Happy New Year. We are back with another edition of the Bottom 10, tracking the ten teams at the very bottom of men’s college basketball so far this season. With an update after the holiday stretch, the picture has become clearer. Some teams are struggling to finish games, others are struggling to compete at all, and a few are still searching for their first meaningful Division I win.
Below are the current Bottom 10 rankings, listed from 356 down to 365, with the lowest-ranked team saved for last.
356. Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (3-11)
Southern Indiana has dropped six straight games, even though three of their last losses came by four points or fewer. The Screaming Eagles are one of two teams in the Ohio Valley Conference without a league win. Ismail Habib leads the team at 16.6 points per game, but the offense averages just 71 points overall. Rebounding has been a relative strength at 38.2 per game, but it has not translated into wins. Next up are back-to-back home games against Southeast Missouri and UT Martin.
357. Chicago State Cougars (2-13)
Chicago State is back in the Bottom 10 after four straight losses. A road win at Loyola briefly pushed the Cougars out of the rankings, but losses to Wagner and Long Island brought them right back. They are the only NEC team without a conference win. Chicago State averages just 65.9 points per game while allowing 82.7, and they rank near the bottom nationally in assists at 9.9 per game. The Cougars visit Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday and Stonehill on Saturday.
358. South Carolina State Bulldogs (2-14)
South Carolina State finally picked up its first Division I win in dramatic fashion, blowing a large home lead but still winning on the final possession against Howard. That result doubled their win total for the season. Howard entered that game with nine wins, the most in the MEAC at the time. Whether that win sparks momentum remains to be seen. The Bulldogs head on the road to face Morgan State on Saturday and Coppin State on Monday.
359. Jackson State Tigers (2-12)
Jackson State earned its second win of the season against Alcorn State, but the damage had already been done. Losses to Hampton, Norfolk State, and a 115-point defensive collapse against TCU pushed the Tigers deeper into the Bottom 10. SWAC play offers opportunity, as there is no clear dominant team. Jackson State now faces back-to-back road games at Alabama State on January 10 and Alabama A&M on January 12.
360. Coppin State Eagles (3-15)
Coppin State somehow opened MEAC play with a win over Delaware State after losing eight straight games. Before that, their only Division I win came by three points against Rider. The Eagles will be worth monitoring, as a second conference win could change their outlook. They play just once this week, hosting North Carolina Central on Saturday, before facing South Carolina State on January 12.
361. The Citadel Bulldogs (3-12)
The Citadel enters the Bottom 10 at 3-12 overall and 0-2 in SoCon play. The Bulldogs have lost five straight games and still do not own a Division I win. Their most recent loss came against Wofford, where they allowed 95 points. On the season, The Citadel gives up 77 points per game while scoring fewer than 70. They travel to Mercer on Wednesday before hosting Western Carolina.
362. Rider Broncs (1-12)
Rider has dropped ten straight games and joins the Bottom 10 after failing to find a conference win in the MAAC. Their lone victory came against a non-Division I opponent in November. While the Broncs have been competitive at times, including recent three- and nine-point losses, they remain the only MAAC team without a league win. Rider visits Fairfield on Friday and hosts Marist on Sunday.
363. Alcorn State Braves (1-12)
Alcorn State has fallen from 358 to 363 after losing five straight games. Their lone win remains a surprising upset over Indiana State earlier in the season. Since then, the Braves have struggled on both ends of the floor. They are back on the road this week, playing at Alabama A&M and Alabama State, as they look to secure win number two.
364. Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (2-15)
Gardner-Webb has dropped from 360 to 364 and owns just two wins, neither against Division I opponents. The Bulldogs have allowed 94 points to Tennessee and followed that with losses to Charleston Southern and Winthrop. They are one of three Big South teams without a conference win. A road trip to High Point is next, followed by home games against Radford and Presbyterian.
365. Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (1-14)
Mississippi Valley State remains at the very bottom of the rankings. The Delta Devils have lost 14 of 15 games and are riding a 13-game losing streak. Their latest defeat was a 20-point home loss to Alabama State. Michael James averages nearly 20 points per game, but the team scores under 65 per contest and allows more than 90. The SWAC offers some hope, with several teams struggling, but wins will still be hard to find. Mississippi Valley State hosts Alabama A&M before heading on the road for two straight.
Dropped From the Rankings
- St. Francis (PA) Red Flash (3-12), from 361
- Kansas City Roos (4-12), from 359
- Florida A&M Rattlers (3-9), from 356
Others in Consideration
- Morgan State Bears (3-12)
- UL Monroe Warhawks (3-13)
- Western Illinois Leathernecks (4-11)
We will be back next week with another update on the ten worst teams in college basketball. The question remains the same: which of these teams can climb out of the rankings, and which ones are stuck at the bottom for the long haul.