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NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 24 teams in 2020 “The Basketball Tournament”

By Max Marmitt

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 30: D.J. Kennedy #1 of the St. John's Red Storm celebrates the win against the Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 30: D.J. Kennedy #1 of the St. John's Red Storm celebrates the win against the Duke Blue Devils at Madison Square Garden on January 30, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /
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FAYETTEVILLE, AR – DECEMBER 30: Jaylen Barford #0 of the Arkansas Razorbacks (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – DECEMBER 30: Jaylen Barford #0 of the Arkansas Razorbacks (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

21. The Basketball Tournament power rankings – Jackson TN Underdawgs

Actual Ranking: #24 – Round of 24 Matchup: #9 Big X On July 4th

Solely analyzing the Jackson TN Underdawgs on paper is a huge mistake. Like Mid American Unity, they lack the big names that other TBT teams have. They might be undermanned and undersized, but you can guarantee that every time they take the floor they will be ready to play. Former Arkansas star Jaylen Barford is the heart and soul of this team.

He is a do-it-all guard who earned a spot in the TBT all-tournament team (which only includes five players) last year. With per-game numbers of 24.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, he led this team in all those categories, single-handedly bringing them to an Elite 8. Furthermore, he put up those numbers in an efficient manner (50 percent field goal percentage and 42.4 percent from three) and proved he could be a lockdown defender.

The “Underdawgs” might have the most unique bond in TBT history, as almost all these guys are blue-collar workers as long-haul truckers and State Farm agents. Pulling off a couple of upsets before last year, 2019 was when this group was a different animal. Despite being the lowest-seeded team in their region, they took control over the St. Mary’s alumni team in the first round and then destroyed their next two opponents by 19+. Facing the 2019 TBT Runner-ups/Marquette alumni team in the Elite 8, it was back and forth through three quarters until the Golden Eagles pulled away in the fourth and won by 17.

This team certainly has some pests on the defensive end and will do all the intangibles/little things it takes to win. Growing up together, the chemistry has always been there with another really close-knit group in this field. Murray State alum Jewuan Long along with his brother Antwan Long are key guys that can really shoulder the load of Jaylen Barford, and they probably need to in order to make another run in the TBT.

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