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09-24-2015, 12:39 PM
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#201 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere More Familiar
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Dartmouth's class...let's not talk about Dartmouth's class. I've still got two of three scholarship offers outstanding and it's March in-game. That should tell you all you need to know.
I'll probably post my recruiting journal here in long format at the end of the season. |
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09-24-2015, 05:19 PM
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#202 |
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: May 2006
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I put slightly less stock in the 'game ranking' for recruiting classes with each passing year. At this point I think it's useful as a rough guideline but not a whole lot more.
Anyway, I'll jump in here and summarize my recruiting for the year, which is done. Seems like a long time ago now, but I messed up the export for the critical second recruiting sim, and paid a price for it esp. with Harvard. Harvard ** SG Domenic McDonald -- Terrified Vince was going to steal him again. He was nice enough not to but that's ok, UConn did it for him. Second year in a row Harvard loses out on a talented local that loved us from day one. Ahh the joys of being at the bottom of a crappy conference with a 'teacher' style coach(i.e., more Xs and Os than recruiting in the ratings). ** C Randall Reynolds(#298) -- Had a battle with Brown which we needed to win and did. Grades out terrible but our scout sucks and he's an All-Stater from UConn. G Douglas Larson was the same last year and came in Red/Yellow. I'd take that and smile. Fills a need for size. That was the only one of the initial batch we hung on to. After that it was a scouting expedition, and after dragging the bottom of the local tributaries we came up with ... * SG Teddy Krieger(#667) -- Scouts as a warm body but All-State in Virginia with impressive stats for someone rated so low. Hoping for a diamond in the rough but we had to have a shooting guard in this class with only one coming back. * C Damon Jones(#526) -- Only one of the players that my scout thinks is worth a darn, which of course means he'll be a disaster. In all seriousness, scouts as a potential elite rebounder with far better handles than a one-star center has any right to have. Serviceable on defense and no range on offense, but strong and beggars can't be choosers. Both big men are 6-8 and strong, quality size for our program. One scholarship is rolling over to the next year to give us two to shoot for. Harvard loses little the next couple of years yet, so the team is going to get better. None of these players will be stars but there's a decent chance all three of them are quality subs by the end of their careers. With the way things have gone, the only way this program is going to get a 'game-changer' is finding a one or two-star player that everyone else has ignored. In the first two years, 13 3-star players entered the Ivy. With this year included, Harvard has now brought in 2 2-stars and 10 1-stars, not a single 3 or higher. We're still going to after the 3-stars of opportunity; from a role-play standpoint if nothing else, I can't justify saying 'yep, that kid loves us, lives 50 miles away, great student, perfect attitude, but we're not going to try because I know he'll end up going somewhere else anyway.' Having said that, Coach Sorensen is very well aware that he just can't compete with even the other coaches in the Ivy for these players when Harvard is #1 and they get max effort from the first sim onwards. The Crimson program will be built with depth, balance, and getting the most out of cast-offs or never-wanted, or it won't be built at all. Tulane Hal Vanderhoff is my lone 'recruiting hero' coach. Tries to grab one JC a year, doesn't really have a system, just tries to plug and play with whomever he gets. Worked first year, not so much the second year, worked again this year and the results on the court have started to come around as well so the next few years should be fun. This year's haul: *** F Roland Phillips(#141) -- Good spot-up shooter and defender, a complementary piece rather than a star. Rated higher than we graded him so we'll see, but was still by far the best swingman option. Jumped on him a bit late and was surprised not to have any competition that I recall. *** F Kirby Saylor(#155, JC) -- No range on offense and a little slow afoot but can do just about everything else. Handle the ball, defend in the paint, rebound, score inside, block the occasional shot, should be an impact post player. And oh my, how this team needs post players. Perimeter talent they have. So this is just what the doctor ordered it seems. *** G Leonel Coffee(#216) -- Might be the best player in this class. Mr. Versatility. Needs to work on his body and midrange jumper, but looks like a guy who will be adequate or better at literally everything a guard needs to do on the court, and should be ready to contribute as a freshman. Tulane has a lot of 'specialist' players, having players like Saylor and Coffee that are more versatile should really help shore up weaknesses. I hope. * C Trevor Sellers(#687) -- A lot lower in the