🏀 Why Georgetown, Auburn and five other college hoops teams are set to stumble come league play.

[alagator]

Sometimes hot starts in non-league play can be foreshadowing of a great run in league play. Other times, however, scorching starts can be a mirage for myriad of reasons -- sometimes because of a weak schedule that can inflate an overall record, or even perhaps a team's lack of depth that isn't spotlighted against inferior opponents.

Whatever the case, there's typically evidence that points to the potential fall of these teams. So today, we'll run through seven that could be in line to regress in conference play after successful non-conference runs.

3


Auburn
Current record: 11-1
Projected regular-season record: 16-15
Even amid an FBI probe that seemingly had thrust coach Bruce Pearl onto the hot seat, the Tigers are off to an incredible 11-1 start. However, Auburn's non-conference strength of schedule which ranks 199 could prove to be fool's gold, too.
The Tigers' biggest win to date is over a solid Middle Tennessee team on a neutral, but they also lost to Temple in their toughest test of the season thus far - a team that will be a borderline NCAA Tournament team.
With no Austin Wiley or Danjel Purifoy now or for the foreseeable future, quality depth is also a concern and it could give the Tigers fits in the heart of their SEC slate.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Jeebus. Purifoy is STILL at the Barn? What is he, in his NCAA-exceptioned 7th year? Seems like it.

 

[bama alum]

The Tigers' biggest win to date is over a solid Middle Tennessee team on a neutral, but they also lost to Temple in their toughest test of the season thus far - a team that will be a borderline NCAA Tournament team.

Does UCONN suck that badly now?

 

[TerryP]

Does UCONN suck that badly now?

Pretty much--at least right now they do. Personally, I can't just dismiss what Kevin Ollie did with the Huskie's back in '13-'14 when they won their last title. That season they started out pretty slow as well as I recall. I do know there were very few that expected a #7 seed to win it all.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Pretty much--at least right now they do. Personally, I can't just dismiss what Kevin Ollie did with the Huskie's back in '13-'14 when they won their last title. That season they started out pretty slow as well as I recall. I do know there were very few that expected a #7 seed to win it all.

I don't think it will matter much longer. He's coaching at basketball royalty and the tolerance level feels strained. Mike Davis coached some amazing games at Indiana. Steve Fisher wins a National Championship at Michigan as an interim coach but never gets as high even with the "Fab Five." Then there's Geno down the hall winning the whole thing every year.