College Basketball's 15 Most Overachieving Teams This Season

Over the course of decades, college basketball has been plagued with overachievers. Surprising the big boys every season, these teams come out of nowhere and make a splash in what would otherwise be a boring, repetitive sport.

This year, we have a couple of stunning squads who have, so far, really made an impact in the rankings. As we have just entered conference play, we will get to see who is for real and who has just been along for the ride.

Watching Baylor take on Kansas and Mississippi State take on Kentucky are just two of the big matchups I personally look forward to seeing, and their outcomes will make ripples on the rest of the nation.

We take a look at the top 15 programs who have overachieved this season and where they are heading next. 

UNLV

The Rebels have really surged this season into a position of power, going 16-2 with huge wins over two highly ranked squads. Easily one of the best teams in the west, watch for UNLV to continue its success in its small-time conference.

Stunning victories over UNC and Illinois at home have placed the Rebels in prime position to grab a top seed in the Big Dance. Their two losses have come to Wichita State and Wisconsin, both away. 

Certainly a team to keep an eye on for later this season, UNLV will be a threat throughout the year. 

Harvard

Harvard has surprised the nation with its stunning 14-2 record. Easily the smartest kids in the rankings this season, the Crimson have shown with some huge victories that they are for real.

With what is considered a somewhat easy Ivy League conference schedule coming up, Harvard should continue its winning ways. Victories over Florida State, Utah and UCF are representative of how talented this team is, with losses only coming to a highly ranked UConn team and Fordham.

Schooling the Ivy League will be the first step toward grabbing a middle-of-the-pack seed in the tourney. From then on, the Crimson are on their own.   

Virginia

The Cavaliers have been the surprise of the year in the ACC.

Going 14-1 on the year so far as well as rattling off 12 wins since losing to TCU in the third game of the season, Virginia is as solid as any team in the rankings right now.

Taking on Duke in Raleigh-Durham next, the Cavaliers have a huge test on their hands. With a chance to really prove itself in the college basketball world against a Blue Devil squad that isn't what it seemed at the beginning of the year, Virginia has enough talent to win its conference.

Seemingly for real, the Cavaliers' ACC schedule will show us exactly who they are soon enough.

San Diego State

The Aztecs were a strong team last season, surprising the country by snagging a No. 2 seed in the tourney. This time around, they are once again showing off their talents.

Sporting a strong 14-2 record, SDSU's two losses this season have come to ranked teams Baylor and Creighton. Additionally, it has taken down Arizona and Cal in two very strong performances.

Taking on UNLV next, a big win at home could prove SDSU is for real. From then on, a weak conference should support multiple victories for the Aztecs and will make them very formidable come the Big Dance.   

Michigan

Big Blue has begun to resurface as a power in the college basketball world as of late, pulling off some upsets and securing some solid records. This season, the Wolverines continue their journey to become a Big Ten threat.

Their 13-3 record is strong considering their opposition. Three losses coming to Duke, Virginia and Indiana are the only blemishes so far this year, and in a tough conference, there may be a few more.

Victories over Wisconsin, Iowa State and Memphis are more than impressive, however.

Basketball powerhouses such as Ohio State, Michigan State and Illinois need to keep an eye on Michigan's success and be wary of upsets.  

Wichita State

The Shockers have been "shocking" this season. Coming out of the Missouri Valley Conference, Wichita State is 13-3 with a solid win over UNLV.

With three losses speckling its season, all coming against strong teams, WSU is in a position to jump into the Big Dance for the first time since 2006. Alabama, Creighton and Temple, Duke's most recent blemish, have all tallied wins over the Shockers. This team has more potential than most give credit.

This team may not be any kind of superstar-studded squad, but Wichita State has all the makings of an upset squad come March.

Gonzaga

The Bulldogs are a pretty consistent power out of Washington. This season is no different, except that power is bit stronger than usual.

Owning a 13-2 record with losses only to Illinois and Michigan State, Gonzaga has some big wins over Notre Dame, Arizona and Xavier. With a decent conference schedule coming up, the Zags should have no problem taking control of the WCC and grabbing a good tourney seed.

Gonzaga's talent is for real. From now on, however, no real tests face the Bulldogs. Watch for them to be a strong presence in the Big Dance though.

Missouri

Undefeated until just last game against Kansas State, the Tigers are a force to be reckoned with.

Pulling off some huge wins over Notre Dame, Cal and Illinois, Mizzou is set up to possibly claim the Big 12 in its final season with the conference.

Kansas, Texas A&M, Baylor and many more tough squads speckle Missouri's upcoming schedule, but this talented squad is ready for anything. Expect fireworks from Missouri as it enters its second conference game against Iowa State today.

