with exactly 2 months nto go lets get some

S

SJUISBACK

Member
 predictions.

I think they`ll improve a good amount.
20-10, 10-8

Obvious with mostly sophmores and freshmen this season won`t be anything special but it should be real exciting.
I know why look at next year when this year hasn`t even begun but I think next year is the year that we shine.

Not saying the NC but we`ll be a top10 team and advance to the elite 8.

But first lets see what our young guns got this year.
 
 I want what you're smoking. I love SJ but let's be realistic...it will be nice to even be ranked or even make the tournament first.
 
 I want what you're smoking. I love SJ but let's be realistic...it will be nice to even be ranked or even make the tournament first.
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I think you may have read the post too quickly.
He is saying 20 wins for this season which would be a 7 win improvement.
I believe that may be doable with a little bit of luck.
 
 I want what you're smoking. I love SJ but let's be realistic...it will be nice to even be ranked or even make the tournament first.
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 i think that prediction is quite reasonable and i consider mysekf a realist in respect to the program. The talent is there and say what you want about coach x and o, he can motivate and the kids will run through a wallfor him.
 
I really hope you're right, but I mean come on. If there was really the expectation for this team, they would be talked about on ESPN. Why is it so much to ask that we at least crack the rankings first before we say we are an elite 8 team? I will need hard evidence this year to make me feel like we are a possible elite 8 team next year. That hard evidence includes a top 15 ranking, consistently beating ranked teams, finishing top 5 in the Big East, etc. I just don't see it happening.
 
 I just don't see what many other teams in the Big East have over us and why we can't be a top 6 team which should put us squarely in the dance? We have plenty of returning talent and depth as well as more size and skill thismyear. I think we are truly a sleeper team this season because almost all people that are rating us below 10 are most assuredly assuming we have basically the same team back minus Harkless. I think the pundits are underrating the talent we brought in with this recruiting class and I think our returning players will be better.

I also believe that Branch will be better than the few handful of games he played at A&M. The kid didn't get much of a chance to progress there. He left after first semester, but was one of the most highly ranked players out of HS the year prior. Many factors as to why the pundits aren't talking about us but I think it is a mistake.

Darrick Martin and Rico Hines should help our guards and wings a ton as it is their bread and butter. I don't know if we are Elite 8 material before seeing how we progress on the court, but I think we have The depth, athleticism and talent to make that kind of run.
 
 We are not elite 8 material this year, hopefully we are next year. Being realistc, I would be very happy making the NCAA touny and winning a game.
 
 I just don't see what many other teams in the Big East have over us and why we can't be a top 6 team which should put us squarely in the dance? We have plenty of returning talent and depth as well as more size and skill thismyear. I think we are truly a sleeper team this season because almost all people that are rating us below 10 are most assuredly assuming we have basically the same team back minus Harkless. I think the pundits are underrating the talent we brought in with this recruiting class and I think our returning players will be better.

I also believe that Branch will be better than the few handful of games he played at A&M. The kid didn't get much of a chance to progress there. He left after first semester, but was one of the most highly ranked players out of HS the year prior. Many factors as to why the pundits aren't talking about us but I think it is a mistake.

Darrick Martin and Rico Hines should help our guards and wings a ton as it is their bread and butter. I don't know if we are Elite 8 material before seeing how we progress on the court, but I think we have The depth, athleticism and talent to make that kind of run.
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In my opinion we will definitely finish in the top seven of the Big East. Just look at the playing time our returnees had last season; that's called experience. Add a potential top point guard and our strong roster of incoming freshmen. Heck I had confidence last year even with a depleted squad. Just you wait and see how much our kids improve. I'm betting on it.
 
 I just don't see what many other teams in the Big East have over us and why we can't be a top 6 team which should put us squarely in the dance? We have plenty of returning talent and depth as well as more size and skill thismyear. I think we are truly a sleeper team this season because almost all people that are rating us below 10 are most assuredly assuming we have basically the same team back minus Harkless. I think the pundits are underrating the talent we brought in with this recruiting class and I think our returning players will be better.

I also believe that Branch will be better than the few handful of games he played at A&M. The kid didn't get much of a chance to progress there. He left after first semester, but was one of the most highly ranked players out of HS the year prior. Many factors as to why the pundits aren't talking about us but I think it is a mistake.

Darrick Martin and Rico Hines should help our guards and wings a ton as it is their bread and butter. I don't know if we are Elite 8 material before seeing how we progress on the court, but I think we have The depth, athleticism and talent to make that kind of run.
Click to expand...
 

In my opinion we will definitely finish in the top seven of the Big East. Just look at the playing time our returnees had last season; that's called experience. Add a potential top point guard and our strong roster of incoming freshmen. Heck I had confidence last year even with a depleted squad. Just you wait and see how much our kids improve. I'm betting on it.
Click to expand...
 

