A year after going on a landmark run to the Final Four, Florida Atlantic might be even better in 2023-24. 

That's the statement the Owls made on Dec. 23, scoring the biggest regular-season win in program history with its 96-95 defeat of No. 4-ranked Arizona in double-overtime. The Las Vegas classic culminated in FAU securing a win over its highest-ranked opponent ever in a game with late-March intensity. 

"They are fearless," Owls coach Dusty May said postgame via FAUSports.com. "The moment is never too big. If a team is going to beat us, it is going to be because they outplay us and not because of the moment. These guys are competitors and hoopers."

Competitors and hoopers is one way to describe FAU's collection of playmakers. Another, which Alijah Martin touted last spring in Houston at the Final Four, was "pitbulls and rottweilers." 

Whatever the adjective one chooses to describe FAU basketball, it's accurate so long as it describes a tough, talented and determined team. The Owls remain atop the FloHoops Mid-Major Power Rankings going into 2024, with Johnell Davis' 35 points against Arizona providing perhaps the definitive performance of any mid-major player through the first half of the campaign. 

Davis had some company over the holiday week, however. Reyne Smith's remarkable 9-of-20 3-point shooting performance produced 31 points off the bench from College of Charleston's Australian sharpshooter, and fueled the Cougars' 89-82 win over Saint Joseph's. 

The Hawks come into last Thursday's matchup as one of the hottest teams in America, but they weren't as hot as Smith. His shooting warrants an NBA Jam-inspired "He's on fire!"

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"It's a lot of fun. You don't really think about anything at all," Smith said in the postgame press conference of his career performance. "It's always fun when you have confidence of coaches, teammates to go out there and shoot."

Coupled with an impressive win over Liberty earlier in the month, reigning Coastal Athletic Association champion Charleston returns to the FloHoops Mid-Major Power Rankings. Coach Pat Kelsey's Cougars are thriving after a rocky start with an early, three-game losing streak, boasting wins in seven of their last eight. 

Charleston's only loss in that stretch came against FAU. 

The Cougars host Montreat in a final non-conference tune-up before CAA play, which tips off on Jan. 4 in a marquee matchup at battle-tested Hofstra. 

Charleston has company among its CAA counterparts returning to the Power Rankings this week. UNC Wilmington extended its winning streak that began Dec. 2 with a milestone win at Kentucky to four games, beating Marshall on the road on Dec. 21. 

The 78-69 defeat of the Thundering Herd saw Trazarien White deliver another monster performance off the bench with 27 points to match his total from the Kentucky victory. 

Along with Charleston and UNC Wilmington, another leading riser in the Dec. 26 Power Rankings was Nevada. 

Kenan Blackshear erupted for 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the floor, grabbed five rebounds, dished four assists, made two steals and blocked a shot in the Wolfpack's 72-64 win over Georgia Tech on Christmas Eve. 

Diamond Head Classic Champs!! pic.twitter.com/xCHo4envpx

— Alex Margulies (@marguliespxp) December 25, 2023

The standout performance powered Nevada to the Diamond Head Classic championship, coming on the heels of impressive performances over Temple and TCU to reach the title game. Nevada returns to the top 10 of the Power Rankings, giving the Mountain West half of the 10 spots. 

Games to Watch Dec. 28-31

Thursday, Dec. 28 

• Oakland at Cleveland State, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

 Although Oakland comes in with a sub-.500 record, the Grizzlies played an especially difficult non-conference schedule that included winning the consolation bracket of the Cayman Islands Classic. 

Oakland visits Cleveland State in an early-season Horizon League tilt that could go a long way toward shaping the conference championship race. 

• Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton, 10 p.m./7 p.m. 

Friday, Dec. 29 

• Evansville at Cincinnati, 7 p.m./4 p.m.
• McNeese at Michigan, 7 p.m./4 p.m.

One of the biggest surprises in all of college basketball thus far, McNeese under lightning-rod, first-year coach Will Wade is a contender for Power Rankings positioning. A win in Big Ten Country before diving into the thick of Southland Conference play would position the Cowboys nicely for a push to the season's second half.

• Kent State at Saint Mary's, 8 p.m./5 p.m.
• UNC Asheville at UAB, 8 p.m./5 p.m. 
• San Diego State at Gonzaga, 9 p.m./6 p.m.

