My fellow Sandman writer Dan Angell put out a really strong piece on this topic last week. While we overlap on a couple teams, we also differ on a few others when it comes to which mid-majors we think are best positioned to make noise in March.
And that’s what makes this time of year so great.
The best part of March Madness is the Cinderella stories. Every year, a team or two slips on the glass slipper and goes on a run no one saw coming. Most of them eventually turn back into pumpkins before reaching the top of the mountain, but those runs are often remembered just as much as the champions themselves.
No group embodies that Cinderella label more than mid-major programs. With one notable exception (Gonzaga), mid-majors are rarely viewed as legitimate national title contenders, or even serious tournament threats. That doesn’t mean they’re bid stealers or pushovers. In fact, mid-majors often end up wrecking brackets and reshaping the field.
This year’s group might be one of the strongest we’ve seen in a while. Here are six mid-majors with a real chance to make noise when March arrives.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (West Coast Conference)
Yes, I get this might be cheating a little bit since the Bulldogs are a perennial powerhouse despite their mid-major label. But they still are considered a mid-major playing in the West Coast Conference, and this Gonzaga squad may be one of Mark Few’s best yet. The Bulldogs currently sit top 10 in both the AP Poll and KenPom, with an impressive résumé that already includes four ranked wins.
This roster feels built for March. The dynamic frontcourt duo of Braden Huff and Graham Ike anchors the team, while seasoned guards Braeden Smith and Tyon Grant-Foster provide stability and shot-making. With Gonzaga set to move to the restructured Pac-12 next season, a national title would be a fitting capstone to their WCC era.
St. Mary’s Gaels (West Coast Conference)
The reigning WCC champions entered the season looking even more dangerous than last year, and they’ve lived up to it so far. St. Mary’s is currently 17-3, with 13 of those wins coming by double digits, including an 11-point statement win over Virginia Tech.
Paulius Murauskas leads the way at 19 points per game, while sophomore guard Joshua Dent runs the backcourt. Head coach Randy Bennett is eyeing his 15th NCAA Tournament appearance, and the way this team is playing, the Gaels look capable of securing an automatic bid and knocking off higher-seeded opponents in March.
Saint Louis Billikens (Atlantic 10)
Saint Louis has quietly put together one of the best rebuilds in college basketball. Josh Schertz was hired in April of 2024 and immediately reshaped the program. After leading the Billikens to the NIT in year one, he has them squarely in position to make the Big Dance this season.
The offense revolves around Robbie Avila, a unique 6-foot-10 big man who serves as both the team’s leading scorer and primary facilitator. But guards win in March, and the starting backcourt of Quentin Jones and Dion Brown gives SLU the steady leadership needed to survive tournament pressure.
Utah State Aggies (Mountain West)
Much like Saint Louis, Utah State underwent a dramatic turnaround after hiring Jerrod Calhoun in March of 2024. While Calhoun took the Aggies to the tournament last year, this season they look like legitimate threats to do real damage.
Utah State currently sits at 15-2 and ranks 23rd in the AP Poll. They lead the Mountain West in scoring, field goal percentage, and scoring defense, making them dangerous on both ends of the floor. Outside of Gonzaga, this might be the mid-major best equipped to make a deep run, potentially even into the Final Four.
Miami (OH) RedHawks (MAC)
If you asked fans before the season which teams might still be undefeated deep into the year, Miami (OH) would not have topped many lists. And yet, here they are at 19–0, with a realistic path to finishing undefeated in a relatively weak MAC.
The obvious concern is schedule strength. The RedHawks haven’t played a power conference opponent and won’t the rest of the season. Still, they’ve consistently handled lesser competition and survived multiple overtime games. While the postseason will present new challenges, this team has shown enough resilience to believe they could steal a game or two when it matters most.
Murray State Racers (Missouri Valley)
There’s no Ja Morant lacing up high tops for Murray State this time around, but the Racers make up for it by being exceptionally sound across the board. They shoot the lights out, move the ball well, defend at a high level, and play a style that translates to March basketball.
No single player dominates the box score. Javon Jackson leads the team at 17 points per game, with only two other players averaging double figures. But five of the rotation players shoot over 38 percent from three, allowing Murray State to lean on depth when things tighten up. Elite shooting has fueled March runs before, and it can do it again.
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