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When national analysts for men's college basketball get asked who's the best team that no one is talking about, we typically respond with a fringe AP Top 25 team, or one that appears to be turning a corner after failing to live up to the preseason hype.
You know, major-conference teams that plenty of people are definitely aware of but that might be worth buying low as a title contender.
But the best team that absolutely no one is talking about this year?
The 11-1 Fordham Rams.
More than half a century ago, Digger Phelps coached Fordham to a 26-3 record, a No. 9 ranking in the AP poll and a first-round victory in the 1971 NCAA tournament.
And the program has not been nationally relevant since.
The Rams haven't been ranked since that final poll in 1971.
Since shocking 18th-ranked Georgetown at the end of the 1977-78 season, Fordham has lost 53 consecutive games to AP Top 20 opponents. (At least the games of that ilk in the 1980s were occasionally competitive, though. The Rams have lost by double digits in 32 of their last 33 games against Top 20 foes.)
They have gone to just one of the past 50 NCAA tournaments, getting pummeled in the first round of the 1992 dance by a Massachusetts team coached by an up-and-comer named John Calipari.
And unless you're trying to count Eric Paschall—who spent one season at Fordham before transferring to Villanova for his final three years of college hoops—this program hasn't had a player drafted since 1983. That year, Edward Bona and David Maxwell went in the sixth and ninth rounds, respectively, and never played a minute in the NBA.
Fordham simply has not mattered in men's college basketball at any point in my life.
Yet, out of absolutely nowhere, the Rams have one of the best records in men's college hoops, entering Thursday's home game against VMI at 11-1, with eight of those wins coming by double digits.
On Dec. 11, they became the second team this season to reach 11 wins against D-I competition, hitting that plateau just 24 hours after Connecticut did.
It's not often that we get to put Fordham in a two-team club with arguably the best squad in the nation, but there you go.
Granted, the schedule has had a lot to do with that early success. Per KenPom.com, the Rams entered play Wednesday with the worst strength of schedule in the country.
But that's also nothing new. Fordham's nonconference slate has been a joke for the past decade, ranking in the bottom 10 percent of the nation in each of 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2021-22 and in the bottom 33 percent every year since 2012-13. (Except 2020-21, when Fordham played no games outside the Atlantic 10.)
Those weak slates never produced anything quite like this.
The last time the Rams won even 10 nonconference games was in 1990-91, and it wasn't until their 15th nonconference game in late February that they got that 10th victory.
And the last time they won 11 nonconference games during the regular season was in 1974-75, when they went 12-13 overall as an independent team.
11-1 is just unheard of for this program, regardless of the schedule.
In fact, it's the first time Fordham has gotten to 11 wins within its first 15 games since that mythical Phelps-coached team that started 18-1 in 1970-71.
So, what exactly is going on in the Bronx?
Well, the simplest answer is that shots are going in for a change.
Fordham is shooting 53.0 percent from inside the arc, 37.2 percent from beyond it and 75.5 percent from the free-throw line. The Rams have not finished a season at or above any of those three marks since the aforementioned 1990-91 squad, which shot 38.5 percent from three-point range.
And, to be clear, 53.0, 37.2 and 75.5 aren't outlandish, unsustainable numbers. Fordham is somewhere in the 41st-best to 125th-best range in the country in all three categories.
However, it's an uncommon degree of bucket-getting success for this program.
Fifth-year senior Khalid Moore has surprisingly been the biggest factor in that offensive outburst.
Moore had started 63 games and played in 117 total games over the previous four seasons at Georgia Tech, but he was much more of a versatile glue guy than a designed scoring option for the Yellow Jackets. He averaged just 4.4 points per game, only once scoring 15 or more in a contest.
Lo and behold, the 6'7" stretch 4 is averaging 15.5 points per game for Fordham, transforming into a linchpin for an offense averaging at least 72 points per game (75.5) for the first time in over two decades.