Boasting Final Four appearances in two of the last three NCAA Tournaments, and with each harboring hopes of making a run to Glendale this spring, San Diego State's visit to Gonzaga is one of the best non-conference matchups of the season.  

Saturday, Dec. 30

• Hofstra vs. St. John's (at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York), 12 noon/9 a.m. 
• Indiana State at Michigan State, 2 p.m./11 a.m. 

The most famous game in college basketball history pit Indiana State against Michigan State in 1979. The story of the first-ever Bird vs. Magic encounter is reintroduced to America, and at a most fitting time: The 2023-24 Sycamores under coach Josh Schertz look like they just might be the best Indiana State team since Larry Bird guided ISU to the National Championship Game. 

• Princeton at Delaware, 2 p.m./11 a.m. 
• Alabama at Liberty, 2 p.m./11 a.m.
• Longwood at Dayton, 2 p.m./11 a.m.
• Wichita State at Kansas, 4 p.m./1 p.m. 
• Akron vs. Saint Bonaventure (in Cleveland), 4 p.m./1 p.m.
• Cal State Northridge at Long Beach State, 4 p.m./1 p.m.
• UNC Wilmington at Arkansas, 5 p.m./2 p.m.
• Louisiana Tech at Grand Canyon, 8 p.m./5 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 31

• Monmouth at Oklahoma, 3 p.m./12 noon 

Monmouth looks for its second win over a Big 12 Conference opponent this season after beating West Virginia in November, and to score the CAA's third victory on the road against an Associated Press top 20-ranked team, when the Hawks visit No. 12 Oklahoma. 

Dec. 26 Top 15

1. FAU 

Any lingering doubt about FAU being capable of replicating last spring's Final Four run was erased with the Owls' impressive showing against Arizona. FAU solidified its place atop the FloHoops Mid-Major Power Rankings, and also puts itself in position to challenge for a top seed come Selection Sunday. 

Making such a case will be contingent on avoiding slip-ups in American Athletic Conference play, a league that will be hard-pressed to earn more than three bids to the NCAA Tournament but that has a variety of potential pitfalls. 

Six American teams rank in the KenPom top 125, including a good SMU bunch; always-dangerous Wichita State; and North Texas with its treacherous style of play. The American also boasts the second-ranked team in this week's Power Rankings. 

2. Memphis  

An ongoing, five-game winning streak for Memphis includes three straight wins over teams ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of the Tigers facing them: Texas A&M, Clemson and a blowout of Virginia. 

Memphis survived a scare against Vanderbilt in its penultimate non-conference contest before beginning American play on Jan. 4 at Tulsa. The Tigers follow that hosting SMU on Jan. 7 in a game that will be huge for SMU's NCAA Tournament profile, and a potential appearance in the Power Rankings. 

Memphis wing David Jones is putting together a case for All-America consideration, if not National Player of the Year honors with his 21.4-point per game output on nearly 42 percent shooting from 3-point range and 6.5 rebounds per game. 

"It wasn't cute, it wasn't nice, but we got the W."

—@Memphis_MBB's David Jones with @JonRothstein after the Tigers' win pic.twitter.com/Ws4x9u3nDM

— CBS Sports College Basketball ? (@CBSSportsCBB) December 23, 2023

3. Gonzaga

Gonzaga heads into this week's showdown with San Diego State seeking its first statement win of the season. The Bulldogs have dominated opponents that they should, but are 1-3 against KenPom top 60 competition. 

4. Colorado State

One of the most efficient and selfless offenses in college basketball, Colorado State will most likely be 12-1 when it tips off Mountain West competition on Jan. 2 vs. New Mexico. 

The Rams rank third in the nation with 67.1 percent of their field goals coming via assists, per KenPom.com statistics. Isaiah Stevens is eighth among all Div. I players in assist rate, complementing his explosive scoring ability with uncanny ball distribution. 

5. New Mexico 

Expect the New Mexico winning streak to run to 11 games when the Lobos begin their MWC slate next week. UNM hosts Div. II opponent Eastern New Mexico in a final tune-up in non-conference action. 

