Late summer days might feel far removed from the autumn arrival of a new college basketball season, but programs with Final Four dreams are already at work in anticipation of the campaign. For the nation's mid-major programs, the 2024-25 season could be a memorable one. 

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After the 2023 Final Four featured two teams from mid-major conferences — FAU from Conference USA, and San Diego State from the Mountain West — the 2024 NCAA Tournament was difficult for mid-major leagues. Gonzaga and San Diego State were the only representatives from one of the mid-major conferences to advance to the Sweet 16. Their losses to national finalists Purdue and UConn ended a run of six straight postseasons with at least one team from a mid-major league reaching the Elite Eight. 

Last season may have signaled mid-major programs building toward breaking out in 2024-25, however. And, indeed, there are a variety of teams from mid-major conferences that have Final Four potential in the coming campaign. 

Unlike its gridiron counterpart, which has a defined hierarchy with its automatic-qualifying conferences and non-automatic qualifiers for the College Football Playoff, mid-major is open to interpretation in basketball. For the sake of consistency, the FloHoops Mid-Major Power Rankings include all teams from conferences outside of football's Power Four — ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC — and the BIG EAST. 

1. Gonzaga

2023-24 Record: 27-8 

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch 

• Nov. 10 vs. Arizona State
• Nov. 27-29, Battle 4 Atlantis 
• Dec. 7 vs. Kentucky (in Seattle) 
• Dec. 14 vs. UConn (in New York City) 
• Dec. 28 vs. UCLA (in Inglewood, Calif.) 

The 2023-24 campaign was, by Gonzaga's standards, a trying one. It ended with the Bulldogs advancing to the Sweet 16, continuing a streak that dates back to 2015.

 With a veteran corps built around Graham Ike, Nolan Hickman, and Ryan Nembhard, and with the addition of explosive scorer Michael Ajayi from Pepperdine, Gonzaga has the pieces to contend for its first national championship. 

2. Grand Canyon

2023-24 Record: 30-5

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch 

• Nov. 14 vs. Arizona State (in Phoenix) 
• Nov. 26 & 27, Acrisure Holiday Classic
• Dec. 14 vs. Georgia (in Atlanta)

Grand Canyon's rapid ascent reached a new milestone last season with the Antelopes scoring their first-ever NCAA Tournament win. GCU even had eventual West Regional champion Alabama on the ropes in their 2nd Round matchup. 

Several key contributors and a variety of high-potential transfers make up Grand Canyon's 2024-25 roster, and chief among the lineup is reigning WAC Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster. After flirting with the NBA draft, Grant-Foster is back with the potential to be a 1st Team All-American. 

3. Boise State 

2023-24 Record: 22-11

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch 

• Nov. 6 vs. Oakland 
• Nov. 9 at San Francisco 
• Nov. 17 vs. Clemson
• Dec. 7 vs. Washington State
• Dec. 14 vs. Saint Mary's (in Idaho Falls, Idaho)

The Mountain West was one of the most exciting conferences in basketball a season ago, thanks to the multitude of league title contenders that emerged. Boise State was one of them, and the Broncos reload for 2024-25 with the most experienced headline unit in the still-loaded MW. 

Versatile Tyson Degenhart is a two-time All-MW 1st Team selection and big man O'Mar Stanley should be among the conference's best interior presences. 

4. Saint Mary's 

2023-24 Record: 26-8 

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch 

• Nov. 12 vs. Akron 
• Nov. 17 vs. Nebraska (in Sioux Falls, South Dakota) 
• Nov. 28 & 29, Acrisure Classic 
• Dec. 7 at Utah 
• Dec. 14 vs. Boise State (in Idaho Falls, Idaho) 
• Dec. 22 vs. Utah State 

An outright West Coast Conference championship marked the culmination of a dramatic turnaround for Saint Mary's. The Gaels struggled early in the season before coming on strong and returning to the NCAA Tournament. 

SMC returns Augustas Marciulionis and Mitchell Saxen, standouts from a season ago, with transfers Paulius Marauskas (Arizona) and Ashton Hardaway (Memphis) bringing a ton of upside both up front and in the backcourt respectively. 

