Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Every conference’s biggest surprise and disappointment for 2018-19

By Joey Loose

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates the play against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates the play against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 33
Next
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 21: Robin Duncan #4 of the Vermont Catamounts looks on from the court near his brother Ernie Duncan #20 while playing the Florida State Seminoles during their first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 21: Robin Duncan #4 of the Vermont Catamounts looks on from the court near his brother Ernie Duncan #20 while playing the Florida State Seminoles during their first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

America East

Biggest Surprise (UMass Lowell)

Vermont won the conference as expected while UMBC and Stony Brook provided some resistance. Among all the teams in the conference, UMass Lowell was the team that exceeded expectations and stood out. Pat Duquette still has a long way to go with this team, but their 15-17 record was their best season since joining the D1 ranks in 2013.

Defense was still a struggle for the River Hawks and they didn’t really challenge Vermont this season, but it’s a step in the right direction. There hasn’t been a lot of parity in this conference in recent years, but Duquette might be able to build something in Lowell. He’ll get his two top scorers back next season and maybe the River Hawks can get over .500 in conference play for the first time.

Biggest Disappointment (Albany)

This was the first time since 2010 that Will Brown’s team was below .500 in America East play in a season where they really struggled on offense. The Great Danes were sloppy with the basketball and struggled in the paint. After four straight seasons of 20+ wins, Albany struggled to finish at 12-20, sixth place in the conference they haven’t won since 2015.

The great news in Albany is that their four best scorers should all return and three of them are freshmen. The Great Danes expect to compete in this league on a yearly basis, but this rebuilding season might set them up for better success in the future. If Cameron Healy stays in Albany, he could develop into a star in this league.

Home/NCAA Basketball News