NCAA Basketball: Preseason top-25 mid-major power rankings for 2021-22 season

23. San Francisco Dons

The Dons had a rough go of things last season, finishing 8th in the WCC. A major reason was the lack of frontcourt production on either side of the court. This coaching staff made sure it wasn’t going to be a big weakness this time around, landing four transfer forwards and centers this offseason.

Among the newcomers is Patrick Tape, who didn’t play much at Duke last season but was a double-digit scorer at his previous stop at Columbia. 6’10 forward Yauhen Massalski averaged 9.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg in 10 games at conference rival San Diego, while Nevada transfer Zane Meeks gives San Francisco a stretch option at the power forward spot.

Add returning contributors Josh Kunen and Dmitry Ryuny to the rotation and you have plenty of depth this time around. The Dons are hoping for a go-to option from this group to provide balance with arguably the best non-Gonzaga backcourt in the WCC.

Star guard Jamaree Bouyea elected to take a 5th year, coming off of leading the Dons with 17.3 ppg and 3.7 apg. He and his co-star Khalil Shabazz (15.0 ppg) are two electric scoring guards that have put up huge performances against the top teams and are joined by Gabe Stefanini, a 6’3 guard from Columbia that hasn’t played in two seasons but in 2018-19 averaged 13.8 ppg and 4.1 apg. He’ll serve as Bouyea’s backup point guard, while 6’5 sharpshooting guard Julian Rishwain will get minutes at the three-spot.

Under head coach Todd Golden’s system, the Dons are at their best when they can shoot a bunch of threes and provide spacing for the guards to operate how they please. They couldn’t do that well last season but this roster is better suited, which could allow Bouyea to really shine at the national level and guide the program to a top-3 spot in the WCC.