The 2014 College Basketball Preview

[NYCRedmen]

is officially underway. Next week Lindy's releases it's issue, but you can see from their cover who their Top 10 teams are for this upcoming season.

1 - Michigan St.
2 - Kentucky
3 - Duke
4 - Kansas
5 - UNC
6 - Ohio St,
7 - Louisville
8 - Florida
9 - Oklahoma St.
10 - Michigan

It's only one projection of many, but I am just guessing that it's burning up Syracuse fans that they are not included with Duke & UNC as the class of the ACC. I know Louisville is ACC bound next year but, that doesn't count yet.

http://store.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=858

 

[bamafan]

The usual suspects plus a good OK St program. And to think a poster claimed it is always the same football programs at the top. This just about reads as a who's who of all time college hoop programs minus UCLA and Indiana. What no George Mason?

 

[Pleasedontbanmeagain]

The usual suspects plus a good OK St program. And to think a poster claimed it is always the same football programs at the top. This just about reads as a who's who of all time college hoop programs minus UCLA and Indiana. What no George Mason?

Show me another App State beating #5 Michigan in the past 25 years or so. Zero parity in NCAAF.

 

[STJ11Redmen]

The usual suspects plus a good OK St program. And to think a poster claimed it is always the same football programs at the top. This just about reads as a who's who of all time college hoop programs minus UCLA and Indiana. What no George Mason?

Show me another App State beating #5 Michigan in the past 25 years or so. Zero parity in NCAAF.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302540259

 

[Pleasedontbanmeagain]

The usual suspects plus a good OK St program. And to think a poster claimed it is always the same football programs at the top. This just about reads as a who's who of all time college hoop programs minus UCLA and Indiana. What no George Mason?

Show me another App State beating #5 Michigan in the past 25 years or so. Zero parity in NCAAF.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302540259

Funny you mention that...I thought of that one last night...but you have to admit that it was a huge upset and very very very rare. Find a list of mid major NCAAF teams who beat ranked power conference opponents in the past 25 years and I'd be shocked if there were more than 5. In NCAAB it's probably 500+.

"It was Virginia Tech's first loss to a FCS school in 12 games vs. such opponents dating back to 1985 "

Dating back to 1985...that's when we made the final four...and this was just to upset a college football team. How does this not scream "zero parity" to you?

 

[STJ11Redmen]

The usual suspects plus a good OK St program. And to think a poster claimed it is always the same football programs at the top. This just about reads as a who's who of all time college hoop programs minus UCLA and Indiana. What no George Mason?

Show me another App State beating #5 Michigan in the past 25 years or so. Zero parity in NCAAF.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302540259

Funny you mention that...I thought of that one last night...but you have to admit that it was a huge upset and very very very rare. Find a list of mid major NCAAF teams who beat ranked power conference opponents in the past 25 years and I'd be shocked if there were more than 5. In NCAAB it's probably 500+.

"It was Virginia Tech's first loss to a FCS school in 12 games vs. such opponents dating back to 1985 "

Dating back to 1985...that's when we made the final four...and this was just to upset a college football team. How does this not scream "zero parity" to you?

Comparing an FCS team to an FBS team is not the same as comparing Duke to VCU. FCS and FBS teams have different scholarship limits (85 vs. 63) and half of FCS doesn't even offer scholarships. They also play so infrequently that you will have very few upsets. The other thing is a game between an FCS team and FBS team will always be a true road game for the FBS. Very, very rarely would you see a school like your Marist Red Foxes go to Duke and knock them off. The percentage of wins by FCS teams over BCS FBS teams is probably similar to the percentage of wins by small D-1 schools (NEC, A-East, etc.) over power conference teams in the power conference team's building.

 

[TobinGrad]

is officially underway. Next week Lindy's releases it's issue, but you can see from their cover who their Top 10 teams are for this upcoming season.

