Best of the rest: 2023-24 preview, picks, predictions for mid-majors and more teams outside power conferences

For this yr (and fairly most likely this yr best, due to the decimation of the Pac-12), faculty basketball has six conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC) perched above the relaxation. We’ve lined all the ones 2023-24 convention previews at this level.

Here, these days, we’re going to be specializing in the abundance of high quality teams, skill and coaches outside the “Big Six” leagues. 

This is the annual Best of the Rest preview, through which you’ll be able to get intel on some of the peak gamers and most powerful teams from multi-bid leagues and single-bid mid-major conferences. This isn’t a “mid-major” preview. Teams reminiscent of Gonzaga, Memphis and San Diego State are highlighted; none of the ones techniques are mid-majors. 

This is what we stated it’s: Best of the Rest. And there is a lot of Rest available in the market to get to, so let’s pass.

Ten gamers to understand

These don’t seem to be for positive the 10 perfect gamers outside of the Big Six leagues, however they’re 10 high quality hoopers who must play important roles on teams well-positioned to make the 2024 NCAA Tournament, indexed in alphabetical order …

1. Lamont Butler, San Diego State 

Here’s the fella accountable for the largest shot in class historical past. A reminder that Butler’s buzzer-beater to knock off FAU is the best game-winner in Final Four historical past that was once a do-or-die shot. Meaning: Time expired as the shot was once in the air, and had it now not long gone in, the group taking pictures it could have misplaced. Never prior to in that state of affairs had the trailing group received the sport in a Final Four affair or the nationwide name sport. Until Butler did this. 

The Aztecs must once more be a top quality group out of the Mountain West. Expect Butler’s position to noticeably build up. I don’t believe he will be a top-10 participant outside of the Big Six conferences, however I do assume he will be SDSU’s MVP and this is going to be a significant component in the Aztecs making it again to the Big Dance.

2. Tucker DeVries, Drake

Obviously one of the higher mid-major gamers in America, DeVries will almost certainly emerge as one of the maximum statistically stout studs in the nation. If Drake can organize a fourth instantly season of 25 or more wins and DeVries improves on his averages of 18.6 issues, 5.7 rebounds and 37.3% 3-point taking pictures, he will be in the dialog to be an All-American. Every high-major was once afraid to play Drake, so the peak nonconference affair to catch DeVries this season shall be on Dec. 22, when UAB welcomes the Bulldogs. That’s a in point of fact nice mid-major matchup. 

3. DaRon Holmes II, Dayton

The Flyers fell quick of preseason expectancies ultimate season, however Holmes was once as marketed. He began 34 video games and averaged 18.8 issues and 8.1 rebounds whilst taking pictures 59%. It’s now not unreasonable to invite him to nudge the ones numbers up in his 3rd yr of faculty. Holmes is a simple pick out for this record now not simply because of his price on offense; his defensive colleges are terrific and shall be an power supply for UD this season. 

4. Dillon Jones, Weber State

Jones has an opportunity to be drafted in 2024 and nearly indisputably shall be the perfect participant in the Big Sky. (Twist: As you’ll be able to see underneath, I wouldn’t have Weber State profitable the league.) The 6-6 (sturdy) wing averaged 16.7 issues, 10.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists, however here is the wow stat: Jones grabbed 35.5% of combatants’ misses when he was once on the ground — the No. 1 defensive-rebound price of any participant in the nation. Weber State has a a laugh mid-major agenda this season: I like to recommend you watch Jones open the season vs. Saint Mary’s ( (Nov. 12), then catch him vs. Colgate (Nov. 18), Yale (Nov. 19) and Nevada (Dec. 13). 

5. Aidan Mahaney, Saint Mary’s

He’s nonetheless one thing of a cult hero for late-night faculty hoops sickos, however this must be the glow-up season for the slim, 6-3 sophomore. Mahaney was once more treasured than his numbers ultimate season (13.9 issues, 2.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists) indicated. 

With Logan Johnson (number one distributor) shifting on, it manner Mahaney’s utilization goes to inflate. He may turn into one of the more entertaining gamers in the recreation. I made positive now not to select two gamers from the identical group for this record, however had I now not abided by way of my very own laws, Gaels pressure Mitchell Saxen would’ve cleared the bar. 

6. Alijah Martin, FAU

Of route a member of a mid-major Final Four group was once making this record; the downside was once FAU had 4 gamers into account. I’ll narrowly take Martin over the likes of Johnell Davis, Nick Boyd and Vlad Goldin. Martin, a taking pictures guard, averaged 19.0 issues and 5.6 rebounds in FAU’s ultimate seven video games of 2022-23. He embodies the program’s fearless and selfless spirit underneath Dusty May. There are six applicants on any given evening to be the Owls’ perfect participant, however over the route of this season, I believe Martin has the perfect probability to be FAU’s perfect on maximum nights. 

7. Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga

College basketball enthusiasts know who this man is, so his inclusion isn’t about instructing the target audience; it is about responsibly checklist anyone who almost certainly shall be one of the 5 most precious gamers outside of the Big Six construction. (And had Nembhard now not transferred from Creighton, Anton Watson would’ve been the Gonzaga rep right here.) Nembhard’s older brother, Andrew, used a switch to Gonzaga (by the use of Florida) as a springboard to changing into a primary spherical NBA pick out. Nembhard (12.1 ppg, 4.8 apg, 4.0 rpg) offers a semi-mysterious Gonzaga squad self belief to be a top-20 group once more, although few assume this crew shall be of the top-10 selection this season.

