College Basketball: The 20 Biggest Disappointments of the Season Thus Far
With the start of every season, there are certain expectations that the country generally creates for the upcoming season. Regardless of seasons past and plenty of predictions going south, people still manage to lift teams and players to a lock for one thing or another.
Yet once the season hits about midway, there are always the predictions that don't exactly live up to the hype. The following have had a hard time meeting expectations this season, but are looking to change their ways heading into the second half of the season.
20. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons
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Although the Deacs weren't really a favorite to do well this season after their best players left from last year, they happened to screw themselves over more than people anticipated.
After three short seasons, Wake Forest fired their coach Dino Gaudio, who had led the Deacons to two straight tournaments and was coming off his first win in the tournament. They hired Jeff Bzdelik, who was the former Colorado coach.
Although expectations weren't high, Wake Forest manage to maim any hope of success in its non-conference schedule, going 7-8 against outstanding opponents like Stetson, Hampton and Elon. Their best win was a home win against meager Iowa, pulling it out by three points. With losses against teams like Presbyterian, UNCW and Winthrop, it may be a long season coming into the conference season, where they will play better opponents in the ACC.
19. The Baylor Bears
2 of 20
Baylor seemed like it would be a very dangerous team this season after last year's Final Four run. That assumption carried true for the majority of the non-conference season as well. But a run-in with Gonzaga changed their fate.
A loss to the Zags showed that Baylor, who hadn't really been tested, could be beaten. Then, in the Diamond Head Classic tournament, Baylor went 1-2, losing consecutive games to Washington State and Florida State.
With no good wins on their resume, the Bears are looking a bit shaky, but freshman Perry Jones has been playing well, so he may tip the scales back in a more favorable position.
18. The Northwestern Wildcats
3 of 20
The Wildcats belong on the all-time underachiever list as well as this one. One of the few NCAA teams that has never made the tournament, Northwestern seemed as likely as ever to make the tournament. They started off pretty well, but despite the efforts of John Shurna (20.4 ppg), once conference season came around, the Wildcats kind of fell apart.
They are currently 10-4, but all of their losses have come to teams in the top 31 of the RPI. But SOS isn't the problem for Northwestern, it's the way that the Wildcats have lost their games. They lost by 16 to St. John's, 13 to Purdue and 25 to Illinois. They managed to scrap for only a three-point loss at home to Michigan State.
Northwestern can easily turn its season around, but needs to pick up some signature wins in the Big Ten.
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17. The Xavier Musketeers
4 of 20
Xavier's fate may depend on how other teams fare later in the season.
The Musketeers managed to pick up a good win against defending runner-up Butler, but as the season goes on, it looks less and less impressive. They are only 9-5 on the season, and if they continue on that pace, they probably will be right on the bubble.
Although not picked as a great preseason team, the Musketeers are only 9-5. Usually, Xavier proves its worth in conference play though, so we may see a resurgence in Cincinnati this winter.
16. The North Carolina State Wolfpack
5 of 20
The Wolfpack are another team that weren't slated to be the best in the league, but instead a solid conference opponent. Sidney Lowe's stellar recruiting class was considered one of the best in the nation, and it seemed like this might be the first season that Lowe could get the team to the NCAA tournament.
However, an early injury to Tracy Smith left the Wolfpack reeling with much less experience, burdening CJ Leslie and the fabulous freshmen to perform. They've played decently, but they haven't really met expectations, losing to any team that could possibly be formidable.
NC State missed some great opportunities to grab some signature wins, but lost a lead at Syracuse and really couldn't keep up with Georgetown or Wisconsin. ACC conference play is always a dogfight and is as predictable as birds falling out of the sky, so we may or may not see a tourney appearance from NC State come March.
15. McArthur Court
6 of 20
I expected that McArthur Court would be one of the toughest places to play this season as it was doomed to be replaced (on Thursday, in fact). The historic arena and home of the Oregon Ducks was built in 1927 and has been a hotbed for raucous fan activity.
Soon to be outmoded by the sparkly new Matthew Knight Arena, complete with ridiculous LED wrap and a crazy court, Mac Court will be remembered as a court with some of the most personality in the country.
The lackluster Ducks have gone 7-5 at home in Mac Court this season, but the biggest disappointment is that we'll no longer witness games in the historic home of Oregon Basketball.
14. The UCLA Bruins (Excluding Reeves Nelson and Tyler Honeycutt)
7 of 20
UCLA had what we'll call a "down year" last season, missing out on the tournament for the first time since 2004. However, the Bruins were looking for a bounce back this season.
The Bruins started out 3-0 against opponents that no self-respecting team should lose to, but then the road got a bit bumpy. UCLA lost consecutive games versus Villanova, mid-major Virginia Commonwealth, at Kansas (which they almost won) and then at home against Montana. Since then, it has been a rocky road, but UCLA managed to grab a win against now No. 10 BYU.
However, if it were up to Tyler Honeycutt (pictured) and Reeves Nelson, the Bruins would be in the Top 25. The two are combining for almost 30 points and 15 rebounds per game and it seems that one or the other (or both) is stepping up in every game. It really sheds light on how bad their supporting cast must be.
