Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Top 10 teams currently underachieving in 2019-20 season

By Donovan Darlington

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 15: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives to the basket against the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 77-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 15: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives to the basket against the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 77-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 19: Anthony Lamb #3 of the Vermont Catamounts (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – NOVEMBER 19: Anthony Lamb #3 of the Vermont Catamounts (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

10. Vermont Catamounts

Record: 8-5

Vermont is our first example of a talented mid-major that is predicted to command its conference and give power conference schools a scare if they make it to the NCAA Tournament. Many analysts even considered this Vermont team as a mid-major that could potentially break into the top 25 this season. On top of that, they seemed like they may run the table in the America East.

Now, with America East play right around the corner, it is pretty clear that Vermont will not be a top 25 team this season. It is also not a given that they will be the squad to run away with the America East crown.

Vermont’s early-season demise began after their thrilling six-point loss at the hands of Virginia in John Paul Jones Arena on November, 19th. In that game, Vermont came out and did what was expected. Everyone knew that they were talented and have one of the nation’s best under-the-radar players in senior, Anthony Lamb. It was an absolute battle, but Virginia’s defense and talent were ultimately too much.

It was a great performance by Vermont and their star player, Anthony Lamb. The issue is that the game proved that Lamb is just about all they have. Since the Virginia loss, they dropped four more games to Rider, Yale, Cincinnati and UNC Greensboro. Each of those teams is solid and can compete for NCAA Tournament berths; however, Vermont should not have dropped those games the way they did.

At 8-5 Vermont finds themselves with plenty of questions pertaining to their scoring ability if Anthony Lamb is contained. Hopefully, they can patch their wounds and prove to be a deadly force when March rolls around.

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