Earlier than we get into the primary Ballislife Mid-Main Prime 10 rating of 2026, allow us to first set up what constitutes a mid-major program. For the needs of this train, we’re utilizing the unique definition of mid-major, which is particularly tailor-made to incorporate all Division 1 basketball packages that aren’t at the moment included in a presently constructed Energy 4 convention. Meaning Gonzaga, the WCC, A10, and Mountain West are all honest recreation regardless of their respective exclusion from different shops’ rankings.
From acquainted faces to packages having their brightest second, the Ballislife Mid-Main Prime 10 breaks down which non-powers it’s best to look out for in March.
1. Gonzaga (17-1, 5-0 WCC)
Whereas their present standing within the West Coast Convention makes them a mid-major by definition, Gonzaga has at all times been an influence convention program in mid-major clothes. Led by a veteran-laden lineup that includes stars Graham Ike and Tyon Grant-Foster, the Zags largely did what they have been alleged to do of their non-conference slate, with their lone slip-up being a 43-point setback in opposition to Michigan on the Gamers Period Championship in Las Vegas.Â
Apart from that embarrassing evening on the Strip, which many people Vegas of us have skilled ourselves in some method or one other, the Zags earned decisive non-con victories over Creighton, Alabama, Kentucky and UCLA. Final Thursday, Gonzaga moved to 5-0 in WCC play to date this season with a 12-point win over a Santa Clara staff that we’ll get to just a little additional down the road.
On Thursday night, we realized 6-foot-10 junior Braden Huff is out 4-8 weeks with a knee harm. His harm doesn’t actually have an effect on the Zags standing amongst different mid-major groups, simply their viability as a possible NCAA title contender.
2. Utah State (16-1, 6-0 Mountain West)
We’re only some seasons faraway from the Mountain West being the head of mid-major hoops and a real competitor in opposition to a minimum of one Energy 4 convention. In 2025, nevertheless, the Mountain is simply attempting to ship greater than a single staff to the NCAA Event within the remaining yr of its most profitable iteration. The one staff Mountain West followers don’t have to fret about being ignored of the bracket is the Aggies of Utah State, who’ve quietly emerged over San Diego State because the convention’s high energy in the previous couple of seasons.Â
The Aggies’ greatest win of the season was an 80-77 triumph at VCU of their first Division I recreation on Nov. 7, setting the tone for his or her present 16-1 begin that has them ranked No. 23 within the nation in the latest AP Ballot. Utah State did lose a Dec. 4 non-conference recreation to South Florida by 13 factors on the highway, however the reality the Aggies have received their first six video games in Mountain West play by a mean of 23 factors actually makes up for that setback.
3. Miami (OH) (18-0, 6-0 MAC)
It’s actually true that there’s a handful of mid-major packages with higher wins on their resume than the Miami (OH) Redhawks, however what’s additionally true is that each single a kind of packages has misplaced a recreation this season. who hasn’t? The unique Miami College, the one in Oxford, Ohio that was established earlier than Florida even reached statehood.Â
Regardless of the actual fact a few of the superior stats don’t love the Redhawks compared to a few of their different elite mid-major counterparts, they are one of many nation’s best groups on offense. Miami (OH) has the third-highest efficient subject objective share in your entire nation they usually rank within the high 15 nationally in each 2-point and 3-point subject objective share. And for those who’re skeptical about whether or not Miami (OH) can preserve successful, remember that solely two of their wins this season have come by lower than 10 factors.
4. Saint Louis (16-1, 6-0 Atlantic 10)
Apart from a one-point loss to Stanford on the buzzer throughout Feast Week, fan favourite Robbie Avila and the Saint Louis Billikens have been driving excessive by their first 17 video games. The Billikens exerted dominance over a trio of established WCC foes within the non-conference portion of their schedule, incomes spectacular wins over Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount and San Francisco. Much more spectacular is the Billikens’ 6-0 begin in Atlantic 10 play, highlighted by a 72-61 win at VCU on Jan. 7.Â
Avila’s presence has made Saint Louis arguably the best inside scoring staff within the nation, because the Billikens rank second nationally in efficient subject objective share (60.2 p.c), fifth in 2-point field-goal share (61.3), and first in common 2-point subject objective try distance (3.7 toes).
