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NCAA basketball 2020-2021: Preseason Top 25 college basketball rankings

By Mike Phillips

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 30: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in action against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Xfinity Center on January 30, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 30: Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes in action against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Xfinity Center on January 30, 2020 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

20. UCLA Bruins

This team was left for dead at the end of January before a late-season run put the Bruins right on the brink of earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. UCLA’s odds of building off that strong finish received a huge boost when Chris Smith, the Bruins’ best player, opted to return to school instead of staying in the NBA Draft. Mick Cronin will add two key players to his rotation in freshman Jaylen Clark and Kentucky transfer Johnny Juzang, who should add some outside shooting punch to the Bruins’ lineup. The Pac-12 figures to be a tight race but UCLA has enough talent throughout the roster to contend for the regular-season title.

19. Houston Cougars

The Cougars were the American’s best team last season and are poised to pick up right where they left off. Fabian Mills tore his ACL during the offseason which delivers a big hit to the frontcourt but Houston should be fine since their backcourt is responsible for most of their offensive firepower. The big key to how Houston fares this season will be how point guard Caleb Mills progresses as he enters his redshirt sophomore season. Mills needs to improve his shot selection and avoid getting too bogged down in isolation plays in order to help the Cougars’ offense reach new efficient heights.

18. Florida State Seminoles

Few people actually remember that Florida State won the ACC last year as Leonard Hamilton continues to run an underrated program. The Seminoles had two players go in the lottery last week, including fourth overall pick Patrick Williams to Chicago, but they do have one of the nation’s most exciting freshmen coming in Scottie Barnes.

The 6-foot-8 wing is the best recruit ever to land at Florida State and can do pretty much everything, including defending every position, attack off the dribble and jump out of the gym. The Seminoles aren’t getting much attention despite returning most of their rotation, which is a mistake since Hamilton’s teams are always well-prepared for the challenges of ACC play.

17. Arizona State Sun Devils

Another Pac-12 team that should be a lot of fun to watch is Arizona State. This is largely due to the presence of Remy Martin, a favorite for the Pac-12 Player of the Year honors, who averaged 19.1 points per game last year while shooting over 43 percent from the floor. The Sun Devils are capable of putting up points in bunches, which lends to a very exciting brand of basketball. Top freshmen Josh Christopher and Marcus Bagley should add to the fun as Arizona State will look to shoot its way to the top of a competitive conference.

16. Texas Tech Red Raiders

There was a lot of turnover in Lubbock, where five key players departed after last season, but Chris Beard has done a tremendous job restocking the cupboard. One key change will be at the point, where five-star recruit Nimari Burnett is set to take over for Jahmius Ramsey after the latter went pro.Beard also has a small army of transfers coming in, including a potentially new starting frontcourt with former UNLV forward Joel Ntambwe teaming with former VCU product Marcus Santos-Silva down low. Those two, along with former Georgetown star Mac McClung, could really elevate the Red Raiders if they gel quickly with the existing core.