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NCAA Basketball: Updated 2020-21 power rankings after NBA Draft deadline

By Tristan Freeman

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats walks the sidelines in the game against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse on February 05, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats walks the sidelines in the game against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse on February 05, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 17: John Petty #23 and Herbert Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 17: John Petty #23 and Herbert Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

. . . Crimson Tide . 16. team. 523

Star guard Kira Lewis’s departure was always a given, but the Crimson Tide still had a pair of other starters in John Petty and Herb Jones that needed to make decisions regarding the NBA Draft. The forward Jones elected to come back a month ago but Petty waited all the way to the end to say that he too was coming back for a senior season.

With those two back, it essentially creates a formidable offensive lineup once again for Alabama. Jaden Schakleford, who averaged 15.0 ppg as a freshman last season, is an All-SEC star already. And while Lewis isn’t around, the hope is that Villanova transfer point guard Jahvon Quinerly will have a big impact after redshirted. Four-star guard Joshua Primo and JUCO commit Keon Ellis will be part of the perimeter rotation as well.

Along with the positive draft decisions, Alabama also boosted its frontcourt this offseason. Yale grad transfer forward Jordan Bruner will look to help the team improve its lackluster defense, along with incoming top-50 center prospect Alex Tchikou. This duo gives the Crimson Tide true shot-blockers and quality defenders inside for next season. There can’t be too big a leap for this team considering that they lost their best player from a 16-15 team but the newcomers alone makes Alabama a team to watch in the SEC.

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