rankings, Sellers is a project who couldn't score if his life depended on it right now. Appears to have elite potential in defensive rebounding and defensive positioning, and with plenty of perimeter scorers that's just what the doctor ordered. Very raw, esp. athletically, so he's a prime redshirt candidate. Tulane gets a step closer to SEC competitiveness here. Not sure if we're quite there yet with losing the one decent passer on the team to graduation this offseason, but I think it's coming -- just a matter of when. Michigan Twas an easy year with only one recruit: *** G Chris Pleasant (#100) -- First Top 100 recruit(barely), and it probably doesn't really count as he's the only 3-star on that list. Physically ready and lightning-quick, we grade him as a potential star and prepared to contribute right away; I noticed reports from others that are not quite as high on him so we will see what happens. We liked Scurry like everyone else but no way were we going to pry him away from the Spartans. There was a player from the Plains that I thought about who might have been better, but Pleasant is home-grown and was a virtual gimme. Bird in the hand, so to speak. A versatile player with potential turnover issues the only drawback, but it shouldn't be a severe weakness. Pleasant's the kind of player whose greatest strength is the lack of such a weakness, passing and defense look to the be the top aspects of his game but mostly he can do a little of everything. Overall: Less than thrilled with Harvard but it shouldn't be a disaster which I guess I should be thankful for. Next year I need to try and find good talent with only two spots to fill. Tulane and Michigan both did well I think. I don't shoot for the moon like some of the other schools, and I think Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State, etc. are consistently outrecruiting me in the Big Ten, so we'll see how that plays out in the long term. Last edited by Brian Swartz : 09-24-2015 at 05:27 PM. |
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10-04-2015, 06:48 PM
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#203 |
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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1955 Washington Huskies Review:
Heading into the season we figured on a small step back. Instead, the Huskies won their first PCC title by going 15-1 and finished the regular season 30-2 to earn a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament where they advanced beyond the first round for the first time in three seasons. That was as far as this surprising season would go however – injuries and a scrappy Vanderbilt team ended Washington’s hopes of getting back to the Final Four. Still, this season has to go down as a success. Sweeps of St. John’s, Cal, Oregon, wins over Seattle U & Idaho State and winning the Pre-Season NIT were among the highlights as the Huskies finish 31-3 and ranked 5th in the country. Team Leaders: Points: SG Daniel Fenton (Jr) - 13.5, SG/SF Italo Malocco (So) – 11.4, PG Ellis Murphy (Sr) - 9.9 Rebounds: PF Joshua Lopez (Sr) – 11.0, C Francis Calhoun (RS-So) - 7.3, SF Gisbert Bittes (RS-Jr) - 4.6 Assists: PG Ellis Murphy (Sr) – 6.7, SG Daniel Fenton (Jr) – 4.4, SG/SF Italo Malocco (So) - 1.7 Blocks: C Francis Calhoun (RS-So) – 0.7 Steals: SG/SF Italo Malocco (So) - 1.8 This was a relatively balanced team. Fenton led the way in scoring with help from 6th man Malocco, and was also the #2 assist man on the team. Murphy was among the national leaders in assists, finishing 6th in the country. Lopez likewise ranked 6th in the country in rebounding. Washington was among the leaders in several team categories, ranking 9th in pace of play, 7th in offensive efficiency, 6th in defensive efficiency, 12th in effective FG%, 7th in rebounding %, 5th in lowest TO % and 18th in steal %. Graduating players: PF Joshua Lopez: 8.4 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 0.7 blks Despite being a somewhat undersized post, Lopez was very effective. An elite rebounder and post defender, he had sufficient strength and good athleticism to hold up as a PF, and had the perimeter defense skills to not get burned by stretch-4’s. He possessed sufficient post skills to take advantage of his offensive rebound opportunities and get some easy points, though he wasn’t otherwise a significant scoring option. One of his most under-rated traits was his ability to avoid fouls. A two-year starter, he was a 2nd-team All PCC pick in 1954 and he’ll be up for similar honors this season. PG Ellis Murphy: 9.9 ppg, 6.7 apg, 1.0 steals Murphy developed into an excellent PG for us and was a key part of our offensive efficiency and defensive effectiveness. While his ball-handling was average, he was an elite passer and he elevated the Husky offense with his court vision. He was a good perimeter defender, though not much of a ball-hawk. He possessed a good jumper, particularly from deep and ended up one of our better offensive options. He had average quickness for the position, but was a plus jumper and had the stamina for Washington’s up-tempo attack. He’s a strong candidate for all-conference honors. PG Daniel Ruth: 2.9 ppg, 0.4 apg, 0.3 steals Ruth didn’t have the passing or ball-handling skills to contend for a starting PG job and wasn’t quite good enough as a defender or shooter to start at the SG, but he provided nice depth in the backcourt at both spots. Washington was well-stocked at guard which limited his minutes this past season, but he could have started at many programs across the country. PF Ernest Chong: 0.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.5 apg Chong was the kind of scrappy walk-on every program could use. He possessed decent defensive skills, was a better than average rebounder and had some post moves. He also was a terrific high-post passer. What he lacked was size – at just 6’5”, he could get overwhelmed by the bigger posts around the conference. Recruiting Class: Code:
