College Basketball Preseason Poll: Mid-Major Top 25

ESPN posted its National Top 25 poll earlier today, but the Mid-Major Poll generally does not appear until the season has tipped off. 

Here are the 25 best mid-major teams that I think you will hear of before March. 

1) Gonzaga (WCC)

Yes, the Bulldogs are still considered a mid-major school even though they have become prestigious over the last decade. Returning six of their top seven scorers, Gonzaga is the best mid-major in the country.

Matt Bouldin is only a junior, Jeremy Pargo is back for his senior year, and Austin Daye looks to build on his impressive freshman campaign. Mark Few brought in three talented freshmen in Demetri Goodson, Grant Gibbs, and Andy Polling to stack an already loaded Gonzaga team.

The Zags' OOC schedule is challenging and is highlighted by games against UConn, Tennessee, and Memphis. 

2) Davidson (Southern Conference)

The Wildcats lost three of their top four scorers, but the one returning scorer is Stephen Curry. After averaging 25.9 ppg last season, Curry is a preseason First Team All-American. He is accompanied by Andrew Lovedale, Bryant Barr, Will Archambault, and Max Paulhus Gosselin—all of whom boosted their experience from last year's run to the Elite Eight. 

Again, Coach McKillop scheduled a tough OOC in order to raise Davidson's credentials going into Selection Sunday. The Wildcats open the season with three home games against James Madison, Winthrop, and North Carolina State, and then will travel to West Virginia, Purdue, Charleston, and Duke. 

3) Saint Mary's (WCC)

The Gaels got snubbed by ESPN's Top 25, but they have the potential to break through early in the season. Patty Mills averaged 14.8 ppg last season and showed that he could take over games. Mills has quality backup, consisting of Diamon Simpson, Omar Samhan, and Ian O'Leary.

After being ousted in the first round of last season's Tournament, the Gaels should strive to prove that they can play with anyone. However, Randy Bennett did not schedule a demanding OOC. The Gaels' toughest matches will be at UTEP, Oregon, and Southern Illinois. Gonzaga is the only nationally ranked opponent on the Gaels' 2008-09 schedule.

4) Siena (MAAC)

Fran McCaffery's Saints, who ousted Vanderbilt in the first round of last season's Tournament, return all five starters from 2007-08. Kenny Hasbrouck, Edwin Ubiles, and Alex Franklin—all of whom were named to the All-MAAC First Team—will lead the Saints. 

Pittsburgh, St. Joe's, and Kansas highlight the Saints' non-conference schedule. McCaffery was able to boost the Saints' potential RPI by grabbing a spot in the Old Spice Classic, where Siena squares off against Tennessee in the first round. 

5) Virginia Commonwealth (CAA)

Eric Maynor is finally a senior and hopes to lead the Rams back into the NCAA Tournament. The Rams have a bunch of guys who can contribute, but they will be hit hard by the loss of Jamal Shuler.

Northeastern and Old Dominion are the only two teams that stand in the way of making the preseason coaches' poll, which predicted that VCU would finish first, correctly. Western Michigan and Oklahoma are the only tough games in the Rams' non-conference schedule.

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