8. Drew Pember, UNC Asheville

The reigning Big South Player of the Year is again — and credit to him for staying dependable to train Mike Morrell. Pember got here to Asheville a couple of years in the past after now not liking his have compatibility at Tennessee. He post 20.9 issues, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 blocks. With Pember starring for the Bulldogs, the program made its first NCAA travel in seven seasons. Pember was once 2nd in the recreation in fouls drawn. He made combatants pay by way of sinking 83.2% of his freebies. So lengthy as he is wholesome, he is the runaway favourite to win POY in his league once more.  

9. Jahvon Quinerly, Memphis

Quinerly joins Nembhard as former power-league gamers who transferred to varsities outside the realm and thus landed on my record. The veteran lead guard will flip 25 on Nov. 25, the day after Memphis wraps up enjoying in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Quinerly was once regarded as one of the maximum necessary will get of the portal, and despite the fact that his stats ultimate season were not eye-popping (8.7 issues, 3.6 assists, 40.2 FG%), he figures to play a humongous position for an NCAA Tournament contender.  

10. Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State

What a participant. Stevens was once tabbed as the 2023-24 Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year. The Ram is in his 5th season with the faculty and must rank amongst the 5-10 perfect level guards in the country. A yr in the past, Stevens averaged 17.9 issues and 6.7 assists for a sub-.500 group with harm problems. This CSU squad goes to be significantly better and Stevens’ stats must thrive as a result of of it. Find the time to observe him; he’d get started at the 1 for all however 3-5 teams. EvanMiya.com expects him to be the 2nd maximum necessary participant on offense in the country this season, best at the back of a man named Zach Edey. (😳)

Mid-major coaches on the climb

In an effort to proceed to position shine on lesser-known coaches, I’m sidestepping together with any mid-major trainer that has made this record the previous two seasons. That manner Casey Alexander,  Darian DeVries, Jared Grasso, Joe Golding, Robert Jones, Matt Langel, Jeff Linder, Ritchie McKay and Russell Turner are all already accounted for.

In alphabetical order, listed here are six coaches on the come-up, all of whom strolled the sidelines in the 2023 NCAA tourney. 

Amir Abdur-Rahim, South Florida

Let’s spotlight a trainer who DID get a promotion. Abdur-Rahim were given the USF gig after commandeering a large four-year turnaround at Kennesaw State. He went 1-28 his first season, then guided the Owls to their first NCAA Tournament ever this previous March by way of going 26-9 and taking the ASUN name. Abdur-Rahim makes the record now not simply because of that, however as a result of he must have a group that is in the peak part of the American and figures to have USF more aggressive in the years yet to come.

Pat Kelsey, Charleston

In the previous 10 seasons at Winthrop and Charleston, Kelsey has received 70% of his video games — a clip few coaches can fit in that timespan. The Cougars went 31-4 ultimate season and did so and not using a top-three participant in the league. That’s nice training. The Cougs are once more the favourite to win the Coastal Athletic Association (sure: there was once a reputation trade; this was once previously the Colonial Athletic Association). If Charleston makes some other NCAA tourney, Kelsey’s identify shall be a scorching one on the carousel.

Mitch Henderson, Princeton

You take an Ivy League group to the Sweet 16, you make my record. Henderson’s Tigers gave us antique March Madness vibes by way of scary Arizona and then mopping the ground with Missouri as a No. 15 seed. Henderson’s quietly been doing a nice process at his alma mater since 2011, so here is an late bouquet of plants. Princeton isn’t anticipated to be the perfect group in the Ivy this season, however nobody will shortchange Henderson after ultimate season’s glory.

Dusty May, FAU

I imply, come on. He’s the No. 1 pick out for this record. May had one of the perfect single-season popularity improvements in fresh reminiscence. The Final Four is a large reason, however take into account that FAU was once a recognized entity and authentic feel-good faculty hoops tale for two-plus months previous to March. May were given a well-merited carry, however higher than that: He did not lose a participant to switch, which is why the Owls are projected to be one of the higher teams in the nation this season. If FAU simply makes the NCAAs in its new confines of the American Athletic Conference, May may well be the maximum desired identify on the carousel. 

Mike Morell, UNC Asheville

This is Year 6 for Morrell, who took the Bulldogs to the NCAAs as a No. 15 seed this previous March. His group received 27 video games ultimate season and shall be appreciated to win the Big South once more. Morrell’s first yr with the program was once dreadful: 4-27. Now he is were given the reigning participant of the yr again in the fold and is taking part in existence in a single of the maximum underrated towns in the nation. Love to look those varieties of turnaround tales.

Bob Richey, Furman

The four-decade-long drought in the end expired in March when Furman overcame its bugaboos and broke via in the SoCon. What got here subsequent was once even higher: The Thirteenth-seeded Paladins disappointed Virginia in the first sport of the first spherical.

Richey inherited this process after Niko Medved left for Drake in 2017. He has been super, proudly owning a 139-55 report (.716) and first, 2nd or 3rd position in the SoCon each and every season. A top-three end in ’23-24 turns out all however assured, that means FU may once more be a Cinderella candidate — and Richey may well be excessive up on the interview record for a couple of athletic administrators come subsequent March.

Top 15 non-Big Six teams for ’23-24

Projected convention champions