Opinion: Most underperforming teams in men's college hoops

The start of conference play has created new buzz in college basketball, as shifting rankings and early stumbles by high-profile programs reshaped March Madness conversations. Here’s a look at several teams that fell short of expectations this season.

Florida Gators

The defending national champions slipped from the top of the AP men’s basketball poll to just inside the top 20. The preseason-ranked No. 3 Florida Gators have plummeted to No. 19 after an underwhelming 12-5 start.

Florida opened up Southeastern Conference play with a 76-74 road loss to Missouri, dropping them from the first AP poll of 2026.

The Gators have a high floor with strong defense and rebounding due to key contributors Thomas Haugh, Boogie Fland, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. However, they have not been shooting consistently enough to secure wins against highly ranked teams such as UConn, Duke or Arizona.

Entering a critical stretch of conference play, the Gators secured their first SEC road win and will look to revitalize their season.

St. John’s Red Storm

From a preseason No. 5 ranking to completely unranked, the Red Storm have failed to meet expectations. After winning the Big East Championship last season and being a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, St. John’s struggled to maintain that momentum in 2026.

St. John's head coach Rick Pitino added significant talent this offseason, including Bryce Hopkins, Ian Jackson, and Dillon Mitchell, while retaining key players such as team leader Zuby Eijofor.

An influx of new players forced the Red Storm into a rebuilding phase. As they build team chemistry, they have struggled with free-throw shooting, defensive rebounding and overall inconsistency.

Coming off a 31-win season in 2025, they sit at 12-5 entering mid-January, matching their loss total from all of last season. The Johnnies have suffered losses to Providence, Auburn, Iowa State, among others and have not been ranked since week seven.

The Red Storm will look to keep their tournament hopes alive and defend their Big East title in the coming weeks.

Kentucky Wildcats

Another program that fell short of expectations was Kentucky. The Wildcats, a preseason top 10 team, have also entirely dropped from the rankings.

Kentucky entered the season with what many considered the highest-paid roster in college basketball, but sits at 13th in the SEC at 10-6 and remains winless on the road.

Injuries to starters Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance, combined with inconsistent play, contributed to their struggles.

Kentucky has lost by 20 or more points four times this season, including two late blown leads and one devastating loss to Missouri at home after holding an eight-point lead with less than five minutes remaining.

The Wildcat’s disappointing performance has cast doubt on Head Coach Mark Pope’s future, despite leading them to the Sweet 16 in his first season last year. Although it is still early for the Wildcats, they are trending downward and need a spark to turn their season around.

NC State

NC State entered the 2025-26 season under new head coach Will Wade with heightened expectations. The Wolfpack appeared in the top 25 of select preseason polls and were projected to be strong contenders in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Wolfpack broke into a new era of basketball after a disappointing 12-19 season in 2025, with hopes higher for this season. However, they currently sit 5th in the ACC at 12-5.

They also brought in impact transfers, including Darrion Williams, Quadir Copeland, Tre Holloman, and others, but Coach Wade voiced frustrations over the team’s inconsistent play, defensive lapses, lack of toughness and poor mentality.

The Wolfpack’s significant roster overhaul has challenged them to establish their identity and live up to their preseason narrative.

Gina Scarpa is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email gfs5427@psu.edu.