Now that the draft situations are cleared up, the Pre-Season Top 25 Polls begin in earnest. And it definitely looks like the Big East will be talked about in the same manner, if not moreso, as was the Pac-10 last season.
Seven teams consistently in the Top 20, with two more cracking at least one Top 25 and another Top 30ish type poll.
Rivals 8 BE teams in Top 25
FOX Sports 8 BE teams in Top 25
CBS Sports 7 BE teams in Top 25, 9 in Top 31
UConn - 2/3/3
UL - 8/6/2
ND - 4/7/5
Pitt - 3/10/8
GT - 11/13/15
Nova - 17/17/16
Marq - 20/18/14
WVU - 24/Top 30/Top 31
SU - NR/25/Top 31
And I think these sports writers may be sleeping on Providence. What Keno Davis accomplished last year with a very young Drake team makes me wonder what he might accomplish with a talented senior-laden squad.
None of the above can afford more than 1 or 2 losses out of conference, because the conference records may be quite brutal.
I am beginning to pity the likes of Cincinnati, Rutgers, Seton Hall, South Florida, DePaul, and St. John's. Even if they are all better than last year, will anyone outside us Big East fans notice?
Cheers,
Neil
I think is great because it will make all of our teams either raise the bar or really just give up.
At USF this comming year will be exciting with Heath getting more and better players than before, we might not be in the top tier of the league but if we could pull upsets with last years team we can do more than that this coming year.
One thing for sure there will be no easy outs anywhere in the league.
As usual, they are setting the bar mighty low for WVU. Not even Bobby Huggins' reputation will change that any time soon.
bitcruncher Wrote:As usual, they are setting the bar mighty low for WVU. Not even Bobby Huggins' reputation will change that any time soon.
I feel the same way about Syracuse. And while both teams lost their most talented player (WVU - Alexander), (SU - Greene), Syracuse gets back two seasoned junior players - combo guard Eric Devendorf and wing Andy Rautins (both excellent three point shooters) back from injuries this year. Not to mention the freshmen from last year's team - Flynn, Jackson, and Jardine will be a year older and much better now that they got a chance to contribute in an injury-riddled year.
It's like there is very little analysis as to who will replace the missing players. Obviously the Eers have a proven commodity in Mazzulla to help replace Nichols (but not sure who will replace Mazzulla in the back-up role) and two talented freshman prospects in Ebanks and Kevin Jones to help offset the loss of Alexander. Otherwise, I think it is basically the same team that went to the Sweet 16 last year.
Anyway, as I said above, even if both teams are better than they were last year, it may be tough to notice in a league that is as stacked as this one appears to be.
Cheers,
Neil
omnicarrier Wrote:I am beginning to pity the likes of Cincinnati, Rutgers, Seton Hall, South Florida, DePaul, and St. John's. Even if they are all better than last year, will anyone outside us Big East fans notice?
Cheers,
Neil
Oh, they'll notice Cincinnati, and so will the rest of the Big East. For the first time Cincinnati will have a full complement of Big East caliber players, with experience, and size (two 6-10 quality centers). People are greatly underrating us. Preseason rankings mean nothing, as last year showed.
UC is going to be good this year....not saying final four or anything but we may get back into Top 25.........
CatsClaw Wrote:omnicarrier Wrote:I am beginning to pity the likes of Cincinnati, Rutgers, Seton Hall, South Florida, DePaul, and St. John's. Even if they are all better than last year, will anyone outside us Big East fans notice?
Cheers,
Neil
Oh, they'll notice Cincinnati, and so will the rest of the Big East. For the first time Cincinnati will have a full complement of Big East caliber players, with experience, and size (two 6-10 quality centers). People are greatly underrating us. Preseason rankings mean nothing, as last year showed.
Without a doubt, the Bearcats were the surprise of the Big East last year. And from an outsider's point of view, they accomplished it with a sensational soph guard Deonta Vaughn and a senior-laden class. And they might be again, but...
Losing those 5 contributing seniors is likely going to be tougher than you realize, even if the freshmen from last year and this upcoming year are more talented. As the fate of Syracuse last year which played with 4 frosh (Greene, Flynn, Jackson, and Jardine), 2 sophs (Harris and Onuaku - a sophomore in terms of playing), and 1 JUCO player (Ongenaet, nicknamed KOng) showed.
I see Cincinnati more of a threat the following year, then next year. But who really knows? That is why they play the games.
