NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early mid-major top-25 for 2019-20 season

NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early preseason mid-major top-25 for 2019-20 season

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: The Utah State Aggies celebrate their victory over the San Diego State Aztecs in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Utah State won 64-57. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: Head coach Rick Stansbury of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes during their 2018 National Invitation Tournament Championship semifinals game at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

18. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

2018-19 season record: 20-14 (11-7 in Conference USA)

Western Kentucky was supposed to be at the same level as Buffalo and Nevada this past season but chemistry issues, suspensions and bad losses early on dampened their outlook. And now, they’ll have to bounce-back without their senior point guard Lamonte Bearded and best player overall Charles Bassey (assuming he does go pro – otherwise the team is top-10 on this list).

But the reason why the Hilltoppers did make the list is that there is plenty leftover for head coach Rick Stansbury to work with. Taveion Hollingsworth, Josh Anderson, and Jared Savage all return after averaging over 12 ppg and will have Northern Kentucky transfer Carsen Williams, a 6’5 forward who averaged 12.0 ppg and 5.6 rpg two seasons ago.

The key for Western Kentucky next year will be the improvement of former top-100 point guard Dalano Banton and 6’10 forward Tulu Smith. Each played in limited minutes but showed promising signs as freshmen. They’re the replacements for both Bassey and Bearden at their respective positions.

There aren’t any top-tier grad transfers or five-star recruits coming this summer so Western Kentucky will have to make it work. Good news is that plenty of other Conference USA teams lost more production but the Hilltoppers need to get back to the top in order to continue getting talent to the program.

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