Joe Lunardi, Senior Writer, ESPN.com 5d

Report card: How the top men's programs finished this season

Men's College Basketball, Alabama Crimson Tide, Arkansas Razorbacks, Arizona Wildcats, BYU Cougars, Kentucky Wildcats, Maryland Terrapins, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Ole Miss Rebels, Purdue Boilermakers, Tennessee Volunteers, Texas Tech Red Raiders

The hard truth of this sport is that 67 of the 68 teams in the NCAA tournament end every college basketball season with a loss. It's even harder when that final loss comes deep in the tournament, when hopes are higher and the championship trophy is closer.

So, let's take a closer look at the 12 programs that didn't make it through the regionals. All had incredibly successful seasons, obviously, but differing expectations and resources shape who will be considered an "overachiever" and who will be labeled an "underachiever."

It's an arbitrary distinction, to be sure, but a normal occupational hazard for yours truly. But, generally speaking, we're looking not just at NCAA tournament performance but at performance relative to expectations. Those expectations are determined by seeding, recruiting, resourcing and the overall vibe from fan bases that are often, well, fanatical.

If you like how your team does on this report card, you can thank me. If you don't, blame the coach. They're the ones making the big money.

Alabama Crimson Tide

2025 NCAA tournament performance: No. 2 seed; exited in Elite Eight
Program status: OVERACHIEVER

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