Barring injuries and unexpected catastrophes, I say minimum 24 wins, with at least one win in the Dance.

We have top 60 ranked players at EVERY position, and one more off the bench. TWO JC All-American Bigs, and a top JC Perimeter Shooter.

We are actually one of the MOST experienced teams in the Big East - we return guys who played 4,644 of the available 6,400 minutes available in last years 32 games. 73% - the most returning talent in the Big East from last year to this. We have 5 guys who started 18 or more games last year.

We return 49.6 pts per game. We return 21.3 rebounds per game. We return 250 assists - 8 per game. We get our head coach back on a daily basis. We've now got a 13 year nba PG working with our guards (a guy who helped get HIS college team to an Elite 8 and 2 Sweet 16s). And to all that, we've added 7 new bodies, including a top 50 center (and despite Nerlens Noel, possibly the BEST shot blocker entering college this year), a top 50 Point Guard, a top 50 Combo forward, an Elite international "Point-Forward", the previously mentioined elite perimeter shooter, and raw athletic freaks at both guard and forward.

24 wins. Minimum. Barring catastrophe.
 
 I just don't see what many other teams in the Big East have over us and why we can't be a top 6 team which should put us squarely in the dance? We have plenty of returning talent and depth as well as more size and skill thismyear. I think we are truly a sleeper team this season because almost all people that are rating us below 10 are most assuredly assuming we have basically the same team back minus Harkless. I think the pundits are underrating the talent we brought in with this recruiting class and I think our returning players will be better.

I also believe that Branch will be better than the few handful of games he played at A&M. The kid didn't get much of a chance to progress there. He left after first semester, but was one of the most highly ranked players out of HS the year prior. Many factors as to why the pundits aren't talking about us but I think it is a mistake.

Darrick Martin and Rico Hines should help our guards and wings a ton as it is their bread and butter. I don't know if we are Elite 8 material before seeing how we progress on the court, but I think we have The depth, athleticism and talent to make that kind of run.
Click to expand...
 

In my opinion we will definitely finish in the top seven of the Big East. Just look at the playing time our returnees had last season; that's called experience. Add a potential top point guard and our strong roster of incoming freshmen. Heck I had confidence last year even with a depleted squad. Just you wait and see how much our kids improve. I'm betting on it.
Click to expand...
 

Barring injuries and unexpected catastrophes, I say minimum 24 wins, with at least one win in the Dance.

We have top 60 ranked players at EVERY position, and one more off the bench. TWO JC All-American Bigs, and a top JC Perimeter Shooter.

We are actually one of the MOST experienced teams in the Big East - we return guys who played 4,644 of the available 6,400 minutes available in last years 32 games. 73% - the most returning talent in the Big East from last year to this. We have 5 guys who started 18 or more games last year.

We return 49.6 pts per game. We return 21.3 rebounds per game. We return 250 assists - 8 per game. We get our head coach back on a daily basis. We've now got a 13 year nba PG working with our guards (a guy who helped get HIS college team to an Elite 8 and 2 Sweet 16s). And to all that, we've added 7 new bodies, including a top 50 center (and despite Nerlens Noel, possibly the BEST shot blocker entering college this year), a top 50 Point Guard, a top 50 Combo forward, an Elite international "Point-Forward", the previously mentioined elite perimeter shooter, and raw athletic freaks at both guard and forward.

24 wins. Minimum. Barring catastrophe.
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This SJU team certainly starting to resemble some of Lavin's UCLA teams at least in makeup. I think you're on to something CR. Good things happening this year and beyond. Wont be able to "sneak up" on anybody after this season.
 
 You guys get me really excited and I'm not saying this can't happen, but it's just hard for me to believe. Maybe it's the Mets/Jets fan in me...great teams, great talent, but the wins don't always add up as they should. I do think we should be a 17-13 type USF last year kind of team. Maybe it's just that SJ has been under the radar for so long (sans the run 2 years ago) that has me skeptical of a major breakout year. I think if we sign 1 more top 50 recruit for next year, Sampson turns out to be the real deal, Obekpa is a monster, and Branch is decent, then the minimum 24 win prediction becomes much more safe to me. If Harrison leaves after this year though, that takes the wind out of our sails.

As always, I hope I am wrong and we do bust out onto the scene this year.
 
