The UAB Blazers decision the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs to triumph the Conference USA title.

5. UAB Blazers

Much similar the vessel work wrong KC's -- the astir exclusive associated this broadside of the 40/40 Club -- defender play astatine the mid-major level is filled with apical support brands. Max Abmas astatine Oral Roberts. Antoine Davis astatine Detroit-Mercy. Aaron Estrada astatine Hofstra. Darius McGhee astatine Liberty.

None are much decorated, nor dazzling, than UAB dynamo Jordan "Jelly" Walker: Conference USA's reigning Player of the Year and the preseason favourite to triumph the grant again this year. Second successful D-I successful made 3s past play (behind McGhee,) Walker led C-USA successful scoring and finished 3rd successful assists, portion besides starring the Blazers to 27 wins, a league title and a travel to the NCAA Tournament.

Andy Kennedy's squad returns superior magnitude up beforehand successful KJ Buffen and Trey Jemison, portion LSU transportation Eric Gaines is 1 of the astir impactful defenders successful assemblage hoops.

December trips to West Virginia and South Carolina could amended lucifer John Wick-style takedowns of Power 5s by this mid-major colossus.

6. Saint Louis Billikens

Excitement astir this Billikens squad indispensable beryllium tempered, but it's awfully hard not to ideate what could beryllium if things play retired arsenic Coach Travis Ford dreams. Saint Louis returns the nation's apical assistance antheral successful Yuri Collins, a dime dropper who acceptable a schoolhouse grounds with 19 successful a triumph implicit Boston College past season. Collins is an NBA-ready constituent defender who tin besides get his -- spot his 35-point show against George Mason, which included the game-winner successful 2OT.

Still, marque nary mistake, each eyes volition absorption connected the instrumentality of Javonte Perkins, SLU's apical scorer 2 seasons agone (17.1 PPG) who missed each of past play with a torn ACL.

World-class lasting connected the impermanent database of Studio KC awaits a Saint Louis squad that indispensable navigate a hellacious non-conference slate (vs. Memphis, astatine Auburn, astatine Iona, vs. Boise State, vs. Drake) earlier dealing with the hellacious situation of A-10 play. Saddle up.

7. Kent State Golden Flashes

Let's look it, the extremity of the 2021-2022 play astatine Kent State was ugly.

A profane societal media station starring to the suspension of 4 players anterior to the MAC Championship crippled -- which ended successful a 20-point nonaccomplishment astatine the hands of Akron -- was not the mode anyone drew it up. Coach Rob Senderoff called his player's actions "really, really, truly dumb."

No 1 is excusing, oregon running, from what happened.

But it's besides clip to retrieve what an unthinkable play Kent State enactment together: a 12-game triumph streak (longest for the programme successful 20 years), 23-11 record, MAC Coach of the Year honors for Senderoff and the improvement of Sincere Carry, the best subordinate non-KC disciples person ne'er heard of.

Carry averaged 17.9 points and amended than 4.5 assists and rebounds per crippled past year, and has a accidental to bash what lone 3 men, including Ron Harper and Gary Trent person done: triumph MAC Player of the Year twice.

Gio Santiago and Malique Jacobs -- who combined for amended than 30% of the Flashes' scoring past play -- should instrumentality connected adjacent greater roles successful 2022-23.

And visits to preseason No. 3 Houston and No. 2 Gonzaga volition sharpen robust successful Kent, Ohio.

There's unfinished concern on the banks of the Cuyahoga.

8. Drake Bulldogs

No municipality has embraced this poll, our ngo oregon our world-class credentials rather similar Des Moines. The heartfelt transportation with the upstanding folks of the "Hartford of the West" is simply a testament to a shared respect of hoops IQ, mid-major hoops IQ and what separates the KC marque from each imposters.

Which is wherefore we're tickled to see Drake among the VIPs wrong our elegant velvet ropes.

Coach Darian DeVries and institution are the preseason favorites to triumph the re-structured Missouri Valley Conference, acknowledgment successful portion to what's expected from Tucker DeVries. The coach's son, reigning MVC Freshman of the Year and preseason Player of the Year, could blossom into a superstar successful Year Two -- which is saying something, considering helium led Drake successful scoring past season.

Steady seasoned Roman Penn played done a fractured ft past twelvemonth and should instrumentality to the signifier that saw him pb the Valley successful assists arsenic a sophomore and junior. Gas up the RV for roadies to Richmond and Saint Louis arsenic early-season Christmas presents to yourself. You've earned it.

9. Furman Paladins

The snooty Power-5 parvenus presumption The SoCon arsenic 1 of the "hidden gems" successful the game. But inquire them astir the quality betwixt a Keydet and a Catamount, and ticker them get exposed faster than an exhibitionist.

True diehards similar america cognize this league is outstanding. So erstwhile a Furman squad that came this adjacent to an NCAA Tournament bid past play is voted preseason favorites, it resonates.

The Paladins are for real, for real.

Coach Bob Richey's squad led D-I successful 3-pointers past play (401) and finished 13th successful 3-point percent (38%) -- and returns different roster of sharpshooters this season, led by fifth-years Mike Bothwell and Jalen Slawson.

An early-season tally with Belmont, not to notation the Charleston Classic and a sojourn to NC State, volition service arsenic sparring rounds earlier nightly telephone booth fights successful the SoCon. Let's get it on.

10. Toledo Rockets

The metropolis that gave america Anita Baker, Chicago Bears caput manager Matt Eberflus and Klinger from "M.A.S.H." provides america our #10 squad successful the Transcendent Ten, Toledo.

Coach Tod Kowalczyk's nine has been the Menace of the MAC each of the past 2 regular seasons, combining to spell 32-7 successful league play, including past year's 17-3 run.

Numerous mentions successful past year's Column of Ultra-Brilliance helped alert the Golden State Warriors to the talents of Ryan Rollins, whom the Dubs drafted successful the 2nd round. How the Rockets capable his void volition find whether they three-peat arsenic regular play champs.

Seth Millner and JT Shumate return, some seniors, some coming disconnected years successful which they averaged 15 PPG. RayJ Dennis and Ra'Heim Moss are backmost to pb 1 of the much experienced backcourts successful large mid-major ball, portion transportation portal additions should supply Coach Kowalczyk overmuch needed depth. Nothing volition beryllium implicit until the Rockets chopped down the nets successful the MAC Tournament, but cutting retired this inclusion successful the KC Top 10 for salient show connected crystal boxes crossed bluish Ohio is simply a tremendous runner-up.

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