Stock Watch

Syracuse

The Orange’s abrupt turnaround, winning their last four games and upsetting No. 9 Virginia on Saturday, has caused a stir in college basketball, surprising many pundits. It shouldn’t. Jim Boeheim wasn’t creating unneeded pressure on his players when he said, “This is the best team we’ve had in a long time,” in the preseason. But too much was expected too soon. Graduate transfers Andrew White and John Gillon needed time to adjust to their new teammates, new surroundings and a new system. Freshman Tyus Battle had to find himself. Three of Boeheim’s best players entered the season with a combined zero minutes in Orange jerseys. They clicked later than expected, but the talent was always in place.

Bill Self

Eventually, he has to address the rash of off-court issues within his program. At some point, Self has to explain forward Carlton Bragg getting busted for possession of drug paraphernalia, guard Lagerald Vick being the subject of a school investigation that ruled he likely hit a female student in the arm multiple times and kicked her in the face late in 2015, and Vick and freshman Josh Jackson being looked at as a “person of interest” in the vandalism of the same woman’s car.

Angel Delgado

In a must-win game, with his team on the verge of falling out of the NCAA Tournament picture, the junior carried Seton Hall to an overtime victory at Georgetown, producing 26 points and 17 rebounds. The NCAA leader on the glass, averaging 13.1 rebounds per game, the 6-foot-9 forward should be an All-Big East first-team lock.

DePaul

While the new Big East has soared, DePaul has wilted, arguably the worst power conference team in the nation this year. The Blue Demons are 1-9 in the league and have dropped 27 of their last 31 conference games. At least a new arena is being built on campus, which should help recruiting. It can’t get any worse than the depressing vibe of Allstate Arena.