College Basketball’s Biggest Disappointments: Calipari, Rutgers Struggle

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — More than two months into the college basketball season, several high-profile teams and coaches have fallen short of expectations, with Arkansas and Rutgers among the most notable disappointments. Arkansas, under first-year coach John Calipari, is off to an 0-4 start in SEC play, while Rutgers, despite high preseason hopes, sits at 9-8 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten.

Arkansas’ struggles have been particularly glaring. The Razorbacks, who were ranked No. 16 in the preseason AP Poll, have stumbled to an 11-6 record, including a 1-6 mark in the first two quadrants of the NCAA Tournament resume-building system. Calipari, who left Kentucky for Arkansas last April, has faced criticism for his team’s lack of offensive creativity and poor shooting. Arkansas ranks 15th in the SEC in field goal percentage (36.1%) and 13th in 3-point shooting (26.1%) through four conference games.

“I got to do a better job,” Calipari said after a 78-74 loss to LSU this week. “We’re not getting easy buckets, and that’s on me.”

Meanwhile, Rutgers, which entered the season ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll, has failed to live up to its preseason hype. Despite the standout performances of freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, the Scarlet Knights have struggled with a lack of depth and defensive consistency. Harper, a potential top NBA draft pick, has been a bright spot, averaging 20.1 points per game, but the supporting cast has not delivered.

“It’s the supporting cast that has not been up to par,” said analyst Isaac Trotter. “Rutgers’ defense has disintegrated, and they don’t have enough shooting or bite defensively.”

Other teams facing disappointment include Kansas, which entered the season as the preseason No. 1 but has stumbled to a 12-4 record, and North Carolina, which is 10-6 and struggling to find consistency. Kansas guard AJ Storr, a highly touted transfer from Wisconsin, has averaged just 7.0 points per game, well below expectations.

As the season progresses, the pressure will only intensify for these programs to turn things around. For Calipari and Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell, the clock is ticking to salvage what was supposed to be a promising season.