Dickie V's elite 8 mid-majors to watch - ESPN

The parity in the men's college basketball landscape has never been more evident, as mid-major programs — armed with talent, depth and a fearless mindset — have consistently challenged the status quo. These teams have not only secured impressive victories, but they have demonstrated a level of consistency and resilience that makes them dangerous adversaries as the 2023-24 season progresses.

I eagerly await the opportunity to witness these emerging mid-major powerhouses take on the established giants. The unpredictability of college basketball has been the defining narrative of the first few months of this season, setting the stage for an exhilarating second half and an NCAA tournament that promises to be filled with surprises, upsets and the potential for mid-major programs to make deep runs and etch their names into the annals of March Madness history.

Here are my picks to click on the road to the tournament.

It's been an up-and-down pre-conference journey for the Owls, who enjoyed the success of knocking off the Arizona Wildcats in double overtime in Las Vegas and another neutral site win over a highly regarded Texas A&M Aggies squad — then had a couple of head-scratching Quadrant 4 losses to the Bryant Bulldogs, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles and the Charlotte 49ers. With a solid top 30 NET ranking, FAU is favored in every game until the final four contests of the season when it faces off twice against the Memphis Tigers for what will likely be the regular-season AAC title.

The Tigers are sitting solidly in the top 30 NET rankings with a 12-1 nonconference record (and 1-0 in Ivy League play) and three Quad 2 wins. The Tigers, who made a Sweet 16 run last year, are looking to make back-to-back NCAA tournament