This is an exciting class for Washington – not just because of the talent of the incoming players, but the fact that the Huskies were able to pull as many highly-rated kids as they did. It’s an encouraging sign that we’ll be able to bring in the kind of talent that will allow us to stay near the top of the PCC and continue to contend for NCAA Tournament berths. Willman is an interesting recruit. He’s an undersized post at 6’7”, 208 lbs, but he brings a lot of skill to the table. He’s already got sufficient strength to hold up down low and should improve with development; he also appears to have good quickness, and his defensive potential suggests he could be average to above-average both defending the post and the perimeter, so he’s got the ability to play both forward spots. He projects as an elite rebounder, an above-average passer and appears to have advanced post moves on the offensive end. Washington was able to fend off Cal for his signature. Johnson is the highest-rated recruit we’ve signed yet. He’s another versatile forward prospect at 6’8”, 212 lbs. His athleticism is less developed than Willman, but he’s got the combination of quickness, strength and jumping ability that should allow him to play both the 3 and the 4. He appears to have adequate defensive skills across the board including plus ball-hawking ability. He’s an average to above-average ball-handler and passer. On the offensive end he’s got some ability to create his own shot and a decent jumper (and very good from deep). Washington beat out Cincinnati to land him. Shelley was the highest-rated and most impressive of a trio of in-state recruits this season and we targeted him right off the bat. A terrific scorer and shooter (24.9 ppg, 60.7% FG), he shows excellent potential as a penetrator and jump shooter and has elite athleticism. He also shows very good potential as a perimeter defender and should develop into a plus passer. While the Huskies have loaded up on a lot of talented wings, it’s quite possible that he could redshirt and then end up as a 4-year starter at SG after Fenton graduates. Washington has sufficient quality depth that we can likely afford to redshirt all three players, but there’s a chance Willman or Johnson is good enough right off the bat to work their way into significant minutes in the front court. I would guess this class will rank in the top-5. 1956 Preview: Washington loses two significant pieces with the graduation of Lopez and Murphy. Lopez brought outstanding rebounding ability while Murphy was a fantastic passer, and both were terrific defensive players. Both will be difficult to replace. C Francis Calhoun returns for his RS-Jr season and his 2nd year as a starter. He brings a lot of talent to the table and will be a key player. He’s got good size at 6’9”, 262 lbs, good strength and above-average hops for a post. He’s already a good defender down low with elite potential and can also hold his own on the perimeter. He’s a terrific offensive rebounder and improving on the defensive glass – with Lopez gone he’ll be counted on to step up this aspect of his game. On the offensive end he can stretch a defense with a good jumper. Burt Lingle saw his first action this season coming off his redshirt year and acquitted himself nicely. At 6’11”, 248 lbs he’s the biggest player on the roster and among our strongest. While his post defense and rebounding is just average, his height appears to give him a bit of an edge. His offensive game is still developing, but he’s got the potential to be a decent option. Joining the mix off his redshirt year is Gregoire Depretz. He’s got more potential as a rebounder and could be a bit better defensively, particularly as a shot-blocker. He’s got similar offensive potential but is a bit more advanced and he’s got better passing skills. He’s got decent size at 6’9”, 224 lbs, good strength and nice athleticism. He’s probably got the edge at this point to start alongside Calhoun. Out on the wing, RS-Sr Gisbert Wittes returns for his 3rd season as a starter. He brings a solid all-around mix of skills to the SF job; he’s got enough quickness to not be embarrassed by faster wings and plenty of strength to bang down in the post with the bigger 3’s. He’s a very good defender both in the post and on the perimeter, has some ball-hawking skills and is an adequate rebounder. On the offensive end he’s improving and does a decent job of creating his own shot and an OK jumper, and he’s also pretty good with the ball in his hands. RS-So Jose Park saw his first action this past season and showed off his offensive skills, finishing 3rd on the team in points per minute. He’s already the most well-rounded offensive threat on the team with an ability to get to the hoop and a pretty good jump