Busting Brackets
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Conference USA Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2020-2021 season

By Sean Cole

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 06: Charles Bassey #23 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts in the second half while taking on the Washington Huskies during their game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on November 6, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 06: Charles Bassey #23 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts in the second half while taking on the Washington Huskies during their game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on November 6, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Conference USA Basketball
Conference USA Basketball Florida International Golden Panthers Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Florida International Panthers

The 2019 FIU men’s basketball had a banner year finishing with a record of 19-13 overall and a CUSA record of 9-9, which tied them for 6th place. The Panthers had the second-most wins in school history in 2019 and their 6th place in CUSA was the highest finished in the conference as well.

3rd-year head coach Jeremy Ballard in the 2020 – 2021 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook was quoted as saying “We like the progress that we have had”. Last year’s statistics know doubt back up that statement as the Panthers finished in the top 5 in many categories, but there are four that stand out.

FIU was tops in the country in blocked shots at 6.6 bpg, 11th nationally in 3-point defense at .288 and lead the CUSA in steals per game at 8.8, and also led the CUSA in assists at 14.7 per game. FIU returns two starters this year while losing several key players from last year’s team.

For the 2020 campaign Coach Ballard must figure a way to replace 2019 leading scorer Devon Andrews (15.2 ppg) and Osasumwen Osaghae (13.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 3.8 bpg), who led the nation in blocked shots per game with 122 total blocked shots.  Those will be big shoes to fill but Coach Ballard has a lot coming back as well. It all starts with 6-1 junior guard Antonio Daye, Jr (10.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, and 4.9 apg).

Daye led the CUSA in assists and will play a major role for the Panthers. Also, returning are 6-5 senior Eric Lovett (8.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 6-5 senior Isaiah Banks (6.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg), 6-1 junior Cameron Corcoran (5.8 ppg, and 0.9 rpg), 5-8 Tevin Brewer (7.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 4.5 apg) and 6-6 redshirt freshman Danta Wilcox, who was limited to six games last year because of a season-ending knee injury.

The only freshmen that the Panthers signed in this year’s class was 6-3 Petar Krivokapic, who averaged 25.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 5.8 apg while playing for Miami Prep School.

They also signed a couple of transfers that will see a lot of playing time and figure to contribute is 6-9 senior Sedee Keita, a transfer from St., Johns, 6-2 Radshad Davis (8.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg, a transfer from UT Arlington), 6-10 junior Anthony Mason (8.2 ppg and 6.1 rpg, a transfer from Northwest Florida State College), 5-10 JaVaunte Hawkins (14.2 ppg and 3.0 spg, a transfer from Butler Community College) and 6-4 junior DJ Mitchell (14.3 ppg), a transfer from Hutchinson Community College.

The 2020 FIU basketball team has some big shoes to fill in losing three of their best players in Andrews, Osasumwen, and Trejon Jacob (11.6 ppg). There are several questions that will need to be answered. Will the Panthers be able to make up for the scoring that was lost?. How quickly will the team gel with all the new additions?

Offensively FIU will still fire away in shooting the 3 pointers and running both ends of the floor, The key to the success of the 2020 Panthers lies on the shoulders of Daye, Jr. FIU will go, as Daye, Jr. goes, as he will be asked to take over ball-handling duties, in which, if he can cut down on his 125 turnovers last year, distribute and take care of the ball then FIU will have another great season.