"[Moore had] always been a role player from high school to AAU to Georgia Tech," Fordham head coach Keith Urgo said in a recent interview with Andy Katz for the NABC. "... He knew what he wanted his last year in college. ... And he's performed at a high level in a much bigger role than he ever had."
In one of Fordham's two wins outside Quadrant 4, Moore went for 23 points, 10 rebounds and four assists at Tulane. And after scoring a career-high 25 points on Dec. 11 against Central Connecticut State, he has already put up more points this season (186) than his previous career high (166).
And on the career scoring front, Youngstown State transfer Darius Quisenberry is averaging 18.1 points per game this season while rapidly approaching 2,000 points—as well as 400 rebounds and 400 assists.
This is DQ's second year on the team, and he entered this season as a career 30.6 percent three-point shooter. But he's connecting at a 45 percent clip for the year and has made 22 of 38 (57.9 percent) over his last six games.
Quisenberry almost had his first career triple-double in November, too, going for 14 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in a win over Holy Cross. Had he gotten there, it would have been the first triple-double in Fordham history.
Beyond that Batman and Robin (as Urgo calls them) scoring tandem, Fordham has a formidable one-two punch at the 5 with Abdou Tsimbila and Rostyslav Novitskyi combining for 14.1 points, 12.9 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game.
A light version of what Purdue had last season in Zach Edey and Trevion Williams, they're pretty much never on the court together, but the Rams almost always have one of those big men anchoring them in the paint.
Fordham also has a veteran point guard averaging 4.7 assists per game (Antrell Charlton) and a senior wing who does a little bit of everything (Kyle Rose).
Again, the schedule has been pathetic. And Fordham did commit 27 turnovers while getting trounced 74-48 by Arkansas (sans Nick Smith Jr.) five days into the season. I'm not suggesting you visit your nearest sportsbook and ask what sort of odds you can get on this team winning a national championship.
However, the Rams have made the most of their pathetic schedule, and they just might be a legitimate mid-major to watch out for in March.
I watched the games against Tulane and Central Connecticut State, and when that offense gets into a groove—and isn't shooting itself in the foot with turnovers—this looks like a veteran-heavy team that can hang with just about anyone.
The Rams haven't finished a season rated in the top 160 on KenPom since 2007-08, but they entered play Tuesday at No. 159—up 70 spots from where they started the season.
And, like, have you taken a look at the A-10 lately?
It's normally a multi-bid league, but it is a disaster this year. Dayton, Saint Louis, VCU and newcomer Loyola-Chicago have all fallen well short of expectations, as every team except for Fordham has already suffered at least three losses.
That league is so far down and so wide open that—despite playing under its fourth head coach in less than three calendar years and despite a 54-197 record in league play during 15 consecutive losing A-10 seasons—even Fordham could win it.
While I said not to bet on them to win the national championship, Fordham at +8000 to win the A-10 regular-season title was too tempting for me to resist.
That's partially because the schedule remains favorable for the Rams. Their double dips are against Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, Duquesne and Davidson, none of whom look like a top-five team in the league. And Fordham's games against the two supposed favorites (Dayton and Saint Louis) will both be played in The Bronx.
Jump on the bandwagon while you still can, because by the time noted alumnus Denzel Washington starts saying that King Kong ain't got s--t on Fordham men's basketball, it'll be too late.
Odds via DraftKings. Statistics via WarrenNolan.com, Sports Reference and KenPom.com unless otherwise noted.
It's a good time to be Stephen Curry.
One day after Curry won his fourth NBA championship, Davidson athletic director Chris Clunie announced the school will retire his No. 30 jersey at an Aug. 31 ceremony.
The announcement comes on the same day that head basketball coach Bob McKillop announced he was stepping down after 33 seasons.
Curry played three seasons for the Wildcats from 2006 to '09. He was named Southern Conference Player of the Year twice and earned consensus All-American honors in 2007-08 (second team) and 2008-09 (first team).
