NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early top-25 mid-major rankings for 2021-22 season
6. BYU Cougars
2020-21 season record: 20-7 (10-3 in WCC)
The greatness of Gonzaga really covered up an impressive coaching job by Mark Pope, replacing a trio of all-conference performers to end up with a 6 seed in the Big Dance. Star guard and leading scorer Alex Barcello will be back but he’s the lone returning double-digit contributor, with both Brandon Averette and WCC Defensive Player of the Year Matt Haarms now gone.
The good news for the Cougars is that they did land an impact perimeter transfer in Te’Jon Lucas from Milwaukee. The All-Horizon League guard is coming off career highs of 14.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, and 5.8 apg. He and Barcello form one of the better mid-major backcourts in the country, with sharpshooter Trevin Knell and combo guard Spencer Johnson backing them up.
BYU is also expecting a breakout campaign from Caleb Lohner, who averaged 7.0 ppg and 7.1 rpg. With a more consistent three-point shot the 6’7 forward will become an All-WCC performer himself. And even with Haarms inside, there’s plenty of depth remaining, featuring center Richard Harward, former top-100 prospect Gavin Baxter and Gideon George, arguably the best pure athlete on the team.
5. Colorado State Rams
2020-21 season record: 20-8 (14-4 in Mountain West)
The Mountain West lost a ton of production from the top 4 teams (San Diego State, Boise State, Utah State) in the standings, with the clear exception of Colorado State. The Rams performed above expectations last season and bring back everyone, including leading scorer and rebounder David Roddy (15.9 ppg and 9.4 rpg). He and fellow rising junior Isaiah Stevens (15.3 ppg and 5.4 apg) make up the second-best duo in the league (No. 1 coming up soon).
Fellow starters Kendle Moore and Adam Thistlewood are both volume three-point shooters and when they’re on, Colorado State is incredibly difficult to beat. The Rams don’t have a ton of size but bigs James Moors and Dischon Thomas are solid. And it helps that the conference won’t have Neemias Queta of Utah State anymore.
Add top D-II transfer guard Chandler Jacobs to add even more depth to the rotation, and Colorado State will be a must-watch out west next season. Look for Roddy to become a national name and the Rams to be in the thick of the regular season title race.