Best of the Rest preview, predictions: Top teams, players and coaches outside basketball’s power conferences

For the first time in a long time, college basketball has moved back into a phase of having only five “major” conferences. Those five leagues account for 79 schools.

That means there are another 285 schools (a voluminous 78%) filling up 26 more conferences that comprise Division I. 

As we do every year, this is the place and space where we want to make our first formal introduction to some of the characters you’re likely to be familiarized with over the next five-ish months. Because, as we see every year, dozens (minimally) of players, coaches and schools from those ranks will emerge as fun stories. A few of them will inevitably become legendary in their home regions for what transpires in March. 

Terming this “Best of the Rest” is succinct and has a nice ring to it, but obviously there’s so much more to learn and discover from teams that aren’t receiving the most preseason attention. The good news: That’s why we’re committed to spotlighting those teams and moments on CBSSports.com as the season moves along. For now, this is your need-to-know dossier on the most notable teams, coaches and players from the mid-major ranks — and even the teams above that designation, such as Gonzaga, the Mountain West and upper-echelon Atlantic 10 squads.

All-American candidates, future high-major coaches and 2025 Final Four contenders all apply and will emerge from this group. At the bottom, I’ve tossed out a prediction for the champion of every conference outside the high majors. But let’s start with the hoopers. 

Ten players to know

These aren’t for sure the 10 best players outside of the Power Five leagues, but they are 10 quality hoopers who should play vital roles on teams well-positioned to make the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

1. Robbie Avila, Saint Louis   

The most recognizable player outside the power-conference structure. Avila followed Josh Schertz from Indiana State down to SLU, where he’s expected to be the offensive focal point of a Billiken revitalization. Avila averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 39.4% from 3-point range on his way to becoming a cult hero-type figure in college sports last season. The rec spec-wearing maestro is an irresistible watch and I can’t wait for the encore in the Atlantic 10.

2. Graham Ike, Gonzaga   

We gave Ryan Nembhard some shine in this spot a year ago, so while he is indeed back in Spokane, let’s dollop some praise on his powerful teammate. Ike rankings among the most overlooked bigs in the country, but perhaps for not much longer. The Colorado native contributed 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in 34 starts last season. Now, with Anton Watson gone, Ike’s role is likely to become even more prominent (though Ben Gregg‘s emergence will complement this development). Look for Ike to tally at least 20 double-doubles this season and for Gonzaga to — well, you can read below on my extended thoughts on the Zags.

3. Tyson Degenhart, Boise State

A 6-foot-8 senior wing with quality all-around game. Degenhart put up 16.7 ppg and 6.2 rpg on last season’s BSU squad that made the First Four. His 126.8 ORtg at KenPom.com ranked among the best in the country for guys who logged at least 80% of their possible minutes. After shooting 41.7% from beyond the arc as a freshman, Degenhart’s struggled (32%) from deep the past two seasons. He should bump that average back up in his senior year. 

4. Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon

We’ll soon be releasing our annual Top 100 And 1 Players list. Rest assured, Grant-Foster will make it with ease. The 6-7 Antelope was responsible for 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds on a 30-win team that upset Saint Mary’s 75-66 as a 12-seed in the first round of the NCAAs. Grant-Foster began his career at Kansas, then transferred to DePaul, then suffered a potentially career-ending cardiac episode and now is in a spot where he can potentially lead the nation in scoring. One hell of a story and a must-see player.

5. Donovan Dent, New Mexico

Pardon the obvious pun here, but it’s true: Dent will make a mark. Expect a huge year for the junior. He averaged 14.1 points, 5.4 assists and 2.5 rebounds as a 6-2 lead guard. He has composure in transition, is a nifty passer and improving shooter. New Mexico says goodbye to Jaelen House, JT Toppin and Jamal Mashburn Jr. The Lobos will need Dent’s drink-stirring playmaking to ensure they remain in the mix in the Mountain West. 

6. Tyrese Hunter, Memphis

After tours at Iowa State and Texas, Hunter remains a high-major talent who is yet again at a high-major program, albeit one that’s now occupied in a mid-major-plus league. He provided 11. points, 4.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds for Texas last season. Now he’ll run the show for Penny Hardaway’s Tigers. Hunter’s defensive potential is what makes him stand out. The jump shot has been the biggest inconsistency, but everything else is really good. 

7. Max Shulga, VCU

The super senior from Kyiv, Ukraine, has had quite a college journey, folllowing Ryan Odom every step of the way. He barely played as a freshman with Odom at Utah State. Now, in his second and final season with VCU, Shulga figures to be one of the best players in the A-10. He chipped in 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and hit 41.5% of his triples per game for the Rams last season. Shulga’s aiming to become VCU’s first player to earn back-to-back Atlantic 10 First Team honors since Treveon Graham in 2014 and 2015.

8. Xzayvier Brown, Saint Joseph’s

Teammate Erik Reynolds II is receiving more acclaim; he’s put up 18-plus points per game the past two seasons. But I’m going to give Brown some respect here. His game is dynamite. He’s SJU’s best pro prospect and a major reason the Hawks have their first chance at an NCAA bid since 2016. Brown is coming off a freshman campaign of 12.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 40.4% 3-point shooting. One A-10 coach told me he’s the most dangerous player in the conference.

