5 Longshot Teams That Will Be in CBB's AP Top 25 at Season's End

Every year there are teams that come out of nowhere to surprise everyone in the college basketball world.

Murray State was the last undefeated team in 2011-12, but they didn't receive any votes in last year's preseason polls.

Here is a short list of some long shots who are unranked now but will be in the Top 25 polls at the end of the season.

Stanford Cardinal

Stanford finally started putting things together in Johnny Dawkins' fourth year as the Cardinal's head coach.

They went 26-11 overall and 10-8 in Pac 12 play, but got hot at just the right time.

The Cardinal reeled off five straight victories in the NIT and won the 2012 tournament championship.

Stanford returns five of its top six scorers.

The Cardinal has one of the country's most undervalued backcourts in 6-1 sophomore Chasson Randle (13.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and 5-11 junior combo guard Aaron Bright (11.7 ppg, 3.7 apg).

Bright came up huge in NIT, earning the tournament MVP.

Anthony Brown, a 6'8" SF who averaged 8 ppg, creates match-up troubles on the wing with his length and size.

While Stanford may not have the talent and depth to take on Arizona or UCLA for the league title, look for the Cardinal to build off of last year's success and finish in Top 25.

Valparaiso Crusaders

The Valpo coaching mantle has been passed from one generation of the Drew family to the next.

Homer, who had led the Crusaders since 1988, stepped aside and turned the program over to his younger son Bryce.

Valpo won the Horizon League for the first time, going 22-12 last year under young Drew's first-year leadership.

The Crusaders return all five of last year's starters, including two all-league first-teamers, 6'7" Australian-born Ryan Broekoff (pictured; 14.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg) and Netherlands-native 6'8" Kevin Van Wijk (14.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg).

Broekoff won the conference's 2012 MVP and very well could make it two-in-a-row in 2013.

While Valpo has a challenging pre-HL schedule (playing Nebraska, St. Louis, New Mexico and Murray State), they will be ready to defend their title and be selected come Selection Sunday.

St. Mary's Gaels

Last year, the Gaels did something that no other program (besides Gonzaga) in the WCC has done in a very long time: win the conference championship.

Over the last decade-plus, Randy Bennett has turned St. Mary's into a mid-major monster. They are 133-36 (.787) the last five years. Bennett has taken the Gaels to four NCAA tournaments.

SMC is led by 6-4 senior guard Matthew Dellavedova (15.5 ppg, 6.4 apg, 3.3 rpg). He may be one of the best PGs in the nation.

MD's backcourt mate is no slouch, either. Stephen Holt, a 6'4" junior, averaged 10.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 3.2 apg).

St. Mary's could very easily win all of their pre-conference games in November and December.

They will face Gonzaga on the road in their second conference game (Jan.10) and at home February 14. Happy Valentine's Day.

Look for the Gaels to win 30 and jump into the Top 25 before they make another March Madness march.

Miami (FL) Hurricanes

First-year Hurricane head coach Jim Larranaga put up a solid initial season (20-13; 9-7 ACC).

He became the first ‘Canes coach to open his UM career with 20 wins. Miami finished 2011 tied for fourth in the ACC, a program best.

Durand Scott (pictured) will lead UM in their attempt to jump up into the top tier of the ACC.

Scott (12.9 ppg; 5.4 rpg; 3.1 apg) is one of the more physically-dominant guards in the country.

If Miami can pick up some wins against teams like Michigan State (Nov. 28) or Arizona (Dec 23) in the Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu, HI.), it will help them prepare for the stout challenge that awaits them in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Georgetown Hoyas

John Thompson III just gets it done in D.C as the head coach of Georgetown.

In eight years leading the Hoyas, JT3 has won 252 games and made it to postseason every year.

In 2012-13, GU went 24-9 overall and 12-6 in the torturous Big East.

Otto Porter, a long SF who might be the best player in the conference, had an exceptional freshman year (9.7 ppg; 6.8 rpg).

Alongside Porter is a laundry list of young guns who are ready to prove that they are legit.

Last season, the Big East coaches picked Georgetown to finish 10th in the league. The Hoyas wound up tied for fourth

This could be one of the most surprising teams in the nation that will be tested in their games against Florida, UCLA, Tennessee and Texas.