NCAA Basketball: Predicting when the last 11 undefeated teams of 2018-19 will fall
Furman Paladins (8-0)
As of the morning I wrote this, Furman have done what not many people expected and that was to become a nationally ranked program.
The currently 25th ranked Paladins turned heads with a monstrous win on the road on November 17th against Jay Wright and his Villanova squad in overtime. Senior wing, Matt Rafferty, is currently flirting with close to a double-double per game at 19 & 8 and has been the figure head in this early season run.
However, the rest of their wins aren’t as notable. With three non-D1 wins, three KenPom 200+ wins and another solid win over Loyal-Chicago, it remains to be seen just how valid of an undefeated start this has been for coach Bob Richey and his team.
December seems to be a friendly start with four straight games against KenPom 200+ ranked teams, but the trouble for Furman looms just before Old Saint Nick comes to town.
On the 21st, Furman heads to Baton Rouge to match wits with the LSU Tigers. While LSU is still figuring things out, they present some tough match-up’s for Furman by way of guard Tremont Waters and Freshman big man, Naz Reid.
Should the presumed 12-0 Paladins survive their trip to the Bayou and prove their worth, it’s not out of the question to see their following match up at Eastern Tennessee State as a potential trap game as well.
While the month starts off smoothly for Furman, they likely won’t make it into the new year perfect.