NCAA Basketball

Ranking the 10 Best Mid-Major College Basketball Programs

Ranking the 10 Best Mid-Major College Basketball Programs

NCAA basketball
Soobum Im -- USA TODAY Sports

These are the teams that shock the world come tournament time. They're called mid-major programs, or programs that aren't in one of the power conferences. That doesn't mean good basketball isn't played in these leagues, as there are 10 mid-major programs worth watching this season.

10. Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech basketball
Ivan Pierre Aguirre -- USA TODAY Sports

10. Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech basketball
Ivan Pierre Aguirre -- USA TODAY Sports

The exit of Tulsa to the American Athletic Conference means Louisiana Tech should have the Conference USA championship to lose if everything works out. Louisiana Tech lost to Tulsa in last year's C-USA finals and should bring back a solid squad.

9. UNLV

UNLV basketball
Ron Chenoy -- USA TODAY Sports

9. UNLV

UNLV basketball
Ron Chenoy -- USA TODAY Sports

These aren't your UNLV teams of the 1990s, led by the towel-eating Jerry Tarkanian, but the Runnin' Rebels are a consistently solid team in the Mountain West Conference. The trouble is there is now a lot of competition to give UNLV fits in the MWC.

8. San Diego State

San Diego State basketball
Ron Chenoy -- USA TODAY Sports

8. San Diego State

San Diego State basketball
Ron Chenoy -- USA TODAY Sports

Coached by Steve Fisher -- the man who led the 1989 Michigan squad to the NCAA championship even though he was only named head coach prior to the tournament -- this squad has emerged as a solid Mountain West Conference foe in recent years. San Diego State is good for at least 30 wins a season.

7. Saint Louis

Saint Louis basketball
Kim Klement -- USA TODAY Sports

7. Saint Louis

Saint Louis basketball
Kim Klement -- USA TODAY Sports

The Billikens overcame the loss of veteran coach Rick Majerus and became a squad to be reckoned with in the Atlantic 10. Saint Louis is one of three strong schools with A-10 ties that consistently threatens top opponents in the NCAA tournament.

6. New Mexico

New Mexico basketball
Stephen R. Sylvania -- USA TODAY Sports

6. New Mexico

New Mexico basketball
Stephen R. Sylvania -- USA TODAY Sports

In recent years the Lobos have cracked the top 25 and been a consistent performer in the Mountain West. The Lobos finished second to San Diego State a year ago and should provide a solid presence once again in this season's race.

5. Dayton

Dayton basketball
Spruce Derden -- USA TODAY Sports

5. Dayton

Dayton basketball
Spruce Derden -- USA TODAY Sports

Dayton has been a solid performer year in and year out in the A-10, but there is no question the Flyers came to the forefront in last season's tournament. Beginning with a huge upset of in-state rival Ohio State, Dayton went on a glorious run that ended in the Elite Eight. This should only wet the appetites of many fans.

4. Virginia Commonwealth

VCU basketball
Peter Casey -- USA TODAY Sports

4. Virginia Commonwealth

VCU basketball
Peter Casey -- USA TODAY Sports

Remember this team? No one thought Virginia Commonwealth stood a chance in the 2011 NCAA tournament, but they went all the way to the Final Four. Now VCU is a consistent performer under head coach Shaka Smart, but the program hasn't matched the heights of 2011. They're still a good team, however.

3. Wichita State

Wichita State basketball
Paul Halfacre -- USA TODAY Sports

3. Wichita State

Wichita State basketball
Paul Halfacre -- USA TODAY Sports

The past two years have been very kind to the Shockers as memories of some solid early 1980s teams were evoked in southern Kansas. Wichita State has been a strong Missouri Valley Conference foe and should be good again even with the exits of some key players to graduation.

2. Creighton

Creighton basketball
Paul Halfacre -- USA TODAY Sports

2. Creighton

Creighton basketball
Paul Halfacre -- USA TODAY Sports

Doug McDermott is gone to the NBA, but this program should be strong for a while longer. McDermott's talents have led to several winning seasons which have opened up the recruiting pipeline to bring in new talent. That should help the Bluejays compete in the Missouri Valley.

1. Gonzaga

Gonzaga basketball
Robert Hanashiro -- USA TODAY Sports

1. Gonzaga

Gonzaga basketball
Robert Hanashiro -- USA TODAY Sports

The original mid-major, this program was knocking out bigger teams in the NCAA tournament long before it became fashionable to do so. Gonzaga has fallen on some leaner times recently, including last year's loss to Arizona in the third round of the tournament, but this is still a team to fear come postseason play.

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