Freshman JT Toppin has been among the nation's best first-year players, averaging 12.8 points on better than 68 percent shooting from the floor with 7.7 rebounds per game. His outstanding on-ball defense, producing around two blocks and two steals per game, helps feed New Mexico's high-tempo offense by creating transition opportunities. 

6t. Utah State

Owner of an 11-game winning streak, it hasn't been easy for Utah State with a pair of one-possession wins against the West Coast Conference's Santa Clara and San Francisco, then pulling away in the second half in a disjointed performance vs. ETSU. 

Still, the Aggies have built an impressive resume ahead of Mountain West play, and Darius Brown is fast establishing himself as a playmaker to watch in the loaded MWC. 

6t. James Madison 

Still undefeated James Madison continues to pile up wins. The Dukes' 12-game streak leads the nation, though it hasn't always been pretty of late. JMU pulled away down the stretch against Morgan State last Friday, 89-75, after the Bears tied it up midway through the second half. 

The Dukes begin Sun Belt Conference play this week vs. Texas State, then face a solid Louisiana team. Those are JMU's first matchups with teams in the KenPom top 200 since beating Fresno State Southern Illinois and Fresno State just before Thanksgiving. 

8t. San Diego State 

Jaedon LeDee's return to the lineup came at an opportune time for San Diego State with matchups against Stanford, Gonzaga and the start of the Mountain West slate over these recent weeks. LeDee scored 16 points in the 74-60 defeat of Stanford, while Lamont Butler hit for 18. 

The Aztecs' trip to Gonzaga on Dec. 29 is an opportunity to reestablish themselves as the team to beat in the West on the road to the Final Four. 

8t. Grand Canyon 

Grand Canyon came into this season with plenty of buzz about its backcourt, beginning with Ray Harrison. However, the Antelopes interior has established itself as one of the nation's best on both sides of the ball. Duke Brennan and Tyon Grant-Foster have been strong on defense, with Grant-Foster also asserting himself offensively as both a high-percentage scorer and magnet for free throws. 

Along with veteran Gabe McGlothan, GCU has been able to cause mismatch issues for a variety of opponents. Grand Canyon aims for its fourth KenPom top 100 win when the Antelopes host Louisiana Tech on Saturday. 

10. Nevada

Nevada certainly had a Mele Kalikimaka in Hawai'i. The Wolfpack's 4-0 mark in Honolulu, capped with wins over solid TCU and Georgia Tech teams, showed this to be a team with undeniable NCAA Tournament potential.

Kenan Blackshear's table-setting is among the best anywhere in the game, made all the more dangerous with his ability to score in spurts.  

11. Indiana State

The nation's most effective field-goal shooting offense boasts a bevy of threats from long range — Robbie Avila, Isaiah Swope and Xavier Bledson are all shooting north of 42 percent from beyond the arc with at least two attempts per game — and unselfishness from everyone on the floor. 

This week's visit to Michigan State comes with historic connotations. A Sycamores win would add to the significance not only in the program's past, but laying the groundwork for its immediate future. 

12. Dayton 

Outstanding 3-point shooting and fluid ball movement have made Dayton's offense a joy to watch through a 9-2 start, and nicely complemented what is a stout defense — typical of any Anthony Grant-coached team. 

The Flyers shoot 41.8 percent from outside as a squad, second-best in the nation, while boasting a top 50 shot-blocking percentage and opponent 2-point field-goal percentage (45.4). 

13. Princeton  

Princeton returns to the Power Rankings this week at 11-1, facing one more opportunity to bolster its resume before beginning Ivy League competition. The Tigers travel to Delaware on Saturday for what should be an outstanding matchup. 

14. UNC Wilmington 

UNC Wilmington have been road warriors, going 5-1 over its last six with five of those played away from Trask Coliseum. The journey continues with three biggies in the coming days, beginning Saturday with the Seahawks' return to SEC Country. They face Arkansas, four weeks to the day after beating Kentucky at Rupp Arena. 

15. Charleston 

Don't look now, but a Charleston team that last year caught fire from late November well into January — ascending to the Top 25 in the process — is again getting hot before CAA play.

The Cougars' wins over Liberty and Saint Joseph's sending resounding statements about Charleston's potential. Both wins are made all the more impressive given different Cougars have stepped up in big spots, whether it's Reyne Smith, Frankie Policelli or Ben Burnham.