(01-01-2015 03:16 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I get why they're not on the list, but I'm still very surprised by Memphis' struggles so far.

We lost 5 of our 7 rotation players from last year, have had a lot of nagging injuries (4 practices so far with full squad, since August), have 9 new scholarship players out of 13, and had our worst year in recruiting for 2014, since Pastner arrived.

We're getting better as we go, but we dug such a big hole to start, it is unlikely we will make the tourney. We have one good OOC game left at Gonzaga, which would be a miracle to win. I also think we will struggle with the top 4 teams in the AAC, to this point. We'll see soon enough.

(01-01-2015 05:23 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 04:02 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 03:16 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I get why they're not on the list, but I'm still very surprised by Memphis' struggles so far.

Last I looked, Memphis has won 5 straight, and Tulane is up next...

I thought Memphis would be a T25 team. There's still time for that to happen, but so far it hasn't.

Few Memphis fans thought the team would be top 25. Everyone pretty well understood that it would be a rebuilding year and we'd struggle. That sentiment was expressed here for months, so I'm not sure why you would think Memphis was going to be ranked.

The first few games were even worse than that. We looked completely inept. Maybe we've got something going now with our little streak, but most Memphis fans would be completely surprised if we ended up making the tourney.

(01-01-2015 04:22 PM)vaNtR Wrote:  I think we'll end up with 4 bids: SMU, Cinci, Temple and one of either UConn/Memphis (perhaps both).

I think this is spot on. I also don't see the big east getting 7 bids. 5 is more likely.

(01-01-2015 05:23 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 04:02 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 03:16 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I get why they're not on the list, but I'm still very surprised by Memphis' struggles so far.

Last I looked, Memphis has won 5 straight, and Tulane is up next...

I thought Memphis would be a T25 team. There's still time for that to happen, but so far it hasn't.

If Tulane can hang within 9-10 points on Saturday I'll be pleasantly surprised.

We lost Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, Mike Dixon, Geron Johnson, and David Pellom...this was simply going to be a rebuilding year.

(01-01-2015 06:47 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 05:23 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 04:02 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 03:16 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I get why they're not on the list, but I'm still very surprised by Memphis' struggles so far.

Last I looked, Memphis has won 5 straight, and Tulane is up next...

I thought Memphis would be a T25 team. There's still time for that to happen, but so far it hasn't.

If Tulane can hang within 9-10 points on Saturday I'll be pleasantly surprised.

We lost Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, Mike Dixon, Geron Johnson, and David Pellom...this was simply going to be a rebuilding year.

But he thinks we should be top 25 still lol

(01-01-2015 06:47 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 05:23 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 04:02 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 03:16 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I get why they're not on the list, but I'm still very surprised by Memphis' struggles so far.

Last I looked, Memphis has won 5 straight, and Tulane is up next...

I thought Memphis would be a T25 team. There's still time for that to happen, but so far it hasn't.

If Tulane can hang within 9-10 points on Saturday I'll be pleasantly surprised.

We lost Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, Mike Dixon, Geron Johnson, and David Pellom...this was simply going to be a rebuilding year.

But he thinks we should be top 25 still lol

It will just take some time to gel but our coach has it headed in the right direction fast.

(01-01-2015 05:23 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 04:02 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(01-01-2015 03:16 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I get why they're not on the list, but I'm still very surprised by Memphis' struggles so far.

Last I looked, Memphis has won 5 straight, and Tulane is up next...

I thought Memphis would be a T25 team. There's still time for that to happen, but so far it hasn't.

If Tulane can hang within 9-10 points on Saturday I'll be pleasantly surprised.

We're getting better and we'll be better next year. He brought some recruiters on staff and they're getting players who are willing to be coached, which is what we need. We won't get the 4s and 5s and uber transfers, but we are getting what look like high end 3s, who, if properly coached, will have us competitive.
We're weak inside (but better than we have been), but we really get killed when the opposing guards can smother our quick, but smaller, guards, and then we panic.
We play Memphis then Temple. I look forward to see what we do.

