While much is being made of the perfect seasons being enjoyed by Illinois and Boston College, another team is on the road to perfection.
Or rather, imperfection.
Savannah State, with an enrollment of slightly more than 2,500, is close to becoming just the second Division I team in the last 50 years to finish a season without a victory. The Tigers are 0-25 with just three games remaining.
Based on its performance so far, Savannah State’s chances of breaking into the win column don’t look very strong. It’s not like the Tigers have been close. Their average margin of defeat is 24 points.
And it’s also not like Savannah State is getting better as the season progresses. The closest the Tigers came to a victory was a six-point loss to Jacksonville in their fifth game of season. Each of their last seven losses has been by at least 15.
Florida A&M (7-11) beat the Tigers by 24 on Wednesday night and also plays Savannah State in the Tigers’ season finale.
Savannah State is an independent so doesn’t play in any conference tournament.
One glimmer of hope for the Tigers: Among their remaining opponents is Bethune-Cookman, the only other team Savannah State has come within single digits of beating.
Bethune-Cookman beat the Tigers 73-64 on Jan. 3. However, that game was played at Savannah State.
The rematch is scheduled for Tuesday night at Bethune-Cookman.
The only other team to go winless in the last 50 years was Prairie View A&M during the 1991-92 season.