5. New Mexico (14-3, 5-1 Mountain West)
The Mountain West’s greatest hope at turning into a two-bid league is for New Mexico to win its second Mountain West Convention Event in three seasons in March, however the excellent news for Gloria Narvaez and firm is that the Lobos have an excellent shot at doing so. The Eric Olen period has gotten off to a largely quick begin in Albuquerque, albeit with a number of poorly growing old losses in opposition to New Mexico State and Boise State.
Then again, you’d be hard-pressed to discover a mid-major program exterior of Gonzaga that performed as unforgiving a non-conference schedule because the Lobos, they usually escaped with spectacular wins in opposition to Mississippi State, Santa Clara and VCU. If the Lobos can restrict their setbacks in Mountain West play, they may play themselves into at-large territory.
6. George Mason (17-1, 5-0 Atlantic 10)
George Mason, like Miami (OH), has benefited from enjoying a schedule filled with groups that aren’t pretty much as good as they’re. The superior metrics and revered statisticians are unanimously cautious of the Patriots’ quick begin on account of who they’ve performed, however my primary philosophy when making any type of energy rankings is that on-the-court outcomes have to be paramount.Â
When you think about this staff hasn’t misplaced to any of their (albeit lesser) opponents, that their one loss got here in opposition to an ACC foe in Virginia Tech, and that they’ve the identical greatest win as Saint Louis and New Mexico (VCU), perhaps it’s time to offer the boys from Fairfax the advantage of the doubt till they drop a recreation they aren’t alleged to. As a result of it hasn’t occurred but. There are groups that will look extra engaging while you take a look at the metrics, however these groups have crumbled in moments the place George Mason has been at its greatest.
7. Saint Mary’s (17-2, 6-0)
Saint Mary’s will possible climb up the rankings a bit as soon as it will get a number of of these good WCC wins on their resume, however its two losses in non-conference play gave an preliminary trigger for pause. The Gaels’ first loss to Vanderbilt was a regarding 25-point trouncing throughout Feast Week, although it has come to age fairly effectively since contemplating Vanderbilt’s recently-broken successful streak. The opposite, nevertheless, a one-point loss to Boise State, has aged like a cigarette smoker within the desert after the Broncos have began 1-5 in Mountain West play.Â
Nonetheless, the Gaels boast some of the well-rounded groups within the nation. Mid-major or in any other case. The Gaels rank within the high 30 in each KenPom and Torvik’s offensive effectivity scores and within the high 50 in every of their respective defensive effectivity scores. Like Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s metrics are extra aptly akin to energy convention groups than any mid-major, but their resume is rarely even near as ironclad.
8. Dayton (13-4, 6-2 Atlantic 10)
Like New Mexico, Dayton is a staff that has gone by the wringer early within the season and has largely emerged as a greater staff on the opposite facet. Of their 4 losses, two got here in opposition to groups that have been ranked in KenPom’s high 15 (BYU and Virginia) and one other Energy 4 opponent in Cincinnati. Dayton doesn’t but have a signature win, however the defensive metrics present the Flyers shall be a pressure to be reckoned with all through Atlantic 10 play. They rank fifth nationally in turnover share, eighth in steal share, and 14th in 2-point share allowed
9. Belmont (16-3, 6-2 Missouri Valley)
Belmont’s present resume doesn’t precisely leap off the web page when taking a look at wins and losses, however the Bruins’ offense shall be a pressure to be reckoned with for any staff they cross paths with this season. Belmont leads your entire nation in efficient subject objective share at 60.6 p.c, rating second nationally in 2-point subject objective share and tenth in 3-point subject objective share.
Past that, Belmont is an especially formidable defensive pressure. The Bruins rank twelfth nationally in 2-point subject objective share allowed and fifty fifth in whole efficient subject objective share allowed. If they’ll survive a gauntlet within the Missouri Valley Convention match, Belmont is a staff you’ll need your energy convention alma mater to keep away from in March.
10. Tulsa (14-3, 2-2 American)
If this rating got here out a number of weeks earlier, the Golden Hurricanes most likely would have debuted a number of slots greater after their 13-1 begin. Two losses in 4 American Convention video games have knocked them down a peg, however they nonetheless have an offense that compares favorably to most within the nation. They lead the nation in efficient subject objective share and rank twentieth in 3-point share, though we’ll need to see whether or not or not they’ll preserve their heads afloat in convention.
They get some good thing about the doubt enjoying in an American Convention that’s teetering on the sting of high-major, and thus, they get extra good thing about the doubt than a few of their different mid-major counterparts.Â
