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NCAA Basketball: Top 25 strongest backcourts for 2020-21 season

By Ian Mumm

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 07: Collin Gillespie #2 of the Villanova Wildcats takes a foul shot during a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Capital One Arena on March 7, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 07: Collin Gillespie #2 of the Villanova Wildcats takes a foul shot during a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Capital One Arena on March 7, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 26: Blake Francis #1 of the Richmond Spiders (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 26: Blake Francis #1 of the Richmond Spiders (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

24. Richmond Spiders

The Spiders were one of the more surprising teams last season and were carried by their explosive backcourt. The trio of incoming seniors Jacob Gilyard, Blake Francis, and Nick Sherod poured in 43.1 points per game for one of the most efficient offenses in the nation. They ranked inside the top-60 in every scoring category and were top-15 in free throw efficiency. Their return gives the Spiders a tremendous base to reel in an A-10 conference title this year.

Related Story. Preseason A-10 power rankings for 2020-21. light

Richmond’s guards shared the ball extremely well and were one of the best groups in forcing turnovers in 2019. Their collective experience will be very important in 2020, as the roster going into the season did not acquire huge additions.

If Andre Gustavson can take a leap forward developmentally from his 4.4 points per game, the extra depth behind Gilyard, Francis, and Sherod will be vitally important towards this team taking the next step. With wins over Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, and Boston College in 2019, this team has plenty of potential to make life difficult for more Power 5 teams this season.

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