Cheers,
Neil
omnicarrier Wrote:CatsClaw Wrote:omnicarrier Wrote:I am beginning to pity the likes of Cincinnati, Rutgers, Seton Hall, South Florida, DePaul, and St. John's. Even if they are all better than last year, will anyone outside us Big East fans notice?
Cheers,
Neil
Oh, they'll notice Cincinnati, and so will the rest of the Big East. For the first time Cincinnati will have a full complement of Big East caliber players, with experience, and size (two 6-10 quality centers). People are greatly underrating us. Preseason rankings mean nothing, as last year showed.
Without a doubt, the Bearcats were the surprise of the Big East last year. And from an outsider's point of view, they accomplished it with a sensational soph guard Deonta Vaughn and a senior-laden class. And they might be again, but...
Losing those 5 contributing seniors is likely going to be tougher than you realize, even if the freshmen from last year and this upcoming year are more talented. As the fate of Syracuse last year which played with 4 frosh (Greene, Flynn, Jackson, and Jardine), 2 sophs (Harris and Onuaku - a sophomore in terms of playing), and 1 JUCO player (Ongenaet, nicknamed KOng) showed.
I see Cincinnati more of a threat the following year, then next year. But who really knows? That is why they play the games.
Cheers,
Neil
UC will have 4 new starters with just about zero experience. The 2 X factors are Mike Williams a power forward transfer from Texas. He was hurt all of last year, and another transfer Nick Aldridge from W. Carolina. Nick singed with UC when Huggs was still the coach. He averaged 20 points and 7 boards for W. Carolina. IMHO these guys have to play well because they are older and more experienced. We also have a freshman PG. If the new pg Cashmere Wright is solid, Vaughn, Williams, McClain, Bishop will probably be decent. I don't see UC making the big dance but they will win more Big East games next year.
Impossible to have half the conference ranked unless the conference plays nothing but cupcakes and goes undefeated non-conference. They will beat each other up and the bottom of the conference will get its share of wins. Big East may get another 7 bids into the NCAA tournament, but college basketball is too balanced these days. Georgetown has a bunch of question marks to be ranked with no more Hibbert in the middle....Their half court offense without an established big man means that take a big step back. I expect Syracuse and Louisville to be at the top next year. WVU will be good, but not great. Pitt,UConn and Notre Dame have potential to be better than good, but its Syracuse and Louisville clearly the favorites in my opinion next year. Cincinnati with be ok, but will flirt with GT and Marquette on the NCAA bubble next year.
Vaughn is a known quantity. Williams and Aldridge are less so but they have both played D1 and have experience. Yes, losing the 5 sr. is tough but the guys that were frosh last year got a lot of minutes too-Bishop, McClain, etc. What we have for sure is talent (finally....it's been a tough few years in the wake of the Huggs debacle). IF Williams (All American in h.s) and Aldridge (20ppg for Western Carolina last year) are as advertised and Bishop (soph.) can contribute I like our chances. Especially with Biggie McClain finally getting bone spurs taken care of. And Yancy Gates as a frosh IS going to make contribution on some level. The key is pg Wright and how quickly he can develop. This year could go either way. The year after next however I fully expect NCAA team.
If Cronin gets Gates to play at a consistent level he will be an All Big East player as a freshman. He is that talented. Absolutely no one in the big east can match his size and athleticism. He and Mike Williams will be a huge upgrade over what we had on the frontline last year. If Cashmere Wright can take care of the ball and hit outside shots this team will finish in the top 8 of the big east, maybe even a little higher.
JFlight21 Wrote:Gates.... Absolutely no one in the big east can match his size and athleticism.
Gates will be a player, but that sounds like intended exaggeration, considering UofL, Georgetown, and UConn are all bringing in freshman power forwards rated higher than Gates. We both know the recruiting rankings are far from an exact science, but I don't expect Samardo Samuels, Greg Monroe, and Ater Majok to be chopped liver. Not to mention every existing player in a league where most of the top guys are returning. Let's allow the guy to play in one or two league game before we all beg for mercy!
Heh, good call card. You have to realize, it has been a while since UC brought in a guy with this kind of ranking. We are all excited to see a guy who truly is up to the level of player that UC should get regularly.
It seems to me you guys forgot one. UCONN is going to be scary good next year. I think it is between them and louisville. I give UConn the edge because of experience but that is not always the case.
omnicarrier Wrote:bitcruncher Wrote:As usual, they are setting the bar mighty low for WVU. Not even Bobby Huggins' reputation will change that any time soon.
