CBB REVIEW RANK 2020-21: TEAMS 30-26

Bybhjournalist

August 22, 2020
Mark Humphrey/The Advocate

We’re ringing in the college basketball season with a ranking of the top 100 teams heading into 2020! Follow CBB Review Rank all month long.

Make sure to tweet about CBB Review Rank using #CBBRank with comments, suggestions, and more. We’ll be posting all month long, ending with the top projected team in the country!

Check out CBB Review’s Top 100: 100-91, 90-81, 80-71, 70-61, 60-51, 50-46, 45-41, 40-36, 35-31

*All recruiting and transfer ratings from 247sports.com. All player and team statistics from sportsreference.com*

30. LSU

2019/20 Record: 21-10 (12-6 SEC)

Key Returns: Ja’vonte Smart (12.5 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.5 RPG), Trendon Watford (13.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG), Darius Days (11.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG), Charles Manning (7.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG)

Key Losses: Skylar Mays (Graduated), Marlon Taylor (graduated), Emmitt Williams (NBA Draft)

Key Recruits/Transfers: Josh LeBlanc (Transfer from Georgetown), Shareef O’neal (Transfer from UCLA), Cameron Thomas (5-star recruit), Mwani Wilkinson (4-star recruit), Eric Gaines (4-star recruit)

Although LSU is losing three huge assets from last years team, they have a lot of talent coming back and coming in. Cam Thomas was one of the top players in all of high school during his career and the two transfer going in will likely make an immediate impact once eligible. I think this will be Ja’vonte Smart’s year where he puts the NCAA on notice. He has always had so much talent but hasn’t really been able to display all of it with all of the talented guards he played with. LSU has the potential to be a candidate to win the  SEC. It will all depend on how head coach Will Wade gets his guys going once conference play starts.

29. Indiana

2019/20 Record: 20-12 (9-11 Big Ten)

Key Returns: Trayce Jackson-Davis (13.5, 8.4 RPG), Al Durham (9.8 PPG, 2.5 APG, 2.1 RPG), Rob Phinisee (7.3 PPG, 3.4 APG)

Key Losses: Devonte Green (Graduated), Justin Smith (Grad Transfer to Arkansas)

Key Recruits/Transfers: Khristian Lander (5-star recruit), Jordan Geronimo (4-star recruit)

Key Returns: Blake Francis (17.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.0 APG), Grant Golden (13.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.4 APG), Nick Sherod (12.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG), Jacob Gilyard (12.7 PPG, 5.7 APG, 3.1 RPG)

Key Losses: None

Key Recruits/Transfers: Connor Crabtree (Transfer from Tulane), Isaiah Wilson (3-star recruit), Djimon Bailey (3-star recruit)

Last season, Richmond had a tremendous year and finished second in the Atlantic-10 conference. Not only are the Spiders’ bringing everyone back, but they’re also adding great shooter from Tulane, who sat out last year due to transfer rules, and a number of talented recruits. Between Richmond and the rest of the teams in the A-10, the conference will be very talented next year. If all of the returners improve, Richmond is going to be a team to watch out for next March.

27. Memphis

2019/20 Record: 21-10 (10-8 AAC)

Key Returns: DJ Jeffries (10.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG), Lester Quinones (10.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG), Boogie Ellis (8.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG)

Key Losses: Prescious Achiuwa (NBA Draft), Tyler Harris (Transferred to Iowa State)

Key Recruits/Transfers: Isaiah Stokes (Transfer from Florida), Moussa Cisse (5-star recruit), Ahmad Rand (JUCO Transfer)

Head coach Penny Hardaway Jr. is a terrific recruiter as everybody knows, however he hasn’t had as much success as everyone’s expected. Last year, Memphis was expected to be one of the top teams in the country and finished out of the top 25. Hardaway once again has a great incoming class, however we will have to see what he is able to do with it. The number one area they need to improve on is the offensive side. I think they will be dominant if they can improve offensively as a team. That will be tough to do losing your top scorer and player in Precious Achiuwa, however the incoming guys will be a huge help.

26. Oregon

2019/20 Record: 24-7 (13-5 Pac 12)

Key Returns: Chris Duarte (12.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG), Will Richardson (11.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG), N’Faly Dante (5.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG), Addison Patterson (4.6 PPG, 1.3 RPG)

Key Losses: Peyton Prichard (Graduated), Anthony Mathis (Graduated), Shakur Juiston (Graduated)

Key Recruits/Transfers: Amauri Hardy (Transfer from UNLV), LJ Figueroa (Transfer from St. Johns), Eric Williams Jr. (Transfer from Duquesne), Eugene Omoruyi (Transfer from Rutgers), Jalen Terry (4-star recruit)

 Oregon is another one of those teams who is losing a lot but is also bringing a ton in. They by far have the best incoming transfer class. And on top of that, they have some key returners. Amauri Hardy is a big name to watch out for. I think he could be the starting point guard for the Ducks once the season starts. He is a guy who can get to the rim and finish and has a good shot from beyond the arc. With Peyton Prichard gone, he should be a good replacement. If LJ Figueroa is able to get a waiver, he is another player to watch out for. Figueroa was a tough shooting guard/small forward at St. Johns. He had six games where he scored 20+. Oregon will have a talented offense once again and will be one of the better teams in the Pac 12.

 

Bybhjournalist