NCAA Basketball: Top 10 most watchable teams midway through 2019-20 season

1. Furman

Unexpectancy seems to be a theme of these ranking and overall the 2020 college basketball season so far, so why not conclude our ranking with one of the most surprising rises to elite mid-major status in the Furman Paladins. Coming off the best season in program history, including their first-ever AP national ranking, coach Bob Richey in just his 3rd season with the program has continued to lift this program to new heights, and will be looking to take his squad to their first NCAA Tournament since 1980.

The Paladin’s success spars from their tenaciousness on defense. Ranking 20th in the nation in Steal % and 8th in Block %, Furman may not have the athletes most defensive powerhouses like Oregon and Baylor do (average height for the team is 6-4), but they get after it and are fearless defensively, constantly putting pressure on the ball handler, playing the passing lanes and contesting every shot possible. But of course, their defense isn’t the only aspect that makes this team #1 in Watchability. They have an incredibly efficient on offense to go with that tenacious D.

Ranking 20th in Offensive Rating and 8th in Effective FG%, Furman has great balance on that side of the floor and has players who dominate the game from both the perimeter and underneath. Senior guard Jordan Lyons paces the team from long-range, with 9 of his 16 points per game coming from 3 pointers, while forwards Noah Gurley and Clay Mounce handle the business down low, combining for 27 points on 60% shooting from 2-pointers per game.

At #1 in my rankings, Furman sits as the most all-around watchable team in the nation, and if they continue this play under Coach Richey, they could soon find themselves in the same conversation as Gonzaga and San Diego State as an elite mid-major program.