A strong college basketball program has to have the ability to rebound after a poor season or before losing becomes a habit within the program. A head coach can’t withstand too many bad seasons before he gets fired. A school can’t have a series of down years before it loses its reputation as a strong basketball program. Several teams last year had disappointing seasons or a sub par season but are poised to have a bounce back season in 2016-2017. Here are five schools that have the pressure to produce a successful season this coming year.
Georgetown Hoyas
Georgetown did beat Syracuse and had a road win against Xavier last season. The Hoyas struggled down the stretch by losing 10 of their final 12 games to finish 15-18 overall and 7-11 in the Big East. The Hoyas failed to reach the NCAA tournament and it was the first time in John Thompson III’s 12 seasons at Georgeotown that the Hoyas finished with a losing record. The Hoyas return 7’0 center Bradley Hayes who was the team’s leading rebounder. Guard L.J. Peak and forward Isaac Copeland averaged double figures in scoring are back as well. The Hoyas will be motivated to put last season behind them. They should produce an NCAA tournament team this coming season.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State was one of the youngest teams in the country last season and it showed at times. The Buckeyes finished 21-14 overall and 11-7 in the conference. They failed to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008. The team will be built around guard Jaquan Lyle. Marc Loving was the team’s leading scorer at 14 points per game. Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate had nearly identical numbers by averaging just under 12 points a game and 6.4 rebounds per contest. Thad Matta’s Buckeyes finished ranked in the top seven four consecutive years from 2010 through 2013. This years squad may not match those results but it might be the most improved team in the Big Ten.
Clemson Tigers
Last season Clemson had emerged as an ACC title contender. The Tigers won five games in a row against Syracuse, Louisville, Duke and Miami. They were 5-1 in conference play and looked very much like an NCAA tournament team. After the amazing start they started to fall apart. The Tigers return point guard Avry Holmes and forward Donte Grantham who were the team’s second and third leading scorers last season. The Tigers will also benefit from the addition of three transfers: Marcquise Reed (from Robert Morris), Shelton Mitchell (Vanderbilt), and Elijah Thomas (Texas A&M). Clemson has the pieces to have a nice bounce back season.
UCLA Bruins
UCLA slipped about as far as a team with its basketball tradition can slip last season. The Bruins lost their final five games that included a 24 point loss to rival USC in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament. The pressure is on Steve Alford to produce a winner in 2016-17 and he should have the weapons to do it. The Bruins will return every significant player from this past season except for Tony Parker. Parker was the team’s third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder last season. The Bruins add freshman Lonzo Ball who rated the nation’s No. 4 overall recruit and No. 1 point guard by ESPN.com. Despite UCLA’s having an awful season last year they should bounce back with the weapons they have.
Florida Gators
Mike White’s first season as Billy Donovan’s successor was not a good one. Things should be significantly better for Florida in 2016-17 for the Gators. Florida should play better as the know White’s system going into his second year. Mike White took over a team that went just 16-17 in Donovan’s final season so he was not given a finished product when he arrived. The key addition is graduate transfer Canyon Barry from College of Charleston. Barry is the son of NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry and he averaged 19.7 points last season in just 13 games. Forward John Egbunu showed improvement from his freshman to sophomore seasons and may jump another notch as a junior.