Mid-Major Top 25 for November 29: CAA Looking Like Top Mid-Major Conference

Rank. Team (Previous Rank)

1. Old Dominion Monarchs (5)

Record: 4-1

RPI: 21

Old Dominion defeated St. Peter's, Clemson and Xavier to win the Paradise Jam. The Monarchs will play Richmond on Wednesday night. 

Key Wins: Clemson (Neutral), Xavier (Neutral) 

Key Losses: None

2. Virginia Commonwealth Rams (2)

Record: 4-1

RPI: 43

Virginia Commonwealth finished in third place in the NIT Season Tip-Off. The Rams lost a close game to Tennessee but rebounded with a strong win over UCLA. 

Key Wins: UCLA (Neutral)

Key Losses: None

3. St. Mary's Gaels (1)

Record: 6-1

RPI: 27

St. Mary's picked up its first loss of the season in a 74-73 loss to Brigham Young. The Gaels get a chance to redeem themselves in a game at San Diego State on Wednesday.

Key Wins: St. John's (Home)

Key Losses: None

4. Gonzaga Bulldogs (2)

Record: 3-2

RPI: 116

Gonzaga picked up a good win against Marquette in the CBE Classic to end a two-game slide.

Key Wins: Marquette (Neutral)

Key Losses: San Diego State (Home)

5. Cleveland State Vikings (8)

Record: 7-0

RPI: 25

Cleveland State remained undefeated with wins over Akron and Saint Bonaventure. 

Key Wins: Kent State (Home), Iona (Home)

Key Losses: None

6. Wichita State Shockers (4)

Record: 3-1

RPI: 46

Wichita State finished in fifth place in the Maui Invitational. 

Key Wins: Virginia (Neutral)

Key Losses: None

7. Kent State Golden Flashes (18)

Record: 6-1

RPI: 20

Kent State extended its winning streak to four straight games with a win over Lehigh on Friday. 

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: None

8. Pacific Tigers (9)

Record: 4-2

RPI: 118

Pacific's two-game winning streak ended with a loss at Missouri State. The Tigers host Pepperdine on Wednesday and then play at Texas A&M this upcoming weekend. 

Key Wins: UTEP (Road)

Key Losses: None

9. George Mason Patriots (10)

Record: 4-2

RPI: 154

George Mason rebounded from back-to-back losses with wins over Radford and Florida Atlantic.

Key Wins: Harvard (Home)

Key Losses: None

10. Murray State Racers (7)

Record: 3-3

RPI: 62

Murray State struggled in the 76 Classic, going 1-2 in the tournament. 

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: None

11. North Texas Mean Green (12)

Record: 4-1

RPI: 26

North Texas is off to a strong start with its only loss coming to No. 6 Kansas. The Mean Green has fairly easy competition for the next few weeks.

Key Wins: Texas Tech (Home)

Key Losses: None

12. Loyola (IL) Ramblers (14)

Record: 7-0

RPI: 69

Loyola continued its undefeated season with wins over Alabama State and San Francisco. The Ramblers host Butler on Wednesday.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: None

13. Lipscomb Bisons (16)

Record: 3-2

RPI: 81

Lipscomb's 55-point second half against Tennessee-Martin vaulted the Bisons to their first road win of the season. The Bisons open conference play against Mercer on Saturday.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: None

14. Missouri State Bears (19)

Record: 4-2

RPI: 63

Missouri ended a two-game slide with a win over Pepperdine. The Bears then followed that win up with a win over Pacific. 

Key Wins: Pacific (Home)

Key Losses: Tulsa (Road)

15. Oakland Golden Grizzlies (11)

Record: 3-3

RPI: 86

Oakland has won its last two games. The Grizzlies look to continue this streak as they open conference play against Southern Utah on Thursday.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: Wright State (Road)

16. Ohio Bobcats (13)

Record: 4-2

RPI: 91

Ohio has been solid against teams at its level, but the Bobcats had no chance against No. 6 Kansas last week.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: Oakland (Home)

17. Utah State Aggies (Not Ranked)

Record: 4-1

RPI: 28

Utah State is off to a hot start. The Aggies are currently riding a three-game winning streak. The Aggies have an upcoming road trip where they will play Denver and No. 14 Georgetown.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: None

18. Charleston Cougars (24)

Record: 4-3

RPI: 120

Charleston could not pull off the upset over North Carolina for the second year in a row, losing 74-69. The Cougars open conference play against Davidson on Thursday. 

Key Wins: Coastal Carolina (Home)

Key Losses: None

19. Butler Bulldogs (3)

Record: 3-2

RPI: 76

Butler picked up an overtime loss to Evansville this week. The Bulldogs get a chance to end Loyola-Illinois' undefeated season on Wednesday.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: Evansville (Home)

20. South Dakota State Jackrabbits (Not Ranked)

Record: 5-0

RPI: 72

South Dakota State has won its first five games. The Jackrabbits have looked very good against their competition to this point. 

Key Wins: Iowa (Road)

Key Losses: None

21. Long Island Blackbirds (Not Ranked)

Record: 4-1

RPI: 116

Long Island picked up its first loss of the season at St. Peter's. The Blackbirds look to rebound from the loss against Robert Morris on Thursday.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: St. Peter's (Road)

22. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (21)

Record: 5-2

RPI: 85

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

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: Arkansas-Little Rock (Road)

23. Rider Broncs (17)

Record: 4-2

RPI: 111

Rider lost its MAAC opener to Siena. The Broncs play Hofstra on Monday night. 

Key Wins: USC (Road), Texas Christian (Neutral)

Key Losses: Siena (Home)

24. Portland Pilots (22)

Record: 5-2

RPI: 108

Portland has won two of its last three games. The Pilots host Saint Louis on Tuesday before starting a four-game road trip on Friday.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: Washington State (Road)

25. Creighton Jays (Not Ranked)

Record: 4-2

RPI: 114

Creighton lost a close game at Northwestern over the weekend. The Jays will play Brigham Young on Wednesday.

Key Wins: None

Key Losses: None

Added: Long Island, Portland

Dropped: American, Wofford

Considered: American, Harvard, Hawaii, James Madison, Montana State, Morehead State, North Dakota State, Vermont

Teams By Conference

CAA: 3

Horizon: 3

MVC: 3

WCC: 3

MAC: 2

Summit: 2

WAC: 2

A-Sun: 1

Big West: 1

MAAC: 1

NEC: 1

OVC: 1

SoCon: 1

Sun Belt: 1