Dazzling dunks, suspenseful overtimes and an incredible display of passion by the players are defining characteristics of college basketball. However, this season can also be defined by another word: unpredictability.
Yes, main powerhouse teams, such as Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State, have maintained their usual elevated standards. But, there have been many other teams, namely Wake Forest and Georgia Tech, whose seasons must be labeled severe setbacks.
These disappointments come as a surprise to many because these teams experienced much success last season and were predicted to do just as well this season.
Georgia Tech, who broke an even 8-8 last year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, has gone downhill to a disappointing 3-8. With losses to teams such as Air Force and Wake Forest, the Yellow Jackets have set a new low standard for themselves this season.
The only team below them in the ACC is Wake Forest. Although predicted to perform better than last year, the team has fallen to a dismal 1-10 in the conference.
But it's not just the ACC that has sustained disappointments this year. Teams in other conferences, such as Louisville in the revamped Big East and Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference, have also performed surprisingly poorly this season.
Yet it seems that a rule of conservation of success is at play here. If these teams are losing, then somebody must be winning, right?
This season we don't have to look any farther than D.C. to find this season's fresh talent.
Georgetown and George Washington have both demonstrated success above most college basketball enthusiasts' expectations.
GW has had a practically flawless season at 20-1, remaining undefeated in the Atlantic 10 conference. All season the Colonials have held a commanding lead over all the other teams in their conference. They have managed to pull several huge victories over teams such as Maryland and Charlotte.
Georgetown is another team whose success has exceeded expectations this year. The Hoyas are currently ranked fifth in the Big East. With important wins over teams such as Duke, the Hoyas have not only made a name for themselves, but have set high standards to fill next season.
My point is that all this shifting is a good sign for AU. With all the success shifting around in the college basketball right now, perhaps some of it will shift to AU. The Eagles don't even have to win the Patriot League to be considered successful. Just exceeding everyone's expectations will earn them more credibility. Teams such as Virginia have managed to impress critics just by winning more games in their conference than expected.
Although AU is currently in the bottom half of the PL, perhaps it can pull out some big wins toward the end of the season and carry the momentum into next year.
Overall, this new unpredictability is a very good thing for college basketball. It provides the fans with a refreshing change of pace. Each rising team will generate a new sense of pride for its school's sports programs. Each game becomes more exciting to watch because it isn't guaranteed who'll win. Finally, it gives hope for all the underdogs - and their loyal fans.