shot. He’s reasonably quick and strong for a wing and can jump out of the gym. Where he needs to improve is on the defensive end, and he’s basically a non-factor on the boards. Damien Elliott (RS-Jr) is an intriguing walk-on that has the size and strength to play both post positions, but has the perimeter defensive skills to also see some time at the 3. He’ll get some opportunities at the 4 & 5 but needs to improve his post defense. He’s got the jump shot to stretch opposing bigs and is an adequate rebounder. This will be Sr Daniel Fenton’s team. He’ll enter his 4th season as a starter and remains the most talented player on the roster with a certain NBA future. He’s a very well-rounded player with very few weaknesses. A very athletic player with surprising strength for a guard, he’s an equally adept defender up high or down low and can generate some steals. He’s got the ball-handling and passing skills to be a very good PG (and that will likely be his pro position), but he’s also our best shooter (by far) and an improving ability to get to the basket. Fenton is a terrific all-around player with a skill set that allows him to play 1-3. He’ll likely start at the 2, but he provides us a lot of flexibility and should be our leading offensive player. A good bet to start alongside him will be Marquis Gray, a very talented PG coming off his redshirt season. He’s ultra-quick and has elite passing potential. His defense is improving but needs to continue to get better. He’s got a developing jumper that should become a weapon in another season or two. Another option will be to slide Fenton over to PG and move super-sub Italo Malocco (Jr) into the starting lineup at SG. Malocco was our 2nd leading scorer and best ball-hawk. He’s a very good defender with plus athleticism and has seen some time at the 3, though his post defense isn’t very good. He’s a decent passer, and while his offensive skills aren’t eye-popping, his quickness, jumping ability and strength make him a real threat as a scorer. Another strong scoring option could be Manuel Parenteau, the final member of the 1955 class coming off his redshirt. He’s got a very good jumper already and combines terrific quickness with elite hops which should help him find open looks. He projects as an adequate rebounder and passer. He’s got some work to do on the defensive end, but if he develops as expected he should end up at least an average perimeter defender. The crowded backcourt also boasts another PG candidate in RS-So Wayne Toro. He’s a good ball-handler and a fair passer with exceptional quickness. He’s got a very good jumper as well (particularly from long-range). Like Parenteau and Parks, he needs to continue developing his defense; as of right now he’s below-par which will limit his minutes. The Huskies are likely to take a bit of a step back. The 1955 team was particularly good defensively and on the boards – both of these areas will take a hit with the graduation of Lopez and Murphy, and team passing will take a small step back as well. That might be counteracted by improving shooting and post skills, so the offense might not decline. The Huskies should generate more steals and blocked shots and should be more athletic. They boast quite a bit of backcourt depth, but injuries in the front court could be trouble. I would expect that Washington should again be a strong contender in the PCC, though the conference is improving rapidly and I expect a tough race for the NCAA auto-bid. This is a team that should win 20+ and earn another NCAA bid even if they miss out on being PCC champs. Last edited by dawgfan : 10-04-2015 at 09:09 PM. |
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10-10-2015, 08:00 AM
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#204 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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This year was rough as I had speaking engagements on other college campus this past month, so I wasn't as able to keep up with this. Memorizing speeches takes a while for me to do as I hate using note cards.
So lets try to play catch up as the season as ended. USC finished the season with their best record to date at 17-13 and 8-8 in the brutal PCC. We made the NIT for our first post season berth ever, but lost in the first round game to a scrappy Sienna team. Washington basically ran the tables this past year and had a hell of a season taking home the PCC crown and advancing into the 2nd round of the NCAA tourney this year. CAL had another Cal like season and also made the tourney however just wasn't the usual Cal squad. Oregon got hosed, and I mean just mind blowingingly screwed for the NCAA tourney this year. I remember looking at the numbers and wondering how they got jobbed so bad. They should have been the third team into the NCAA this past year. Other than those teams and Idaho the rest of us did ok for various different reasons. This conf overall brought in some more talent recruiting wise and this is the year I believe that we start to see the fruits of all of our hard working staffs comes to bear with our own recruits being juniors on all our squads. |
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10-10-2015, 08:18 AM
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#205 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Recruiting looks like this ranked by FBB.
