NCAA Basketball: Analyzing the 4 new Division I teams for 2020-21 season

Dixie State Trailblazers

Last, but certainly not least, is Dixie State out of St. George, Utah. They are coached by Jon Judkins, who has been the only coach the school has known as a four-year institution. They were at the Junior College level until the 2006-07 season. Judkins led the transition from JUCO to Division II so he is no stranger to change. Judkins has turned the Trailblazers into a consistent winner as well, having won seven conference championships and two conference tournaments, while making eight NCAA Tournaments.

The farthest a Dixie State team has gotten in the postseason is the Sweet 16, which they reached in 2011. They were well on their way to another tournament this year but like everybody else, their plans were derailed by the coronavirus.

Hunter Schofield, Dason Youngblood, and Jack Pagenkopf all averaged 10 PPG or higher, with Schofield being the highest at 16.4. Schofield and Youngblood will return in 2020, while Pagenkopf was a senior last season.

Schofield was the leading rebounder for the Trailblazers as well, and Youngblood is the leading assist man. Jacob Nicolds and Frank Staine are the scorers from three-point range, with Nicolds shooting 54.5 percent, albeit on just 11 attempts last season, and Staine shot 44.9 percent on 107 three-point attempts as a true freshman. Schofield also led his team in blocks, and Youngblood is the leading returning player in steals.

Like other teams on our list, the foundation for Dixie State is there in their transition year, and they could sneak up on some teams. There is a common theme in this list in that the teams are used to winning and have established themselves as contenders in their leagues.

The style of play and how these players and coaches adapt to the D1 level will be something to watch, and it should be an intriguing year for all these teams. The Trailblazers will play in the Western Athletic Conference with Tarleton State.