SEC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2020-21 season

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 17: The Auburn Tigers hold the winner's trophy after the 84-64 win against the Tennessee Volunteers during the final of the SEC Basketball Championships at Bridgestone Arena on March 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: The Mississippi State Bulldogs (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

12. Mississippi State Bulldogs

2019-20 season: 20-11 (11-7 SEC)

Out the door: Reggie Perry, Nick Weatherspoon, Tyson Carter, Robert Woodard

Key returners: DJ Stewart, Iverson Molinar, Abdul Ado

Wait and see: 6 open scholarships

Key Newcomers: Tolu Smith (Western Kentucky), Deivon Smith (4-star #52)

I know, this seems like an awfully low ranking for a Mississippi State team that has three consecutive 20-win seasons under their belt. Unfortunately for Bulldog fans, the future is, well, murky to say the least.

Tyson Carter has graduated and the Bulldogs are losing Reggie Perry, Nick Weatherspoon, and Robert Woodard to professional aspirations. In addition to that, four other members of the team have elected to enter the transfer portal rather than return to Starkville.

The cupboard is not completely bare. Mississippi State should return important pieces in DJ Stewart, Iverson Molinar, and Abdul Ado. They will also hope for help from Western Kentucky transfer Tolu Smith and highly-rated 4-star recruit Deivon Smith.

The problem is, the Bulldogs have 6 open scholarships remaining. This makes it impossible to project where they will wind up fitting in the SEC picture, but more importantly, it makes you wonder what exactly is going on behind the scenes?

Mississippi State will surely add some help in the weeks and months to come. Expect them to continue to be active in the transfer portal and in the JUCO ranks. Either way, the Bulldogs may wind up being a collection of pieces that do not necessarily fit, and depth is likely to be a concern.

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