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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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 29: The Texas-Arlington Mavericks bench reacts as they defeat the Texas Longhorns 72-61at the Frank Erwin Center on November 29, 2016 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

16. Texas-Arlington Mavericks

2018-19 season record: 17-16 (12-6 in Sun Belt)

After firing a well-respected head coach and graduating their top eight scorers from a year ago, UT Arlington was supposed to be one of the worst teams in the Sun Belt. It looked that way heading into the new year after the team lost 11 of 13 games entering the new year. Things changed out of nowhere, with the Mavericks winning eight of nine and nearly won the regular season title overall.

The way it was done was not only superb coaching by Chris Ogden but also the great scouting on the Junior College market, where several ended up having big seasons. That includes leading scorer Brian Warren and top rebounder Andres Ibarguen. The Mavericks also benefitted from Jackson State transfer Edric Dennis, who put up 14.3 ppg.

The entire team next year will be either seniors or sophomores, with the same nucleus intact. On one hand, UT Arlington won’t be catching up on anyone in a conference that’s always competitive. However, Georgia State losing head coach Ron Hunter to Tulane is a big gift to the Mavericks, who now are the team to beat next year. It’s been an amazing reversal of fortunes for a program thought to be in a multi-year rebuild.

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