I feel the same way about Syracuse. And while both teams lost their most talented player (WVU - Alexander), (SU - Greene), Syracuse gets back two seasoned junior players - combo guard Eric Devendorf and wing Andy Rautins (both excellent three point shooters) back from injuries this year. Not to mention the freshmen from last year's team - Flynn, Jackson, and Jardine will be a year older and much better now that they got a chance to contribute in an injury-riddled year.
It's like there is very little analysis as to who will replace the missing players. Obviously the Eers have a proven commodity in Mazzulla to help replace Nichols (but not sure who will replace Mazzulla in the back-up role) and two talented freshman prospects in Ebanks and Kevin Jones to help offset the loss of Alexander. Otherwise, I think it is basically the same team that went to the Sweet 16 last year.
Anyway, as I said above, even if both teams are better than they were last year, it may be tough to notice in a league that is as stacked as this one appears to be.
Cheers,
Neil
Incoming freshman Truck Bryant should be able to share PG duties with Mazulla by the time conference play starts. With all the returning talent, and incoming recruits, I think the Mountaineers basketball team will be stronger than last year. We'll find out soon enough.
OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote:Impossible to have half the conference ranked unless the conference plays nothing but cupcakes and goes undefeated non-conference. They will beat each other up and the bottom of the conference will get its share of wins. Big East may get another 7 bids into the NCAA tournament, but college basketball is too balanced these days. Georgetown has a bunch of question marks to be ranked with no more Hibbert in the middle....Their half court offense without an established big man means that take a big step back. I expect Syracuse and Louisville to be at the top next year. WVU will be good, but not great. Pitt,UConn and Notre Dame have potential to be better than good, but its Syracuse and Louisville clearly the favorites in my opinion next year. Cincinnati with be ok, but will flirt with GT and Marquette on the NCAA bubble next year.
The Big East got 8 bids last year and that should be the minimum for our conference. No conference in the country rivals the Big East in overall depth. If the Big East gets 7 or less ANY year the selection process is a sham. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will cause the conference to split quicker than deserving teams getting left out of the big dance.
CJ
CollegeCard Wrote:JFlight21 Wrote:Gates.... Absolutely no one in the big east can match his size and athleticism.
Gates will be a player, but that sounds like intended exaggeration, considering UofL, Georgetown, and UConn are all bringing in freshman power forwards rated higher than Gates. We both know the recruiting rankings are far from an exact science, but I don't expect Samardo Samuels, Greg Monroe, and Ater Majok to be chopped liver. Not to mention every existing player in a league where most of the top guys are returning. Let's allow the guy to play in one or two league game before we all beg for mercy!
I didn't say he was going to dominate from the get go. Find me someone that is 6'10 270 and can jump out of the gym like Yancy came. And your right, Samuels, Monroe and Majok are rated higher than Yancy. And it's deserved because they produced more in HS and AAU ball, but Yancy has the potential to be a superstar if Mcik can get him to buy in.
CardinalJim Wrote:The Big East got 8 bids last year and that should be the minimum for our conference. No conference in the country rivals the Big East in overall depth. If the Big East gets 7 or less ANY year the selection process is a sham. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will cause the conference to split quicker than deserving teams getting left out of the big dance.
CJ
BINGO!
JFlight21 Wrote:I didn't say he was going to dominate from the get go. Find me someone that is 6'10 270 and can jump out of the gym like Yancy came. And your right, Samuels, Monroe and Majok are rated higher than Yancy. And it's deserved because they produced more in HS and AAU ball, but Yancy has the potential to be a superstar if Mcik can get him to buy in.
Keep in mind, Gates did dominate in his match-up versus Samuels and in the Derbyville Classic, Gates was a man amongst boys while Majok played a bit timid. I know these are just single games but there is not a player on that list that can match Gates physically. Once he learns to play a little defense and give the effort it takes to play D-1 ball he will truly be elite. Mike Williams has also shown no signs of his injury in summer league ball and he'll be an impact player, add in a healthy McClain and your looking at quite a talented front court.
Neither Samuels nor Monroe played in the Derby Classic. Both played in the McDonalds and the Jordan Brand all star games.
Yancy had the best performance at the Derby Classic game, from most reports I have seen. However, I believe Majok was the only other participant from the players being discussed above. Still a very impressive game for Yancy from all accounts.