5. Dayton 

2023-24 Record: 25-8 

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch

• Nov. 9 vs. Northwestern 
• Nov. 25-27, Maui Invitational 
• Dec. 14 vs. Marquette 
• Dec. 17 vs. UNLV 
• Dec. 20 at Cincinnati 

The loss of All-American forward Da'Ron Holmes leaves a considerable void, but Dayton should again be the most talented team in the Atlantic 10 Conference. 

Forward Nate Santos steps into the spotlight that Holmes vacated, coming off an 11.7-point, 6.3-rebound per game 2023-24. Guards Javon Bennett and Enoch Cheeks were both starters for a UD squad that reached the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament. 

6. Nevada 

2023-24 Record: 26-8 

Schedule TBA 

Nevada emerged as one of the Mountain West's surprises a season ago, reaching a second straight NCAA Tournament under coach Steve Alford. The Wolf Pack replace leading scorers Jarod Lucas and Kenan Blackshear, but starters KJ Hymes, Nick Davidson and Tre Coleman combined to average more than 26 points per game. Davidson was also Nevada's leading rebounder at 7.3 a contest. 

The addition of transfer Kobe Sanders is among the most intriguing offseason roster moves in the MW. Sanders was a prolific scorer for a struggling Cal Poly team. Joining a deep roster could unlock his full potential. 

7. Memphis 

2023-24 Record: 22-11

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch

• Nov. 4 vs. Missouri 
• Nov. 25-27, Maui Invitational 
• Dec. 21 vs. Mississippi State 

A reset after the disappointing conclusion to 2023-24 should benefit Memphis. The Tigers had a talented roster, but endured inexplicable losing streaks throughout the campaign. 

A variety of transfers will play key roles for Memphis, some of whom bring American Athletic Conference experience. PJ Haggerty was an All-AAC honoree at Tulsa, while Tyreek Smith provided interior energy at SMU. Colby Rogers, a Wichita State transfer, earned All-MAAC honors at Siena. Penny Hardaway also added size from the transfer portal with former Illinois big man Dain Dainja and the return of 7-footer Moussa Cisse, an outstanding rim-protector who spent the 2020-21 campaign with the Tigers. 

8. Colorado State

2023-24 Record: 25-11

Schedule TBA 

Colorado State scored big with Nique Clifford opting to return to Fort Collins for one more season. The explosive forward will contend for MW Player of the Year, riding the momentum of an outstanding finish to 2023-24 when he grabbed at least nine rebounds in the Rams final seven games and produced three double-doubles. 

Jalen Lake, a solid role player off the bench, moves into a more prominent role, and former All-MAC honoree Keshawn Williams is a name to know. If he can bounce back from injury that sidelined him at Northern Illinois, Williams is a versatile difference-maker.

9. Loyola Chicago  

2023-24 Record: 23-10 

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch

• Nov. 15 at Princeton 
• Dec. 7 vs. USF 
• Dec. 15 vs. San Francisco (in Milwaukee) 
• Dec. 22-25, Diamond Head Classic

Loyola Chicago came alive in the back-half of the 2023-24 season, going 15-3 once the calendar turned to 2024 and before an excruciating loss to St. Bonaventure in the A-10 Tournament. 

With the unceremonious exit from the league tournament ending the Ramblers' March Madness hopes, the 2024-25 team has some additional motivation. Holdovers from last year's squad lead the way, including 12.6-point per game scorer Des Watson and promising big man Miles Rubin. Rubin led the Ramblers in rebounding and shot better than 66 percent from the floor. The addition of All-CAA guard Justin Moore from Drexel provides additional offensive punch on the perimeter. 

10. VCU

2023-24 Record: 24-14

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch

• Nov. 8 vs. Boston College (in Annapolis, Maryland) 
• Nov. 21-24, Charleston Classic 
• Dec. 14 vs. Colorado State (in Las Vegas) 
• Dec. 18 at New Mexico 

VCU rebounded from a slump at the end of last regular season to reach the A-10 Championship Game, coming within a few scores of advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Rams build from their 5-2 final stretch, which included advancing to the quarterfinals of the NIT, with leading scorers Max Shulga (14 points per game), Joe Bamisile (13.1) and Zeb Jackson (11.4) all back in 2024-25. 

