Mid-Major Top 25, Jan. 2: Murray State Remains Undefeated, Gonzaga Heating Up

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Here are the top 25 mid-majors in the nation based off my own evaluation.

I consider a mid-major team to be any team that is not from the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, Pac-12, Mountain West, Atlantic 10 or Conference USA.

Also, please note that this does not take into account any games that were played on Monday, Jan. 2.

 

*Follow Jesse Kramer on Twitter @Jesse_Kramer for more college basketball news and information.

25. Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers

Photo from horizonleague.org

Record: 10-5, 3-1 Horizon

RPI: 87

Last Week's Ranking: 21

Milwaukee has lost four of its last six games after an 8-1 start. The Panthers have a non-conference matchup at Western Michigan on Tuesday.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: Butler (Road)

24. Denver Pioneers

AP Photo

Record: 11-3, 1-1 Sun Belt

RPI: 69

Last Week's Ranking: 18

Denver's five-game winning streak came to an end with a loss to Arkansas-Little Rock.

Key Wins: Southern Miss (Home), St. Mary's (Home)

Key Losses: UALR (Home)

23. Belmont Bruins

Harry How/Getty Images

Record: 9-5, 2-0 A-Sun

RPI: 72

Last Week's Ranking: 22

Belmont bounced back from a two-game losing streak with wins over Austin Peay and Marshall this week.

Key Wins: Middle Tennessee (Road), Marshall (Home)

Key Losses: Miami-Ohio (Road)

22. South Dakota State Jackrabbits

AP Photo

Record: 12-4, 4-0 Summit

RPI: 73

Last Week's Ranking: 23

South Dakota has won its last three games by double digits, most recently defeating Oakland 76-64.

Key Wins: Washington (Road)

Key Losses: North Dakota (Road)

21. Wagner Seahawks

Keith Srakocic/AP

Record: 10-3, 1-1 NEC

RPI: 47

Last Week's Ranking: Not Ranked

Wagner made a splash on the national scene with a win at Pittsburgh last week. In addition, the Seahawks won the Cable Car Classic this week with wins over Air Force and Santa Clara.

Key Wins: Pittsburgh (Road)

Key Losses: Lehigh (Home)

20. Davidson Wildcats

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Record: 8-4, 2-0 SoCon

RPI: 34

Last Week's Ranking: 19

Davidson rebounded from its loss to Massachusetts with a 75-70 win over Pennsylvania.

Key Wins: Kansas (Road)

Key Losses: Charlotte (Road)

19. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Jae C. Hong/AP

Record: 13-2, 2-0 Sun Belt

RPI: 80

Last Week's Ranking: 20

Middle Tennessee picked up its fifth consecutive win, defeating South Alabama on Saturday.

Key Wins: UCLA (Road), Belmont (Home), Ole Miss (Road)

Key Losses: UAB (Road)

18. George Mason Patriots

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Record: 9-4, 1-0 CAA

RPI: 154

Last Week's Ranking: 24

George Mason picked up a key win at Charleston on Friday, improving to 9-4.

Key Wins: Charleston (Road)

Key Losses: Florida Int. (Neutral), Florida Atlantic (Road)

17. Kent State Golden Flashes

Photo from kentstatesports.com

Record: 9-3

RPI: 84

Last Week's Ranking: 16

Kent State ended its two-game slide with a win at Arkansas State. The Golden Flashes return home for a match with Shawnee State before opening MAC play at Buffalo on Saturday.

Key Wins: West Virginia (Road)

Key Losses: Texas-Arlington (Neutral), Utah State (Road)

16. Charleston Cougars

Photo from cofcsports.com

Record: 10-3, 2-0 SoCon

RPI: 57

Last Week's Ranking: 14

Charleston ended its non-conference campaign with an 84-76 loss to George Mason on Friday. The Cougars return to SoCon play against defending champion Wofford on Thursday.

Key Wins: Massachusetts (Neutral)

Key Losses: None

15. Cleveland State Vikings

Morning Journal/Anna Norris

Record: 12-3, 2-1 Horizon

RPI: 61

Last Week's Ranking: 13

Cleveland State picked up its first Horizon League loss, falling to Youngstown State on Saturday.

Key Wins: Vanderbilt (Road), Kent State (Road), Robert Morris (Road)

Key Losses: Hofstra (Neutral), Youngstown State (Home)

14. Indiana State Sycamores

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Record: 10-3, 1-1 MVC

RPI: 62

Last Week's Ranking: 15

Indiana State split its first two MVC games, losing to Drake and then beating Bradley.

Key Wins: Vanderbilt (Road)

Key Losses: Boise State (Road)

13. Weber State Wildcats

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Record: 10-3, 2-0 Big Sky

RPI: 102

Last Week's Ranking: 17

Weber State opened up Big Sky play with a pair of double-digit wins over Idaho State and Sacramento State.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: None

12. Long Beach State 49ers

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Record: 7-6

RPI: 14

Last Week's Ranking: 12

Despite standing at a mediocre, 7-6 record, Long Beach State remains a premier mid-major with a 2-3 record against the Top 25.