Under first-year coach Frank Haith, the Tigers are easily one of the best teams in the nation. Watch for this team to make a big impact in the tournament come March. 

Murray State

One of the few undefeated teams left, the Racers are looking for perfection. 16-0 is extremely impressive, even with their weak schedule, and all the wins are setting up MSU in prime position to snag a top seed in the Big Dance.

With wins over Memphis and Southern Miss, Murray State hasn't played any ranked teams yet this season. The Racers' conference, the Ohio Valley, isn't exactly considered to be top notch, either. However, undefeated is undefeated in my book, especially under a first-year coach.

Continue to keep your eye on this team, as they will strive to enter the tourney riding high with no losses.

Creighton

The Bluejays weren't exactly supposed to be this good. At 14-2 with its biggest wins coming over San Diego State, Wichita State and Northwestern, this squad is no powerhouse.

However, the Bluejays have already been an impact this season by making a name for themselves. Their two losses have come at the hands of St. Joseph's and Missouri State in what many consider to be flukes.

Creighton should easily make the tourney in the Missouri Valley Conference, but don't expect many fireworks out of this team. A surprise for now, Creighton isn't going to be a contender once it takes on the big kids on the block. 

Kansas State

Under Frank "Crazy-Eyes" Martin, K-State will be successful for a long time. The team's less than convincing loss to Kansas was replaced by owning the formerly undefeated Missouri Tigers.

Losing to Baylor by two points at home will be hurtful to their rank, but this Wildcat team is still more than in business.

Sporting a 12-3 record with wins over Alabama and Missouri, K-State has a ton of talent. It will once again compete for the Big 12 title as well as a strong seed in the Big Dance. Losses to Kansas, Baylor and West Virginia in OT are all setbacks that can be made up for in conference play.

Are the Wildcats for real? Yes, there is no doubt.

Will they win the Big 12? Still up in the air.

This is a team, though, that you don't want to face anytime soon. Frank Martin is one of the scariest men in the country, and don't expect his squad to be failing him very often. 

Mississippi State

A nice surprise out of the SEC West, MSU is a tough team to make go away. It nags at you like no one else and will, every once in a while, come up with some big upsets.

This is my SEC team to keep your eye out for.

The Bulldogs are a tough 13-3 with losses to Arkansas, Baylor (by two points) and Akron. Strong victories over Texas A&M, Arizona and West Virginia show how resilient this Mississippi State team is, and possibly being a threat to Florida and Kentucky is yet to be known.

With talent like Dee Bost and Arnett Moultrie, this squad will be hard to slow down. As SEC play has just begun, the game to look out for is Florida in a few weeks, followed by hosting Kentucky in late February.   

Seton Hall

These Pirates fit their name very accurately. Coming out of nowhere and stealing wins, Seton Hall is surprising the Big East this season. 

Already holding a 15-2 record, the Pirates own wins over UConn, West Virginia and Providence. Losses only to Syracuse and Northwestern blemish its schedule, but this Seton Hall team is for real.

Already a good five games into Big East play, the Pirates still have a lot of challenges facing them. A tough stretch against Louisville, Marquette and UConn comes up in late January, and some proof of their worth would be nice for the college basketball community.  

Indiana

Who knew the Hoosiers would make a resurgence this year? Literally no one outside the state of Indiana.

Surprising everyone at least twice, IU is setting itself up to grab a top seed in the Big Dance and steal a Big Ten Championship.

Indiana is really solid this season behind a 15-1 record. Huge national upsets over Ohio State and Kentucky has everyone talking about the Hoosiers, and most people don't even realize they've also taken down Michigan and Notre Dame. A lone loss to a strong Michigan State squad has kept them from perfection this season.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Indiana is for real after knocking off a full-strength Buckeye squad at home. One of the most storied programs in the land may be coming back to prominence in a stunning fashion.

Baylor

One of the three undefeated squads left, Baylor has come out of the blue.

The college basketball world is stunned by the performance of this private Texas college, as it has roared back from scandal in a fashion befitting of a Hollywood drama.

Behind the perseverance of head coach Scott Drew, the Bears are now back in business. Owning a 16-0 record with huge wins over Mississippi State, Kansas State and West Virginia, Baylor is hovering near the top of the rankings. 

Still a tough road ahead of them in a very competitive Big 12, the Bears face off against Kansas and Mizzou in a tough two-game stretch in just a few days. They have begun their journey to secure a strong position in the Big Dance, and a magical one it will be at that.

Keep an eye out for this Bears squad, as they will continue to rampage across the Midwest.