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It's currently sub-30 degrees here on the East Coast, and Christmas is just two days away. That means the student athletes get some time off from the rigorous seasons that they endure on a weekly basis. While no college basketball for a few days is a sad scene, now is as good a time as any to take a step back and process all of the action, which means picking a new set of overrated and underrated teams.
This past week in college hoops was one of the more tame we've seen in some time, but we did have a few fireworks and shockers here and there. The Auburn Tigers continued their dominant play and now have KenPom's highest-rated offense ever. Consider me finally a believer. North Carolina just can't seem to eke out a win against high-level competition despite being competitive until the end. UK got smoked by an average Ohio State team and exposed some major flaws on the defensive side of the ball. Who could've guessed that? UConn got two scares but overcame them to start 2-0 in conference play. Is the Huskies 3-peat still alive after that 0-3 Maui run?
It's time for the next article of a year-long series: Overrated and Underrated College Basketball Teams, after the release of the weekly Associated Press Poll. All rankings listed are based on the Week 8 AP Poll released Monday.
Overrated College Basketball Teams For Week 8
Arkansas Razorbacks: Unranked to No. 23
I was a huge fan of the Cal hire coming into the season, and I still am, for the most part. A legendary recruiter and program lifter who immediately draws high-level transfers and puts butts in seats.
Does it actually translate to wins, though? As of right now, early signs are slightly disappointing for this team, but they did pick up an absolutely massive victory this past week, taking down No. 14 Michigan 89-87 in Madison Square Garden.
This squad has a very similar feel to Cal's team at the end of his Kentucky era. Loaded with talent, but can't seem to play as a complete unit and ultimately fall short of expectations. I think because there are fewer overall expectations, there is less pressure on the team, which will be good, but this year's version of the SEC will also not be kind to the 60th-ranked offense in the country.
Size and physicality are strengths, but shooting and taking care of the ball are fairly major holes. The talent is there, which means a tournament run is still possible, but I would be very surprised if this team made it past the second round.
ARKANSAS COMPLETES THE COMEBACK VS. NO. 14 MICHIGAN 😤@RazorbackMBB pic.twitter.com/wABuee65sS
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 11, 2024
Oregon Ducks: No. 10 to No. 9
I don't love repeating teams for this column, but sometimes I feel as though it's necessary for some. While all eyes have been on the Ducks' No. 1 ranked football team that is preparing for the playoff this weekend, the men's basketball team has quietly snuck into a top-10 national ranking. The only thing is, it's much too high.
The resumé is really solid - wins against Texas A&M, San Diego State, and Alabama - but this is not a top 10 team for a couple of reasons. They lack star power and don't shoot the ball well enough (outside the top 120 in both effective field goal and three-point percentage).
The Ducks have a tough slate coming up, starting conference play against Illinois and Maryland before traveling to Ohio State and Penn State with Purdue to finish it off. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Oregon drop from the rankings altogether come late January.
Dylan Andrews banks it home for the win! 🔥
UCLA spoils Oregon’s undefeated season
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) December 9, 2024
Underrated College Basketball Teams For Week 8
Maryland Terrapins: Unranked (First in 'Others Receiving Votes')
Why this team hasn't broken the AP Poll yet baffles me. There are teams like Oklahoma blasting their way up to near top-10 ranking for doing things similar to a Terrapin squad that is getting no love.
Has Maryland dropped their only two ranked matchups thus far? Yes, but both games were very close, and one was at Mackey Arena, a top-5 most difficult place to play in the country. This is not a sport for excuses, though, so Maryland must either beat No. 10 Oregon or No. 22 UCLA in the coming weeks. I believe they will.
It starts on the defensive end for head coach Kevin Willard, who brought his dog-like mentality from Seton Hall three seasons ago. The stint at Maryland has started off fairly mediocre for the Big East veteran, but this team shouldn't just have their sights set on a tournament bid. A couple of wins come March is not out of the question.
They already have arguably the best freshman post-player in the country in Derik Queen, as well as three efficient, shot-making guards in Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Rodney Rice, and Selton Miguel.
10 different players average double-digit minutes. The depth helps keep starters fresh and allows the Terrapins to pester their opposition to the tune of a top-15 defensive turnover rate along with the No. 1 block rate in the country.
They set the tone early and make it very difficult to score, especially when you don't have a match for Queen in the post. 10th in the preseason poll was far too low for this fun, balanced squad that will challenge for a top-5 spot in the Big Ten's end-of-season standings.
Maryland's addition of Selton Miguel is underrated nationally.
24 today against Syracuse.
15-27 from 3 in his last five games. https://t.co/EvztezHtBZ
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 21, 2024
Baylor Bears: Unranked to No. 25
Scott Drew and Co. had maybe the worst start to the season you can possibly imagine, losing by 38 to what looked like an immortal Gonzaga team. That beatdown had shades of the Zion-led Duke vs. Kentucky bout five years ago when the Blue Devils won 118-84. Baylor has had a few more hiccups up until this point, but they still have the talent and coaching to compete for a Big 12 title.
This team runs on point guard Jeremy Roach and big man Norchad Omier, but their best player may be freshman Robert Wright III. The Philly native and former Montverde star set a program freshman record with 13 assists in the Bears' recent win over Norfolk State. VJ Edgecombe was the prize of the 2024 recruiting class (No. 3 ESPN 100), but it's been Wright who has stolen the show.
The experience varies drastically on this team, but I'm a believer that they still challenge for the conference regular season title if injuries don't derail them.
Freshman Rob Wright has himself a strong performance today in Baylor’s win over Norfolk State
16 points
13 assists (1 TO)
4 boards
2 steals
7-10 FG
2-4 3PHas been having an underrated season for the Bears as one of the more intriguing long term prospects in college pic.twitter.com/0OTPSRuxJ8
— nbadraftpoint (@draftpoint2024) December 11, 2024