 You guys get me really excited and I'm not saying this can't happen, but it's just hard for me to believe. Maybe it's the Mets/Jets fan in me...great teams, great talent, but the wins don't always add up as they should. I do think we should be a 17-13 type USF last year kind of team. Maybe it's just that SJ has been under the radar for so long (sans the run 2 years ago) that has me skeptical of a major breakout year. I think if we sign 1 more top 50 recruit for next year, Sampson turns out to be the real deal, Obekpa is a monster, and Branch is decent, then the minimum 24 win prediction becomes much more safe to me. If Harrison leaves after this year though, that takes the wind out of our sails.

As always, I hope I am wrong and we do bust out onto the scene this year.
Click to expand...
 


Joe, I know that each year is different with guys graduating and new recruits coming in, but you have to remember that Lavin had Norms team ranked 15th in the Nation two years ago. This current teams talent level is head and shoulders above what the talent level was on Lavins first team here with Norms players. If Lavin and the staff could have them ranked 15th in the Nation, there's absolutely no reason why he can't have this team ranked somewhere near there. Looking at the schedule the only games that I feel are probable losses are @ Louisville, @ Syracuse, @ Georgetown. I'm not saying that we'll win every other game, obviously that will not happen, but every other game on the schedule is very winnable. Those three games I mentioned above I think will be very competitive games but those three I think we probably lose.
 
 You guys get me really excited and I'm not saying this can't happen, but it's just hard for me to believe. Maybe it's the Mets/Jets fan in me...great teams, great talent, but the wins don't always add up as they should. I do think we should be a 17-13 type USF last year kind of team. Maybe it's just that SJ has been under the radar for so long (sans the run 2 years ago) that has me skeptical of a major breakout year. I think if we sign 1 more top 50 recruit for next year, Sampson turns out to be the real deal, Obekpa is a monster, and Branch is decent, then the minimum 24 win prediction becomes much more safe to me. If Harrison leaves after this year though, that takes the wind out of our sails.

As always, I hope I am wrong and we do bust out onto the scene this year.
Click to expand...
 

When you folks were kind enuf to allow me to start posting here two years ago, one of the first things I wrote (and was emphatic about) is that Saint Johns will have to change their mind-set. You've got to put old disappointents and old expectataions out of your mind. Steve Lavin is a different kind of animal. He really is.

Steve Lavin didn't leave his broadcasting career to be "middle of the pack" in the Big East. Or to "reach the NCAA tourney. HE's a guy who took his first team ever to an Elite 8. took 4 more to Sweet 16s in the next 5 years after that. Steve Lavin is thinking minimum top 25 in D-1.. Why do I think he can do that THIS year? Because Steve has ALREADY done that with teams of virtually all-frosh and sophs....his 1999 team started two sophs and 3 freshmen. And 5 of the next 6 off the bench were also frosh and sophs. Baron Davis (So), Earl Watson (So), Dan Gadzuric(Fr), JaRon Rush (Fr), Jerome Moiso (Fr), Rico Hines (So), Matt Barnes (Fr), Travis Reed (So), Ray Young (Fr), Billy Knight (So) and Moose Bailey (Jr)....That team was FAR less experienced than This team (about 3,000 minutes of D-1 play on the entire roster). Only year end injuries (Gadzuric missed the tourney, Billy had to redshirt with a bad groin, and Baron and Earl were lame) prevented that team from doing serious tourney damage. - but it did finsh #18 in the country.

While I don't think we have a Baron Davis on our team, I do think our overall talent level is comparable, given it's depth, perhaps even superior. And I know our coaching staff is superior. And yes, I do realize that Bruin team had 5 NBA caliber players.
 
 We are not elite 8 material this year, hopefully we are next year. Being realistc, I would be very happy making the NCAA touny and winning a game.
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I would lake that right now...
 
 I just don't see what many other teams in the Big East have over us and why we can't be a top 6 team which should put us squarely in the dance? We have plenty of returning talent and depth as well as more size and skill thismyear. I think we are truly a sleeper team this season because almost all people that are rating us below 10 are most assuredly assuming we have basically the same team back minus Harkless. I think the pundits are underrating the talent we brought in with this recruiting class and I think our returning players will be better.

I also believe that Branch will be better than the few handful of games he played at A&M. The kid didn't get much of a chance to progress there. He left after first semester, but was one of the most highly ranked players out of HS the year prior. Many factors as to why the pundits aren't talking about us but I think it is a mistake.

Darrick Martin and Rico Hines should help our guards and wings a ton as it is their bread and butter. I don't know if we are Elite 8 material before seeing how we progress on the court, but I think we have The depth, athleticism and talent to make that kind of run.
Click to expand...
 

In my opinion we will definitely finish in the top seven of the Big East. Just look at the playing time our returnees had last season; that's called experience. Add a potential top point guard and our strong roster of incoming freshmen. Heck I had confidence last year even with a depleted squad. Just you wait and see how much our kids improve. I'm betting on it.
Click to expand...
 


