NCAA Basketball: Preseason top-25 mid-major power rankings for 2021-22 season
2. St. Bonaventure Bonnies
A year ago, it was the Richmond Spiders that was the preseason favorite in the Atlantic 10, all thanks to the fact that they were bringing back five starters as seniors. This time around, it’s St. Bonaventure in the same situation, getting all eight votes at the No. 2 spot.
It’s hard for anyone to argue their placement, considering that they have one of the best 1-2 punches in the country in guard Kyle Lofton and big man Osun Osunniyi. Lofton led the Bonnies with 15.5 ppg and 5.5 apg on the perimeter, while Osunniyi nearly averaged a double-double at the center position while dishing out over two assists per game and blocking nearly three shots in the interior. He’s one of the best defenders in the country and if it wasn’t for him being the 5th option on offense sometimes, would be an even bigger name nationally.
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What’s interesting about St. Bonaventure is that there are three more double-digit scorers in the lineup in Jalen Adaway, Jaren Holmes, and Dominick Welch. All three are listed as 6’5 guards and averaged at least 11 ppg and over five rebounds and are capable of playing any of the non-point guard and center positions on the court. The versatility on both ends makes the trio very important to the Bonnies ceiling and takes the pressure off both Lofton and Osunniyi to consistently rise to the occasion.
The bench has been revamped via the transfer portal, thanks to a pair of ACC transfers in Quadry Adams and Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, as well as Junior College transfers, Linton Brown and Oluwasegun Durosinmi. If this nine-man rotation can stay healthy, St. Bonaventure will be in a great spot to win the Atlantic 10 for the second year in a row.