NCAA Basketball Season: Top Teams Heading Into 2020-21

The NCAAB is looking more promising than ever, and viewers and fans have much to look forward to, even though they can’t watch matches in person at stadiums. This article will cover the best few teams making their way into this 2020 - 21 season and why they have the most potential to make it to the Final Four.

Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Gonzaga was up there when it came to winning the 2020 NCAA tournament, but they couldn’t make it all the way. But this season is a fresh slate, and expectations around their team are high again. The head coach Mark Few was able to work very well with the squad he has and has trained them to play impeccably at both ends of the court. His leadership has helped with the cohesion levels of the team and has seriously improved their defense gameplay. 

Gonzaga ranked number 1 in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency last season, averaging 121.3 points per 100 possessions. The team’s senior forward Killian Tillie played well because he was healthy and injury-free, and worked well alongside  Filip Petrusev and Corey Kispert. Their record is 31-2 while entering the tournament, which is as close to perfect as a team can get. That is why they are bound to be the top seed. 

However, Tillie will sit this season out due to health issues. The rest of the core team will be back, which is why they will be able to recreate their previous season’s magic. But they will also end up being stronger than before, given that they will have learned from their experiences of the last season. 

Their recruiting class has brought in five-star point guard Andrew Nembhard who transferred from Florida. He had a huge list of teams going after him, including Duke, Memphis, and USC. So this move means a strength on Gonzaga’s side while being a huge loss for Florida. Another significant move was also Aaron Cook. He transferred from Southern Illinois with great stats at 15.0 points in 31.2 minutes over just six games. 

He couldn’t play too many games last season because of a right-hand bone being broken during the season. Most sportsbooks have placed Gonzaga on top to win the 2021 NCAA Basketball Tournament, at the same price as Baylor, Villanova, and Virginia.

Villanova Wildcats

Their highest scorer, Saddiq Bey, is a part of the NBA Draft season. But this still doesn’t make Villanova weak enough, as they return with an 83.1 percent of their minutes from last year’s team, which holds a record of 24-7. Collin Gillespie played an integral role last year, averaging 15.1 points and 4.5 assists last year, He is currently the favorite to lead the way for this team next season. Justin Moore will also see more playing time and punching power in the offense. 

Their five-star wing Bryan Antoine did not play much last season because he was recovering from his injuries. He will be able to play a more prominent role this season. The team has wing talent which extends beyond their playing five, deep into their roster. Villanova has the same odds as Gonzaga’s to win the 2021 tournament. 

Tulane’s transfer player Caleb Daniels also has what it takes to help this team, as he was an elite scorer as a sophomore before coming over to Villanova, although he did sit the last season out. If Daniels and Antoine can make up for Bey’s absence, the team should sail through to the Final Four. 

North Carolina Tar Heels

North Carolina, unlike the other two teams, let down its fans and viewers alike. Cole Anthony couldn’t do much after he was ruled unfit to play, and Armando Bacot, a freshman, brought in many points. But the rest of the team, except Garrison Brooks, struggled to keep up and deliver a noteworthy performance. 

This team’s roster this year looks promising, with their recruiting class this year standing at No. 2 in the nation. North Carolina has three five-star players - point guard Caleb Love and forwards Walker Kessler and Daytona byRon Sharp. The Wing players also look good for the team, Puff Johnson and Kerwin Walton, and their Top-50 point guard R.J. Davis should also help. 

Their frontcourt power will be unmatched, with Bacot and Brooks both making a return to gameplay alongside the freshman. The backcourt, however, is where their weakness lies. Caleb Love needs to step up and show that he can strengthen his game. Leaky Black, Anthony Harris, and Andrew Platek will be expected to help him in his endeavor.