The 2008 NCAA tournament was Curry's breakout moment on a national stage. He led Davidson to a 29-7 overall record and earned the No. 10 seed in the Midwest Region.
The Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight with wins over Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin before losing to eventual national champion Kansas. Curry averaged 32.0 points, 3.5 assists and 3.3 steals per game during that tournament run.
Curry is the school's all-time leader in points (2,635), three-point field goals (414) and three-point percentage (41.2).
After a successful three-year run at Davidson, Curry was selected No. 7 overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2009 NBA draft. He has gone on to lead the franchise to four titles, won two NBA MVP awards and earned his first NBA Finals MVP award in 2022.
Bob McKillop's 33-season run as head men's basketball coach at Davidson has come to an end.
The 71-year-old announced his retirement Friday.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who played for the Wildcats from 2006 to 2009, thanked his college coach for the impact he made on his life:
McKillop played college basketball at East Carolina (1967-68) and Hofstra (1970-72). He began his coaching career in 1973 at Holy Trinity High School in Long Island, New York.
Eddie Biedenbach, who coached at Davidson from 1978 to 1981, hired McKillop as an assistant for one season in 1978-79. McKillop went back to coaching high school basketball in Long Island for 10 seasons.
The Wildcats hired McKillop as their head coach in 1989. The New York native went 4-24 in his first season with the program and didn't post a winning record until the 1993-94 campaign.
McKillop led Davidson to 15 regular-season conference titles and eight conference tournament titles between the Southern Conference and Atlantic 10.
The Wildcats made the NCAA tournament 10 times under McKillop. The 2007-08 season was the most successful in program history. They went 29-7 (20-0 in the Southern Conference), made the NCAA tournament as a No. 10 seed and advanced to the Elite Eight before losing to eventual national champion Kansas.
Curry had his breakout moment on a national stage during that run. He averaged 32.0 points per game and shot 44.2 percent from three-point range in four games. The Jayhawks' 59-57 win over Davidson was their smallest margin of victory in the tournament.
Davidson lost to Michigan State, 74-73, in the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament in what turned out to be McKillop's final game.
McKillop retires with a 634-380 career record in 1,014 games. He ranks 54th in NCAA history for wins as a men's Division I head coach.
One of the biggest upsets of the still-young 2021-22 college basketball season came on Friday, with the No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks falling to Dayton 74-73 in a thriller decided at the buzzer.
Trailing by one point with the clock ticking down, Mustapha Amzil's jumper bounced off the rim and backboard before falling through the net after time expired to give the Flyers a stunning victory over the previously undefeated Jayhawks.
Amzil only finished with four points, and the final shot was his lone field-goal attempt of the game. Four of Dayton's five starters reached double figures in scoring, and the team shot 51.8 percent from the field.
Kansas left a lot of points on the board at the free-throw line. Head coach Bill Self's team only made nine of 20 attempts from the charity stripe.
The Flyers entered this matchup with a 2-3 record. Each of their three losses came in consecutive games, to UMass Lowell, Lipscomb and Austin Peay.
Kansas had won each of its first four games by an average of 20 points. It looked to be on track for another big win early on Friday. The Jayhawks jumped out to an 11-1 lead in the first four minutes and led by as many as 15 points in the first half.
After a Remy Martin layup put Kansas up 49-37 with 18:13 remaining, Dayton scored 12 straight points to tie the game. The Flyers took their first lead at 51-50 on a Daron Holmes II dunk.
Dayton did get its lead up to seven points with 7:23 left to play. Kansas stormed back by scoring 12 of the next 14 points to take a 73-70 advantage in the final minute.
Malachi Smith cut that deficit to 73-72 on a layup with 45 seconds left. David McCormack was called for an offensive foul on the Jayhawks' ensuing possession, giving Dayton the ball back with 15 seconds remaining.
McCormack looked like he was going to play the role of hero on defense when he blocked Smith's layup attempt. Amzil was able to corral the ball and put up a shot as time expired.
