NCAA: Making Sense of the Young College Basketball Season Full of Surprises

If there is one thing that has been true about the young basketball season, whether it on be professional or college level, it’s that absolutely nothing truly makes sense.

On the NBA side, you have teams that were suppose to be tanking, such as the Suns, Sixers and Bobcats having winning seasons thus far. While on the other side, teams such as the Nets and Knicks whom were expected to challenge for NBA championships face tough decisions about the direction of their respective franchises.

When talking about college basketball, everything made sense until the second or third day the season started. Yes, it began that early. This can be traced back to the Champions Classic as the jumping off point for the insanity. It’s only gotten worse since then.

Duke came into the season with high expectations and put on a dazzling display in their opener against Davidson, rattling off 111 points in a blowout victory. Then they traveled to Chicago for the highly anticipated matchup against Kansas. Duke led much of the way but eventually let the Jayhawks get the best of them in a 94-83 loss.

Narrow wins at home against East Carolina and Vermont are not normal for a college basketball  power such as Duke. (Photo by D. Myles Cullen/This image is a work of a U.S. military or Department of Defense employee, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.)

Since then, the Blue Devils have rattled off four straight victories, but the final two have come narrowly to the likes of East Carolina and Vermont. Duke escaped with a nine-point victory against the Pirates and squeaked by a one-point win against Vermont, both at home. This is very un-Duke like. Mike Kryzewski is used to welcoming in nonconference opponents into Cameron Indoor and blowing them out. It’s been the staple to Duke’s nonconference home winning streak.

Some of this can be attributed to the fact that Duke is in a different phase with their program. For the first time in a long time, Duke plays without a bonafide big. Their starting center is Jabari Parker, a 6’8″ player who plays more small forward than center. This has allowed opposing teams to penetrate the lane and get to the rim without the fear of a proven shot blocking force.

What about that other college basketball powerhouse in the ACC, North Carolina? Last week the Tar Heels suffered an embarrassing defeat at home to Belmont after missing 26 free throws. After the loss, those around college basketball began to wonder if UNC is a completely mediocre team without P.J. Hairston and Leslie McDonald in the lineup.

Well, those reactions were proven to be somewhat oversimplifications of a three-point defeat to a good mid-major after UNC dominated defending national champion Louisville in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off championship game. Louisville came into the game a heavy favorite and playing their best basketball with their entire roster healthy and active. Carolina didn’t care as their overall effort made the Cardinals go from world-beaters to mediocre in the span of 40 minutes

Even without a good game from James Michael-McAdoo (3-for-11 from the field with nine points and two rebounds) UNC played inspired basketball thanks to Marcus Paige’s 32-point effort and the combination of a double-double and amazing outlet passes from Kennedy Meeks that led to several easy scores, the Tar Heels made those who doubted them rethink their stances on their future.

As for VCU, well, Puerto Rico appeared to get the best of everybody. The Rams went into the Puerto Rico Tip-Off expecting a rematch from their NCAA Tournament humiliation against Michigan and a possible championship. Instead, VCU was embarrassed by Florida State despite forcing 25 Seminoles turnovers. Shaka Smart and company tried to come back from the loss and beat Long Beach State 73-67. Instead of riding the wave of momentum, VCU lost again in the tournament, this time to Georgetown.

Preseason tournaments can be a jumping off point for teams and a time to find their identity for others. VCU is in the latter situation right now after their two losses cost them their ranking (10) and have been dropped out of the Associated Press polls all together. VCU may have struggled outside of the United States but it may be premature to say they are in trouble this season. Of course, that didn’t stop people from saying North Carolina was mediocre after the Belmont loss either.

So far this season, it feels like a 2012-13 repeat performance. Throughout last season, there was not a single team that separated itself from the rest of the country and made people step back and say, “They are easily the best team in college basketball.” Arguments can be made at this point, but no team has stood out and it’s hard to pinpoint one or two teams that will take that crown down the road.

College basketball is always a lot of fun because of its unpredictability. That’s what makes March Madness so fun as well and all the madness begins in November. If you enjoy complete chaos in sports, you’re in for a treat the rest of the season.

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