How common is it?

[SHUMAN]

How common is it to be ranked in the top 25 (as we were) in middle January- then crash so hard as to not even make the friggin NIT?

Of course this happens with teams that were ranked early in the year based mostly on potential, but not middle of the season like with us.

I would suspect we would be the only team this year.

 

[Shuathelete]

It is so uncommon that it takes a such a bad coach at the max extreme level to do it. takes one in a billion type of bad coach to do it twice, which is essentially what Willard has done.

I dont even know if Willard is better than Eddie Jordan. I think he might be the worst coach of all time. Not even kidding.

Unacceptable.

 

[Seton75]

For us? Once every four years...lol

 

[Bobbie Solo]

hasn't happened since Illinois in 2012 according to Carino.

 

[Bluebeard]

Didn't they make the NIT the year they were ranked?

 

[Bud Boomer]

I raised this same question a few weeks ago and someone said it happens every year. I can't think of a single example.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[HALL28]

I'd say when you're ranked at 13-3 in January, you've got a 75% chance to get to the NCAA Tournament. Same thing with where we were a few years ago. Really hard to do it once let alone twice.

I would say this year, it was a 95% chance of a postseason bid in mid-January.

 

[sportsfantatic44]

I believe Washington was ranked in the first week of January this year. The difference is that Upshaw (best player and possibly a lottery pick) was kicked off the team (I believe he was also kicked out of the Fresno program too) and they went in the tank after that.

 

[JIMSOULS]

Washington was ranked as high as #13. They were already well into their free-fall when Upshaw was dismissed.

Upshaw has/had NBA potential, but likely won't be drafted due to recurring substance-abuse problems. A shame. I saw their game against Eastern Washington back when they were ranked and he was impressive

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Washington coach Lorenzo Romar. He made the Big Dance in six out of their first eight seasons, but has now missed it five years in a row.