We have a lot of new Sun Belt fans this year and some of you probably don't know about Pappy's predictions.

MICHAELSPAPPY is a poster over on the Arkansas Little Rock board. Every summer he posts his picks for the upcoming basketball season.

I have been reading Pappy's picks since well before this was the main Sun Belt board. For about a decade I have been enjoying his takes on the upcoming seasons. I'd be curious if he even knows how long he has been doing this particular Sun Belt tradition.

Now please understand that Pappy is not a professional sports writer. He is just a fan that takes a look around at the landscape and takes a stab at guessing the order of finish in the regular season. Pappy's picks are a jumping off point for conversation and if you do not share his opinions, then other (respectful) opinions are welcome also.

So for those that are interested, Pappy's 10th place pick is up.

#10.

Ha, UTA finishing behind Texas State!?! And last in the rebuilding Belt?!?

(08-07-2013 09:44 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  Ha, UTA finishing behind Texas State!?! And last in the rebuilding Belt?!?

I think it's a toss up. New coach who cleaned house and brought in a few new players that fit his style of play. Just have to see.

This won't be Davalos' BB. We're definitely going to be better. How much remains to be seen.

That may be, but but the cleaning house plus he hasn't had one recruiting class all his...

Kaspar is a defensive system guy like Cross. Both of their teams play solid defense and will win games because of it. If Kaspar is successful this year, Cross certainly will be. I guarantee you, we will be league leaders in points allowed, FG% D and rebounds.

I shouldn't have just said Texas State. It is ridiculous to me to think they will finish behind all of the following: Texas State, UL-M (7-45 in conference play the last three years) and Troy (17-35). One maybe, but all of them...

At worst, we are a middle of the pack team.

(08-08-2013 07:14 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  I guarantee you, we will be league leaders in points allowed, FG% D and rebounds.

Shall I save this? I looked at Pappy's post and saw that you only have 2 starters returning? But you're so confident as to guarantee you will be league leaders in points allowed, FG% defense, and rebounds? You might be up there but it's another thing to proclaim you'll be the greatest at this point. Too many unknowns. New league, new teams, new coaches in league... Hard to gauge.

Y'all are gonna see a much improved Troy team this year.

(08-08-2013 08:13 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(08-08-2013 07:14 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  I guarantee you, we will be league leaders in points allowed, FG% D and rebounds.

Shall I save this? I looked at Pappy's post and saw that you only have 2 starters returning? But you're so confident as to guarantee you will be league leaders in points allowed, FG% defense, and rebounds? You might be up there but it's another thing to proclaim you'll be the greatest at this point. Too many unknowns. New league, new teams, new coaches in league... Hard to gauge.

Feel free. Please note the part where I said league leaders and not leader.

Returning starters can be overrated. We do return five guys who started at some point last year. We almost had a different starting lineup for every game because our offense was horrid last year. One player in double digits for the season, and none over 12. We won because our coach has a great defensive mind. The big question mark is at center, where we lost 6'10" Jordan Reeves. However, we do have a 7'0" in Stuart Lagerson coming off a redshirt. He did play the season before that, as Texas State may be aware.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR3dcpIfVdQ

If he can play defense and lock up the middle, we are in the top half of the SBC easily. If we have a breakout offensive star, we are vying for the title. Two big ifs, but go ahead and mark it.

Leader to me sounds like the team in the top spot. Leaders (plural) means you would be the team in the top spot in more than one area and it was seemingly qualified by the three statistical categories you gave. To be "among the leaders" would be a better way to say it.

So are you not saying you will lead the league in FG Defense, Rebounds, and Points Allowed but would at least be near the top? That statement I don't have a problem with.

(08-07-2013 09:44 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  Ha, UTA finishing behind Texas State!?! And last in the rebuilding Belt?!?

yes- pappy thinks we are moving UP from the wac to the sun belt..

(08-08-2013 11:14 AM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  Y'all are gonna see a much improved Troy team this year.

Nowhere to go but up...

(08-08-2013 01:38 PM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  

(08-08-2013 11:14 AM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  Y'all are gonna see a much improved Troy team this year.

Nowhere to go but up...

(08-08-2013 11:14 AM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  Y'all are gonna see a much improved Troy team this year.

I would not be shocked by this at all. You guys got a good coach.

UTA is probably picked too low at 10th.

Be good to pappy. He is a real mid major fan and takes time to look at all the teams.

It provides a good lead into the season.

The ualr board has several knowledgable mid major fans. There are ex d1 posters and folks with kids that played d1 ball. There is even father of a d1 coach on the board.



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(08-08-2013 09:46 PM)insideualr Wrote:  Be good to pappy. He is a real mid major fan and takes time to look at all the teams.

It provides a good lead into the season.

The ualr board has several knowledgable mid major fans. There are ex d1 posters and folks with kids that played d1 ball. There is even father of a d1 coach on the board.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

We don't see UALR fans much, but you guys are certainly one of the most intelligent (bball IQ) fanbases in the Belt.