UCLA is currently 9-6 and 1-2 in conference play. That will need to drastically increase if Ben Howland's team wants to make the postseason.
13. The Florida Gators
8 of 20
Initially viewed as one of the better teams in the country, Florida managed to knock itself back into mediocrity with a few key losses that may not seem as bad now as they did then.
First, Florida lost to Ohio State in a rout that ended up being Jared Sullinger's coming out party. Then the Gators lost to a Central Florida team that until recently was undefeated. The cherry on top was against Jacksonville. The Gators could not hold on in overtime against the in-state competitors and lost at home.
All is not lost for the Gators though; they've gotten some good wins along the way as well. They beat Kansas State and Florida State and just pulled off a thrilling overtime victory at Tennessee. It wouldn't surprise me if the Gators creeped back into the Top 25 in the near future.
12. The Virginia Tech Hokies
9 of 20
The Hokies' position as underachievers can generally be attributed to injury concerns. They've lost three players for the season, including key supporters JT Thompson and Dorenzo Hudson.
It just seems like the Hokies aren't playing with the chip on their shoulder like they normally do. When teams were constantly underestimating Malcolm Delaney (pictured) and the rest of the Hokies, they managed to get upset wins and ultimately win more.
Now, it looks like some teams have found a way around the Malcolm Delaney show by making it difficult for him to get the ball. It seems that he is more easily frustrated and doesn't play like the fabulous player we've seen in the past.
Their only bad loss is against Virginia (who may be more difficult than we think), having lost their other three games against Purdue, Kansas State and UNLV. Out of those three games, they only provided a challenge for Purdue, pushing them to overtime.
Although a win over Florida State may have them headed in the right direction, the Hokies are only barely holding on to the spot in the tournament that we thought for sure belonged to them this season.
11. The Gonzaga Bulldogs
10 of 20
The Zags have been a constant in the country's hoop seen the past decade as they haven't missed the tournament since 1999. However, this season isn't going as well as those in the past have.
Gonzaga started high in the rankings, but two early losses to San Diego State and an annihilation at the hands of Kansas State left it reeling. Two weeks later, Gonzaga conceded a three-game losing streak to Tennessee, Notre Dame and Washington State.
The Zags' slipping from the Top 25 may be concerning to some, but the Bulldogs have picked some teams off that should help their case for a tournament spot. They've beaten Marquette, Xavier, an underrated Oklahoma State team and then No. 9 Baylor.
Don't expect a lot of hype around Gonzaga, but even a lackluster season by its standards should get it into the tournament.
10. The Memphis Tigers
11 of 20
In Josh Pastner's second season at the helm, it seems the Tigers are doing a bit better than their last season. But, the expectation for the Tigers was much higher than their current level at the beginning of the season.
Pastner's first recruiting class was heralded as a great one and it seemed that they were primed for a return to the tournament. Alas, the best laid plans, etc.
The fact of the matter is that the Tigers look great against teams of no significance, but when they play teams that are an actual threat, the team falls apart. Their three losses have been against Kansas, Georgetown and Tennessee, but they lost by more than 12 to each of those teams.
Memphis seems like a team that could be a sleeper in the tournament, and the fact that it will be playing in Conference USA for the remainder of the season should also help, but only time will tell. With virtually no experience, the young cubs may have to step up to lead the Tigers.
9. The Tennessee Volunteers
12 of 20
The Tennessee troubles began in the preseason, when they dropped a loss to D-II Indianapolis, but they have developed further later into the season.
It seemed like they had thoroughly recovered from the preseason loss, as the Vols upset then No. 7 Villanova and No. 3 Pittsburgh. However, shortly after this, the Volunteers lost three consecutive games to Oakland, Charlotte and USC.
Tennessee then managed to get back on track by knocking off No. 22 Memphis, but it has now lost two consecutive games in conference play to Arkansas and Florida. Without Bruce Pearl on the sidelines, Tennessee may have an even tougher foreseeable future.
The Vols do have the quality wins they need, but if they keep losing insignificant games, their spot in the tourney may begin to fade away.
8. The North Carolina Tar Heels
13 of 20
The Tar Heels could possibly be higher on this list, but their season last year may have managed people expectations. Fool me once and all that. Most people figured that a Top 10 preseason rank was a bit high and expectantly it was.
The Tar Heels are lacking identity this season. There is no flair or chemistry making them bond and play better together. Roy Williams' system of rotating 10 players consistently may keep players fresh, but it also seems like it is hurting the play of the team.
Another thing the Tar Heels could really use is a go to guy. Many thought Harrison Barnes would be the man, but the "golden boy" that was meant to revitalize the program hasn't exactly shown up yet. Tyler Zeller hasn't been consistent enough either.
The Tar Heels have shown that they can keep up with good teams like Texas and Kentucky, but they really need to play with more consistency before they venture back into the Top 25.
7. The Loss of Kyrie Irving
14 of 20
Kyrie Irving was not a disappointment. In fact, he possibly was better than people thought. Duke's point man was a freshman phenomenon who led the Blue Devils with poise and composure that I haven't seen out of many freshmen.
