Player of the Week:
Delrecco Gillespie, Kent State (Senior forward, 6’8”, 230 lbs.)
Gillespie has enjoyed a torrid start to the season, emerging as the team’s clear centerpiece. He opened the year with nine consecutive double-doubles, snapping the streak only after receiving limited minutes in a blowout victory over Division II Roberts Wesleyan College. Gillespie has consistently generated and finished interior looks, while his physical post defense has overwhelmed inferior offenses. His turnover rate remains a concern, and his shooting must continue to improve if he is to take the next step, but there are encouraging signs of progress. After opening the season 0-for-8 from three, he has connected on 6 of 11 attempts over his last three games. His development within Kent State’s system has been inspiring, and the leap he has made to begin the year is tantalizing. His situation, build, and play style call to mind Timberwolves two-way player and Akron alum Enrique Freeman.
Who’s Hot:
Kyle Jorgensen, Colorado State (Sophomore forward, 6’9”, 225 lbs.)
The Rams recruited splashy transfers such as Carey Booth from Illinois, Brandon Rechsteiner from Virginia Tech, Jase Butler from Washington, and Josh Pascarelli from Marist; but the sophomore breakout campaign of Kyle Jorgensen may have had the biggest impact on maintaining Colorado State’s highly regarded reputation. The 6’9” forward has been an offensive revelation, delivering a highly efficient 15.2 points per game on absurd 65%/52%/85% shooting splits, for a 78.4 true shooting percentage. His hustle and versatile scoring held up against stiffer competition, as he torched Colorado for 21 points on just 10 field goal attempts to key a Colorado State victory. He should be emerging as a potential future NBA prospect and continuing his strong start through conference play could put him in the mix for 2026.
Lamin Sabally, Iona (Senior forward, 6’8”, 230 lbs.)
In only the very first season of college basketball in which his role is substantial, the redshirt senior forward has been a very pleasant surprise for Iona, becoming an unexpected focal point for the team’s play. A non-shooter, Sabally is not a prolific scorer; but he does a bit of everything else, providing the connective tissue for an Iona team that is off to a solid start. He is a strong rebounder (8.2 per game), a good complementary passer (almost 4 assists per game), and a great defender (averaging 2.3 steals and 0.7 blocks per game). He may be a bit beyond the fringe as a prospect, but his versatile playstyle is intriguing; his profile has clear shades of Tosan Evbuomwan’s performance at Princeton.
Who’s Not:
Miles Byrd, San Diego State (Junior guard, 6’6”, 190 lbs.)
Byrd was a highly lauded prospect toward the end of last season, praised for his defensive versatility. Despite being a very likely selection, with first round potential he opted to skip the NBA draft and return to San Diego State to further develop his skills. However, his offensive inconsistency remains a problem, and while his defense still looks fantastic, it does not seem to have advanced since last year. There are signs of encouragement, though: after being held scoreless against Utah Valley, Byrd erupted for an efficient 19 points in his most recent game, against Lamar, improving his season shooting splits to rather reasonable figures (44%/37%/79%). Byrd remains a likely prospect in the 2026 draft, and improved play and a strong performance through the conference schedule could secure him a favorable draft slot.
Tyrone Riley, San Francisco (Sophomore guard, 6’6”, 200 lbs.)
Riley gained notoriety after a strong start to his freshman campaign last year, and there is a lot to like in his profile. He has appreciable length for a wing, good shooting form, and decent defensive fundamentals. He was a consistent off ball threat through the entire season, though he ceded more looks to Marcus Williams and Malik Thomas as the season progressed. With Williams having graduated and Thomas having transferred to Virginia, Riley was poised to play a more prominent role this year, with more off ball looks and perhaps some opportunities for him to create his own looks on ball. His game has not trailed off, but neither has it shown any hoped-for improvement: his minutes per game, shot attempts, and overall productivity are all extremely similar to those of last year, and he has not gotten to the free throw line as often. His shot is falling a bit more often (especially from distance), which is encouraging, but he has yet to show significant progress.
Mid-Major Power Rankings:
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (9-1)
Gonzaga looks like a juggernaut, quickly accruing 6 wins against high-major conference schools, including wins against 3 nationally ranked teams. Their only loss was to Michigan, currently ranked #2. Even though they faced a tough slate of opponents to open the season, the Bulldogs rate 3rd in the nation in average scoring margin, outscoring opponents by an average of 27.6 points per game, which includes a 35-point dismantling of Kentucky on December 5th. Graham Ike and Braden Huff helm one of the most imposing frontcourts in the nation, and freshman Mario Saint-Supery has seized the starting point guard role with aplomb.
2. Saint Mary’s (9-1)
It’s business as usual for perennial powerhouse Saint Mary’s, with the Gaels relying upon substantial gains made by sophomore guards Joshua Dent and Mikey Lewis, red-shirt sophomore center Andrew McKeever, and junior forward (and post pillar) Paulius Murauskas. Saint Mary’s plays a consistent, egalitarian style, and while their main characters are still growing into their shoes, they continue to fulfill their roles at a high level. The team has already notched a win against Virginia Tech and only lost to a quickly rising Vanderbilt squad currently ranked #15.
3. Dayton Fliers (7-3)
Dayton took advantage of a challenging non-conference schedule, securing wins against Marquette and Georgetown while gaining experience by holding tough in losses to Cincinnati, BYU, and Virginia. The team is led by fearless point guard Javon Bennett, though the more intriguing NBA-track prospects are sweet-shooting sophomore center Amael L'Etang and junior shooting guard De’Shayne Montgomery. After an up-and-down sophomore season at Georgia, Montgomery, a composed three-level scoring threat, is again showing the promise he displayed as a freshman at Mount Saint Mary’s. In addition, senior forward Keonte Jones has been an excellent glue guy holding this team together.
4. Utah State Aggies (8-1)
Despite a surprising loss against South Florida, Utah State looks very capable of earning a fourth consecutive March Madness bid. Newly acquired senior guard MJ Collins has been a revelation to start the year, averaging a highly efficient 20.7 points per game. Junior guard Mason Falslev continues to be a scoring weapon, secondary facilitator, and defensive menace. Opposing forwards and centers will not look forward to fighting for post space against strong, high-energy big man Karson Templin and will get no reprieve when tough, seasoned Garry Clark subs in.
5. Saint Bonaventure Bonnies (9-1)
Despite losing their top five scorers from last season, Saint Bonaventure might somehow have gotten better. The team’s only loss came against a North Carolina program currently ranked #14, and it boasts early-season wins against Florida Atlantic and a surprisingly strong Buffalo squad. The Bonnies are led by rebounding vacuum Frank Mitchell, who has absolutely found his zone in this program. Defensively, the identity is collective and suffocating, with Cayden Charles setting the tone on the perimeter and Joseph Grahovac anchoring the interior alongside Mitchell. Darryl Simmons has transitioned smoothly from Gardner-Webb, providing enough offense and reliable shooting to keep the Bonnies ahead of the opposition. Meanwhile, little-used Italian import freshman Andrew Osasuyi may be the long-term breakout candidate to monitor, owning a ridiculous 14.7% block rate this season, including 18.9% over his last five games, as he continues adjusting to the physicality of the U.S. game.