In no particular order, the following are teams receiving little to no national media attention, but could find themselves ranked this upcoming season. None of these teams are a lock to earn a ranking in 2018-19, and some are more of a long shot than others, but all have the tools to be dangerous teams and make noise this college hoops season.

Rider

The Broncs are coming off a first place finish in the MAAC and return their top 6 leading scorers (the top 3 of which were freshman a year ago), including point guard Stevie Jordan. The Metro-Atlantic isn’t the easiest conference to find the national spotlight in, but Rider played a tough non-conference schedule last year that included a win at Penn State, and they’ll have their chances again this year. The Broncs, should they stay healthy, will be better than the dominant group they fielded a year ago, and after their disappointing first round exit in the MAAC tournament to St. Peter’s in March, Kevin Bagget should have his group locked in, motivated, and ready to do even more damage this season.

St. Louis

It’s been 5 years since the Billikens have found themselves in the top 25, but I’m sure it feels much, much longer for fans in St. Louis. They fell to a 3 win league season following a first place A10 finish in 2014, and broke through to .500 for the first time since a season ago. The Billikens return leading scorer Javon Bess, and add four-star freshman Carte’Are Gordon, Drexel standout Tremaine Isabell, and Maryland transfer Dion Wiley. A10 coaches know how dangerous this year’s St. Louis group could be, picking them to finish atop the conference in the preseason poll, but the rest of the country has been slow to take notice.

Marshall

The Herd shocked the college basketball world last season, first by winning the Conference USA championship, and then by dominating 4th seeded Wichita State in the first round of the tournament. They haven’t gotten much national attention outside mid major circles heading into the 2018-19 campaign despite returning Jon Elmore and CJ Burks, two West Virginia natives that combined in the backcourt for over 42 points per game a season ago.

St. John’s

I did finally see a preseason poll that included the Johnnies at 25, but Chris Mullen’s group is flying way under the radar heading into the season. Fans in Queens were holding their breath on the NCAA’s decision regarding Auburn transfer Mustapha Heron, who led Bruce Pearl’s team in scoring a season ago. He will be eligible to play for the Storm this season, which means he’ll be teaming up in the backcourt with Big East player of the year favorite Shamorie Ponds. The Big East should be terrified.

St. Joe’s

Davidson is the media darling of the Atlantic 10 going into 2018-19, but the coaches of the league again give credit where credit is probably due, picking the Hawks to finish second to St. Louis this year. They do lose leading scorers Shavar Newkirk and James Demery, but Phil Martelli’s squad will be returning stars Lamarr Kimble and Charlie Brown, who both missed most of last season with injuries, and sharpshooting big man Taylor Funk, who averaged almost 12 points a game in his freshman season a year ago. They’ve got two of last years Final Four participants on the non-conference schedule, so we’ll find out what they’ve got on Hawk Hill sooner than later.

Hofstra

The Pride isn’t even the popular choice to win the CAA, but I think they have a higher ceiling than Northeastern, who will be duking it out with Hofstra and likely Charleston to retain their regular season crown. Justin Wright-Foreman, one of the most impactful players in the country, is the ultimate x-factor, and he’s coming back with his backcourt partner Elijah Pemberton. This could end up being the best Hofstra team ever.

San Diego State

Everyone is talking Nevada out of the Mountain West, and for good reason; the Wolfpack have Final Four aspirations. But the defending conference champs return sophomore forwards Matt Mitchell and Jalen Daniels, along with senior guard Devin Watson who averaged over 12 points per a year ago. They’re also welcoming a monster freshman class that should have an impact on this year’s campaign. Look for them to potentially spoil Nevada’s party again come March.

Western Kentucky

The Hilltoppers made noise last preseason with the recruitment of Mitchell Robinson, before an unexpected series of events which led him to leave campus and never play a game for WKU or in the NCAA. Despite the loss of the current Knicks player, Western Kentucky made a run to the CUSA championship game and to the NIT final four. Rick Stansbury was at it again this cycle, and this year’s 5 star recruit ready to don a WKU jersey seems like he’s gonna stick in Bowling Green. The Hilltoppers are returning a threatening backcourt to help Charles Bassey try to lift Western Kentucky into national prominence.

BYU

The interests of football drove BYU out of the Mountain West, and the Cougars haven’t made their way into the top 25 since reaching #3 in the country in their last season in the MWC in 2011. The West Coast Conference hasn’t been as kind to BYU, but despite the loss of Elijah Bryant to the professional ranks, they could be a strong group with Yoeli Childs back leading an experienced core that could finish above St. Mary’s in the WCC.

Montana

Montana has put a number of strong teams on the floor and are regulars in the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, but have yet to be ranked by the Associated Press in program history. The Grizzlies are bringing back most of their squad that finished 16-2 in the Big Sky a season ago, including guards Ahmaad Rorie and Michael Oguine. They have games away at both Creighton and Arizona on the non-conference schedule, and voters will have to take notice if they can knock off either or both.

Honorable Mention

UMass

Penn

Oregon State

Ball State

UC Irvine