Purdue checks in at #25. Means that the Big East has three teams in the top 6 seeds in this prediction. This forecast also has four teams remaining for the Big10, SEC, and ACC; three teams remaining for the Big12, one team remaining for the PAC10 and AAACCC; and four others from other conferences (I am guessing one each from the A10 and MtnWest, and two from the WestCoast).

Now Auburn at #24.

Bruce Pearl has done a strong job at Auburn. I sometimes think he might be one of the nation's 15 to 20 best coaches. Of course, how we define "best" is very subjective. But he can recruit, is a skilled ambassador for his program (he's great with fans and the media) and seems to know X's and O's.

(10-13-2019 09:50 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Bruce Pearl has done a strong job at Auburn. I sometimes think he might be one of the nation's 15 to 20 best coaches. Of course, how we define "best" is very subjective. But he can recruit, is a skilled ambassador for his program (he's great with fans and the media) and seems to know X's and O's.

But also marred with some shady practices and a "controversial" past, to say the least.

(10-14-2019 09:45 AM)MU in MKE Wrote:  

(10-13-2019 09:50 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Bruce Pearl has done a strong job at Auburn. I sometimes think he might be one of the nation's 15 to 20 best coaches. Of course, how we define "best" is very subjective. But he can recruit, is a skilled ambassador for his program (he's great with fans and the media) and seems to know X's and O's.

But also marred with some shady practices and a "controversial" past, to say the least.

Absolutely agree. I have a story that indirectly involves a UT game and Pearl that offered a defining moment in how I view my "fanship." I was embarrassed for myself but I learned from it and feel the incident has been helpful. I might share it on this board one day.

Muskies are #23

VCU at #22, and picked to win the A10.

Iowa shows up at #21. The top 6 seed..... Start getting into the 5's now tomorrow....

(10-16-2019 08:03 AM)stever20 Wrote:  Iowa shows up at #21. The top 6 seed..... Start getting into the 5's now tomorrow....

Congrats on the Nats, S20.

I'll likely be rooting for them to win it all.

(10-16-2019 11:00 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(10-16-2019 08:03 AM)stever20 Wrote:  Iowa shows up at #21. The top 6 seed..... Start getting into the 5's now tomorrow....

Congrats on the Nats, S20.

I'll likely be rooting for them to win it all.

Thanks man. It was incredible- thought we'd win but for it to look like a 1/16 game almost which shocked me.

getting back to hoops- Saint Mary's kicks off the top 20. This is one that I'll believe it when I see it.

(10-17-2019 07:35 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(10-16-2019 11:00 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(10-16-2019 08:03 AM)stever20 Wrote:  Iowa shows up at #21. The top 6 seed..... Start getting into the 5's now tomorrow....

Congrats on the Nats, S20.

I'll likely be rooting for them to win it all.

Thanks man. It was incredible- thought we'd win but for it to look like a 1/16 game almost which shocked me.

Dominance.

The Yankees or Astros await.

(10-17-2019 08:14 AM)stever20 Wrote:  getting back to hoops- Saint Mary's kicks off the top 20. This is one that I'll believe it when I see it.

My father likes to watch St. Mary's games.

Got to hand it to Randy Bennett. He's done a remarkable job at SMC.

it'd be nice if St Mary's would schedule stronger.. I mean this year is stronger than normal for them, and still it's just Wisconsin, Fresno St, Dayton, Cal, Arizona St, and Nevada.

I do wonder if there is an "aversion" from higher PAC teams to schedule SMC. Surely, they can get tough, quality, OOC games, but there is little benefit to beating them. If they win, it's a game they (should) probably win, and if they lose it's a huge upset in the eyes of many college basketball fans.

Thankfully, in the Big East, we do not appear to have that. Marquette schedules Wisconsin, Georgetown schedules Maryland, Xavier has played Ohio State, etc. I'd say the Big East has a much better relationship with its geographic counterpart (B1G) than the WCC does (PAC).

(10-17-2019 10:30 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  I do wonder if there is an "aversion" from higher PAC teams to schedule SMC. Surely, they can get tough, quality, OOC games, but there is little benefit to beating them. If they win, it's a game they (should) probably win, and if they lose it's a huge upset in the eyes of many college basketball fans.

