Back in 2021-22, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats bottomed out with a mere nine wins. They’ve been on the rise since, improving to 12 victories in 2022-23, finishing .500 the following season, and last season actually boasting a winning record for the first time since 2019-20.

ack in 2022-23, the Nicholls Colonels finished just 16-15, but have responded well since, posting back-to-back 20-win efforts. Okay, so their NCAA tourney drought extends back to 1997-98, but with some solid results within the Southland Conference in recent seasons, a conference tourney victory is a possibility.

The Ohio State Buckeyes made solid progress in 2023-24 (22 wins), but gave it almost all back last season, regressing by five wins and stretching their NCAA tourney drought to three years.

The fact he tied for the team lead with 15 points in Sunday’s loss to TCU in an exhibition game was a great sign. The 6’2”, 175-pound Pope may have struggled with the higher level of play in the SEC, but still made a big impact in Texas and has a chance to sneak into the late second round of the draft next year.

In 2021-22, the Oregon Ducks won just 20 games, starting a short streak of back-to-back seasons without an NCAA tourney appearance. Since then, it’s been a slow climb uphill, winning 21 games the following season, then upping that total to 24 and 25 over the next two seasons, making March Madness in each, but losing in the second round both times.

He spent most of his freshman season starting, playing a goodly amount of minutes and showing a solid outside game plus an ability to get to the free throw line. Knox has room to grow in assists, blocks and steals, but this is a kid well worth watching this season, one who could easily be among the top 10 players in the SEC.

The BYU Cougars bottomed out in 2022-23, winning just 19 games to miss the NCAA Tourney for the second straight season and seventh time in eight years. The following season, BYU bounced back to 23 wins and returned to the tourney, and last season upped that win total to 26 while making it to the regional semifinal.