CBS Sports released its projected best 68 teams for the 2020-21 season last Thursday as the publication works through its college basketball rankings from No. 1 to No. 357 in anticipation of this year’s Division I hoops schedule.
Unlike last season, when the Florida Gators men’s basketball team started off ranked No. 6 by the Associated Press Preseason Poll, expectations are much more tempered this time around after UF failed to meet the high benchmark set and ultimately lost starting sophomore point guard Andrew Nembhard to the transfer portal.
Despite the difficulties encountered last season, as well as the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic since, CBS Sports feels fairly favorable towards Florida approaching the start of the college basketball schedule, placing them at No. 21 in the nation before action begins.
Here is what senior writer Matt Norlander had to say about Mike White’s squad coming into the 2020-21 season.
21. Florida: A couple of SEC coaches told me they’d tab UF’s Keyontae Johnson as the guy to be SEC Player of the Year. If that happens Florida’s a top-four seed to be sure. Mike White benefitted by getting Johnson, Scottie Lewis, Tre Mann and Noah Locke back. That’s a really solid quartet, and I’d expect the Gators to be more of a team, with better chemistry, than last season’s up-and-down group. After ranking 61st in defensive efficiency last season, I also expect this to be a top-30 crew in defending the rock. SEC is brawny at the top.
Who knows what lies in store for the coming months, but if the games do go on, there is a lot to be excited about with the men’s hoops team. Hopefully, they do a better job playing the underdog than they did the favorite last season.
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