(01-01-2015 07:19 PM)C-Mac Wrote:  It will just take some time to gel but our coach has it headed in the right direction fast.

We're looking better than we did in the first few games, so we're headed in a better direction than we were. "Fast"????......I'm not so sure.

TBH this is better than I expected. Good news that 4 teams are already right there in the discussion. Those teams should be able to pile up some wins in conference. The UC/X and UConn/Florida games loom large as well.

(01-02-2015 11:22 AM)uccheese Wrote:  TBH this is better than I expected. Good news that 4 teams are already right there in the discussion. Those teams should be able to pile up some wins in conference. The UC/X and UConn/Florida games loom large as well.

Yes those two games will be big specially for UConn

(01-02-2015 11:32 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(01-02-2015 11:22 AM)uccheese Wrote:  TBH this is better than I expected. Good news that 4 teams are already right there in the discussion. Those teams should be able to pile up some wins in conference. The UC/X and UConn/Florida games loom large as well.

Yes those two games will be big specially for UConn

UCONN probably needs to beat both Florida and Stanford. No shot at an at-large without winning at least 1 of the 2.

Upon further review, I'll admit that Top 25 was an overly-optimistic scenario for Memphis MBB this season. But Top 45 -- enough to get an at-large -- was not.

Not trolling, just my honest opinion.

(01-02-2015 11:50 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Upon further review, I'll admit that Top 25 was an overly-optimistic scenario for Memphis MBB this season. But Top 45 -- enough to get an at-large -- was not.

Not trolling, just my honest opinion.

Based on history and the ranking of individual recruits/transfers that expectation would have been mostly reasonable. Recruits/transfers were not quite as "court ready" as may have been advertised and the hole left by 4 veteran guards was huge from a basketball IQ/"court flow" perspective. In the peaks and valleys of a college athletic team, it's not fun for a fan; but it's at a fairly high level for a "valley".

Let me just say Temple owes the AAC after the stinker we had last year. We still haven't locked down anything yet, but it's a great start. I feel for Memphis fans with everyone's high expectations. You'll bounce back, same with UCONN.

(01-03-2015 12:55 AM)mascotswinchampionships Wrote:  Let me just say Temple owes the AAC after the stinker we had last year. We still haven't locked down anything yet, but it's a great start. I feel for Memphis fans with everyone's high expectations. You'll bounce back, same with UCONN.

People act like we we're suppose to be kicking butt right out the gate with 8 new faces.

(01-03-2015 03:40 AM)Ramen_Tiger Wrote:  

(01-03-2015 12:55 AM)mascotswinchampionships Wrote:  Let me just say Temple owes the AAC after the stinker we had last year. We still haven't locked down anything yet, but it's a great start. I feel for Memphis fans with everyone's high expectations. You'll bounce back, same with UCONN.

People act like we we're suppose to be kicking butt right out the gate with 8 new faces.

Now you know how Temple fans felt last year after losing the heart and soul of their team. I expect Memphis to rebound like the Owls did.

Official 1/5/15 published Bracketology on ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Lunardi Bracketology – 1/5/15

9 Cincinnati (vs. Ohio State)
10 SMU (vs. Iowa)
11 Temple (vs, Northern Iowa)

3rd team out – Uconn

Big East 7
Big 12 6

ACC 6
SEC 5
Big Ten 5
Pac-12 4
American 3
Mountain West 3
West Coast 3
Missouri Valley 2
Conference USA 2
Atlantic 10 2

Tulsa will be on the bubble next week after sweeping Temple and UCONN

I'll be happy with 3 bids and with 4 bids. The league didn't play well early but finally getting quality wins.

My guess temple, cincy, smu, and uconn get a bid. Uconn needs to hope for a strong Florida the rest of the year.