The win gave Dayton its first victory over a team ranked in the top five of the Associated Press poll since a 72-71 win over No. 3 DePaul on Feb. 18, 1984.
Former VCU guard Nah'Shon Hyland, who was the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year for the 2020-21 season, is headed to the Denver Nuggets after they selected him 26th overall in the 2021 NBA draft on Thursday.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Nah'Shon Hyland
Position: SG
Height: 6'3"
Pro Comparison: Immanuel Quickley
Scouting Report: Scouts see a source for instant offense in Hyland, an advanced shot-creator and confident shooter with deep, NBA range.
Nuggets Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)
Jamal Murray, PG: $31.7M (2025)
Nikola Jokic, C: $29.5M (2023)
Aaron Gordon, PF: $20M (2022)
Monte Morris, PG: $9.3M (2024)
Michael Porter Jr., SF: $3.8M (2022)
Facundo Campazzo, PG: $3.2M (2022)
Zeke Nnaji, PF: $2.4M (2024)
Bol Bol, C: $2.1M (2022)
Nah'Shon Hyland, SG: $1.7M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)
Vlatko Cancar, SF: $1.4M (2022)
P.J. Dozier, PG: $1.3M (2022)
Will Barton, SF: UFA
JaMychal Green, PF: UFA
Paul Millsap, PF: UFA
JaVale McGee, C: UFA
Austin Rivers, PG: UFA
Troy Daniels, SG: UFA
Shaquille Harrison, PG: UFA
Markus Howard, PG: RFA
Hyland broke out during his sophomore season, posting 19.5 points on 44.7 percent shooting (37.1 percent from three-point range), 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 during his breakout sophomore season. VCU made the NCAA tournament as a No. 10 seed was but removed from the competition due to COVID-19 protocols.
The 20-year-old is listed at No. 32 on Wasserman's most recent big board. And he pegged him at No. 27 overall in his July 7 mock draft.
"Scouts expect Hyland to wind up in the first round after his NBA combine scrimmage helped validate his tape and reputation from VCU," Wasserman wrote. "One team in the 20s should buy/value his ability to create his own shot, shoot with range and score in bunches."
Hyland shined in his team's combine scrimmage by scoring 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in addition to six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 23 minutes. He'll look to bring that explosiveness to Denver.
Saint Louis University assistant men's basketball coach Ford Stuen died Tuesday at the age of 29.
The Saint Louis athletic department announced the news about Stuen, who was the team's director of player development for three years before being promoted to assistant coach.
"Words cannot begin to express the pain and sorrow we are all experiencing right now," SLU Director of Athletics Chris May said. "Everyone associated with our program knew Ford as someone who was fully invested in working for the betterment of our student-athletes. His passion, positivity, and amazing outlook on life are things we will all take with us. Our hearts go out to Courtney, Lucy, and Ford's wonderful family. Please keep the Stuen family, as well as Travis Ford and the Ford family, in your thoughts and prayers."
Stuen is survived by his wife, Courtney and stepdaughter Lucy. Courtney Stuen is also due to give birth to their son in August.
The former Oklahoma State basketball player had been hospitalized since early April at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.
"Late in the Billikens' 2020-2021 season, Stuen complained of pain in his stomach area," per Frank Cusumano and Corey Miller of KSDK. "He was diagnosed with an infection and never recovered, even after antibiotics and a medically-induced coma."
Condolences and remembrances poured in following the news of Stuen's death:
Stuen worked under his uncle, Billikens head coach Travis Ford. He played under Ford when the two were at Oklahoma State from 2012-16. The Cowboys made three NCAA tournament appearances during that time.
Ford and the Cowboys parted ways in 2016, but the coach landed the men's basketball head coaching job at Saint Louis and took Stuen under his coaching wing. The Billikens notably won 23 games apiece during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
The National Association of Basketball Coaches recently named Stuen to its 2020 Under Armour 30-Under-30 Team, "representing 30 of the most outstanding men’s college basketball coaches under the age of 30."