I would disappointed if we did not finish higher
 
 You guys get me really excited and I'm not saying this can't happen, but it's just hard for me to believe. Maybe it's the Mets/Jets fan in me...great teams, great talent, but the wins don't always add up as they should. I do think we should be a 17-13 type USF last year kind of team. Maybe it's just that SJ has been under the radar for so long (sans the run 2 years ago) that has me skeptical of a major breakout year. I think if we sign 1 more top 50 recruit for next year, Sampson turns out to be the real deal, Obekpa is a monster, and Branch is decent, then the minimum 24 win prediction becomes much more safe to me. If Harrison leaves after this year though, that takes the wind out of our sails.

As always, I hope I am wrong and we do bust out onto the scene this year.
Click to expand...
 


Joe, I know that each year is different with guys graduating and new recruits coming in, but you have to remember that Lavin had Norms team ranked 15th in the Nation two years ago. This current teams talent level is head and shoulders above what the talent level was on Lavins first team here with Norms players. If Lavin and the staff could have them ranked 15th in the Nation, there's absolutely no reason why he can't have this team ranked somewhere near there. Looking at the schedule the only games that I feel are probable losses are @ Louisville, @ Syracuse, @ Georgetown. I'm not saying that we'll win every other game, obviously that will not happen, but every other game on the schedule is very winnable. Those three games I mentioned above I think will be very competitive games but those three I think we probably lose.
Click to expand...
 

Every game is winnable just some more than others
 
 You guys get me really excited and I'm not saying this can't happen, but it's just hard for me to believe. Maybe it's the Mets/Jets fan in me...great teams, great talent, but the wins don't always add up as they should. I do think we should be a 17-13 type USF last year kind of team. Maybe it's just that SJ has been under the radar for so long (sans the run 2 years ago) that has me skeptical of a major breakout year. I think if we sign 1 more top 50 recruit for next year, Sampson turns out to be the real deal, Obekpa is a monster, and Branch is decent, then the minimum 24 win prediction becomes much more safe to me. If Harrison leaves after this year though, that takes the wind out of our sails.

As always, I hope I am wrong and we do bust out onto the scene this year.
Click to expand...
 

When you folks were kind enuf to allow me to start posting here two years ago, one of the first things I wrote (and was emphatic about) is that Saint Johns will have to change their mind-set. You've got to put old disappointents and old expectataions out of your mind. Steve Lavin is a different kind of animal. He really is.

Steve Lavin didn't leave his broadcasting career to be "middle of the pack" in the Big East. Or to "reach the NCAA tourney. HE's a guy who took his first team ever to an Elite 8. took 4 more to Sweet 16s in the next 5 years after that. Steve Lavin is thinking minimum top 25 in D-1.. Why do I think he can do that THIS year? Because Steve has ALREADY done that with teams of virtually all-frosh and sophs....his 1999 team started two sophs and 3 freshmen. And 5 of the next 6 off the bench were also frosh and sophs. Baron Davis (So), Earl Watson (So), Dan Gadzuric(Fr), JaRon Rush (Fr), Jerome Moiso (Fr), Rico Hines (So), Matt Barnes (Fr), Travis Reed (So), Ray Young (Fr), Billy Knight (So) and Moose Bailey (Jr)....That team was FAR less experienced than This team (about 3,000 minutes of D-1 play on the entire roster). Only year end injuries (Gadzuric missed the tourney, Billy had to redshirt with a bad groin, and Baron and Earl were lame) prevented that team from doing serious tourney damage. - but it did finsh #18 in the country.

While I don't think we have a Baron Davis on our team, I do think our overall talent level is comparable, given it's depth, perhaps even superior. And I know our coaching staff is superior. And yes, I do realize that ucla had 5 NBA caliber players.
Click to expand...
 

WE have NBA cailbers players Jarrkar Harrison Sanchez and others can be possibles There is above talent on this
and who knows how far the can go
 
I will go with the premise that we will be a top 25 team. We lost Mo but have Kar and Sanchez to replace him. We have added depth and now have a lot of soph talent who have been through the war. One can argue that based on the amount of PT they had to but in its 2 wars. Harrision should lead the BE in scoring this year and Branch will come in to be the floor general just in time for conference play. Having kids fresh for the end of games instead of exhausted ones will be huge, and adding extra shooters or defensive specialists as the situation calls for will give Lavin flexibility the team lacked last year.

That said if we are in the top 25 it is not that long a stretch to say we will be an elite 8 team. It is just another win in the dance and anything can happen in the dance. The only thing I see we are missing is the experience under pressure of playing in a big tourney. We can only hope that when we make it that far that the staff will help the kids advance and survive.
 
 
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