NCAA Basketball Rankings 2012: Mid-Major Rankings for Week 10

There were few surprises in mid-major basketball last week. Gonzaga, Creighton and Wichita State all survived tests on the road to keep the top-three spots, and the only big upset was South Dakota defeating South Dakota State in a Summit League rivalry.

Read on to see the complete mid-major Top 25.

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

25. Illinois State Redbirds

Record: 9-6, 0-3 MVC

Last Week's Rank: 8

Notable Wins: Dayton (Road)

Illinois State has really struggled in Missouri Valley play, losing its first three conference games. However, the Redbirds have played Creighton, Indiana State and Northern Iowa, three of the better teams in the conference.

This week, they play a pair of must-win games against Missouri State and Drake.

24. Illinois-Chicago Flames

Record: 10-4, 1-0 Horizon

Last Week's Rank: Not Ranked

Notable Wins: Northwestern (Road), Colorado State (Home)

Illinois-Chicago returns to the top 25 this week after ending a three-game losing streak with a 65-60 win over Youngstown State. This was the first time the Flames held an opponent to fewer than 70 points since December 15.

On Monday night, the Flames will play at Cleveland State, which is 0-1 in Horizon League play.

23. Akron Zips

Record: 9-4

Last Week's Rank: 25

Notable Wins: Penn State (Neutral), Middle Tennessee (Home)

Akron has won five straight games by an average of 21.4 points.

On Wednesday, the Zips will begin MAC play against Western Michigan.

22. Ohio Bobcats

Record: 9-5

Last Week's Rank: 24

Notable Wins: Richmond (Home), Saint Bonaventure (Home)

Ohio defeated Marshall in its first game of 2013, 94-57. Point guard D.J. Cooper had a great all-around performance with 12 points, 17 assists, six rebounds and four steals.

On Wednesday, the Bobcats will begin MAC play against the 5-9 Buffalo Bulls.

21. Lehigh Mountain Hawks

Record: 9-4

Last Week's Rank: 15

Notable Wins: None

Lehigh played close with Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday but lost, 59-55.

The bigger news for the Mountain Hawks is that C.J. McCollum left Saturday's game with an injury and will miss eight to 10 weeks with a fracture in his left foot.

20. Detroit Titans

Record: 10-5, 2-0 Horizon

Last Week's Rank: Not Ranked

Notable Wins: Akron (Home), Canisius (Home)

Detroit has won eight of its last nine games, and the only loss during that stretch is a 72-68 defeat at then-No. 3 Syracuse. Last week, the Titans defeated Milwaukee and Green Bay to begin conference competition with a 2-0 record.

This week, Detroit will go on the road to face Youngstown State and Cleveland State.

19. Western Illinois Leathernecks

Record: 12-3, 5-0 Summit

Last Week's Rank: 23

Notable Wins: UIC (Home)

Western Illinois outlasted IUPUI, 57-53, in overtime on Saturday to remain undefeated in the Summit League. The Leathernecks currently hold a half-game lead over North Dakota State in the conference.

After playing Greenville on Wednesday, they will return to Summit League competition against 4-14 Nebraska-Omaha.

18. Davidson Wildcats

Record: 8-6, 3-0 SoCon

Last Week's Rank: 17

Notable Wins: West Virginia (Neutral), Richmond (Road)

In its final nonconference game of the year, Davidson was tied with No. 1 Duke at half but then lost, 67-50. Over the weekend, the Wildcats rebounded with an easy win over UNC-Greensboro to remain unbeaten in conference play.

This weekend, they will play at Furman.

17. Valparaiso Crusaders

Record: 11-5, 1-1 Horizon

Last Week's Rank: 19

Notable Wins: Murray State (Road)

Valparaiso blew out Cleveland State for its first Horizon League win of the year. Ryan Broekhoff posted his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The Crusaders begin a three-game road trip on Wednesday against Illinois-Chicago.

16. South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Record: 11-6, 2-2 Summit

Last Week's Rank: 13

Notable Wins: Marshall (Neutral), Montana (Road), New Mexico (Road)

South Dakota State cut a 20-point deficit at South Dakota to as little as two in the final minute, but the Jackrabbits could not get over the hump and finish the comeback, falling 74-71. Even in the defeat, Nate Wolters continued to look like the Summit League Player of the Year, posting 26 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The loss leaves the Jacks needing to win both of their games this week against Oakland and IPFW.

15. Santa Clara Broncos

Record: 12-4, 1-1 WCC

Last Week's Rank: 16

Notable Wins: Saint Louis (Road)

Santa Clara had a chance for a huge win when it hosted Gonzaga on Saturday night, but the Broncos fell to the Bulldogs, 81-74. Fortunately, they won their conference opener against San Francisco, so they are tied for fifth at 1-1.

On Thursday, Santa Clara will play its first road game of the conference slate at Loyola Marymount.

14. Indiana State Sycamores

Record: 9-5, 2-1 MVC

Last Week's Rank: 18

Notable Wins: Mississippi (Neutral), Miami-FL (Neutral), Illinois State (Home)

Indiana State picked up another solid win earlier in the week at Northern Iowa, but it then fell at nationally-ranked Creighton on Saturday. That being said, the Sycamores were sticking with Creighton until the Bluejays made a run late in the second half.

On Wednesday, they return home to the Bradley Braves.

13. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Record: 12-3, 3-0 WAC

Last Week's Rank: 21

Notable Wins: Southern Miss (Home)

Louisiana Tech has not been dominating its competition, but the Bulldogs have won their last four games, including three WAC games.

