NCAA Basketball: 2018-19 Winners/losers of the week (version 1)

No. 5 winner – Stony Brook

The Seawolves are part of the 2018 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament but isn’t part of the main group. Instead, they’ll be facing three other small programs after serving up as a “warm-up” for the headliner teams the week before.

That didn’t happen at all, with Stony Brook pulling off back-to-back upsets against George Washington and South Carolina. They were led by the frontcourt of Akwasi Yeboah and Elijah Olaniyi, who’ve combined to average 39.0 ppg and 19.0 rpg so far.

After winning at least 12 games in the America East in the previous six seasons, the SeaWolves went only 7-9 in conference play last year. But with Vermont, UMBC, and Albany all losing key pieces from last season, Stony Brook can easily make another run at the top of the conference. The program couldn’t have asked for a better start.

No. 5 Loser – Oklahoma State

The Cowboys were one of a bunch of teams to suffer upsets but it was the way they lost that made them crack this list. Midway through the second half, Oklahoma State was up by as many as 22 points against Charlotte, who went 4-14 in Conference USA last season. The 49ers were able to come back and win the game 66-64 on a game-winning three-pointer.

The Cowboys were playing without arguably their best player Michael Weathers, a transfer from Miami (Oh). Although he’s just rejoined the team in practices, the guard is still suspended from playing in games. It clearly has an effect on the team, with only four players registering more than two points in the game.

Until Weathers comes back and even when he does, Oklahoma State lacks both the depth and the scoring talent to contend for an NCAA Tournament spot in the Big 12. And if the former Redhawk guard is out for any longer – more losses could be on their way.