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NCAA Basketball: Updated early top-25 power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Tristan Freeman

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 5: Killian Tillie #33 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dribbles the ball against the Villanova Wildcats in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on December 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 5: Killian Tillie #33 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dribbles the ball against the Villanova Wildcats in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on December 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images) /
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TUCSON, ARIZONA – JANUARY 04: Remy Martin #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
TUCSON, ARIZONA – JANUARY 04: Remy Martin #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

512. . . . Sun Devils . 23. team

NCAA Basketball power rankings – Arizona State Sun Devils

For now, we’re going to assume that leading scorer and passer Remy Martin will be back for one more season after exploring the NBA Draft process. If he does come back, the Sun Devils won’t need to hope for waivers for transfer pickups, Holland Woods or Luther Muhammad. He and Alonzo Verge Jr. would form the best backcourt tandem in the Pac-12 next season.

The wings could be just as good, with five-star guard Joshua Christopher arriving after picking Arizona State this offseason. His commitment has somewhat put the other premier signing, top-30 wing Marcus Bagley into the background a bit. But the younger brother of former Duke star forward Marvin Bagley Jr. will have a huge season himself and bolster the offense for head coach Bobby Hurley.

This team was set to be a preseason top-15 team until the surprising decision by starting forward Romello White to transfer to Ole Miss after leaving the NBA Draft. The made the exodus of the other forwards earlier this offseason all the more important, as that leaves just JUCO big man
Chris Osten capable of playing the center position. If he can’t go, look for Arizona State to play plenty of small ball, with both Taeshon Cherry and Kimani Lawrence occupying the frontcourt.

That’s going to create plenty of issues both on defense and on the boards. If the guards can’t overcome that on a consistent basis, opposing Pac-12 frontcourts could eat the Sun Devils alive.

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