Quick wrap up notes from the 2023-24 college basketball season.
- I may have been a little harsh by saying Miami’s season pretty much went downhill after losing to Kentucky, but they didn’t have any notable non-conference wins against 2024 NCAA tournament teams (9-2 record with losses vs. Kentucky & Colorado). What looked to be impressive wins over UCF, Georgia, and Kansas State meant nothing by the end of the year (all NIT teams), and even though the Canes beat Clemson (made Elite 8) in their second ACC game, head coach Jim Larranaga’s squad lost ten straight conference games (including the ACC tournament) to end a rough season.
- Ole Miss was another team whose hot start ended up meaning nothing. The Rebels went 13-0 during non-conference with their best wins being NC State (made Final Four), Memphis, and UCF. They did beat tourney teams like Florida, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State during SEC play, but only finished with a 7-11 record in conference (20-12 overall record).
- In conclusion, Miami & Ole Miss both reminded us how important conference play is when you start out losing resume building non-conference games/have a weak early schedule.
- Now for the Kentucky Wildcats and all the things I didn’t expect to happen.
- 1. I thought freshmen Justin Edwards, DJ Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw were lottery picks before the season started (top 10 high school players). However, it would be Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham who would end up becoming diaper dandies (both currently mocked in the lottery/Edwards is a projected second round pick/Wagner has transferred to Arkansas/Bradshaw now at Ohio State).
- 2. Zvonimir Ivisic looked like a late first rounder once he made his debut in January, but I guess scouts weren’t as impressed as me with his shooting, shot blocking, and passing at 7-foot-2. He transferred to Arkansas after the season ended.
- 3. Lastly, the #3 seed Wildcats losing to #14 seeded Oakland wasn’t that big of a surprise to fans who watched them over the last four years. Head coach John Calipari leaving for Arkansas was though.
- Michigan State didn’t have a bad season at all (20-15 overall record/10-10 Big Ten/made the Round of 32) and had nice wins vs. Baylor, Illinois, and Northwestern. However, for a team that was ranked 4th nationally during preseason, that wasn’t the outcome many expected.
- Villanova Wildcats head coach Kyle Neptune will definitely have some pressure on him to make the 2025 NCAA Tournament (took over the 3x national champs in April of 2022). He’s had two average seasons so far with two NIT appearances and a 35-33 overall record.
- Everybody knew who Max Abmas was during 2021 March Madness and I remember seeing him on NBA boards after #15 seed Oral Roberts upset #2 seeded Ohio State (scored 29 points). Fast forward to him staying in school (transferred to Texas last year), and the buzz has now downed down quite a bit.
- Former BYU Cougar Marcus Adams Jr. transferred to Cal State Northridge. Hopefully he can lead them to the NCAA Tournament one of these years and show everybody why I think he has potential to be an NBA player in the future.