9. Xaivian Lee, Princeton

The best talent in the Ivy League could have tested his NBA chances, but Lee’s back for revenge after the flameout in the Ivy semis against Brown. He put up 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists in 29 games for the Tigers. Lee is a counterbalance to teammate Caden Pierce, who is one of the better mid-major players in the country as well. But if Princeton’s going to a second NCAA Tournament in three years, Lee needs to be the compass. 

10. Cedric Coward, Washington State

Diamond-in-the-rough talent here. Coming off a very good pre-draft process after starring at Eastern Washington where, as a sophomore wing, he averaged 15.4 points and 6.7 rebounds. His true shooting percentage of 66.2% ranked 14th in the country — and was fifth-best of any player 6-6 or shorter. He followed his coach, David Riley, from EWU to Washington State. With Wazzu moving into the WCC (for the next two seasons), Coward has an excellent chance to be one of the best players in that conference in 2024-25. 

Mid-major coaches on the climb

In an effort to continue to shine some light on lesser-known coaches, I’m sidestepping including any current mid-major coach that has made this list the past three seasons. That means Casey Alexander (Belmont), Joe Golding (UTEP), Robert Jones (Norfolk State), Matt Langel (Colgate), Ritchie McKay (Liberty), Russell Turner (UC Irvine), Amir Abdur-Rahim (USF), Mitch Henderson (Princeton), Mike Morrell (UNC Asheville) and Bob Richey (Furman), having received recognition since 2021, don’t apply. Meantime, Pat Kelsey, Darian DeVries and Dusty May have all been promoted to the high-major ranks after previously being featured in this space.

In alphabetical order, here are six coaches with rising reputations in one-bid leagues, all of whom strolled the sidelines in the 2024 NCAA tourney. 

Kenny Blakeney, Howard

This is Year 6 for the 52-year-old, though it’s really a fifth season because Howard only played five games in 2020-21. Blakeney has taken the Bison to two straight NCAA Tournaments and is making headway after paying his dues as an assistant from 1995 (the year he graduated from Duke) until 2011, when he left coaching to work at Under Armour. The program has only four NCAA appearances to its name and Blakeney is responsible for half of them. A three-peat in the MEAC is on the table in 2025.

Eric Henderson, South Dakota State

The 46-year-old Henderson has a 109-48 record in five seasons with the Jackrabbits. He guided SDSU to March Madness in 2022 and last season. The Jacks are picked second in the Summit League this season, behind Kansas City, but doubt Henderson at your own peril. He has a good team again, led by senior guard Kaleb Stewart. Scott Nagy turned South Dakota State into a Division I program in the 2000s. T.J. Otzelberger was terrific in maintaining the team’s place atop the Summit League toward the end of the 2010s. And now Henderson has proved more than capable of continuing the legacy.

James Jones, Yale

It is to Yale’s benefit that this is the case, but I remain dumbfounded how Jones hasn’t been hired to a bigger job in the past half-decade at least. The 60-year-old is in his 26th season with the Bulldogs, making him the fourth-longest tenured coach in Division I. (Oakland‘s Greg Kampe, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Gonzaga’s Mark Few are the others.) Jones has taken Yale to the NCAAs four times, and very well could have been there in 2020 as well. He’s 396-111, which is the second-most wins in Ivy history to Princeton’s Pete Carril. A genuinely terrific coach who took the scenic route to his most successful seasons. 

Bucky McMillan, Samford

At 41, McMillan is a rising star. Our David Cobb profiled him last season here at CBS Sports. The Bulldogs are coming off their third NCAA appearance in school history. McMillan’s team went 29-6 and very nearly stole an upset against Kansas in the first round. In five seasons, McMillan has gone 77-41 and brought Samford to the top of the SoCon. He’ll have a good team again this year, even in spite of losing some talent in the transfer portal. If Samford wins 20-plus games again, expect McMillan’s name to be a candidate for any SEC job that opens. 

Preston Spradlin, James Madison

A rising coach that just got a really nice promotion — but is still by definition in the mid-major ranks. Spradlin spent eight years at Morehead State and twice got the Eagles into the NCAAs as a No. 14 seed. The 37-year-old was plucked with haste by James Madison after JMU lost its coach, Mark Byington, to Vanderbilt. Spradlin went 140-109 with five top-three OVC finishes. Now he inherits one of the best mid-major jobs on the come-up that exists in the sport. It will be no shock of Spradlin has the Dukes dancing again within three years.

Will Wade, McNeese

Not an unknown name, that’s for sure! Wade wasted precisely zero seconds making McNeese basketball relevant. The Cowboys went 30-4 in Wade’s first season, which included an NCAA appearance as a 12-seed against Gonzaga. The former VCU and LSU coach, who was run out of high-major ball (with cause, mind you) for accusations of Level I violations has nonetheless found his footing in the Southland Conference. Another season of 25-plus wins and Wade will certainly have suitors looking to swoop him back into land of the big boys. McNeese comfortably projects as one the best mid-major teams for 2024-25. And speaking of that, let’s take a look at my list. 

Sixteen sweet non-Big Five teams for ’24-25

Projected regular-season conference champions