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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) /
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SPOKANE, WA – DECEMBER 28: Jeremy Jones #22 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes to the basket against Emanuel Littles #21 of the North Alabama Lions in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 28, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA – DECEMBER 28: Jeremy Jones #22 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes to the basket against Emanuel Littles #21 of the North Alabama Lions in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 28, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

Atlantic Sun

Biggest Surprise (North Alabama)

On New Year’s, the Lions were 3-12, with all three of their victories coming against non-D1 opponents at home. This was Tony Pujol’s first year as a head coach and North Alabama’s first year in Division 1. Very little was expected of this team and their slow start in non-conference play seemed to confirm that. They were picked to finish dead last in their first year in the A-Sun.

But they caught fire once conference play began. They were swept by Lipscomb and Liberty, as were most of the league, but a four game winning streak in early January helped guide them to a 7-9 finish in conference play. It may seem strange that a team finishing 10-22 can be the biggest surprise, but this could be the beginning of something special. Pujol worked for eight years with John Brannen who quickly made Northern Kentucky a D-1 contender; perhaps this is the start of the same thing for North Alabama.

Biggest Disappointment (Florida Gulf Coast)

The emergence of Liberty and Lipscomb quickly made the A-Sun a two-horse race, but it was Florida Gulf Coast who was picked to finish second in the league. After all, Liberty had just joined the conference and the Eagles had history on their side. Michael Fly was a first year head coach, but he had been an assistant under both Andy Enfield and Joe Dooley.

The offense really struggle at times and it might not get any better next season, as they lose all three of their double-digit scorers. They did score an upset win against Lipscomb in late February and this team was trending in the right direction by the end of the season. Time will tell if Fly was the right man for this Eagles program; he certainly has some big shoes to fill. 14-18 seasons aren’t going to cut it after the success that this young program has experienced.

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