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Mid-major Basketball: Preseason Top-25 power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Tristan Freeman

Feb 1, 2020; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego State Aztecs forward Matt Mitchell (11) dribbles while defended by Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) during the first half at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2020; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego State Aztecs forward Matt Mitchell (11) dribbles while defended by Utah State Aggies forward Justin Bean (34) during the first half at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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North Texas Mid-major basketball Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

24. North Texas Mean Green

The Mean Green was a nice surprise in Conference USA, finishing first in the regular season. Unfortunately for them, their second-best player, Umoja Gibson, headed to Oklahoma as a transfer this offseason. They also lost three other rotation pieces, including starting forward Deng Geu and backup guards DJ Draper and Roosevelt Smart.

What keeps North Texas as a top-25 mid-major team is the return of Javion Hamlet. As a freshman, the point guard led the team with 14.6 ppg and 4.7 apg. With Gibson gone, look for Hamlet’s numbers to grow even more and be a frontrunner for Conference USA Player of the Year.

"North Texas played slow, efficient offensive basketball last season, and will have most of the same pieces in place to build on that success. – Joey Loose (@jloose128)"

There are other key returning pieces, including 6’10 forward Zachary Simmons and senior guard James Reese. Sophomore forward Thomas Bell led the Mean Green with 5.8 rpg off the bench and with Geu gone, will move into the starting lineup and see his production increase even more. guard Madrez McBride is also one of the nation’s best three-point shooters as well.

The faith in North Texas relies a ton on Hamlet but with an experienced supporting cast, there’s enough for this team to remain not only near the top of the conference in 2021 but potentially repeat as regular-season champions. As long as the defense remains strong, there’s no reason why the Mean Green won’t overcome Gibson’s departure.

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