NCAA Basketball: Preseason Top-25 power rankings for 2020-21 season
No. 23 Richmond Spiders
Full disclosure, these rankings were compiled before the season-ending injury to senior guard Nick Sherod. The guard averaged 12.7 ppg and 5.4 last season while making a team-leading 44% from three-point range on nearly six attempts a game. His absence certainly hurts and the Spiders would normally drop out of the top-25 with this news.
But don’t completely discount Richmond, even with the sad injury news. This was an interesting team to look at because they were set to start five seniors on its starting lineup. Four remain, including star guard and returning leading scorer Blake Francis.
"Richmond may have played second fiddle to a legitimately great, top-five level Dayton Flyers team last season, but the Spiders should be second to no one in the Atlantic 10 in 2020-21. – Logan Butts (@Logan_Butts)"
6’10 big man Grant Golden is one of the best frontcourt players in the Atlantic 10, while forward Nathan Cayo flies under the radar as a “glue guy” of sorts. And as great as Francis looked last season after transferring over, point guard Jacob Gilyard still managed to produce 12.7 ppg and 5.7 apg.
To try and replace Sherod’s lost production, the Spiders will need big things from Tulane transfer Connor Crabtree. The 6’6 wing has good size and can shoot it and could very well start at small forward. Other names to watch off the bench include Andre Gustavson and incoming freshman Djimon Bailey.
While Obi Toppin and Dayton thrashed through the Atlantic 10 last season, it looks much more wide open, even more so due to Sherod’s injury. But the remaining experience and talent that Richmond possesses should still keep them up there in the standings. And if they can go on a run, who knows, the Spiders might end up in the top-25 at one point after all.