CLEVELAND, Ohio — It is amazing how many of the familiar names in college basketball, brand names, have no shot at making the 2017 NCAA Tournament, short of winning their respective league tournaments.
The most notable on the list are two teams that began this season in the Associated Press Top 25 poll — UConn and Texas. Both are under .500 on the season, although UConn shows signs of climbing.
The list does not stop there.
A close look at the conference standings reveals the majority of brand names lack one main ingredient. Over the last few seasons the NCAA has legislated, through its offensively dominated rule changes, the necessity for having a team full of perimeter shooters. Most of these programs have traditionally been known for size and athleticism. The times have caught up with most of them.
Indeed, the majority of these programs familiar for being annual fixtures in the NCAA Tournament field are just around, or under .500 on the season. Stanford, Arkansas, LSU, Tennessee, Temple, Pitt, Clemson, Georgetown, Ohio State, Michigan and Oklahoma are all struggling. Just last season Oklahoma had the Player of the Year in Buddy Hield and Michigan had several long rifles.
Not now, and it shows. The only exceptions to the rule, in the AP Top 25, would be West Virginia and Cincinnati.
Last season, Oklahoma and Texas combined to win 46 games. So far this season they total 18. Georgetown, UConn, Temple, LSU, Arkansas and others have almost always been identified with athleticism and muscle when it comes to basketball. But that does not win games anymore.
And there are other teams on the bubble. Michigan State will probably get in the NCAA Tournament, but the Spartans are far from a lock right now. The same can be said for Duke. Traditionally, both programs would be playing for high seeds at this point in the season, not just for a tournament berth.
It’s a sign of the times worth watching.
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