^I agree with that, just based on what I have seen here.

There are two fundamental problems with predicting things.

1) Even in a situation where you know ever team, there are surprises (UNT and Tony Mitchell come to mind). Injuries, outstanding freshman, coaching changes or even just a huge improvement in player development can make projecting the standings unpredictable.

2) There will be three new teams in the mix and four old teams out. How do you factor in UTA and Texas State from the WAC along with Georgia State from the Colonial to go with the seven remaining SBC teams? At best it is a guess. Combined with number one, preseason predictions for any conference won't be worth as much as previous years.

I can't speak for Pappy, but because of the relationship between all the teams, I followed the SBC and the SLC the most, with the WAC being in the mix last year. There are only two things I can tell you for sure, UTA won't be tenth and Kaspar will have improved TXST. Other than that, it is nothing more than a crap shoot right now.

(08-09-2013 07:16 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  ^I agree with that, just based on what I have seen here.

There are two fundamental problems with predicting things.

1) Even in a situation where you know ever team, there are surprises (UNT and Tony Mitchell come to mind). Injuries, outstanding freshman, coaching changes or even just a huge improvement in player development can make projecting the standings unpredictable.

2) There will be three new teams in the mix and four old teams out. How do you factor in UTA and Texas State from the WAC along with Georgia State from the Colonial to go with the seven remaining SBC teams? At best it is a guess. Combined with number one, preseason predictions for any conference won't be worth as much as previous years.

I can't speak for Pappy, but because of the relationship between all the teams, I followed the SBC and the SLC the most, with the WAC being in the mix last year. There are only two things I can tell you for sure, UTA won't be tenth and Kaspar will have improved TXST. Other than that, it is nothing more than a crap shoot right now.

You are correct.

This is still better than any of the preseason magazines because pappy follows mid major ball and the sbc closer than just about anyone i know.

Enjoy it for what it is, talking points before the bb season.


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Good point. I wish we could have this kind if activity (talking points) on our forum. It is dead at this time.

(08-09-2013 07:16 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  ^I agree with that, just based on what I have seen here.

There are two fundamental problems with predicting things.

1) Even in a situation where you know ever team, there are surprises (UNT and Tony Mitchell come to mind). Injuries, outstanding freshman, coaching changes or even just a huge improvement in player development can make projecting the standings unpredictable.

2) There will be three new teams in the mix and four old teams out. How do you factor in UTA and Texas State from the WAC along with Georgia State from the Colonial to go with the seven remaining SBC teams? At best it is a guess. Combined with number one, preseason predictions for any conference won't be worth as much as previous years.

I can't speak for Pappy, but because of the relationship between all the teams, I followed the SBC and the SLC the most, with the WAC being in the mix last year. There are only two things I can tell you for sure, UTA won't be tenth and Kaspar will have improved TXST. Other than that, it is nothing more than a crap shoot right now.

Add to list WKU will be in top 3 and a factor in conf. tournament...If you follow SBC basketball that is also a given...

(08-09-2013 09:34 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(08-09-2013 07:16 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  ^I agree with that, just based on what I have seen here.

There are two fundamental problems with predicting things.

1) Even in a situation where you know ever team, there are surprises (UNT and Tony Mitchell come to mind). Injuries, outstanding freshman, coaching changes or even just a huge improvement in player development can make projecting the standings unpredictable.

2) There will be three new teams in the mix and four old teams out. How do you factor in UTA and Texas State from the WAC along with Georgia State from the Colonial to go with the seven remaining SBC teams? At best it is a guess. Combined with number one, preseason predictions for any conference won't be worth as much as previous years.

I can't speak for Pappy, but because of the relationship between all the teams, I followed the SBC and the SLC the most, with the WAC being in the mix last year. There are only two things I can tell you for sure, UTA won't be tenth and Kaspar will have improved TXST. Other than that, it is nothing more than a crap shoot right now.

Add to list WKU will be in top 3 and a factor in conf. tournament...If you follow SBC basketball that is also a given...

We don't factor, we win. Barring what happened last season, I just cannot see us losing the league this year.

Brady says stAte will be better this year than last because we had guys siting out are better than seniors Finn, Peterson, and Hooten - and that doesn't include the return of Brandon Reed. stAte was the highest rated team in the Sun Belt based on last year's Kenpom ratings, so I'm not the least bit afraid of Western Kentucky.


134. stAte 19-12
157. Texas Arlington 19-14
174. Western Kentucky 20-16
175. Georgia State 15-16
195. South Alabama 17-13
228. Arkansas Little Rock 17-15
232. UL Lafayette 13-20
240. Texas State 12-22
275. Troy 12-21
329. ULM 4-23

Now I suppose everyone thinks their team will be better this year than last year, so we'll just have to wait and see . . .