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Washington take a huge jump forward in what they brought in. All 3 guys are going to be studs and its going to be hard for the rest of us to keep up with that. Just speaking for my own USC squad, I have no idea how we are going to be able to come close to putting the same type of talent on the floor unless we are able to recruit better, and without us winning soon, we aren't going to be able to do it. Cal- I'm not impressed with Cal's class at all. They don't have the 2nd best class in the PCC no matter what the game says. If Cal didn't get the gift of a walk on Charles Puglsey 2 years ago, they would be in some major trouble post wise this year and next. Should be real interesting to see if they start to decline as the rest of the conf might be catching up talent wise with them. Oregon State- This is the team that I believe will make a major move this year, and they brought in a nice class. I think hands down the 2nd best in the conf. Nathanial smith should be a nice PG for them even though I personally hate that he is under 6'0. I don't think it will be an issue for him though if all he does is be the passing PG he could easily be. USC- We had an ok class. but I have already talked about my guys earlier on in this thread. 2 post players in this class should help stabilize my roster next year. Both will redshirt, and the prize for my class was Sanford Crabb who will do a little bit of everything, not not as well as I would have hoped. UCLA-Not a huge fan of their class either, but Jardine is an interesting guy to keep a watch on. He will be able to shoot it with anybody in the conf. Grayson will be a solid option at PG for them. Stanford- I love Elian Alvarez and he is the prize of their class. He will eventually be able to do it all for them and is a guy this conf will be hearing about for the next 4 years. Mathewson will be another shooter, and will be able to handle the ball for them. He projects to be another good guard in the conf and one that should help standford win some games. Oregon- Bradly Lippert. Hell of a Juco find. Other than him, blahhh Idaho- John Wagoner was a huge get for them. While he wont be able to do it all in the PCC on this squad, he would have easily been a starter for anyone else in the conf in a year or 2. Huge huge get here. Washington State- I have no idea why they were last. Odell Groth here honestly might be the 2nd or 3rd best projected post player in the entire PCC class. That alone should have them last in the PCC recruiting standings. I keep talking about State and how they are a team up and coming. They brought in another nice solid class for them. They just need to prove it on the court |
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10-10-2015, 08:25 AM
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#206 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Player Records
All Time PCC Stats holders Code:
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10-10-2015, 08:26 AM
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#207 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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All time Universe Record Stat holders
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10-10-2015, 08:28 AM
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#208 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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10-10-2015, 08:29 AM
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#209 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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10-10-2015, 08:29 AM
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#210 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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10-10-2015, 08:29 AM
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#211 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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10-10-2015, 08:30 AM
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#212 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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10-10-2015, 08:35 AM
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#213 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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I cant complain much about the awards this year and a huge congrats on Kirk being the coach of the year. Am not going to be disappointed by all these guys graduating, notably the conf player of the year Layne.
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Last edited by muns : 10-10-2015 at 08:37 AM. |
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10-10-2015, 08:38 AM
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#214 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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USC's biggest thing that occurred this offseason was our star assistant coach did not decide to retire, and we will get his development for at least another year. Very happy about that. Our guys will benefit from getting his development during TC this year.
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10-10-2015, 11:12 AM
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#215 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere More Familiar
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You only have to wait three more seasons for Dyer and Plant to graduate!
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10-11-2015, 09:02 AM
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#216 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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I do think this is the year where the ACC takes over as the best conf. They have more top heavy than the PCC, but I think they have better players. I don't think the BIG is there yet, although if Vince keeps doing what the hell he is doing over there that might change some things real quick.
I would rate it 1. ACC 2. PCC 3. BIG 4. Big 7 Code:
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10-11-2015, 09:05 AM
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#217 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Another players I like in the BIG is Michigan's James Beane. Love the name, and love the underdog status as a kid that was ranked 324. If he had any jumpshot he might be putting up 25 a game.