1 - Michigan St.
2 - Kentucky
3 - Duke
4 - Kansas
5 - UNC
6 - Ohio St,
7 - Louisville
8 - Florida
9 - Oklahoma St.
10 - Michigan

It's only one projection of many, but I am just guessing that it's burning up Syracuse fans that they are not included with Duke & UNC as the class of the ACC. I know Louisville is ACC bound next year but, that doesn't count yet.

http://store.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=858

St. Johns should be in the top-10 by march. Ohio st, Michigan, not so sure about those two

 

[Pleasedontbanmeagain]

The usual suspects plus a good OK St program. And to think a poster claimed it is always the same football programs at the top. This just about reads as a who's who of all time college hoop programs minus UCLA and Indiana. What no George Mason?

Show me another App State beating #5 Michigan in the past 25 years or so. Zero parity in NCAAF.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302540259

Funny you mention that...I thought of that one last night...but you have to admit that it was a huge upset and very very very rare. Find a list of mid major NCAAF teams who beat ranked power conference opponents in the past 25 years and I'd be shocked if there were more than 5. In NCAAB it's probably 500+.

"It was Virginia Tech's first loss to a FCS school in 12 games vs. such opponents dating back to 1985 "

Dating back to 1985...that's when we made the final four...and this was just to upset a college football team. How does this not scream "zero parity" to you?

Comparing an FCS team to an FBS team is not the same as comparing Duke to VCU. FCS and FBS teams have different scholarship limits (85 vs. 63) and half of FCS doesn't even offer scholarships. They also play so infrequently that you will have very few upsets. The other thing is a game between an FCS team and FBS team will always be a true road game for the FBS. Very, very rarely would you see a school like your Marist Red Foxes go to Duke and knock them off. The percentage of wins by FCS teams over BCS FBS teams is probably similar to the percentage of wins by small D-1 schools (NEC, A-East, etc.) over power conference teams in the power conference team's building.

Funny you say that...our women's team has been to the sweet 16 and led Duke (top 5 at the time) the entire game until a key injury occurred on our side and Duke pulled ahead in the last 2 minutes. Mid majors in college basketball can at the very least make it a game even if they don't win. Mid majors in NCAAF will lose 72-3...look at the early scores every year...that's what you will see. It's like a video game with a cheat code...that's how ridiculous it is. And no way is a victory by an FCS team over BCS anywhere near as common as a mid major basketball program taking down a juggernaut i.e. Duke, UNC, Cuse, etc. You will struggle to find more than 5 examples from football in the past 25 YEARS. Think of how many mid major basketball schools have beaten ranked power conference schools, and now think of how many major upsets in March Madness there have been...Vermont over Cuse, Manhattan over Florida, Norfolk St. over Mizzou, Northern Iowa over Kansas, VCU over Duke, Bradley over Pitt, etc. etc. etc.

Now give me a list of true mid major football schools beating top 25 power conference teams. Good luck digging.

 

[Pleasedontbanmeagain]

is officially underway. Next week Lindy's releases it's issue, but you can see from their cover who their Top 10 teams are for this upcoming season.

1 - Michigan St.
2 - Kentucky
3 - Duke
4 - Kansas
5 - UNC
6 - Ohio St,
7 - Louisville
8 - Florida
9 - Oklahoma St.
10 - Michigan

It's only one projection of many, but I am just guessing that it's burning up Syracuse fans that they are not included with Duke & UNC as the class of the ACC. I know Louisville is ACC bound next year but, that doesn't count yet.

http://store.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=858

St. Johns should be in the top-10 by march. Ohio st, Michigan, not so sure about those two

I will be thrilled if we crack the top 25 at all...IMO expecting top 10 is setting yourself up for a let down.

 

[dee]

is officially underway. Next week Lindy's releases it's issue, but you can see from their cover who their Top 10 teams are for this upcoming season.