This week, they will conclude a three-game road trip with games against Texas State and Texas-San Antonio.

12. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks

Record: 12-1, 3-0 Southland

Last Week's Rank: 14

Notable Wins: Oklahoma (Road)

Stephen F. Austin easily defeated Lamar and McNeese State last week to improve to 3-0 in the Southland. During the week, four different players scored in double figures.

On Saturday, the Lumberjacks will play at Oral Roberts, which is 2-0 in the conference. 

11. North Dakota State Bison

Record: 13-3, 4-0 Summit

Last Week's Rank: 12

Notable Wins: Duquesne (Road), South Dakota State (Home)

North Dakota State continued to show its dominance in the Summit League last week with a 92-66 win at South Dakota and a 63-44 win at UMKC.

This week, the Bison will host IPFW and Oakland.

10. St. Mary's Gaels

Record: 12-3, 1-0 WCC

Last Week's Rank: 11

Notable Wins: Utah State (Road), Harvard (Home)

St. Mary's defeated Loyola Marymount for its fourth straight win and eighth in its last nine games.

On Thursday, the Gaels will play at Gonzaga in their first matchup against a Top 25 school.

9. Brigham Young Cougars

Record: 12-4, 2-0 WCC

Last Week's Rank: 10

Notable Wins: Utah (Home), Virginia Tech (Home)

Brigham Young got off to a good start in conference play last week by beating Loyola Marymount and San Francisco. Tyler Haws has continued proving this is his team, posting 20 points against the Lions and 22 against the Dons.

This week, the Cougars will play Pepperdine and then a tough game at Santa Clara.

8. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Record: 12-4, 4-1 Sun Belt

Last Week's Rank: 4

Notable Wins: UCF (Road), Mississippi (Home)

Middle Tennessee was upset by Arkansas State in overtime on Thursday, but it responded with a win over South Alabama to stay a half-game out of first place in the Sun Belt East.

The Blue Raiders will play their first home game of 2013 on Thursday against Florida Atlantic.

7. Utah State Aggies

Record: 13-1, 4-0 WAC

Last Week's Rank: 9

Notable Wins: Santa Clara (Road)

Utah State survived Idaho's upset bid in overtime to improve to 4-0 in conference play. Junior guard Preston Medlin scored 19 points after halftime to key the victory.

On Friday, the Aggies will host San Jose State.

6. Bucknell Bison

Record: 13-3

Last Week's Rank: 6

Notable Wins: Purdue (Road)

Bucknell hung right with No. 12 Missouri through the final buzzer on Saturday but lost, 66-64. Mike Muscala posted 25 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

This Saturday, the Bison will begin Patriot League play at home against Army.

5. Murray State Racers

Record: 11-3, 2-0 OVC

Last Week's Rank: 7

Notable Wins: St. John's (Neutral)

Murray State ended a two-game setback with wins over Tennessee-Martin and Southeast Missouri State. During the week, Isaiah Canaan averaged 23 points and 4.5 rebounds.

On Wednesday, the Racers host Eastern Kentucky, which is 2-0 in OVC play as well.

4. Belmont Bruins

Record: 11-4, 2-0 OVC

Last Week's Rank: 5

Notable Wins: Stanford (Road), Middle Tennessee State (Home), South Dakota State (Home)

Belmont won at Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech last week in its first OVC games. Each of the Bruins' last five wins have come by 11 or more points.

On Thursday, the Bruins begin a four-game homestand that includes games against Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State.

3. Wichita State Shockers

Record: 14-1, 3-0 MVC

Last Week's Rank: 3

Notable Wins: VCU (Road), Iowa (Neutral), Southern Miss (Neutral)

Wichita State survived its first conference road trip without a blemish, defeating Drake and a good Bradley team.

On Wednesday, the Shockers return home to face Southern Illinois.

2. Creighton Bluejays

Record: 14-1, 3-0 MVC

Last Week's Rank: 2

Notable Wins: Wisconsin (Neutral), Arizona State (Neutral), Cal (Road), Illinois State (Road), Indiana State (Home)

Creighton struggled with Indiana State for the first 29 minutes, but the Bluejays then used a 19-4 run to take control of the game and eventually win, 79-66. Doug McDermott led the way with 25 points and nine rebounds, and Austin Chatman and Grant Gibbs combined for 16 assists.

The Bluejays play two struggling teams this week that they should beat, Drake and Missouri State.

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Record: 15-1, 2-0 WCC

Last Week's Rank: 1

Notable Wins: Oklahoma (Neutral), Davidson (Neutral), Kansas State (Neutral), Baylor (Home), Oklahoma State (Road), Santa Clara (Road)

Gonzaga defeated Pepperdine and Santa Clara on the road last week to begin WCC competition. In the win over the Broncos, Kelly Olynyk scored 33 points and 10 rebounds.

This week, the Zags return home to face St. Mary's.

Other Mid-Majors to Keep an Eye on

Bradley (10-5, 2-1 MVC)

Bryant (9-4, 2-0 NEC)

Canisius (10-5, 3-1 MAAC)

Eastern Kentucky (12-3, 2-0 OVC)

Loyola-Illinois (10-4, 1-1 Horizon)

Loyola-Maryland (11-5, 3-1 MAAC)

Northern Iowa (8-7, 1-2 MVC)

Weber State (9-3, 4-0 Big Sky)