2014-2015 Prediction Thread

[TobinGrad]

11-7 big east
9-4 ooc

20-11, will string along those of us who have hope all the way till the end.

With NCAA bid, Lavin gets re-upped

No bid, Lavin flies the coop before the ax falls.

20 wins = no bid 23 or 24 is a lock.

Here's a hypothetical question: assume your scenario above plays out. But before the ax can fall, Lavin somehow manages to land Briscoe and a few other high-quality recruits to go with him. Do you re-up him? Personally, I would say yes--reluctantly. And with the proviso that he gets another Dunlap-type in the door.

Hopefully, Lavin's extension is announced before the season begins and it is no longer an impediment to recruiting. Briscoe, Diallo and (possibly) Sampson announce for us in the Spring...and we all live happily ever after.

No one with a brain would give this guy an extension without him first proving that he can do the job for which he is handsomely paid. IF he gets the team into the top 15 and rolling over quality competition early, then maybe he gets an extension before the season ends.

But if the guy is on the bubble and barely slips in only to lose in the first round, he has to go. If making the tourney as a bubble team once every 4 yrs is good enough then they can hire some random mid-major guy for 1/3 of Lavins salary who can competently provide those results

 

[McGarry2]

I'm willing to take it a step futher Lavin is safe for at least 3 years after his contract ends, He appear to create the imiage the administration appreciates. A new president would likely be hesitant to can the coach of the lead program in his first year on the job.

 

[Ray Morgan]

There are 2 glaring weaknesses. Three point shooting and interior scoring. Am I the only one seeing the lack of a 3 point game as a major indicator of trouble, especially with no inside scorers? We will see defenses packing it in all year, begging for SJU to take the outside shot. If Jordan and Harrison have career years, then the NCAA's are possible, based also on CJ and Thomas being pleasant surprises. As for the team, If you can't shoot, you better take a lot more shots than the other guys. That means lots of offensive rebounds and lots of steals. Without that, a tourney bid just doesn't seem likely. I suspect we will know early on if this team has that potential or not.

 

[Marillac]

There are 2 glaring weaknesses. Three point shooting and interior scoring. Am I the only one seeing the lack of a 3 point game as a major indicator of trouble, especially with no inside scorers? We will see defenses packing it in all year, begging for SJU to take the outside shot. If Jordan and Harrison have career years, then the NCAA's are possible, based also on CJ and Thomas being pleasant surprises. As for the team, If you can't shoot, you better take a lot more shots than the other guys. That means lots of offensive rebounds and lots of steals. Without that, a tourney bid just doesn't seem likely. I suspect we will know early on if this team has that potential or not.

Three-point shooting scares me. Greene shot 40% and Harrison shot 38%. You'd expect Jordan, just by virtue of being a soph, to improve on his 27% and get to around 33% or so. I also think Branch has a very good looking shot, but he doesn't attempt enough. If all of that holds true + whatever the Bosnian kid can offer (if anything).

Inside scoring doens't scare me as much. Thomas seems to be very well coached and fundamentally sound, and Obekpa should be up to the task. Throw in ADR and Jones, and it's not so bad. Plus, inside scoring can come from other areas....like Pointer and Balamou on the baseline or off cuts, and dump offs and wrap-arounds from penetrating guards.

 

[simplyred]

P

11-7 big east
9-4 ooc

20-11, will string along those of us who have hope all the way till the end.

With NCAA bid, Lavin gets re-upped

No bid, Lavin flies the coop before the ax falls.

20 wins = no bid 23 or 24 is a lock.

Here's a hypothetical question: assume your scenario above plays out. But before the ax can fall, Lavin somehow manages to land Briscoe and a few other high-quality recruits to go with him. Do you re-up him? Personally, I would say yes--reluctantly. And with the proviso that he gets another Dunlap-type in the door.

Hopefully, Lavin's extension is announced before the season begins and it is no longer an impediment to recruiting. Briscoe, Diallo and (possibly) Sampson announce for us in the Spring...and we all live happily ever after.

No one with a brain would give this guy an extension without him first proving that he can do the job for which he is handsomely paid. IF he gets the team into the top 15 and rolling over quality competition early, then maybe he gets an extension before the season ends.

But if the guy is on the bubble and barely slips in only to lose in the first round, he has to go. If making the tourney as a bubble team once every 4 yrs is good enough then they can hire some random mid-major guy for 1/3 of Lavins salary who can competently provide those results

No one with half a brain would keep a coach on lame duck status and then expect him to recruit and be successful. That's why there are buyout clauses in contracts.

 

[paultzman]

“@DirkusBH: Blue Ribbon Yearbook 14-15 Big East predictions:
1. Nova
2. Gtown
3. PC
4. SJU
5. X
6. Jays
7. Hall
8. MU
9. #Butler
10. DePaul”

 

[Marillac]

“@DirkusBH: Blue Ribbon Yearbook 14-15 Big East predictions:
1. Nova
2. Gtown
3. PC
4. SJU
5. X
6. Jays
7. Hall
8. MU
9. #Butler
10. DePaul”

PC at three? Seems like a reach. Cotton carried the scoring load. Losing Fortune really hurts as well. Dunn is made of glass.

 

[newsman13]

How accurate has Blue Ribbon been in the past? I think I'll side with the optimists this time.

