Ten Most Disappointing College Basketball Teams
By Jason Lisk
Christmas break approaches in college basketball. While we will get a few good matchups between now and the middle of next week (I count roughly ten that could pass as NCAA Tournament matchups), we are largely at the end of the non-conference schedules for most teams. Here’s a look at the teams that have disappointed relative to expectations in November and so far in December.
#10 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Preseason: #15
Current Ranking: NR (43rd in Ken Pom, 46th in RPI)
Minnesota was expected to be a top 20 team when the season started, coming off last year’s #5 seed. They got off to a good start with a road win at Providence (more on that below), but since Thanksgiving it’s been largely disappointing from the Gophers. Even in a victory over Alabama, they took a beating because they could not put away a team playing with three players on the court.
The Gophers can dominate in the paint physically with Jordan Murphy, Reggie Lynch, and Amir Coffey, but that effort against Alabama showed that they struggle to shoot outside even when teams dare them to do so. They are near the bottom of Division I in 3-point shots taken and made, and over the last month have lost at home to Miami, at Nebraska, and got dominated by Arkansas.
#9 Providence Friars
Preseason: NR (30th in votes)
Current Ranking: NR (61st in Ken Pom, 57th in RPI)
Providence came in with expectations of again being a tournament team, and were close to being ranked, coming off last year. They are off to an 8-4 start where the best win is at home against Boston College, and includes losses to UMass, against rival Rhode Island, against Houston, and at home to Minnesota. They have no signature wins entering conference play, and look like several teams have passed them by. They need to have a winning record in the Big East to get back in tournament contention, and that’s no given.
#8 UCLA Bruins
Preseason: #21
Current Ranking: NR (55th in Ken Pom, 92nd in RPI)
UCLA’s season got off to a rough start in China with the suspension of three players for shoplifting (perhaps you’ve heard of it?). Yes, they beat Georgia Tech in that opener but the depth has been an issue. There was always going to be a fall back in 2017-2018 after losing Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf, but the brand name had them ranked preseason, UCLA is 8-3 and hasn’t played that tough a schedule, losing to all three likely tournament teams they have played. They get one more non-conference chance on Saturday against Kentucky.
#7 Vanderbilt Commodores
Preseason: NR
Current Ranking: NR (76th in Ken Pom, 160th in RPI)
Vanderbilt wasn’t ranked preseason, but their start has been so dreadful that they still make the list. They are 4-7 and the “best win” is by 3 points over UNC-Asheville at home. They are 0-5 against major conference opponents and also lost to in-state mid-majors Belmont and Middle Tennessee.
You know it is killing Bryce Drew that his team is shooting a dreadful 29.8% from 3 for the year.
Preseason: #3
Current Ranking: #18 (14th in Ken Pom, 25th in RPI)
Arizona had one bad week in the Bahamas, going 0-3 against top competition. They’ve righted things since then and defeated both Texas A&M and Alabama, and should be fine. But they were talked about in many circles as the best team in the country in November.
Preseason: #4
Current Ranking: #14 (6th in Ken Pom, 22nd in RPI)
Yes, Kansas is 10-2 so on the surface it would appear things are okay. But this hasn’t been a typical Kansas non-conference schedule loaded with land mines to boost the RPI. They beat Kentucky early, but it’s troubling that they went through a three-game stretch where they lost to Washington in Kansas City, lost to Arizona State by 10 in Allen Field House, and then needed a late Svi Mykhailiuk three-pointer to win at Nebraska.
By Kansas standards, this isn’t a team that will pound you inside offensively (they are dead last in FTA to FGA ratio). They lack depth and need Udoka Azubuike to show up inside. Self is hopeful that Billy Preston and incoming recruit Silvio De Sousa can join the team soon. And we’ve seen Kansas go through some doldrums in the past, only to show up and win the Big 12 again. This team has some cracks, though, and we will see if they continue to show in conference play.
#4 Northwestern Wildcats
Preseason: #19
Current Ranking: NR (47th in Ken Pom, 82nd in RPI)
Northwestern came into the year with the weight of expectations after making their first NCAA Tournament appearance ever last year, and many of the players returning. They did not get off to a good start. They are 9-4, but got blown out by 36 to Texas Tech. The best win is in overtime, at home, to Illinois. They get one more shot at Oklahoma tonight, but they do not have a NCAA profile entering conference play and could make last year’s appearance a one-and-done.
Preseason: NR (33rd in votes)
Current Ranking: NR (62nd in Ken Pom, 76th in RPI)
We knew this wasn’t going to be a vintage Wisconsin team, with some key losses. But expectations are still there that they can compete for a tournament spot. Wisconsin is 5-7 against a tough schedule. Their only two wins over the last month are by 1 point each, including surviving at home against Western Kentucky with a screen foul late. It looks like the Badgers’ run of NCAA Tourney appearances is going to end.
Preseason: 8th
Current Ranking: NR (30th in Ken Pom, 79th in RPI)
Remember when Florida was involved in a shootout with Duke in the PK80 Final, had scored over 100 points in 4 of their first 5 wins, and everyone thought they were great? Things turned quickly, as Florida lost to Florida State, at home to Loyola-Chicago, and to Clemson. This is still a fun group to watch but they lack size inside and can be exposed at times. They will probably pull some big wins but also have some more head-scratching losses in conference, and aren’t the top 10 team people thought early on.
#1 USC Trojans
Preseason: 10th
Current Ranking: NR (41st in Ken Pom, 98th in RPI)
USC was talked up as a preseason favorite because of all the returning talent they had, but injuries and bad results now have them scrambling. After four wins to start the year they have lost 4 of 6 including to Princeton at home this week. They have zero signature wins and will need to go on a run in the Pac-12 to get back into the mix, and unfortunately for them, play both Arizona and Arizona State only once, which are the two best opportunities to put up big results.