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

8. Dayton Flyers

2019-20 record: 29-2 (18-0 in Atlantic 10)

Even with 20 ppg scorer, All-American, Conference and National Player of the Year Obi Toppin off to become a top-5 NBA Draft pick don’t expect a major drop-off from the Flyers. They were one of the best shooting and scoring teams in the country besides Toppin, including All-Conference point guard Jalen Crutcher (15.1 ppg and 4.9 apg). He entered the NBA Draft himself but should return for another season.

The additional losses of Trey Landers and Ryan Mikesell are going to hurt but Dayton still brings back guards Ibi Watson and Rodney Chatman to have another top-tier backcourt. The frontcourt is a concern, with the program failing to land any graduate transfers, despite coming off of this historic success. But if senior Jordy Tshimanga and redshirt freshman Moulaye Sissoko can produce enough to not be a liability, the Flyers will have a shot at repeating as A-10 champs.

7. Belmont Bruins

2019-20 record: 26-7 (15-3 in Ohio Valley)

Remember when I mentioned all the talented sophomores St. Bonaventure had this past season? The Bruins can counter with an elite trio themselves, with leading scorer Adam Kunkel (16.5 ppg), 6’11 center Nick Muszynski (15.3 ppg and 6.4 rpg) and Adam Grayson, who led the Ohio Valley Conference with 6.2 apg last season and was also Defensive Player of the Year in the league.

With another expected jump for the rising seniors, Belmont will be able to withstand the losses of starters Tyler Scanlon and Michael Benkert. They’ll need Nick Hopkins and Caleb Hollander to step in as starters next season, with some bench developing to keep both Murray State and Austin Peay arm’s length in the standings to win the regular-season title.