Vandy's revival, St. John's regression among surprises early in conference play

We're deep enough into the college hoops campaign to draw some meaningful observations.

Many schools have exceeded preseason expectations, while others are falling well short of them.

Here are four of the season's biggest surprises with conference play now underway.

Nebrasketball fever

Nebraska is beginning to enter uncharted waters. The Cornhuskers' program-best 15-0 start has vaulted them into the AP's top 10 for the first time since 1966. Fred Hoiberg's squad is 4-0 against Quad 1 opponents, including a pair of top-15 wins over Illinois and Michigan State. Nebraska had three ranked victories in program history entering the 2025-26 campaign.

Big man Rienk Mast leads the charge with his inside-outside scoring, passing ability, and solid defensive play. Iowa transfer Pryce Sandfort has bolstered a 3-point attack that was 198th in threes made per game last season. Redshirt freshman Braden Frager has produced some big moments off the bench, including a seven-point showing in the final 2:18 to seal Monday's win at Ohio State.

Nebraska has never won an NCAA Tournament game in eight trips to the Big Dance. Perhaps this is the year the Cornhuskers finally make some noise in March.

St. John's feeling Richmond's departure

St. John's resurgence was one of last season's best stories. Many expected the Red Storm to build upon that momentum with Rick Pitino assembling another talented group of players through the transfer portal. But they've already equalled the number of losses they had last year.

The Johnnies' pieces haven't meshed on the court. Pitino's biggest mistake: not finding an adequate replacement for Kadary Richmond, who shined at the point with his two-way play. Ian Jackson, Oziyah Sellers, and Dylan Darling have each taken turns as the team's lead facilitator, yet none has established themselves as a reliable playmaker.

"That's our fault as a staff for not having a big-time point guard that makes people better," the Hall of Fame coach told reporters, including Zach Braziller of the New York Post, following the Red Storm's defeat to Kentucky in December.

While Darling is the only true point guard of the aforementioned trio, he's undersized and thus limited at the point of attack. St. John's leaky perimeter defense is a major reason why the team has dropped to 165th in points allowed (72.7 per game), surrendering nearly seven more points than the previous campaign.

Vanderbilt's electric backcourt

Vanderbilt's football program experienced a revival under Clark Lea. Mark Byington is engineering a similar turnaround with its basketball squad, just two years removed from a 9-23 campaign. The Commodores are 15-0 and on the verge of entering the AP's top 10 for the first time since being ranked seventh in the 2011-12 preseason poll.

Vanderbilt guards Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles lead KenPom's No. 4 offense, which features five double-digit scorers. Tyler Nickel ranks 15th nationally with 53 triples, Jalen Washington provides vertical spacing as a lob threat, and Devin McGlockton is a low-post scorer who plays with toughness. The Commodores' starting backcourt also forces a handful of turnovers, which, in turn, fuels their potent transition attack. Byington's group sits 54th in the country with 15.2 fast-break points per contest.

Vanderbilt, which was picked to finish 11th in the SEC preseason poll, cemented itself as a true conference threat with its 96-90 victory over Alabama on Wednesday. Tanner shined on both ends in the national spotlight, pouring in 29 points, seven assists, and four steals against the Crimson Tide. The sophomore guard blew by defenders with his quick first step, made contested finishes in the paint, jumped passing lanes to generate turnovers, and showed patience as a pick-and-roll operator. Meanwhile, Miles added 19 points and five steals in 25 minutes. The Commodores guards are tied atop the SEC with 39 steals apiece.

Kentucky's stagnant half-court offense

Kentucky's on the opposite end of the SEC totem pole after its first 0-2 start in conference play since the 2005-06 season. The Wildcats began the campaign at No. 9 in the AP Poll after investing heavily in the transfer portal to complement a group of returnees led by All-SEC guard Otega Oweh. But they've failed most of their major tests so far, losing five of six matchups against top-25 foes. Kentucky's average margin of defeat in those losses was 15.6 points, including an ugly 94-59 showing against Gonzaga that drew the ire of ex-Wildcats star DeMarcus Cousins.

Injuries have certainly played a role in the school's 9-6 start. Arizona State transfer Jayden Quaintance, a projected 2026 lottery pick, didn't make his season debut until Dec. 20 as he recovered from a torn ACL. Fellow newcomer Jaland Lowe, who's been limited to eight appearances due to a shoulder injury, is playing through the ailment. Junior forward Mouhamed Dioubate missed five games with a high ankle sprain.

However, even with all three key players now back in the fold, the losses continue to pile up for Kentucky. Head coach Mark Pope doesn't have the 3-point shooting that's been a staple of his high-octane offensive system. The Wildcats have lacked pace in the half court as well. Players are in a standstill too often, and the ball frequently gets stuck in someone's hands instead of being swung around as it was throughout last season.

There's still time for Kentucky to turn things around. But the Wildcats' initial returns from the portal further emphasize the importance of fit over talent.