NCAA Basketball: Adam Morrison and the Top 10 Most Awkward College Players

You'll see quite a few things in NCAA competition that you won't see in the NBA.

Before the million-dollar checks are signed over. Before the lucrative shoe deals are inked. Before it becomes unacceptable to have a mop haircut and creeper stash (see Adam Morrison).

In honor and remembrance of that beautifully awkward part of the game, I have compiled this list of who I find to be most awkward college players of all time. Many different aspects were looked at in the decision-making process. It could be a funny last name, a strange facial expression when dunking or simply a funny hair-do.

I would also like to say I do not mean to offend anyone; I am simply pointing out the fashion and facial faux pas which amuse me to no end. At worst, anyone offended can take solace in the fact that you are about 1,000 times better than me at basketball, along with probably every other sport.

With that said, let the horror show commence and follow me on Twitter: @JeffNowak

10. Kevin "You Just Got" Pittsnogle"d": West Virginia Mountaineers

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NEW YORK - MARCH 09: Kevin Pittsnogle #34 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts to a play during the quarterfinals of the Big East Men's Basketball Championships against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Madison Square Garden March 9, 2006 in New York City.

This big man was chosen more for his last name than anything else. He had his fair share of crazy tattoos, but he fit in very well on a West Virginia team that looked like an oversized gym class team.

I don't say this out of disrespect, I say this out of amazement, as the Mountaineers went on a Pittsnogling tear, knocking out top team after top team. They went to the Sweet 16 in 2005 and 2006, Pittsnogling the likes of Chris Paul along the way.

Pittsnogle was given a flier by the Celtics but it never panned out. He is now playing in the CBA.

9. Josh Boone: UConn Huskies

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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 3: Josh Boone #21 of the UConn Huskies is guarded by Shavlik Randolph #42 of the Duke Blue Devils during the semifinal game of the NCAA Final Four Tournament at the Alamodome on April 3, 2004 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Doug Pen

Boone has made it onto the list simply because of the hair. No man above or close to being 7-feet should be wearing cornrows.

This isn't even about fashion; I just feel for the poor girl who must have been standing on the ladder trying to perform high-altitude braiding miracles.

8. Mike Gansey: West Virginia Mountaineers

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NEW YORK - MARCH 9: Mike Gansey #20 of the West Virginia University Mountaineers drives against the Providence College Friars during the Big East Men's Basketball Championship on March 9, 2005 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Mountaineers

I hate to throw two members of the same surprisingly good team under the bus here, but just look at the shirt.

I'm not sure if someone thought it would be funny to switch all of his medium shirts out with 2XL's or if he just likes the feeling of swimming in cotton.

Whatever the reason, the shirt was classically awkward, and he will be forever remembered on my list.

7. Greg Oden: Ohio State Buckeyes

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ATLANTA - MARCH 31: Roy Hibbert #55 of the Georgetown Hoyas boxes out against Greg Oden #20 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the National Semifinal game of the NCAA Men's Final Four at the Georgia Dome on March 31, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by A

Greg Oden finds his way onto my list more because I am afraid of him than anything else.

Have you ever seen an older looking 19-year-old in your life?

If you have, he probably has the Benjamin Button disease where he ages backwards, because that's the only explanation I can come up with to explain Oden's man-childness.

That may even explain the truth behind his knee troubles. I think we're onto something here people.

6. Glen "Big Baby" Davis: LSU Tigers

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INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 01: Glen Davis #0 of the LSU Tigers sticks his tounge out in the second half against the UCLA Bruins during their semifinal game of the NCAA Men's Final Four on April 1, 2006 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stree

Some people seem to forget when people called the man "Big Baby" they were referring to his baby fat more than anything else.

The kid was always a skilled basketball talent, but in college, he used his brute force to push people around. I mean, when you're that big and get inside position, no one is getting around you.

It's hard to call him out on it as it got him to the NBA, but Davis deserves as much respect as anyone for acknowledging he would have to change his game, along with his body, to make it in the association.

I think Big Baby wanted this transformation acknowledged, judging by his request to change his nickname. Unfortunately for the former LSU standout, he will always be Big Baby.

5. Cam Thoroughman: West Virginia Mountaineers

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NEW YORK - MARCH 12: Cam Thoroughman #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers goes to the hoop against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the semifinal of the 2010 Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by J

It would be difficult to find someone who looks less like a basketball player than Cam Thoroughman. I prefer to split up his name into Tho-rough-man, because that is what it looked he was trying to do on a layup last year against the Irish.

Cam is a great team guy; he does all of the dirty work and he plays hard. Unfortunately, that is not enough to keep him off my list.

I should probably watch out for any angry West Virginia fans.

Disclaimer: I love West Virginia!

4. Khalid El-Amin: UConn Huskies

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9 Dec 1998: Guard Khalid El-Amin #42 and guard/forward Richard Hamilton #32 of the UConn Huskies confer during the game against the UMass Minutemen at Mullins Center in Amherst, Massachusetts. UConn defeated UMass 59-54. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw /

Regardless of the fact El-Amin is one of my favorite players of all time, he found his way onto this list more because of his goofiness and backstory than anything else.

El-Amin showed up at UConn already the father of a child—he now has seven of them.

El-Amin plays at 5'10", and I think that was even generous.

The guy who was too small, led UConn to its first ever National Championship in 1999, scoring the last four points of their 77-74 upset victory over the Duke Blue Devils.

He is now playing overseas, and I recently watched him play Ricky Rubio in a game I stumbled across on ESPN 3.

El-Amin is on this list more because he amuses me more than anything else. I hope you feel the same.

3. Scotty Hopson: Tennessee Volunteers

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ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 11: Scotty Hopson #32 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts during their game against the Florida Gators in the quarterfinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Georgia Dome on March 11, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin

Scotty, how many times have I told you? The flat top is not the answer!

I know there is a temptation to go with it. It seems more aerodynamic, it's well-balanced, birds can land on it.

The problem is, I don't approve, which is why you are on my list.

2. Joakim Noah: Florida Gators

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ATLANTA - APRIL 02: Head coach Billy Donovan of the Florida Gators grabs Joakim Noah #13 during their game against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game at the Georgia Dome on April 2, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Phot

Joakim Noah, while always being a tad eccentric, clocks in at No. 2 on this list mainly because of the hair-pedemic as I've decided to call it.

I don't know the explanation for it. I also don't care to know the explanation as knowing the reason would not change how I feel. 

You know why bears want to eat you. You know it's just hungry and carrying out its natural instincts. You know little tricks to avoid being eaten by the bear.

Knowing all of this, however, does not change the fact that it hurts when the bear attacks you.

That's exactly how I feel when it comes to Noah's hair.

1. Adam Morrison: Gonzaga Bulldogs

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OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 23: Adam Morrison #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs calls a play against the UCLA Bruins during the third round game of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Arena in Oakland on March 23, 2006 in Oakland, California. (Photo

Little really needs to be said about Adam Morrison and the domination he brought about when he played for Gonzaga.

He and JJ Reddick made the college basketball world their playground, throwing basketballs through the cylinder at a rate that suggests the rims may have been tampered with and replaced with hula-hoops.

Morrison's Beatle and 'stache choice, on the other hand, will never cease to entertain. I'm not sure if he lost a bet, was superstitious or just forgot.

Much like Joakim Noah, I don't care why, I just love it.