NCAA Basketball: Preseason top 25 mid-major power rankings for 2022-23 season

15. BYU Cougars

2021-22 record: 24-11 (9-6 in WCC)

This is the last year the Cougars will qualify for the mid-major rankings, as they’re heading to the Big 12. But will they finally be able to win any kind of WCC title after a decade of falling short? It’ll be a tough task without star guard and last year’s leading scorer Alex Barcello, who averaged 16.8 ppg and was one of the most efficient players in NCAA Basketball in the past two years.

With no returning double-digit scorers, it’s wide open as to who will take over the offense. The likeliest option is Coastal Carolina transfer Rudi Williams, coming off a season of averaging 14.7 ppg and 3.2 apg on 51% shooting from the field and 45% from deep. He’ll slot in as the new point guard for BYU, joined by returning role players such as Trevin Knell, Spencer Johnson, and Gideon George, who could be in for a breakout campaign with a larger role.

Two freshmen revelations from last season were big men Atiki Ally Atiki and Fousseyni Traoré, both of whom got extended minutes due to injury. Traore may be undersized at 6’7 but already proved he can be a great rebounder and post scorer and is an All-WCC candidate. With Detroit transfer Noah Waterman coming in to provide some size and shooting at 6’10, there are various lineups the Cougars can work with.

If Arkansas transfer and former top-50 prospect Jaxson Robinson can have an impact, BYU can have enough offense to remain in the NCAA Tournament picture. But there are definitely questions throughout the lineup and a lot of pressure on Williams to replicate Barcello’s impact offensively.