Witness the Rise of the Underdogs in College Basketball
SEC's Bottom Dwellers Make a Comeback
Vanderbilt and Missouri were a combined 17-47 last year but are now 17-2 this season. Missouri, in particular, shocked the basketball world by defeating No. 1 Kansas and forcing 22 turnovers. Tamar Bates and Mark Mitchell were key contributors to the Tigers' victory. Vanderbilt, under the guidance of Mark Byington, has also turned things around and is now 9-1. Their top nine scorers are a mix of transfers and a freshman.
The Commodores' quick rise shows the power of fresh faces and a new coaching approach. It's a testament to the fact that with the right pieces in place, a team can go from the bottom to the top in a matter of months.
Michigan's Transformation
Last season, Michigan was 8-24 and at the bottom of the Big Ten. But under the leadership of Dusty May, the Wolverines have turned things around and are now 8-1. May brought in key transfers like Vladislav Goldin from Florida Atlantic and Danny Wolf from Yale, and the team has seen a significant upgrade in talent.
The addition of these players has transformed Michigan from a beatable team to a winning one. Roddy Gayle Jr. and Tre Donaldson have also been key contributors, averaging between 12.2 and 12.0 points per game. Michigan's success is a prime example of how a new coaching staff and fresh talent can turn a struggling program around.
Blue Blood Battles and Surprises
Louisville, a once-proud blue blood, was 12-52 in the past two seasons. But with 11 veteran transfers, the Cardinals are now 5-4 and causing problems for even the top teams. They led Indiana by 38 points in a rout and gave Duke a tough fight on Sunday.
West Virginia has also made a comeback, going from 9-23 to 6-2 with overtime wins over Gonzaga and Arizona. Darian DeVries brought in his Missouri Valley Conference player of the year son Tucker and added other transfers to turn the team around.
Other Notable Transfers and Turnarounds
DePaul went from 3-29 to 7-1 by filling the air with 3-pointers and adding 14 new players. Archie Miller's Rhode Island team is 9-0 for the first time since 1948 with a platoon of transfers. Buffalo and Stonehill each went from 4-27 to 5-5 starts. Pacific, under the guidance of Dave Smart, is 5-5 with a rotation of seven transfers.
Even in the Ivy League, Dartmouth went from 6-21 to 4-4 with no transfers. And in the Horizon League, Detroit Mercy went from 1-31 to 5-6, passing last year's win total by November 10. IUPUI, which was 14-79 in the past three years, is now 5-6 with a new coach and roster.
The trend of transfers and turnarounds is everywhere in college basketball, showing that the past doesn't seem to matter much at this age. With the right pieces and coaching, any team can rise to the top.