 

[otis]

http://chrisdortch.info/kentucky-tops-blue-ribbons-preseason-top-25-poll/

Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Top 25

1. Kentucky
2. Arizona
3. Wisconsin
4. North Carolina
5. Duke
6. Kansas
7. Wichita State
8. Virginia
9. Gonzaga
10. Florida
11. Louisville
12. Texas
13. Villanova
14. VCU
15. Ohio State
16. Connecticut
17. San Diego State
18. Iowa State
19. SMU
20. Michigan State
21. Syracuse
22. Stanford
23. Michigan
24. Nebraska
25. Oklahoma

 

[redfazed]

http://chrisdortch.info/kentucky-tops-blue-ribbons-preseason-top-25-poll/

Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Top 25

1. Kentucky
2. Arizona
3. Wisconsin
4. North Carolina
5. Duke
6. Kansas
7. Wichita State
8. Virginia
9. Gonzaga
10. Florida
11. Louisville
12. Texas
13. Villanova
14. VCU
15. Ohio State
16. Connecticut
17. San Diego State
18. Iowa State
19. SMU
20. Michigan State
21. Syracuse
22. Stanford
23. Michigan
24. Nebraska
25. Oklahoma

Gonzaga top 10. We'll have our shot at them soon enough.

 

[SJU1512]

I count 12 wins and 5 losses to get things started. Accounting for (hopefully) stealing one of the losses offset by a (virtually inevitable) slip-up amongst the 12 wins, and you're looking at the regular season being defined by those 14 remaining 50/50 games, which accounts for much of the conference slate.

If we're average in those games, 7-7 or 8-6, it's another 19-20 win season and the outside looking in heading into the BET. This is a repeat of last season.

Getting to 9-5 in those games will likely be a minimum to be on the inside looking out heading into the BET, needing at least one win there to be strong for the NCAAs.

10-4 in those games and we're the team we're all hoping we'll be, turning 50/50 games into games we win, 22-9 and in the NCAA before the BET, with the only question being how high we can climb the ladder with a good showing in MSG in March.

With it understood that the team's goal is to go 31-0, this last scenario should be the realistic goal entering the season for meeting/exceeding expectations and having a successful season.

 

[Jack Williams]

I pray that Gonzaga is top 10 when/if we get a shot at them.

 

[Andrew]

I pray that Gonzaga is top 10 when/if we get a shot at them.

Need to beat Minnesota first. A lot harder than Penn State who we lost to last year.

 

[Jack Williams]

I pray that Gonzaga is top 10 when/if we get a shot at them.

Need to beat Minnesota first. A lot harder than Penn State who we lost to last year.

I said if. And that's also not necessarily true. Georgia is a good team.

 

[Andrew]

I pray that Gonzaga is top 10 when/if we get a shot at them.

Need to beat Minnesota first. A lot harder than Penn State who we lost to last year.

I said if. And that's also not necessarily true. Georgia is a good team.

Never said Georgia couldn't beat Gonzaga either.

 

[Marillac]

I pray that Gonzaga is top 10 when/if we get a shot at them.

That would be awesome. People have been talking this Gonzaga team up big time since April. If they get by Georgia and we beat Minnesota. That could very likely put us a win from a top 25 ranking.

Zags don't travel well and we'd almost certainly have a huge home court advantage--not just our fans, but plenty of local fans of other teams that come by to catch the NIT championship game with a top ten team.

I have a feeling the hype machine can take hold of this team if they win early...seniors, Rysheed Jordan, best shot-blocker in the country, athletes everywhere, NYC, Lavin coming back from cancer, Harrison coming back from suspension stronger than ever.....

 

[bamafan]

I pray that Gonzaga is top 10 when/if we get a shot at them.

That would be awesome. People have been talking this Gonzaga team up big time since April. If they get by Georgia and we beat Minnesota. That could very likely put us a win from a top 25 ranking.

Zags don't travel well and we'd almost certainly have a huge home court advantage--not just our fans, but plenty of local fans of other teams that come by to catch the NIT championship game with a top ten team.

I have a feeling the hype machine can take hold of this team if they win early...seniors, Rysheed Jordan, best shot-blocker in the country, athletes everywhere, NYC, Lavin coming back from cancer, Harrison coming back from suspension stronger than ever.....

What are the names of the two people who are local fans of other teams that will come by to catch the NIT championship game?

 

[L J S A]

I pray that Gonzaga is top 10 when/if we get a shot at them.

That would be awesome. People have been talking this Gonzaga team up big time since April. If they get by Georgia and we beat Minnesota. That could very likely put us a win from a top 25 ranking.

Zags don't travel well and we'd almost certainly have a huge home court advantage--not just our fans, but plenty of local fans of other teams that come by to catch the NIT championship game with a top ten team.

I have a feeling the hype machine can take hold of this team if they win early...seniors, Rysheed Jordan, best shot-blocker in the country, athletes everywhere, NYC, Lavin coming back from cancer, Harrison coming back from suspension stronger than ever.....

What are the names of the two people who are local fans of other teams that will come by to catch the NIT championship game?

I guess time will tell if you are right, but as of this moment I think you are nuts if you don't think local fans would turn out to watch Gonzaga.

 

[Jack Williams]

I pray that Gonzaga is top 10 when/if we get a shot at them.

Need to beat Minnesota first. A lot harder than Penn State who we lost to last year.

I said if. And that's also not necessarily true. Georgia is a good team.

Never said Georgia couldn't beat Gonzaga either.

You said we needed to beat MINNY to play Gonzaga. Which implies that Georgia would lose to Gonzaga. But who cares it doesn't matter

 

[Andrew]

J

I pray that Gonzaga is top 10 when/if we get a shot at them.

Need to beat Minnesota first. A lot harder than Penn State who we lost to last year.

I said if. And that's also not necessarily true. Georgia is a good team.

Never said Georgia couldn't beat Gonzaga either.

You said we needed to beat MINNY to play Gonzaga. Which implies that Georgia would lose to Gonzaga. But who cares it doesn't matter

Agreed