1 - Michigan St.
2 - Kentucky
3 - Duke
4 - Kansas
5 - UNC
6 - Ohio St,
7 - Louisville
8 - Florida
9 - Oklahoma St.
10 - Michigan

It's only one projection of many, but I am just guessing that it's burning up Syracuse fans that they are not included with Duke & UNC as the class of the ACC. I know Louisville is ACC bound next year but, that doesn't count yet.

http://store.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=858

St. Johns should be in the top-10 by march. Ohio st, Michigan, not so sure about those two

we should be in the top 10 in January

 

[bamafan]

Not only do college football fans not care if there are the kind of upsets that Joe is referring to but they don't even care about those games themselves. Bama-LSU, Bama-T A&M is where it's at not Bama-Western Carolina. I don't follow college hoops just dying for a Citadel upset of N. Carolina either. I don't follow the NFL to wait for Jacksonville to upset the Patriots although I would be happy if they did.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Not to get off track, but Joe you have got to look at the opportunities provided in each sport for such upsets. 30 games in a regular season compared to 10-12. Plus in college ball there are at least 16 to 20 opportunities (16-13 seeds) come tourney time to have upsets. These big football schools play 1 or 2 games TOPS against these lower level schools.

All in all there are a lot of huge score discrepancies in college football but that is the way football is sometimes. Your not gonna see a Bball team get shutout.

 

[Pleasedontbanmeagain]

Not only do college football fans not care if there are the kind of upsets that Joe is referring to but they don't even care about those games themselves. Bama-LSU, Bama-T A&M is where it's at not Bama-Western Carolina. I don't follow college hoops just dying for a Citadel upset of N. Carolina either. I don't follow the NFL to wait for Jacksonville to upset the Patriots although I would be happy if they did.

It's not so much needing the underdogs to win to be entertaining, it's knowing there's a chance and anything can happen. That element of the game is almost nonexistent in NCAAF. When you turn on JMU vs. #14 Virginia Tech, 99.99999% of the time you will see "72-3 FINAL" on the ticker on the bottom of ESPN. When you turn on JMU vs. Virginia Tech in basketball, hey you never know. Even as a freshmen squad we took Duke to within 7 pts and gave them a scare.

It just seems NCAAF is much more corrupt, much more power hungry, much more political, and much more distance between have and have nots. NCAABB has its problems too, but all in all it's just an exciting free for all especially in March. It's one big lotto, that's what makes it exciting with the office pools and all.

 

[STJ11Redmen]

The usual suspects plus a good OK St program. And to think a poster claimed it is always the same football programs at the top. This just about reads as a who's who of all time college hoop programs minus UCLA and Indiana. What no George Mason?

Show me another App State beating #5 Michigan in the past 25 years or so. Zero parity in NCAAF.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302540259

Funny you mention that...I thought of that one last night...but you have to admit that it was a huge upset and very very very rare. Find a list of mid major NCAAF teams who beat ranked power conference opponents in the past 25 years and I'd be shocked if there were more than 5. In NCAAB it's probably 500+.

"It was Virginia Tech's first loss to a FCS school in 12 games vs. such opponents dating back to 1985 "

Dating back to 1985...that's when we made the final four...and this was just to upset a college football team. How does this not scream "zero parity" to you?

Comparing an FCS team to an FBS team is not the same as comparing Duke to VCU. FCS and FBS teams have different scholarship limits (85 vs. 63) and half of FCS doesn't even offer scholarships. They also play so infrequently that you will have very few upsets. The other thing is a game between an FCS team and FBS team will always be a true road game for the FBS. Very, very rarely would you see a school like your Marist Red Foxes go to Duke and knock them off. The percentage of wins by FCS teams over BCS FBS teams is probably similar to the percentage of wins by small D-1 schools (NEC, A-East, etc.) over power conference teams in the power conference team's building.