Along with the primary corps of returning leaders, VCU brings in Phillip Russell, an explosive scorer from UT Arlington who earned All-OVC honors previously at SEMO.

11. New Mexico 

2023-24 Record: 26-10

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch

• Nov. 8 vs. UCLA (in Las Vegas) 
• Nov. 17 at St. John's 
• Nov. 28 & 29, Acrisure Classic 
• Dec. 18 vs. VCU 

A raucous run through the Mountain West Tournament sent New Mexico to its first Big Dance in a decade. The Lobos replace the star of that run, Jaelen House, but Richard Pitino's hardly hitting the reset button. 

Donovan Dent was outstanding all season and could develop into one of the nation's top combo guards. Tru Washington, a reliable contributor off the bench, should thrive in a more prominent role, and Nelly Junior Joseph gives the Lobos a formidable presence on the inside.  

12. UNLV 

2023-24 Record: 21-13

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch

• Nov. 9 vs. Memphis
• Nov. 28 & 29, Arizona Tip-Off
• Dec. 7 at Creighton 
• Dec. 17 at Dayton 

If you are not yet familiar with Dedan Thomas Jr., remember the name. The 2024 MW Co-Freshman of the Year ranks among the country's most exciting guards returning in 2024-25, coming off a debut campaign in which he posted 13.6 points and 5.2 assists per game. 

Thomas leads what could be the best UNLV team since the Lon Kruger era, joining returning veteran Jalen Hill. The Runnin' Rebels also add Julien Bedford, a 14.6-point per game scorer last season at Oral Roberts. 

13. Charleston 

2023-24 Record: 27-8 

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch

• Nov. 4 vs. Southern Illinois (in Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
• Nov. 8 vs. USF 
• Nov. 15 vs. FAU (Field of 68 Tip-Off)
• Nov. 17 vs. Liberty (Field of 68 Tip-Off)
• Nov. 24 at Rhode Island
• Nov. 27 vs. Northern Kentucky 
• Dec. 10 at Saint Joseph's 
• Dec. 22-25, Diamond Head Classic 

The Coastal Athletic Association's representative in the last two NCAA Tournaments lost coach Pat Kelsey and 3-point sharpshooter Reyne Smith to Louisville, but the Cougars have plenty that suggests they'll remain at the forefront of the CAA. 

Big man Ante Brzovic would be the frontrunner for CAA Player of the Year. The talented stretch four averaged 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in 2023-24, and more than doubled his assist output with the offense running through him more in his second year as a Cougar. Teaming with Xavier transfer Lazar Djokovic, Brzovic is part of one of the longest frontcourts anywhere in the country. 

14. Princeton 

2023-24 Record: 24-5 

Schedule TBA 

The return of sensational guard Xaivian Lee was a huge win for Princeton this offseason. Combined with the return of Ivy League Player of the Year Caden Pierce, the Tigers are frontrunners not just in the Ivy League but a team capable of replicating the program's 2023 Sweet 16 run. 

Lee averaged 17.1 points per game a season, while Pierce produced near-double-double numbers at 16.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. 

15. USF 

2023-24 Record: 25-8 

2024-25 Early-Season Games to Watch

• Nov. 4 vs. Florida
• Nov. 8 at Charleston
• Nov. 21-24, Myrtle Beach Invitational 
• Dec. 7 at Loyola Chicago 
• Dec. 14 at Utah State

USF's AAC regular-season championship provided one of the season's best surprises. The Bulls won't be sneaking up on anyone in 2024-25 despite featuring some new faces. 

Gone are the Bulls three leading scorers — Chris Youngblood (15.3 points per game), Selton Miguel (14.7) and Kaseaon Pryor (13) — but Kobe Knox was solid through AAC play. Jayden Reid is an effective distributor and disruptive on-ball defender. USF also gets frontcourt reinforcements from Florida State transfer De'Ante Green and Jamille Reynolds, who averaged 10.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game at Temple before spending a season at Cincinnati. 

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