2023-24 Rankings

Honestly, while I understand that there are a lot of new parts to integrate, I would be shocked if it came down to "last one in". Not sure that conclusion is warranted by what RP has done so far. I know we have to prove it out on the floor after decades of ineptitude, but I just don't see "last one" as the likely scenario. I think we should be a solid tourney team. JMO.
Lunardi has been consistent in underrating us. I will be surprised if we don't finish in top 5 of Big East.
 
I was going to type I guess they have nothing to go by when looking at our team. But they do have stuff to go by.

Ricks history and a really really really good roster he put together. So it is nonsense to say last 4 in. Just suck it up guys and don’t play it safe with those prognostications. Go out on a limb and say it is Rick pitino with this great group he assembled. Top 10 in the country!!

I’m not ashamed to admit it before it happens!!!
 
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Lunardi’s ability, if you want to call it that, is based on taking actual results when they roll in and using the NCAAs tournament qualifications to calculate a bracket. Because the world is obsessed with the end of the season now at the expense of the actual season he is able to generate interest in his brackets all year long.

When looking at preseason rankings, good or bad, his would be a good place to ignore.
 
I was going to type I guess they have nothing to go by when looking at our team. But they do have stuff to go by.

Ricks history and a really really really good roster he put together. So it is nonsense to say last 4 in. Just suck it up guys and don’t play it safe with those prognostications. Go out on a limb and say it is Rick pitino with this great group he assembled. Top 10 in the country!!

I’m not ashamed to admit it before it happens!!!
Most prognosticators have us as a top 25 team, as do most of us diehard fans. Maybe we're slightly biased, but the prognosticators, for the most part, are not. Even if we come up a little short of top 25, I can't imagine us being any lower than top 40. So, to quote Al Michaels, Lunardi having us as last 4 in is totally "farcical"
 
Most prognosticators have us as a top 25 team, as do most of us diehard fans. Maybe we're slightly biased, but the prognosticators, for the most part, are not. Even if we come up a little short of top 25, I can't imagine us being any lower than top 40. So, to quote Al Michaels, Lunardi having us as last 4 in is totally "farcical"
I am usually more optimistic even when I shouldn’t be with our team. But this time is real so I have no problem being on the far left of the bell curve when it comes to how good I expect us to be lol.
 
As someone who is politically on the far right, I am endorsing a far left bell curve for the very first time.😀
Knew there was a reason I liked you lol. FYI bought my priest collar yesterday. I may have to show up at one of games as Fr. Monte and give the pre-game blessing to the 114 crew. Only because I doubt they let me in the locker room.
 
ESPN has been HEAVILY promoting St. John's (despite us not having a TV deal with them). If you go on their college basketball website, the top 3 articles in their main section are (or were as of 15 minutes ago- they just posted something new on realignment):

1. Dick Vitale's men's college basketball Preseason Top 25 for 2023-24

St. John's listed at #25. Ok, this one isn't anything major, but then:

2. Bracketology: Pitino, St. John's throwing strikes early and often

Here we're only the last team in, however, the thumbnail is Pitino throwing from his recent Citi Field first pitch. The headline mentions St. John's.

3. Way-Too-Early Top 25: St. John's is in; Tennessee dips

St. John's is #25, in the headline, and Ledlum is in the thumbnail. Also, a long writeup about St. John's.


Again, these are the top / most visible 3 articles on their website, and two of them push St. John's in the picture/headline. Granted it's August and St. John's has done more than any other team over the last month to get us into the Top 25, so they kind of had to write about us, but it's still really cool seeing us being this heavily promoted. They wouldn't be posting thumbnails of Pitino if there wasn't a strong interest from the casual reader.

Also, with rumors of us being on ESPN Radio next year, it does seem ESPN has a strong interest in St. John's basketball. Will be interesting to see how much of a push they make for our next TV contract.
 
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ESPN has been HEAVILY promoting St. John's (despite us not having a TV deal with them). If you go on their college basketball website, the top 3 articles in their main section are (or were as of 15 minutes ago- they just posted something new on realignment):

1. Dick Vitale's men's college basketball Preseason Top 25 for 2023-24

St. John's listed at #25. Ok, this one isn't anything major, but then:

2. Bracketology: Pitino, St. John's throwing strikes early and often

Here we're only the last team in, however, the thumbnail is Pitino throwing from his recent Citi Field first pitch. The headline mentions St. John's.

3. Way-Too-Early Top 25: St. John's is in; Tennessee dips

St. John's is #25, in the headline and Ledlum is in the thumbnail. Also, a long writeup about St. John's.


Again, these are the top / most visible 3 articles on their website, and two of them push St. John's in the picture/headline. Granted it's August and St. John's has done more than any other team over the last month to get us into the Top 25, so they kind of had to write about us, but it's still really cool seeing us being this heavily promoted. They wouldn't be posting thumbnails of Pitino if there wasn't a strong interest from the casual reader.

Also, with rumors of us being on ESPN Radio next year, it does seem ESPN has a strong interest in St. John's basketball. Will be interesting to see how much of a push they make for our next TV contract.
I was literally thinking the same thing when TommyO wrote about the potential ESPN radio thing. If that happens that definitely gets real interesting in future TV negotiations
 
I was literally thinking the same thing when TommyO wrote about the potential ESPN radio thing. If that happens that definitely gets real interesting in future TV negotiations
https://theathletic.com/4781695/2023/08/17/espn-tv-rights-sec-jeff-van-gundy/

Great interview with ESPN's President of Content where he discusses TV rights.

Going to be a lot of expensive properties coming up soon (NBA, World Cup, College Football Playoffs, etc.). It gets me nervous about the timing of the Big East in 2025, but we'll have to see.

No one wants to hear this but he specifically mentioned UCONN when asked "What properties or sports do you think, as we look in a three- to five-year window, really have some growth potential?". He was talking about women's hoops, but still. Having them in the conference is a huge help for the conference making money.
 
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