Thankfully, in the Big East, we do not appear to have that. Marquette schedules Wisconsin, Georgetown schedules Maryland, Xavier has played Ohio State, etc. I'd say the Big East has a much better relationship with its geographic counterpart (B1G) than the WCC does (PAC).

yeah, of course a lot of that is just historic. Big East programs just infinitely stronger than WCC programs.

(of course VCU trumps 'em all!)

(10-17-2019 10:32 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(10-17-2019 10:30 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  I do wonder if there is an "aversion" from higher PAC teams to schedule SMC. Surely, they can get tough, quality, OOC games, but there is little benefit to beating them. If they win, it's a game they (should) probably win, and if they lose it's a huge upset in the eyes of many college basketball fans.

Thankfully, in the Big East, we do not appear to have that. Marquette schedules Wisconsin, Georgetown schedules Maryland, Xavier has played Ohio State, etc. I'd say the Big East has a much better relationship with its geographic counterpart (B1G) than the WCC does (PAC).

yeah, of course a lot of that is just historic. Big East programs just infinitely stronger than WCC programs.

(of course VCU trumps 'em all!)

If the Big East had added VCU in 2011, after the Final Four appearance and before everyone started leaving, the original hybrid league would still be together, and it would have a 30-year contract with CBS and ESPN for $40 million annually ($30 million for full members, and $10 million for non-football members). Very shortsighted in hindsight.

Conversely, UConn would have fallen to Tulane levels due to the strength and power of VCU, but perhaps that is a sacrifice we all needed to make...

(10-17-2019 10:43 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  

(10-17-2019 10:32 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(10-17-2019 10:30 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  I do wonder if there is an "aversion" from higher PAC teams to schedule SMC. Surely, they can get tough, quality, OOC games, but there is little benefit to beating them. If they win, it's a game they (should) probably win, and if they lose it's a huge upset in the eyes of many college basketball fans.

Thankfully, in the Big East, we do not appear to have that. Marquette schedules Wisconsin, Georgetown schedules Maryland, Xavier has played Ohio State, etc. I'd say the Big East has a much better relationship with its geographic counterpart (B1G) than the WCC does (PAC).

yeah, of course a lot of that is just historic. Big East programs just infinitely stronger than WCC programs.

(of course VCU trumps 'em all!)

If the Big East had added VCU in 2011, after the Final Four appearance and before everyone started leaving, the original hybrid league would still be together, and it would have a 30-year contract with CBS and ESPN for $40 million annually ($30 million for full members, and $10 million for non-football members). Very shortsighted in hindsight.

Conversely, UConn would have fallen to Tulane levels due to the strength and power of VCU, but perhaps that is a sacrifice we all needed to make...

Exactly. And the ACC would have been raided and the Big East would have the Orange Bowl as well...

(10-17-2019 10:45 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(10-17-2019 10:43 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  

(10-17-2019 10:32 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(10-17-2019 10:30 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  I do wonder if there is an "aversion" from higher PAC teams to schedule SMC. Surely, they can get tough, quality, OOC games, but there is little benefit to beating them. If they win, it's a game they (should) probably win, and if they lose it's a huge upset in the eyes of many college basketball fans.

Thankfully, in the Big East, we do not appear to have that. Marquette schedules Wisconsin, Georgetown schedules Maryland, Xavier has played Ohio State, etc. I'd say the Big East has a much better relationship with its geographic counterpart (B1G) than the WCC does (PAC).

yeah, of course a lot of that is just historic. Big East programs just infinitely stronger than WCC programs.

(of course VCU trumps 'em all!)

If the Big East had added VCU in 2011, after the Final Four appearance and before everyone started leaving, the original hybrid league would still be together, and it would have a 30-year contract with CBS and ESPN for $40 million annually ($30 million for full members, and $10 million for non-football members). Very shortsighted in hindsight.

Conversely, UConn would have fallen to Tulane levels due to the strength and power of VCU, but perhaps that is a sacrifice we all needed to make...

Exactly. And the ACC would have been raided and the Big East would have the Orange Bowl as well...

I'm pretty sure the BE would also have an automatic bid to the FB championship game (skipped the playoff all together) and guaranteed to 6 seeds to at least 5 bball teams. And all would have been right with the world.