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10-12-2015, 01:24 AM
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#218 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere More Familiar
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Quote:
Aw shucks, you're going to make me blush! We'll see if I can keep it up. Might have been a blind squirrel/nut kind of thing. I just happened to hit on players that all the big boys chose not to. |
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10-26-2015, 05:55 PM
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#219 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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The National Basketball Report
The Too Early Top Twenty Filed: June 17, 1956 The beginning of this Too Early Top Twenty will have a familiar feel to it. But, dear reader, please make no mistake. This is the year we begin to see wholesale change across the nation. There are new teams across the landscape, ready to step up and show what they're worth. There are new stars, ready to claim their spot in the sky. There are teams moving up and down the ranks, and while the top of the ladder is the same old story, look down a few rungs. It should also be noted, this is our toughest column to write, because there is so much ambiguity with potential. Many teams have potential, but nobody knows how it will play out. Things become slightly more clear after training camps end, and we get more reports from our staff, who seems to be repaired after flu and back season. 1. Kansas State: After three national semifinal appearances, and a loss in the championship game, a fourth semifinal appearance, on its own, would be a disappointment. This group of seniors--Billy Jacob, David Gunter, Tommy Fritts, and Erich Walton (and redshirt senior Greg Cole)--were the pick to win the championship in each of the last two seasons. They are the favorite once more, at least at this point in the season. No team has more expectations, more pressure, on them than the Wildcats. There may be no more pressure on any one player than sophomore forward Alec Larkin, who must replace Matthew Collins. Neither is there as much pressure on any senior than there is on Billy Jacob, the boy wonder who was the face of this Four Horsemen. If he is to cement his legacy in triumph, then he must lead his men to the ultimate victory. If he is to cement his legacy as a man who could not lead his horse to water, let this season end as the last three have: with unfulfilled goals. 2. North Carolina State: They sandbagged their program a year to let the kids--the four freshman of a year ago--get acclimated to this environment. Now, centers Chris Arenas and Elliott Weintraub are ready to contribute to America's biggest team. There are questions, of course: can Clayton Wheeler and Billy Munoz work themselves into the rotation seamlessly at guard, where NC State has a giant hole past point guard Chris Davis? Can they find adequate scoring at the guard spot? Do they have enough depth in the backcourt? For many teams, the backcourt is a strength. Not so at State, where they have a deep, yet somewhat unbalanced, roster. That said, they are nearly as talented as Kansas State, at least at this stage. We believe the Wolfpack will develop into the behemoth many thought they'd become, and do so this season. 3. Kansas: The defending champions lose Chris Seay, Earle Maldonaldo, and Rudolf Burke. But Arlon Rahn, the 7'1, 275-pound giant of a man, is only a sophomore. Luis Horne and Steven Burns return as one of the finest backcourts in the country, Irwin Lear is the next great guard in a growing lineage of great guards in Lawrence. And Loren Brown, David Acklin, Timmy McHugh, and fellow 7'1 center, freshman Dalton Martine, form more than an adequate support cast. It would not be shocking to see Kansas at the end again. 4. Kentucky: Curt Davis reminds many of Jerry Young, which is as favorable a comparison as one in Lexington can receive. He is a bit of a do-everything player, excellent defensively, efficient (mostly) on offense. Sophomore Scott Moncada is ready to take over for Dallas Kovacs at center. Lenny Snell is one of the top returning point guards in the nation. This team is fourth because of their potential. They can fall down this list...but they are the lead of the second tier of contenders, as of now. 5. Bradley: The Braves have reloaded behind four outstanding guards and 6'10 senior center James Calvo. They have the potential to be one of the best two-way teams in the country, with outstanding post defense and an offense that is equally diverse between the post and outside, takes care of the ball, and a defense that could be among the best in the nation. They need some of their younger pieces to come together--namely redshirt freshman Phil Overton and Jamal Steverson--but they have enough talent to win the MVC running away, and enough ability to make a serious national title run. 6. Duke: The Blue Devils are back after a rough year last season, where they were usurped by Clemson and North Carolina the ACC. Clemson has fallen completely apart, and while UNC will be very good, they don't have as much top-line talent as their archrival. Jonathan Fleenor and Lane McClary are as good a one-two punch as there is in the country. There are many younger players ready to help the two senior stars, including juniors Edison Reichard, Stefan Jordan, Elisha Oakley and Dewayne Jackson; sophomore Ray Griffin, and the curiously named Joesph Finger. That is not a mistake on our part. Redshirt freshman center Grant Wood looks like the real issue, while guard Charlie Rodriguez needs more seasoning. This team can win the conference, and more. 7. Indiana: The Hoosiers are the weakest they have been in the last four seasons, but that is relative. Two regular season losses would be evidence for this being their weakest team. The Hoosiers still have more talent than most, but the gap in the Big Ten is closing. And with Enoch Horn, Rupert Maldonaldo, and Marcos Godfrey gone, this team has a lot of questions...especially at guard, where they return just two players with any experience. Sure, Des Phillips and Ike Winfrey have a lot of talent; however, can they live up to the expectations of guards gone by? Godfrey was the best point guard in the nation last year. Horn, while not living up to expectations during his time in Bloomington, had an impossible task in trying to do so. The Hoosiers couldn't get it done when they had the best roster outside of Manhattan (Kansas) and are coming what is on the shortlist of biggest upsets in athletic history. For the first time, there are major questions to answers for the Hoosiers. 