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NCAA: Mid-Major Preseason Power Rankings

By Wally Hughes

Mar 23, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Wichita State Shockers mascot performs during a time-out against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men
Mar 23, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Wichita State Shockers mascot performs during a time-out against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men /
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Mar 15, 2014; El Paso, TX, USA; Louisiana Tech Bulldogs head coach Michael White speaks to his team before facing the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the championship game of the Conference USA college basketball tournament at Don Haskins Center. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2014; El Paso, TX, USA; Louisiana Tech Bulldogs head coach Michael White speaks to his team before facing the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the championship game of the Conference USA college basketball tournament at Don Haskins Center. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Last season: 29-8 (13-3 Conference USA), lost to Florida State 78-75 in quarterfinals of NIT.

Louisiana Tech finished in a four-way tie for first place in Conference USA last season, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT. This season, the Bulldogs are picked to win the conference, and are receiving votes in both the AP and coaches’ preseason polls.

The Bulldogs have a trio of guards as good as any in the mid-major ranks — Kenneth Smith, Raheem Appleby and Alex Hamilton. Smith is one of the best facilitators in the nation, averaging 7.7 assists per game a season ago.

Louisiana Tech will face tough competition this season in Conference USA — UTEP, Charlotte and Western Kentucky will all challenge the Bulldogs for the conference championship — but make no mistake, the Bulldogs are the favorite.

Next: 4. Harvard Crimson