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Finals week: Early grades across the college basketball landscape

By Chris Stone

Nov 30, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears guard Manu Lecomte (20) dribbles the ball against Sam Houston State Bearkats guard Josh Delaney (15) in the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears guard Manu Lecomte (20) dribbles the ball against Sam Houston State Bearkats guard Josh Delaney (15) in the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 30, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) is greeted by head coach Lorenzo Romar as he checks out of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. TCU won 86-71. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) is greeted by head coach Lorenzo Romar as he checks out of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. TCU won 86-71. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

The Fs: At least you tried

Connecticut Huskies: This isn’t entirely the Huskies’ fault. Kevin Ollie’s team has been ravaged by injury with three players set to miss this season due to various ailments. Still, you would have expected a nearly full strength Connecticut team to handle Wagner and Northeastern to open the season, but it didn’t. The Huskies did manage to pick up a win over Syracuse recently, but all of their other attempts to snag resume-building victories have fallen short. It certainly doesn’t help that senior guard Rodney Purvis is shooting just 35.2 percent from the floor this season.

Texas Longhorns: Head coach Shaka Smart has an impressive collection of talent down in Austin, but the Longhorns sit at 5-4 with just one quality win (home against Alabama) as we drift towards the end of non-conference play. The loss of point guard Isaiah Taylor has been a difficult one for the team to deal with as the current roster doesn’t have a true point guard to fill his void. Freshmen Andrew Jones and Jarrett Allen have yet to make the type of impact that they’re capable of. Without a strong showing during Big 12 play, Texas is in danger of missing out on the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.

Washington Huskies: It’s hard to do this to a superb freshman like Markelle Fultz, but his team has just not been good. For the second straight season, it looks like head coach Lorenzo Romar is set to produce an NBA lottery pick and miss out on the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies have struggled to figure out any sort of defensive system, often allowing teams to score at will. If they’re not doing that, then they’re sending their opponents to the free throw line. Fultz is excellent and it’s fun to watch him in Romar’s up-tempo offense, but Washington sits at 4-5 with no more chances to pick up a good win until Pac-12 play. That’s not a good look.