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

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

Mar 7, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Drake Bulldogs forward Darnell Brodie (51) drives to the basket as Loyola Ramblers guard Lucas Williamson (1) and center Cameron Krutwig (25) defend during the first half in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

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NCAA Basketball New Mexico State Aggies (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) /

22. New Mexico State Aggies

Last season for the Aggies was a complete disaster off the court, as issues relating to the pandemic caused them not only multiple disruptive “pauses”, but they couldn’t even play in the state of New Mexico due to regulations. They had six losses in WAC play which is two fewer than the six previous years combined.

The basketball program has turned a new page and has completely revamped its roster, with the exception of three seniors (Clayton Henry, Johnny McCants, and Donnie Tillman), as well as returning leading scorer Jabari Rice (13.2 ppg). This core alone makes them a frontrunner candidate in the WAC but there’s a good chance that the best player isn’t even one of them.

That’s because New Mexico State landed Nebraska transfer Teddy Allen, who led them with 16.5 ppg for the Big 12 program. Even during his days at West Virginia, the 6’6 wing has shown to be one of the best pure scorers in all NCAA Basketball but off-the-court issues have plagued the young man in the past few years. The culture and environment cultivated at New Mexico State could be the ideal spot for Allen to prevail both on the off the court.

Among the many other newcomers are several Junior College transfers (Mario McKinney, Jr., Levar Williams, Marsei Caston, Nate Pryor, and Aquarn Butler) and forwards Mike Peake and Yuat Alok, who comes from Austin Peay and Coppin State respectively. The frontcourt may be the only issue of concern for the Aggies in the WAC but they have so much scoring potential in the backcourt and on the wings that they could just go small with McCants and Tillman at the five-spot and still be good to go.

New Mexico State’s talent should make them the favorite on paper in the WAC but thanks to five of the top teams in the Southland Conference coming over, most notably, Stephen F. Austin, makes this league much more competitive. So going unbeaten in league play may be too much to ask but if Allen excels as the star scorer, the Aggies could potentially pull off the feat.

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