8. Dayton: This could look brilliant next year, or like total lunacy. Denver Logan, the 6'11, 270-pound wall, is back at center. He makes fellow center Jonathan Maus, at 6'9, 225, look like Eddie Haskell. If redhsirt senior guard Charlie Gomez rounds into form, and redshirt sophomore guard Chris Duron can take the next step after an injury wiped out most of last season, AND the bevy of talent that needs to grow (such as juniors Dwight Sweet, Angel Paquette and Gregory Lewis, and freshman Gary McCormick and Rickey Peterkin), this team can be every bit a leader in March. The qualifiers necessary for the Flyers to take off seems too many to overcome, but Dayton has that opportunity. 9. Southern California: It is definitely a little obtuse, selecting the Trojans as the current kingpin of the West Coast. This is like the Dayton pick; the Trojans have a stockpile of talent, but whether they can capitalize on that talent remains to be seen. JC Quiles and Allen Storer, the elder statesmen as juniors, have experience but not production you would expect of top players. So, this entire roster needs to take a step forward. As of now, though, no team in the PCC has more talent, and we do believe this is the year the Trojans take the next step. They have this kind of ceiling. 10. Oregon State: Reach here, but we'd rather be ahead of the curve on the Beavers than late on their bandwagon. Four starters return from last year's team, and Arthur Brodie is ready to star along with Fabio Pastor. Keep an eye on point guard Gerald Kutz; the redshirt freshman was the #14 overall recruit two years ago, and is an expert at passing and handling the ball. He's also a good defender, one who should be a hawk on the basketball, when held by the opposition. They'll have the depth and the talent. Whether or not it comes together in the shifting Pacific, well...it is there for the taking. 11. Arkansas: The Razorbacks are the best team unknown to most of the country, mostly because there are not many national media outlets in the state. But the Razorbacks, behind Seth Wessels, Kerry Groves, Bennett Dougherty, Will Bingham and Scott Garza, have a veteran group that has won before. We expect this team, with sophomore Mac Burroughs and junior John Berry, to make the lead to contender this season. The Southwest is one of the most difficult conferences to navigate in the country, and Arkansas should throttle it this season. 12. Iowa: The Hawkeyes are loaded with talent that is ready to grow. They have a veteran team--three starters return and five players have at least 56 games in the system. If players like forward Spencer Diamond, guard Joe Padgett, and forwards Brian Garrido and Columbus Dotson, are able to contribute to the rotation in a positive way, then the Hawkeyes are a major threat in a Big Ten dominated by Indiana. Guards Chet Terrazas and Tony Gargile, both seniors, lead the way...but if this team is really going to fly, then Diamond, guard Alvin Staley, and freshman center Tony Sipe, are going to begin to soar. 13. Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish finally broke through last year, though once they did, they fell with a thud. However, this year may be the year the Irish take a bigger step. They have incredible potential up and down the roster, and all players are nearing their potential. They also have three senior leaders in SG Guy Jeter, SF John Weekley, and 7' center, Dennis Sherwood. They also have several juniors, led by guards Elvis Cox and Angel Elbert, ready to take the next step up. They lack major size, but they should be a defensive terror. 14. North Carolina: Three starters return, led by forward Dennis Sawicki and guard Archie Means, return. Overall, nine players that have at least thirty games of regular duty are back, making the Tar Heels one of the most veteran teams out there. The team also adds redshirt freshman center Chris Stoner, the #5 overall recruit two years ago. Add in guards Johnnie Northern and Keven Walters, and forwards Darrel Brown and Emmanuel Shotwell, and this UNC team can contend for honors in the ACC. 15. California: We feel like, at this point, these teams have highlights, but also severe flaws. The backcourt of Tony Eyre and Tyron Crandall should be a crackerjack tandem, even if neither is a quality distributor. So, who plays the role of the lead guard? Both will tell you they should, and both may get a good look at filling the role. However, they lack playing depth at this position, and a lot of experience just about everyone. Rene Storm, Craig Kruger and Dale Frank would be complimentary pieces on most other teams; on the Bears. they'll likely be asked to start. There are many, however, who are excited by Marc Cundiff possibly stepping into the starting lineup. This isn't really because of his contributions last year, but the glimpses of brilliance he did demonstrate last year. He has an ability to get very hot with the outside shot, and is very quick. 