-Originally published 11/29/20-
Every college basketball fan follows their local team and keeps an eye on how their rival is doing. Many have a general idea of how their conference is shaking out and everyone knows the traditional blue bloods (Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky) relatively recent power houses (Michigan State, Gonzaga, Villanova) and teams of past glory trying to return (UCLA, Indiana, UConn). Here are a few teams outside the norm that’ll be great watches.
Alabama
The top returning scorers in the SEC are Jaden Shackleford (15 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and John Petty (14.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg). They also return the 5th leading rebounder in Herb Jones (7.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg). The Crimson Tide led the SEC and were 3rd in the nation in scoring averaging 82 points per game last season. Almost 50% of Alabama’s attempts were three pointers and the offense was top 40 in pace. The defense giving up 79 per game was the glaring weakness. A couple of top 100 recruits should get this time, including 6’8 redshirt freshmen James Rojas that sat out with a ACL injury last season. Alabama will be one of the four or five SEC teams that makes the SEC tournament and a low-key exciting watch.
Arizona State
Top recruits Josh Christopher and Marcus Bagley will join guards Remy Martin and Alonzo Verge Jr of the Sun Devils to form an elite quartet of scorers. Christopher is a 6’5 wing that’ll take some of the shots away from Remy Martin (19.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.5 spg) who could have gone to the NBA last season. Alonzo Verge Jr (14.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg) was an elite shooter inside the ark. Marcus Bagley is the cousin of Marvin Bagley Jr of the NBA. This group struggled shoot from three and rebound last season but they’ve upped the firepower and can shoot anyone out of the gym. They’ll have a chance to win the Pac 12.
Baylor
It would be a massive disappointment if the Bears don’t make the Final Four this season. Jared Butler (16 ppg, 3 rpg, 3.1 apg) shot 38% from three last season and will join MaCio Teague (13.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and Davion Mitchell (9.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg) to for an elite frontcourt. Mark Vital (6.1, 6.2 rpg) is one of the best defensive players in the Big 12. Seven footer Zach Loveday, 6’8 Dain Dainja (with a 7’7 wingspan), and guard L.J. Cryer round out a trio of four stars being added to the roster. The Bears are a non-blue blue program, they’re loaded with talent, multiple players will have a shot in the NBA and they’ll be facing tough competition in the Big 12 every night. This will be a fun team to root for.
Illinois
The Big 10 continues to be a fist fight every year and the Illini will finally get to compete at the highest level. The best team since the squad that went to the Nation Championship game in 2001, Illinois returns all five starters including Ayo and Dosunmu (16.6 ppg, 3.3 apg) and big man Kofi Cockburn (13.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.4 bpg). They added several freshmen and transfers Jacob Grandison (13.9 ppg, 5 rpg-Holy Cross) and Austin Hutcherson (20 ppg, 5.6 rpg) out of Division 3 Wesleyan where he racked up accolades. They’re both eligible after sitting out last season due to transfer rules. This wasn’t a great 3 point shooting squad last season, but they can score, they can rebound (11th nationally), and they’ll only get better this season. This will be an awesome group to watch.
Florida State
Honestly, FSU is fun to watch because of all the 7 footers they always have on the roster. They’ll have three in 20-21. Seven foot one Balsa Koprivica (4.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg) returns with his 9’1 reach. True freshmen Quincy Ballard is 7’0 (14 ppg, 11 rpg, 6 blk-senior HS) and Canadian transfer Tanor Ngom is 7’2 (16.7 ppg, 11.5 – Ryerson U). The Seminoles return three starters including M.J. Waler (10.6 ppg) and add 5 star prospect Scottie Barnes. The 6’9 forward with a 7’1 wingspan will be in the NBA next season. Leonard Hamilton has done a good job at FSU the past few years and they’ll have a say in who wins the ACC as they are almost on par with Duke, UNC, and Virginia.
LSU
Trendon Watford (13.6 ppg, 7.2 rebounds), Javonte Smart (12.5 ppg), Darius Days (11.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg) all returned from draft considerations to lead the LSU Tigers this season. Seven foot center Bryan Penn-Johnson, 5 star guard Cameron Thomas and 4 stars Jalen Cook and Eric Gaines are part of a Top 25 recruiting haul. The Tigers were 1st in the conference in shooting percentage at 47.1% (23rd nationally), 2nd in scoring at 80.5 ppg (9th nationally), and 2nd in turnover margin at 6.3 (24th nationally) last season. They’ll be able to score and have talent all over the roster. What else do you want when turning on a college basketball game?
Oklahoma State
OSU rolls in the top recruit in the country in 6’8 guard Cade Cunningham and he’ll be awesome to watch running the point. Donovan Williams and Rondel Walker both averaged over 25 ppg as seniors in high school. Montreal Pena, a 6’10 forward that played AAU with Cunningham and four star 6’7 forward Matthew-Alexander Moncriette round out a top-15 recruiting class. Isaac Likekele (10.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg) is the lone returning starter for a team that’ll have a whole new look. They don’t have the experience to win the stacked Big 12, but they’ll have a lot of size and always be a threat to pull an upset in the Big 12.
