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

3. Loyola-Chicago Ramblers

2019-20 record: 21-11 (13-5 in Missouri Valley)

Although they haven’t been as much on the national radar since their epic 2018 Final Four fun, the Ramblers have far from fell off, getting at least 20 wins in each of the past two years. This upcoming season though could have Loyola-Chicago potentially ranked at some point.

Loyola-Chicago had no seniors on this past season’s roster and returns every single main piece for 2020-21, including at least six seniors. The leader, Cameron Krutwig, averaged 15.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 4.2 apg and along with Northern Iowa’s AJ Green will be the preseason frontrunner for 2021 Conference Player of the Year. Fellow double-digit scorers Keith Clemons and Tate Hall are also coming back as rising seniors, along with starters Lucas Williamson and Aher Uguak. One of few teams on this list to retain all of their starters, the Ramblers will have an advantage during these times, compared to those who have transferred but can’t work out together during this pandemic.

This program does have Braden Norris, a former Oakland guard who averaged 8.0 ppg before transferring and sitting out. He adds more guard depth but not in the frontcourt, which was a weakness for them this past season. No other player outside of Krutwig had more than four rebounds a game and only two players on the roster are taller than 6’8. Rebounding and three-point defense (332nd nationally) are areas the Ramblers need to work on in order to be an at-large contender, along with beating out Northern Iowa to win the Missouri Valley.