Funny you say that...our women's team has been to the sweet 16 and led Duke (top 5 at the time) the entire game until a key injury occurred on our side and Duke pulled ahead in the last 2 minutes. Mid majors in college basketball can at the very least make it a game even if they don't win. Mid majors in NCAAF will lose 72-3...look at the early scores every year...that's what you will see. It's like a video game with a cheat code...that's how ridiculous it is. And no way is a victory by an FCS team over BCS anywhere near as common as a mid major basketball program taking down a juggernaut i.e. Duke, UNC, Cuse, etc. You will struggle to find more than 5 examples from football in the past 25 YEARS. Think of how many mid major basketball schools have beaten ranked power conference schools, and now think of how many major upsets in March Madness there have been...Vermont over Cuse, Manhattan over Florida, Norfolk St. over Mizzou, Northern Iowa over Kansas, VCU over Duke, Bradley over Pitt, etc. etc. etc.

Now give me a list of true mid major football schools beating top 25 power conference teams. Good luck digging.

Marist women's basketball is a national power. I was talking about your men's team going to Cameron Indoor. They'd lose by 50. That's beside the point though. My point is that every game you mentioned was a neutral court game where the crowd is often on the side of the mid-major. In football every David/Goliath is played in the major teams stadium. I'm saying the percentage of wins by FCS teams over power FBS teams is comparable to the percentage of wins by low-majors over high-majors on their home floor. Basketball teams play 8-10 cupcakes a season. Football teams play 1, often 0 FCS teams so of course the total wins will be skewed.

 

[SigEpSJU09]

At all ???? My fellow johnnie we will def make the top 25 this year !!! We should of been at least 10-8 last year in the big east (ot lost to nova cause we committed a foul on the 3 point line with 40 seconds left, close game with providence) along with 3 bullshit losses that we should of won on our non conference schedule (unc-ashville, usf, Murray state) we lost those games because we were the youngest team in America, inexperienced , not knowing how to close out games. We are loaded this year ! We are the most athletic team in America (Jay Williams even said it himself) , but most of all we now experienced upper class man , seniors and juniors know how to win games . We finally have a bench we are 11 deep. 4 guard rotation between Jordan, Harrison , Greene , branch . Then with Jakar, sir Dom, hooper on the wings . Have a nice 3 big man rotation of oblockpa, Sanchez, and gift. Marco, balamou, Christian jones can give us some insurance or some good spurt minutes. People also forget that Sanchez is 25 years old he is a grown man that is going to be playing against 18,19,20 year olds he's going to be moving bodies easily. We can finally break zones with Sanchez at the high post , Jordan penetrating and kicking . We can finally rebound and get out on the break more. Are players are never going to be tired because we are so deep. This is a top 25 team with no doubt anything less than elite 8 is a failure you have to put these expectations for this team . We have 5 nba players on the roster . Jakarr(who still has 3 years to work on his game), obeckpa(defense alone gets him in, Also can work on offense for another 3 years) Sanchez , Jordan( could be a 1 and done) and sir Dom (has 2 years to work on that jump shot , his defense and athleticism gets him in the nba think tony Allen). This team is much better than our 2011 boys that made the dance and they got the be the # 12 team in the nation , lavin coached those kids who weren't even his. We will make the top ten ! We will make noise in the dance , we will make New York City believe !!!!

 

[L J S A]

At all ???? My fellow johnnie we will def make the top 25 this year !!! We should of been at least 10-8 last year in the big east (ot lost to nova cause we committed a foul on the 3 point line with 40 seconds left, close game with providence) along with 3 bullshit losses that we should of won on our non conference schedule (unc-ashville, usf, Murray state) we lost those games because we were the youngest team in America, inexperienced , not knowing how to close out games. We are loaded this year ! We are the most athletic team in America (Jay Williams even said it himself) , but most of all we now experienced upper class man , seniors and juniors know how to win games . We finally have a bench we are 11 deep. 4 guard rotation between Jordan, Harrison , Greene , branch . Then with Jakar, sir Dom, hooper on the wings . Have a nice 3 big man rotation of oblockpa, Sanchez, and gift. Marco, balamou, Christian jones can give us some insurance or some good spurt minutes. People also forget that Sanchez is 25 years old he is a grown man that is going to be playing against 18,19,20 year olds he's going to be moving bodies easily. We can finally break zones with Sanchez at the high post , Jordan penetrating and kicking . We can finally rebound and get out on the break more. Are players are never going to be tired because we are so deep. This is a top 25 team with no doubt anything less than elite 8 is a failure you have to put these expectations for this team . We have 5 nba players on the roster . Jakarr(who still has 3 years to work on his game), obeckpa(defense alone gets him in, Also can work on offense for another 3 years) Sanchez , Jordan( could be a 1 and done) and sir Dom (has 2 years to work on that jump shot , his defense and athleticism gets him in the nba think tony Allen). This team is much better than our 2011 boys that made the dance and they got the be the # 12 team in the nation , lavin coached those kids who weren't even his. We will make the top ten ! We will make noise in the dance , we will make New York City believe !!!!

