NCAA Basketball: 10 biggest transfer busts of the 2017-18 season

SR Geno Thorpe – Syracuse Orange

2017-18 stats: 6.0 ppg 0.8 rpg 1.0 apg

After a couple of seasons at Penn State, Thorpe went to South Florida for more of an offensive role with a team. It worked, with him averaging 15.1 ppg and 4.6 apg, both tops that season with the Bulls.

For his final year, the grad transfer elected to go to Syracuse, who was in desperate need of some scoring themselves. It looked to be a good fit on offense, but his 6’3 and 180 pound frame isn’t the best on top of a 2-3 zone.

Thorpe started on the bench for the season, and dealt with erratic playing time in the first six games. Three of them he had 19+ minutes, and the other three with 13 minutes or less. His role was undefined early on, with questions as to whether or not he could be an asset defensively.

But after playing just four minutes against Maryland, Thorpe decided to suddenly leave the team for personal reasons, ending his college career.

Syracuse to a degree needed him, as they had three players who were ranked in the top-7 in the country in minutes played this year. They also were at times literally the only offense the team had as well.

In hindsight the Orange ended up okay, with a Sweet Sixteen appearance. But one injury would’ve easily made them under an .500 team because of the lack of depth. And who knows, maybe Thorpe might have helped them beat Duke to move on in the tournament.