Busting Brackets
Fansided

SoCon Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2019-20 season

By Logan Butts

CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 20: Players of the Wofford Terriers celebrate following their win against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean Smith Center on December 20, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wofford won 79-75. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 20: Players of the Wofford Terriers celebrate following their win against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean Smith Center on December 20, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wofford won 79-75. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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BLACKSBURG, VA – DECEMBER 05: Sarju Patel #31 of the VMI Keydets looks to run against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the first half at Cassell Coliseum on December 5, 2018 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Lauren Rakes/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA – DECEMBER 05: Sarju Patel #31 of the VMI Keydets looks to run against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the first half at Cassell Coliseum on December 5, 2018 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Lauren Rakes/Getty Images) /

No. 10 – VMI

2018-19 Record: 4-14 (11-21 in SoCon play)

Key Returnee: Garrett Gilkeson

Exciting Non-Conference Matchups: Virginia Tech, East Carolina, UC Davis

VMI was not in the SoCon basement last season, but the Keydets lost their only star in Bubba Parham. Parham, who transferred to Georgia Tech in the offseason, generated a significant portion of the VMI offense, averaging 21.4 points and 3.5 assists per game. The Keydets are hoping Garrett Gilkeson can step up in both areas with help from Myles Lewis and Greg Parham (unrelated to Bubba).

No. 9 – The Citadel

2018-19 Record: 4-14 (12-18)

Key Returnee: Kaiden Rice

Exciting Non-Conference Matchups: Georgia, Campbell, Illinois, N.C. State

Similar to the other military school The Citadel is currently sharing the SoCon basement with, the Bulldogs lost their top player in the offseason: Lew Stallworth (20.2 points, 6.2 assists). However, unlike VMI’s Parham, Stallworth didn’t transfer, he just ran out of time after being on his third team in five years.

The Citadel will look to Kaiden Rice to take over. The upcoming junior wing averaged just over 11 points off the bench for the Bulldogs last season and is the only returnee of their four double-figure scorers.