NCAA Basketball: Biggest upsets of the 2019-2020 season so far
By Ryan Kay
4. Coastal Carolina 79, Utah 57
Coastal Carolina
Net Ranking 183
Ken Pom Ranking 165
Utah
Net Ranking 79
Ken Pom Ranking 125
Coastal Carolina defeated PAC 12 foe Utah 79-57 on in a Myrtle Beach Invitational quarterfinal match up. It is not just that Utah lost to Coastal Carolina it is the fact that they got beat by 22 points by a team that lost earlier in the season to Campbell and Northern Kentucky. Utah, on the other hand, has some really quality wins beating Kentucky and winning at Nevada. The Utes have also beaten teams Minnesota and BYU this season. Utah, if they were to look back at this game film, would be very disappointed in their effort that day.
5. Evansville 67, Kentucky 64
Evansville
Net Ranking 247
Ken Pom Ranking 265
Kentucky
Net Ranking 27
Ken Pom Ranking 21
The Evansville Purple Aces went into Rupp Arena and defeated SEC opponent Kentucky 67-64 in a very surprising upset. This is even a bigger upset than previously thought due to Evansville’s current Net and Ken Pom rankings. Kentucky has played one of the toughest schedules in all of college basketball to this point but losing at home to the Purple Aces is unacceptable to Big Blue Nation.
Evansville, for example, has lost to teams such as Jacksonville State and Missouri State. The Wildcats in comparison have beat very quality opponents like Michigan State and Louisville. Looking back, Kentucky would love to go back in time and replay this game but the past is the past and the Wildcats will be just fine moving forward.
6. Stephen F. Austin 85, Duke 83
Stephen F. Austin
Net Ranking 90
Ken Pom Ranking 122
Duke
Net Ranking 6
Ken Pom Ranking 2
The Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin stocked the college basketball world by going into Cameron Indoor Stadium and defeating the ACC foe Duke Blue Devils 85-83 in overtime. To put it in perspective, Stephen F. Austin did what no team outside the ACC had done in almost 20 years, which was defeat Duke on their home court. To prove that is was a historical moment, the Lumberjacks ended the Blue Devil’s 150-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents.
In Duke’s defense and in retrospect, Stephen A. Austin is a quality mid-major team this season with their only blemish being a loss to Texas A&M-CC. The Blue Devils have won some great games defeating Michigan State on the road as well as beating Kansas on a neutral court. Duke will be fine moving forward as they contend with Louisville for an ACC championship.
7. Nicholls State 75, Pittsburgh 70
Nicholls State
Net Ranking 179
Ken Pom Ranking 188
Pittsburgh
Net Ranking 73
Ken Pom Ranking 69
Nicholls State went on the road and defeated their ACC opponent Pittsburgh Panthers 75-70. Pitt had not started the season on a strong note but looking back at this game, it is one that the Panthers should have easily won. Nicholls State, for example, has lost to teams such as North Carolina A&T, Abilene Christian, and Northwestern State. Pitt after an up and down start to the season is 12-6 and they completed their first-ever season sweep of North Carolina.
This is a program that two years ago did not win one game in the ACC and this season they are in contention for an NCAA tournament bid. However, loses like the one at home to Nicholls State will be a game that the NCAA tournament committee may look at carefully.