Key Wins: Pittsburgh (Road), Xavier (Neutral)

Key Losses: Montana (Road)

11. Brigham Young Cougars

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Record: 12-4, 1-1 WCC

RPI: 64

Last Week's Ranking: 10

BYU picked up its first win in the WCC by beating San Diego, 88-52. The Cougars go back on the road to face Loyola Marymount on Thursday.

Key Wins: Oregon (Neutral), Weber State (Home)

Key Losses: Utah State (Road)

10. Northern Iowa Panthers

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Record: 10-4, 0-2 MVC

RPI:

Last Week's Ranking: 4

After a scorching 10-1 beginning to its season, Northern Iowa has lost three straight games. The Panthers look to end the slide against Indiana State on Wednesday.

Key Wins: Iowa State (Road), Colorado State (Home)

Key Losses: Illinois State (Road), Evansville (Home)

9. Wichita State Shockers

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Record: 10-3, 1-1 MVC

RPI: 28

Last Week's Ranking: 9

Wichita State fell to 1-1 in the MVC after losing to Creighton on Saturday.

Key Wins: UNLV (Home)

Key Losses: None

8. Iona Gaels

Chris Chambers/Getty Images

Record: 10-3, 2-0 MAAC

RPI: 30

Last Week's Ranking: 6

Iona's three-game winning streak ended with an 83-75 loss at Hofstra. The Gaels play Siena at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday to finish their nine-game road trip.

Key Wins: St. Joseph's (Home), Denver (Road), Richmond (Road)

Key Losses: Hofstra (Road)

7. VCU Rams

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Record: 10-3, 1-0 CAA

RPI: 66

Last Week's Ranking: 11

VCU kept its winning streak alive with a 76-75 overtime win over Akron. The Rams finish off their three-game road trip at Hofstra.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: Georgia Tech (Neutral)

6. Ohio Bobcats

Elsa/Getty Images

Record: 12-1

RPI: 37

Last Week's Ranking: 8

Ohio struggled with Kennesaw State on Friday, but the Bobcats managed to come away with a 71-63 victory.

Key Wins: Marshall (Road), Northern Iowa (Road)

Key Losses: None

5. St. Mary's Gaels

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Record: 13-2, 2-0 WCC

RPI: 23

Last Week's Ranking: 7

St. Mary's picked up its first conference road win with a 74-45 win at Pepperdine on Saturday. The Gaels stay on the road this week, playing at San Diego on Thursday.

Key Wins: Northern Iowa (Home), BYU (Home)

Key Losses: None

4. Creighton Bluejays

Photo from mvc-sports.com

Record: 11-2, 1-1 MVC

RPI: 21

Last Week's Ranking: 2

Creighton lost its MVC opener to Missouri State, but the Bluejays managed to rebound with a win at Wichita State on New Year's Eve.

Key Wins: San Diego State (Road), Northwestern (Home), Wichita State (Road)

Key Losses: Missouri State (Home)

3. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Record: 11-2, 1-0 WCC

RPI: 8

Last Week's Ranking: 5

Gonzaga stretched its winning streak to six games with wins over Portland and Xavier this week. The Zags host 7-6 Pepperdine on Thursday.

Key Wins: Arizona (Neutral), Xavier (Road)

Key Losses: None

2. Murray State Racers

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Record: 14-0, 2-0 OVC

RPI: 16

Last Week's Ranking: 3

Murray State won its first two Ohio Valley games by an average of 28.5 points. The Racers take on Eastern Kentucky, which currently stands at 3-0 in the conference, on Wednesday.

Key Wins: Southern Miss (Neutral), Memphis (Road)

Key Losses: None

1. Harvard Crimson

Photo from gocrimson.com

Record: 12-1

RPI: 20

Last Week's Ranking: 1

Harvard picked up a key win this week, coming from behind to take down St. Joseph's, 74-69. The Crimson continues its non-conference stretch at Fordham on Tuesday.

Key Wins: Florida State (Neutral), UCF (Neutral), St. Joseph's (Home)

Key Losses: None

Just Missed the Cut

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Yale (8-4) won six games in a row from Nov. 26 to Dec. 18, but now the Bulldogs have lost back-to-back games to Wake Forest and nationally-ranked Florida.

Drexel (8-4, 0-1 CAA) has won its last six games after a 2-4 start to the season.

Loyola-Maryland (9-3, 2-0 MAAC) bounced back from a two-game slide with a 72-67 win at Bucknell.

Robert Morris (10-4, 2-0 NEC) would have cracked the top 25 this week had it not lost to Memphis, but the Colonials get another shot a key win at Ohio on Monday.

Missouri State (9-5, 2-0 MVC) seems to be back on track with wins over Creighton and Drake to open up MVC play.

Nevada (10-3) had won 10 of its last 11, with the only loss coming to BYU.

Oral Roberts (11-4, 3-0 Summit) improved to 3-0 in conference play with a win over South Dakota this week.

Lehigh (11-4) went 2-1 on its three-game road trip. The Mountain Hawks come home for their final non-conference game against Maryland Eastern Shore on Tuesday.

Butler (8-7, 2-1 Horizon) increased its winning streak to three games with a win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Saturday.