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) /

7 of 27

DALLAS, TX – DECEMBER 08: Eric Childress #1 of the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at Moody Coliseum on December 8, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

21. UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

2018-19 season record: 22-10 (10-6 in Big West)

After dominating the Big West this past season with 31 overall wins, UC Irvine was supposed to be the preseason favorite for next year as well. But with their best player Max Hazzard entering the grad transfer portal, another team has surpassed them.

*If Hazzard does return to UC Irvine they would be top-15 in this list.

UC Santa Barbara finished second in conference play this past season and although they lose their top scorer in Ar’Mond Davis, they’re set to bring back four other double-digit players. That includes a potential star in rising sophomore Amadou Sow and a pair of guards in JaQuori McLaughlin and Deveral Ramsey. Both of those players dished out over three assists a game.

UC Santa Barbara also gets a high major transfer eligible next year in 6’5 guard Brandon Cyrus from DePaul. He averaged 6.7 ppg and 3.8 rpg in 53 career starts before sitting out last season. His career-high scoring night was going for 20 points against Xavier on 8/14 shooting.

From a talent perspective, the Gauchos will be a Big West contender but will need one of their key players to become that go-to guy that Davis was this past season.

Home/Mid Major Conferences