College Basketball: 13 Underachieving Players Who Need to Step Up in 2011-12

College basketball obsesses over expectations. Teams, coaches and players all are expected to perform at a high level.

Sometimes, those expectations are not met.

In this article, I've focused on 13 players who did not meet their expectations last season. Each of them will need to improve on their performance this coming season. If not, their respective teams could be in serious trouble.

Drew Crawford, Northwestern

Drew Crawford had a solid freshman year at Northwestern. Last year, he refined parts of his game, but his performance dipped in other parts.

Although he improved his Assist to Turnover Ratio last year, his shooting percentage dropped a considerable amount. After a solid 45 percent his freshman year, he took more shots, which resulted in a sub-par 42 percent clip from the field.

With the departure of Michael Thompson, Crawford will need to step up for the Wildcats, if they ever want to reach the NCAA tournament.

Seth Curry, Duke

For most people, Seth Curry did not underachieve last season. Still, he needs to play better if Duke wants to make a deep run into March.

Although they are adding Austin Rivers, Duke will need Curry to control games. He didn't need to score much last year, but I imagine that he will need to show his maturity by taking over stretches in big games.

He only shot 42 percent last season, but he shot 43.5 percent from behind the arc. With a summer of workouts, he should get stronger, which should help him finish around the basket better.

Duke will be another power this season, but Curry could be their "X-factor" in elevating to the next level.

Kim English, Missouri

Kim English was a key player for the Missouri Tigers in 2009-10. However, last season, he took a step back.

While his role seemed to diminish, he actually played more minutes last year, which raises the question: why did his numbers suffer? Well, when you shoot less than 37 percent, it is pretty easy to see where the scoring can go.

As a senior, a lot more will be expected of English, and he will have to do his best to return to his sophomore year form and produce for the Tigers.

Scoop Jardine, Syracuse

While Scoop Jardine saw a rise in minutes, he did not necessarily see a rise in production. The Syracuse forward raised his scoring average, but he saw a decline in each of his percentages.

Some people aren't meant to log heavy minutes. Maybe Jardine is one of those players. Jim Boeheim needs to use him in a more controlled role, which will allow Jardine to return to his efficient self.

Jardine is an extremely key player for the Orange. However, he would probably help them out the most by playing less than he did last year.

Perry Jones, Baylor

Perry Jones was one of the most highly-touted recruits coming from the class of 2010.

Unfortunately, he did disappoint.

To be fair, the expectations of Jones were sky-high. Although he did not meet all of them, he did play well for parts of the season (double figures in 17 of last 18 games he played).

He scored a lot, he turned the ball over way too often. He didn't play disciplined enough on defense, for he was always in foul trouble. Then, he was suspended for the end of last season. To make matters worse, the suspension will carry over into next year for the first five games.

Yet, he decided to remain in school, for he did not believe that he was mentally mature enough to enter the NBA. By showing this self-awareness, Jones displayed that he is willing to put in the hard work necessary to become a superstar.

Fab Melo, Syracuse

ESPNU had Fab Melo ranked as the No. 1 center prospect in the 2010 recruiting class. While he was a spectacular player in high school, Melo has not quite had that success at the college level.

His minutes were sporadic throughout the season, and for good reason. He played poorly, and he never really showed that he belonged on a Big East team.

I understand the college game can be difficult for people to adjust to, but if you're the best center in your class, shouldn't you have at least one game of eight or more rebounds?

Melo was unable to accomplish that.

Basically, Melo did not live up to all the hype, which is fine. He just needs to step up his game as quickly as possible.

Sean Mosley, Maryland

Sean Mosley took on a slightly different role as a junior. It did not work well for him.

He lost some minutes. Consequently, all of Mosley's numbers took a turn for the worst. Now, he will need to overcome last year's difficulties. A lot was expected of the junior, and he didn't perform like Gary Williams needed him to perform.

Now, Williams is gone, and Mosley will have to figure out last year's struggles with a new coach. As a sophomore, Mosley showed his poise and maturity. Now, as a senior, he will have to return to that mentality.

Keiton Page, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State is usually a wild card in the Big 12. Last season, they were not very good at all, and their record reflected that.

Keiton Page was the Cowboys' second leading scorer, and I think that was a major problem. While the undersized guard is a good player, he was not comfortable shouldering a bulk of the scoring load.

His shooting percentages took another dip from his sophomore year, which was evidence that Page was pressing for a lot of the season.

If Oklahoma State can find a solid scorer, Page will be able to become a facilitator, which would better suit his strengths. Page's success is not all about the numbers, for he would help his team most by being a leader on and off the court.

If he exudes maturity, Page could help Oklahoma State rebound from their poor 2010-11 campaign.

Delvon Roe, Michigan State

After a superb freshman year, a lot of things were expected of Delvon Roe. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented him from becoming a star.

Many people believed Michigan State would make another run last year, but that did not happen. They lost multiple stars from last year's team, and Tom Izzo & Co. have their work cut out for them. Roe needs to become a star if the Spartans want to make any noise in the Big Ten.

If Roe is able to turn into the player so many thought he was going to be, the Spartans will be back in the Final Four.

Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State

Deshaun Thomas was recruited as one of the best players in the class of 2010. Unfortunately, when he got to Ohio State, he did not perform like a big-time recruit.

Obviously, when you're recruited with someone as talented as Jared Sullinger, you can be overlooked. Still, Thomas did nothing spectacular that would cause anyone to look.

After bowing out in the Sweet Sixteen, Ohio State will play with a chip on its shoulder. If Thomas is able to contribute regularly, the Buckeyes might be able to find themselves in the Final Four.

Rodney Williams, Minnesota

Rodney Williams just can't seem to figure it out. He is one of the most athletic players in the country, but his slim frame (6' 7" 200 lbs) prevents him from becoming an elite scorer.

As a junior, he will need to take big strides to becoming a leader on the team. The first step would be to figure out his shooting woes. He shot a dismal 21 percent from three last year. However, he shot an impressive 56 percent from inside the arc. Basically, he needs to stop settling for jumpers.

If he is able to bulk up this summer, Williams could become one of the best scorers in the Big Ten. If not, well, Minnesota Gopher fans will simply have to get used to another mediocre player on another mediocre team.

Maalik Wayns, Villanova

Maalik Wayns is a tremendous talent. He is one of the quickest guards in the country, and he has the floor vision that is needed to facilitate in the Big East.

However, his passing ability is sometimes hampered by his tendency to turn the ball over. As a sophomore, he averaged nearly three turnovers per game.

That is unacceptable.

With Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes leaving, Wayns will need to take care of the ball better. Villanova is always a talented team, but their tendency to turn the ball over at inopportune times has become a habit. If they want to return to the Final Four, Wayns will need to step up his game.