Joe is a big fan of the "baby steps" theory. I'm a fan of believing that theory is total horseshit.

There are only five guys on the court at a time. It's easy to build a basketball team quickly -- certainly much quicker than football. If you've got the talent, there's no reason not to expect to play well.

I'm going into the season expecting a national championship, and will adjust my expectations accordingly once we have some games under our belt.

 

[SI1996]

The usual suspects plus a good OK St program. And to think a poster claimed it is always the same football programs at the top. This just about reads as a who's who of all time college hoop programs minus UCLA and Indiana. What no George Mason?

Show me another App State beating #5 Michigan in the past 25 years or so. Zero parity in NCAAF.

Louisiana-Monroe beat #8 Arkansas just last year.

 

[Jnaw17]

At all ???? My fellow johnnie we will def make the top 25 this year !!! We should of been at least 10-8 last year in the big east (ot lost to nova cause we committed a foul on the 3 point line with 40 seconds left, close game with providence) along with 3 bullshit losses that we should of won on our non conference schedule (unc-ashville, usf, Murray state) we lost those games because we were the youngest team in America, inexperienced , not knowing how to close out games. We are loaded this year ! We are the most athletic team in America (Jay Williams even said it himself) , but most of all we now experienced upper class man , seniors and juniors know how to win games . We finally have a bench we are 11 deep. 4 guard rotation between Jordan, Harrison , Greene , branch . Then with Jakar, sir Dom, hooper on the wings . Have a nice 3 big man rotation of oblockpa, Sanchez, and gift. Marco, balamou, Christian jones can give us some insurance or some good spurt minutes. People also forget that Sanchez is 25 years old he is a grown man that is going to be playing against 18,19,20 year olds he's going to be moving bodies easily. We can finally break zones with Sanchez at the high post , Jordan penetrating and kicking . We can finally rebound and get out on the break more. Are players are never going to be tired because we are so deep. This is a top 25 team with no doubt anything less than elite 8 is a failure you have to put these expectations for this team . We have 5 nba players on the roster . Jakarr(who still has 3 years to work on his game), obeckpa(defense alone gets him in, Also can work on offense for another 3 years) Sanchez , Jordan( could be a 1 and done) and sir Dom (has 2 years to work on that jump shot , his defense and athleticism gets him in the nba think tony Allen). This team is much better than our 2011 boys that made the dance and they got the be the # 12 team in the nation , lavin coached those kids who weren't even his. We will make the top ten ! We will make noise in the dance , we will make New York City believe !!!!

Joe is a big fan of the "baby steps" theory. I'm a fan of believing that theory is total horseshit.

There are only five guys on the court at a time. It's easy to build a basketball team quickly -- certainly much quicker than football. If you've got the talent, there's no reason not to expect to play well.

I'm going into the season expecting a national championship, and will adjust my expectations accordingly once we have some games under our belt.

I'm with you guys. We should be bold about this team now. We have the horses and just need to get some chemistry going, which hopefully Europe is helping with. I'm really looking forward to the Wisconsin game.

 

[austour]

You know I don't love jumping to Joe's defense but he has a point that he's just not qualified to adequately communicate. Just kidding guy. But let me make it simple, and yet not filled with unsupported generalizations, which will show why I'm so passionate about college hoops yet don't GAF about college football, I mean besides the fact that I was raised in the Northeast.

