Mid-major Basketball: Way-too-early top-50 power rankings for 2020-21

12. UNC Greensboro Spartans

2019-20 record: 23-9 (13-5 in SoCon)

Wes Miller is still with the Spartans, which automatically makes them a contender to win in the SoCon next season. It also helps that reigning Conference Player of the Year Isaiah Miller (17.8 ppg and 3.1 apg) is likely coming back as well, barring an unexpected NBA Draft decision. Fellow starters Kaleb Hunter and Angelo Allegri are also set to return for next season, along with breakout sophomore candidate guard Keyshaun Langley.

The losses of forwards Kyrin Galloway and James Dickey will be tough to overcome but 6’9 forward Mohammad Abdulsalam could be an admirable replacement. It would also help tremendously if Central Arkansas center transfer Hayden Koval would get a waiver by the NCAA to play next season. If that happens, UNC Greensboro would become the favorite to win the SoCon.

11. BYU Cougars

2019-20 record: 24-8 (13-3 in WCC)

No team on this list suffered more losses than BYU, who lost a trio of All-Conference performers in Yoeli Childs, TJ Haws and Jake Toolson. They’re big losses but head coach Mark Pope does have a number of transfers to try to replace them. That includes JUCO commits Gideon George and Spencer Johnson, Utah Valley transfers Wyatt Lowell and Richard Harward and recent Purdue grad transfer Matt Haarms.

The perimeter is still a question outside of rising senior Alex Barcello. But a healthy Jesse Wade and a big season from Connor Harding would be of big help. And the Cougars are still in the transfer portal looking for another ball-handler graduate asset. Coach Pope had arguably the best first-season at a new gig and looks to build off of it for BYU being a tournament contender again.