Although I'm a Carolina fan, it really sucks to lose a player like Kyrie Irving (for however long he's gone). His ability to play basketball is just fantastic and he does everything well. Irving is one of the best developed freshmen I've ever see play the game, and not being able to watch him any longer than I did is one of the biggest disappointments of the season.
6. The ACC
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The ACC is always a great basketball conference and is regarded as one of the best in the country every year. Not this year. The conference has plenty of prestige, history and legends, but this season all of the teams are rebuilding, except one (I'll let you guess).
With three new coaches in the conference, it was expected that there would be a few teams with a down year, but nobody seems to want to step up and take that second spot behind the Blue Devils. North Carolina is looking as inconsistent as ever, and Boston College and Miami are on their way, but still have a bit to do. NC State and Maryland haven't played up to their early season potential, and Clemson, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest are all a mess.
There is only one ACC team in the Top 25, which is very unlikely to continue. One team will eventually step up to claim another spot, but it may take a couple of weeks. Overall, the ACC has been a huge letdown for most East Coast fans who normally can expect to see great basketball.
5. Jacob Pullen
16 of 20
After a great season that was Pullen's coming out party, the bearded wonder has found endless frustration amongst opposing defenses. Sure he's still scoring 17 points per game, but he's also losing his head a lot more. The cool and composed Jacob Pullen of last season's Final Four run hasn't been present much this season. He's been taking forced shots and he's turning the ball over more.
The increased pressure as well as his increased role as a point guard has taken its toll on the senior, and at this point it doesn't bode well for his All-American hopes.
4. The Butler Bulldogs
17 of 20
Butler became America's sweethearts after its run in the tournament last season. However, this season has been a bit of a reality check for the Cinderellas. Not everything works out better in the end.
Without breakout star Gordon Hayward, the Bulldogs have been struggling. They've lost games they shouldn't have and haven't picked up any big wins in the process. They've lost games to mid-majors Evansville and Milwaukee, which doesn't happen often to the defending conference champions who went undefeated in conference play last season.
Shelvin Mack is carrying the team and big man Matt Howard has been playing really well, but Butler just can't seem to get it together. Somehow, the glue that held them together through the entire run to the Final somehow came unstuck, and the Bulldogs are in freefall mode. If they don't shape up, they may miss out on this year's tourney.
3. The Kansas State Wildcats
18 of 20
Although the struggles of Jacob Pullen do contribute, the utter lack of supporting cast is really hurting the Wildcats. Besides Pullen, only two others are averaging at least 10 points per game.
Everyone thought that Jamar Samuels and Curtis Kelly had enough experience to help carry Kansas State, but instead they have played about the same as they did last season, not choosing to step up and carry the team.
K-State started well, but got destroyed by Duke, which seemed okay given how good Duke is. But the Wildcat's recent play (including three losses in six games) has moved them to the bottom of the Top 25, and it won't get any easier going into conference play.
Originally thought to be the favorite for the Big 12 title, it may be a lot more difficult now for the Wildcats to win the conference.
2. The Michigan State Spartans
19 of 20
Largely thought of as the only possible threat to Duke's title, Michigan State began the season at the No. 2 spot due to the majority of its Final Four team returning.
Michigan State started falling after a loss to Connecticut in the Maui Invitational. A few games after a win over No. 11 Washington, the Spartans fought a tough battle against Duke, but failed in the end. Their schedule has continued this way throughout the season. They will win a couple of games, but turn around and lose again.
The Spartans have lost five games to UConn, Duke, Syracuse, Texas and Penn State, but they've also beaten Washington, Minnesota and Wisconsin as well. The consistency may be the thing lacking from Michigan State. Although the Spartans lost, their efforts against Duke were inspiring and they pushed the Blue Devils as hard as anyone this season.
If they can get it together, we may see a turnaround for the Spartans. Right now though, they are lost in the confusion at the bottom of the polls. For a team that was so highly touted, that's not the best spot to be.
1. Harrison Barnes
20 of 20
Like many at the top of this list, Barnes isn't having a terrible year by any standards. He's averaging 11.7 points per game while playing on a team that scores by committee. He's the second-leading scorer for the Tar Heels, and he's playing solid defense. But, Barnes was supposed to be more than a solid defender.
Barnes was possibly the most praised freshman to ever play the game. He was the first freshman to be named a Preseason All-American. He was supposed to revamp Carolina from a downtrodden year of mediocrity. He was supposed to be the guy: the one who hits the winning shot at the end of the game and leads the students in chanting the fight song. Basically the Cam Newton of basketball. That guy, he is not.
Barnes has become a household name, but isn't living up to his fame. He isn't shooting well, he's not scoring like a natural scorer does and he seems shy and reserved on the court. While he may make certain shots with ease, he doesn't seem like he wants to score when he has the ball.
Anything short of All-American makes Harrison Barnes a disappointment to the country, but even a boost in confidence could satisfy Tar Heel fans. At this point in the season, it would seem that Barnes would need a monster second half to live up to any of the hype that he generated when he got to college.
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