College Basketball's 8 Biggest Disappointments in 2010-11
The 2010-11 college basketball season has had its fair share of surprises.
Who saw San Diego State's rise to a top 10 power coming? What about Kemba Walker lighting up scoreboards across the country?
Sure, the usual suspects are still doing their thing: Jimmer Fredette hasn't stopped scoring, Kansas and Duke haven't stopped winning and John Calipari hasn't stopped recruiting.
But the biggest surprises of the year have to be the number of disappointments.
Let's count down the top eight!
8. Fab Melo
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Syracuse was expecting big things out of the 7'0", 267-pound McDonald's All-American, but the big Brazilian has produced very little.
Despite being in the starting lineup for the majority of the season, the preseason Big East Rookie of the Year plays only 10.2 minutes per game, averaging a minuscule 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds.
Luckily for the Orange, who were counting on Melo to fill the gaping hole in the post left by the graduation of Arinze Onuaku, Rick Jackson and Kris Joseph have stepped up considerably, increasing their scoring and rebounding outputs from last year.
7. Malcolm Delaney
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When Delaney announced he would return for his senior season at Virginia Tech, thoughts of last year’s absence from the NCAA Tournament immediately vanished in the minds of the Hokie faithful.
Unfortunately, Tech may be in the same position on Selection Sunday in 2011. Injuries have ravished Seth Greenberg’s men, and the team has struggled with a tough schedule.
It’s not that Delaney is having a bad year, but he has failed to take that next step that the Hokies so badly needed him to do if they wanted to challenge Duke in the ACC.
Delaney seems to auditioning for the NBA every time he steps on to the court, which has hurt the team, especially in big games. In Tech’s games against Kansas State (No. 3 at the time), Purdue and North Carolina, Delaney shot a combined 16-of-52 (30 percent) and committed 17 turnovers; needless to say, Tech lost all three games.
6. Baylor
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2009-10 was the most successful year in the history of Baylor basketball. 2010-2011 promised to be even better.
Despite the loss of Tweety Carter and Ekpe Udoh, the Bears were ranked 14th in the preseason and were tabbed as one of the favorites in the loaded Big 12.
The addition of Perry Jones, a sure lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft, and the experience of 2010 holdovers LaceDarius Dunn and Quincy Acy were supposed to vault Scott Drew’s team into the upper echelon of college basketball.
But the season got off to a rocky start when Dunn was accused of breaking his girlfriend’s jaw.
Jones and Dunn have played exceptionally well, but the team has dropped games to less talented opponents.
Baylor is currently unranked and sits at 15-7 overall, 5-4 in the Big 12.
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4. Kyrie Irving's Toe
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Analysts agree that the 2010-11 season of college basketball lacks any great teams.
Before a seemingly minor injury to Duke’s Kyrie Irving in a rematch of last year’s national championship against Butler, that could not be said.
After all, people were talking about a possible undefeated season for the Blue Devils.
Well, so much for that. Irving’s injury turned out to be more serious than first thought.
Because of the injury, Duke has had to go with Nolan Smith, a natural shooting guard, and freshman Tyler Thornton at the point, and the team has struggled with turnovers.
4. Butler
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The Butler Bulldogs were this close to winning a national championship in 2010.
Now they are this close to missing the NCAA Tournament in 2011.
The loss of Gordon Hayward to the NBA has had a more significant impact on the team than preseason prognosticators anticipated. Meanwhile, Shelvin Mack, who was so good in Butler’s Cinderella run last March, has failed to step up and fill the scoring void left by the Utah Jazz forward.
Matt Howard has been able to increase his scoring output, but the senior’s failure to stay out of foul trouble in Butler’s big games has hurt the team.
Last year's March darlings will need to win the Horizon League Tournament to go dancing in 2011.
3. Kansas State/Jacob Pullen
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2011 was supposed to be a banner year for the Wildcats. They were ranked in the top five in everyone’s preseason poll, and guard Jacob Pullen was named to the AP Preseason All-American team.
Unfortunately for K-State, you have to play the games.
First, Pullen and other teammates were suspended a game for improper benefits. Then, the team started losing, and Pullen was struggling in all aspects of the game. Now, the team stands at 16-8 overall and 4-5 in the Big 12.
As for Pullen, his numbers are down across the board from last year: Points are down, turnovers are up and he is shooting a lower percentage from the field, three-point line and the free throw line.
I think it’s safe to say 2011 is a year that Wildcat fans will want to forget.
2. Harrison Barnes
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That preseason All-American team is looking mighty bad right about now.
Harrison Barnes, the first freshman to be named to the team, struggled to adjust to the college game. As Barnes struggled, so too did his Tar Heels, losing three of their first seven games.
But note the asterisks. After a 20-point loss to a struggling Georgia Tech team, Barnes has averaged 18.8 PPG on 51 percent shooting, leading the Heels to five straight ACC wins before falling to Duke.
1. Michigan State
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This was a case of preseason prognosticators valuing a run in the NCAA Tournament a little too much.
Before their fortunate run in March, the Spartans were a mess. They had lost five of their last 10, including a first round loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament.
As for their run to the Final Four, it may have been more luck than skill. They struggled to beat a bad New Mexico State team, who only made the tournament because of a surprising win in the WAC Tournament. They then beat Maryland on a buzzer-beating three by Korie Lucious.
They also managed to avoid No. 1-ranked Kansas and Evan Turner’s Ohio State team on their way to Indianapolis. Michigan State easily had the least daunting road to last year's Final Four.
The Spartans currently stand at 13-10 overall and 5-6 in the Big Ten. Not very good for a consensus Top Five team at the start of the season.
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