Busting Brackets
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Mid-major Basketball: 5 programs to watch for 2020-21 season

By Tim Edmonds

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 27: TJ Haws #30 of the BYU Cougars gets five from teammate Alex Barcello #4 after making a three point basket during the second half of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 27, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 27: TJ Haws #30 of the BYU Cougars gets five from teammate Alex Barcello #4 after making a three point basket during the second half of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 27, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 10: Head coach Ben Jacobson of the Northern Iowa Panthers (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 10: Head coach Ben Jacobson of the Northern Iowa Panthers (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Northern Iowa Panthers

After recording 25 victories last season and a perfect 16-0 record at McLeod Center, the Panthers are one to watch next season as they headline what could be an excellent Missouri Valley Conference.

Led by one of college basketball’s best pure scorers in MVC Player of the Year AJ Green, the Panthers have all the firepower needed to make an extended NCAA Tournament run.

Only a junior, Green lit up the MVC last season on his way to capturing Player of the Year honors. Averaging 19.7 points per game, hitting 91 three-pointers and shooting just shy of 92 percent from the foul line, he proved to be one of the nation’s best shooters on a nightly basis as the Panther’s focal point.

In addition to Green, head coach Ben Jacobson’s team returns their two other standouts from last season — in senior guard Trae Berhow and redshirt junior forward Austin Phyfe.

Combining for over 57 percent of the team’s scoring last season, this trio will be key as they challenge Loyola-Chicago and Bradley University in a bid to win back-to-back regular-season crowns.

Outside of this trio, senior guard Tywhon Pickford is expected to step into the starting lineup to replace graduate and 2019-20 MVC Defensive Player of the Year — guard Isaiah Brown. This comes after struggling to make a meaningful impact in Cedar Falls since a standout freshman season in 2017-18.

Now back in the starting lineup and expected to play big minutes, he’ll be the key to the Panthers as they hope to retain the MVC title and earn their first bid to the NCAA Tournament since 2016.

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