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2019-20 Top 144 Previews Men's Basketball

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  • #61
    VCU Rams

    2019-2020 Overall Rank: #22, Conference Rank: #1 Atlantic 10


    college sports madness,Men's Basketball,Atlantic 10,VCU,Joel Welser


    "VCU made huge strides in Coach Mike Rhoades’ second season leading the program. The Rams went from an 18-15 team to a squad that won 25 games and dominated the Atlantic 10. They were 16-2 in conference play and returned to the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to UCF in the first round. With the top six scorers returning, VCU is poised to be much more dangerous this March. Marcus Evans will again be the most dynamic player for the Rams. The senior guard led the team with 13.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals last season and he will again be the most explosive scorer for the Rams....

    Projection:
    De’Riante Jenkins is the most efficient shooter on a team that struggled shooting the basketball. The Rams ranked 335th in the nation in three-point field-goal percentage and Jenkins will need more help this year to boost that percentage up a bit. Mike’L Simms and Malik Crowfield are experienced seniors who can knock down a few shots, but consistency will be key. Issac Vann will again start at small forward and he can knock down a few shots too, but the 6-6 forward is much more effective when he attacks the basket. Like the other three returning starters, Marcus Santos-Silva also averaged double digits in the scoring department last season. He also added a team high 7.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. With Corey Douglas and Vince Williams adding depth, VCU returns plenty of options. Five freshmen will add to those options, led by Nah’Shon Hyland and Tre Clark. If they can help bolster VCU’s perimeter scoring, this will be an extremely dangerous team. The Rams are going to play great defense and that will keep them at the top of the Atlantic 10, but if the offense becomes more consistent, VCU will be right up there with Gonzaga when it comes to the best team from a mid-major conference in the country.

    Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA - 6-seed

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    • #62
      Memphis Tigers

      2019-2020 Overall Rank: #15, Conference Rank: #1 American



      "Year one of the Coach Penny Hardaway era went relatively well. The Tigers won 22 games and won a game in the NIT. But the expectations are much, much higher entering year two and that is even with all five starters gone. Coach Hardaway has brought in an epic recruiting class and even a couple talented sophomore transfers. If Coach Hardaway can get all of those pieces to come together and form a cohesive unit, this will be a big year at Memphis....

      Projection:
      Sophomores Tyler Harris and Alex Lomax will join senior Isaiah Maurice as the team’s only three returning players. Harris set a Memphis freshman record with 79 made three-pointers last season and Lomax will provide the team with a quality ball handler, likely off the bench. But this group is not about the returning players. James Wiseman is the top freshman in this class and the 7-1 center could be the top choice in the 2020 NBA Draft too. Wiseman can run the floor surprisingly well for a player of his size. Precious Achiuwa is another McDonald’s All-American forward who will use his athleticism to score in bunches. D.J. Jeffries and Malcolm Dandridge are the freshmen who will mix it up in the paint. Memphis also adds Louisville transfer Lance Thomas who can stretch the defense with his shooting ability. That is an immense amount of frontcourt talent, albeit almost entirely unproven. Boogie Ellis, Lester Quinones and Damion Baugh are the top freshmen on the perimeter and will all compete for major minutes. In total there are seven true freshmen on the roster and all seven of them are ranked in the top 125 of this class. That is impressive and goes to show just how much talent is on this roster. But talent will not be the potential issue with this team, it will be chemistry and that is the only thing that could keep Memphis from winning an American Athletic Conference title and making a deep NCAA Tournament run.

      Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA, 4-seed..."

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