There obviously IS a far greater chance of upset in any David/Goliath college basketball game than a corresponding college football game. But that's not really the important point for me though I'm stuck wondering why you guys are arguing that point. It's clear as day.

For me it's that in college basketball David can get to the title game, a la Butler, David can get to the final four a la Wichita St., VCU, George Mason, Providence Heck, Marquette's team with DWade fits the bill, though that was probably at the Zenith of CUSA. Even traditional powers like Cal's Memphis teams or Majerus' Utah teams showed that if you dedicate some resources there's a chance you can compete with the big boys.

Sure it doesn't happen often but the point is it COULD happen. In college football it seems that every few years there's a David that could be considered for a title game and gets squeaked out or outright screwed a la Boise State, TCU, Utah pre Pac 12. Even that Hawaii team. They get screwed by the BCS because even through they beat everyone that would schedule them teams are ranked over them because they played teams they were contractually obligated to play and lost to one or more of them. Now did many of these teams stand a chance against the big boys. Prolly not but they're undefeated. Give them a chance. There is NO chance for a David in football. Well, all that and I prefer the NFL like all good northeasterners should. LOL

 

[Pleasedontbanmeagain]

At all ???? My fellow johnnie we will def make the top 25 this year !!! We should of been at least 10-8 last year in the big east (ot lost to nova cause we committed a foul on the 3 point line with 40 seconds left, close game with providence) along with 3 bullshit losses that we should of won on our non conference schedule (unc-ashville, usf, Murray state) we lost those games because we were the youngest team in America, inexperienced , not knowing how to close out games. We are loaded this year ! We are the most athletic team in America (Jay Williams even said it himself) , but most of all we now experienced upper class man , seniors and juniors know how to win games . We finally have a bench we are 11 deep. 4 guard rotation between Jordan, Harrison , Greene , branch . Then with Jakar, sir Dom, hooper on the wings . Have a nice 3 big man rotation of oblockpa, Sanchez, and gift. Marco, balamou, Christian jones can give us some insurance or some good spurt minutes. People also forget that Sanchez is 25 years old he is a grown man that is going to be playing against 18,19,20 year olds he's going to be moving bodies easily. We can finally break zones with Sanchez at the high post , Jordan penetrating and kicking . We can finally rebound and get out on the break more. Are players are never going to be tired because we are so deep. This is a top 25 team with no doubt anything less than elite 8 is a failure you have to put these expectations for this team . We have 5 nba players on the roster . Jakarr(who still has 3 years to work on his game), obeckpa(defense alone gets him in, Also can work on offense for another 3 years) Sanchez , Jordan( could be a 1 and done) and sir Dom (has 2 years to work on that jump shot , his defense and athleticism gets him in the nba think tony Allen). This team is much better than our 2011 boys that made the dance and they got the be the # 12 team in the nation , lavin coached those kids who weren't even his. We will make the top ten ! We will make noise in the dance , we will make New York City believe !!!!

How many teams truly go from missing the tourney and one of the worst FG% teams in the nation to top 10 elite 8 overnight? Just to see SJU with a number from 1-25 next to it would be a major, major thing in itself. Don't get me wrong, we are loaded, but we are SJU. We need to learn how to win again. Not sure if that all happens in 1 year from rags to riches. Being a top 10 team means you are essentially the cream of the crop. There are lots of very good teams...let's see how we come out of the gate before demanding a top 10 appearance. Recent history tells us that the hype has not added up. I would be the most excited fan on the entire board if we cracked the top 10...ecstatic if we made the elite 8. But let's not get carried away. We have tons of potential...right now it's still just potential. I'll need some evidence we are top 10 caliber before I can agree with that opinion. That evidence means no stupid losses, get off to a hot start winning the games we should, beating the big boys of the Big East i.e. teams like Marquette, Nova, Cuse, G'Town, etc. and finding consistency.