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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FORT COLLINS, CO – FEBRUARY 06: Colorado State mascot, CAM the Ram (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) ***Local Caption***
FORT COLLINS, CO – FEBRUARY 06: Colorado State mascot, CAM the Ram (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) ***Local Caption*** /

40. Colorado State Rams

2019-20 record: 20-12 (11-7 in Mountain West)

There’s no understating the loss of Nico Carvacho, the program and conference’s all-time leader in rebounds and a double-double machine the last few years. But Colorado State has plenty returning, including leading scorer Isaiah Stevens and another rising sophomore David Roddy. If former Georgia guard Ignas Sargiunas can give them something next season, the Rams could be competing for a top spot in the Mountain West.

39. Marshall Thundering Herd

2019-20 record: 17-15 (10-8 in Conference USA)

After losing a pair of All-Conference players the year prior, Marshall was solid overall in this past season. Taevion Kinsey (16.4 ppg and 4.2 apg) and Jarrod West (14.2 ppg and 4.1 apg) are the leaders of essentially the entire rotation returning, along with promising junior forward Iran Bennett. With another year of experience, the Herd should be a 20+ win squad in 2021.

38. Winthrop Eagles

2019-20 record: 24-10 (15-3 in Big South)

With Carlik Jones gone from Radford, the Eagles are the favorite to win the Big South next season. Even though they lose two key contributors in Hunter Hale and Josh Ferguson, Winthrop returns a number of rotation players from the No. 5 scoring offense. Former Tennessee forward D.J. Burns is coming back, while Chandler Vaudrin and his 5.8 apg will be a future All-Conference performer.

37. Saint Mary’s Gaels

2019-20 record: 26-8 (11-5 in WCC)

With 22 ppg scorer Jordan Ford graduating and Malik Fitts going pro, Saint Mary’s doesn’t return anyone from last season who scored more than seven points a game. They do bring back point guard Tommy Kuhse, along with starting forward Dan Fotu. And the Gaels also will have starting center Mattias Tass back from a leg injury. Saint Mary’s still needs to find more scoring production, hoping that incoming four-star freshman guard Jabe Mullins makes an immediate impact.

36. UAB Blazers

2019-20 record: 19-13 (9-9 in Conference USA)

With former Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy now at UAB, the Blazers have been landing several new players, including grad transfers Quan Jackson and Michael Ertel. They join the team’s three top scorers, Tavin Lovan, Tyreek Scott-Grayson and Jalen Benjamin. They’ll have to replace some outgoing rotation players but UAB’s talent increase should add more wins next year.

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