Busting Brackets
Fansided

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

By Tristan Freeman

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 11: Fans of San Diego State Aztecs cheer during the first half of a game against the New Mexico Lobos at Viejas Arena on February 11, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 11: Fans of San Diego State Aztecs cheer during the first half of a game against the New Mexico Lobos at Viejas Arena on February 11, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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DAYTON, OHIO – MARCH 20: (L-R) Jordan Perkins #4, Zacarry Douglas #1, against the North Dakota State Bison Raasean Davis #32 of the North Carolina Central Eagles (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OHIO – MARCH 20: (L-R) Jordan Perkins #4, Zacarry Douglas #1, against the North Dakota State Bison Raasean Davis #32 of the North Carolina Central Eagles (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

45. Nevada Wolf Pack

2019-20 record: 19-12 (12-6 in Mountain West)

With Jalen Harris all but certain to remain in the NBA Draft, Nevada loses its top four scorers. Similar to Boise State, they have multiple transfers who sat out last season to make an impact, including Oregon State’s Warren Washington and Desmond Cambridge, who averaged 16.5 ppg in two years at Brown.

44. Liberty Flames

2019-20 record: 30-4 (13-3 in Atlantic Sun)

Reigning ASUN Player of the Year Caleb Homesley is among four of the team’s top five scorers graduating but Liberty and their vaunted defense will still remain formidable next season. Rising senior guard Elijah Cuffee is due for a big year, along with Darius McGhee and forward Kyle Rode.

43. UC Irvine Anteaters

2019-20 record: 21-11 (13-3 in Big West)

It’s going to be hard for the Anteaters to repeat as Big West champs, with their entire starting lineup having graduated. Good news is that their 6th man Collin Welp was actually their leading scorer this past season at 13.0 ppg. As long as the rising sophomores replace the production of the outgoing class, UC Irvine should still be a contender once again.

42. NC Central Eagles

2019-20 record: 18-13 (13-3 in MEAC)

The most consistent program out of either the MEAC or the SWAC, the Eagles return most of their players from last year’s roster that was No. 1 in the MEAC. They will have to replace leading scorer and Conference Player of the Year Jibri Blount but led by C.J. Keyser and Jordan Perkins, NC Central will have at least six seniors with experience to compete with.

41. Akron Zips

2019-20 record: 24-7 (14-4 in MAC)

MAC Player of the Year Loren Jackson (19.8 ppg and 4.5 apg) is set to return for his senior season but he won’t have anyone returning who scorer more than six points a game last year. That puts a ton of pressure on Camron Reece, along with sit-out transfers Maishe Dailey from Iowa and Bryan Trimble, Jr. from St. John’s. If those two can perform well alongside Jackson, Akron will compete for a conference title in 2021.

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