16. La Salle: The Explorers return four starters from last year; of course, the one they lost, Timmy McSwain, was the key cog in last year's squad. Cam Perry and Lou Davies, along with Robert Woodcock, will be the nexus of this squad. That is a triumvirate worthy of lofty consideration. The Explorers will need returning forwards Donovan Cowles and Garth Russell to make good on their lofty potential. Contributors Xia Ding, Kenny Smith, and Charlie Dowdell will also give this squad a more formidable 17. Duquesne: The Dukes bring back three starters, including three-year starter, Chauncey Hinkley. PG Rod Williams and C Chris McKeehan will be the two that rise if Duquesne is also to rise. The Dukes are descending in national prestige, and if they are to sustain their place at the big table for the next wave of recruits, they will need to win this year. They should have enough off the bench, including Al Samson, James O'Grady, and Brent Dampier, to do just that. 18. St. John's: The Redmen can go six-deep immediately, and Kelvin Denton can become the star in the Metro, the King of New York. If Melvin Murray, Elvis Woods and David Bates can grow, the Johnnies become way more dangerous. That said, expect a 24-6 team by the time the NCAA hits. Nobody in the Metro can stand with them. 19. Michigan State: The Spartans return two starters, and three who have starting experience. Forward Cyril Clancy is the top returning player...but point guard Brent Burchell is the talk of East Lansing. The redshirt freshman was the top player in practice all last year, and should cause the offense to be much bette. He is also solid on defense, and is in excellent condition. The Connecticut-based guard should take the conference by storm. Add in incumbent Douglas Gibson, and power forward Chris Hendren, and you have a solid foursome leading this group. With all of their potential rising up, they could very well supplant Illinois in the top tier of the Big Ten. 20. Southern Methodist: The defending SWC champion Mustangs bring back three-year star, Charlie Garay, who may be the best player in the conference this year, and one of the most underappreciated players in the country. He has one of the best jump shots in the country, is a willing and more-than-able passer, and a very difficult defender. The rest will have to come together...but Art Freeman and Don Adam form a fantastic duo at point guard, C John Sanchez is an improving rebounder, and several players are able to round into top form. We said Arkansas should throttle the Southwest...well, if plans come together for Methodist, they won't have it that easy. |
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10-26-2015, 05:55 PM
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#220 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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NBR Analytics
NBR offers college basketball fanatics across the fruited plain our warmest greetings and salutations as we announce the newest addition to our humble publication. The National Basketball Report Analytics Desk, or NBR Analytics for short, will present the findings of what is affectionately known in-house as the 'nerdery'. While the other reports detailing thoughts on each season will continue as they have been, the 'glorified accountants' at NBR Analytics will retire to the nerdery with their slide rules, focusing primarily on the impact of various changes in the sport on a bit longer scale. Whenever possible, we concern ourselves with analyzing data in unique, and hopefully the reports derived by these calculations will be of use to the reading public. Shifting Sands: The 1956 Landscape One need look no further than the unpleasantness experienced by the Hoosiers last year in the Dance to see that college basketball in this day and age is a decidedly unpredictable sport in many ways. To the discerning eye however, there are still patterns both general and specific that can be discovered and appraised. For NBR Analytics, this is the first business of a new season: assessing what has changed, and what it may mean for schools, coaches, players, and their fans across the nation. Conference Realignments Only one conference changed it's makeup, with the MVC adding Drake from the Independent ranks as it's 8th member. On the surface, this moves certainly appears likely to drag the conference down rather than improve it, the opposite of the leap forward that happened when Bradley joined last year. Bulldogs HC Joseph Steed, is his fourth year, is widely considered to be out of his depth and more suited to an assistant role as a scout or defensive-oriented practice assistant. Two on his staff are better recruiters than he is, and a 34-54 career record with declining wins each season is not particularly impressive. The total number of independent programs stayed steady with Florida State entering the fray for a total of 171 schools fielding an entrant into the major college basketball competition. Coaching Carousel The single biggest piece of news this offseason is undoubtedly the stunning announcement that 35-year-old Scott Hanson has left Bradley to take on the vacancy at Memphis State. Try as we might, we can make no sense of this shocking maneuever. Bradley is clearly the dominant power in the MVC and just a year removed from a 1954 national championship, having made the Sweet 16 the other two years Hanson was at the helm there. He compiled an 83-13 record at a program that is considered to be among the top handful in the nation, and leaves for a virtually unknown independent program that sported a fine year last season in it's second in the competition, 20-13 with an NIT berth ... but Bradley they are not. I mean, was he bored? We may never know, but there just doesn't seem to be any rationale that we can see. For the Tigers, this is obviously a coup of seismic proportions. Bradley went with a proven commodity, Tommie Teran. Teran has guided Seattle to three straight 20-win seasons, including an NCAA appearance last year. He is expected to give the Braves a focus more on the offensive end as opposed to Hanson's slightly defensive style and has a good eye for talent, but there are questions about his ability to recruit at the highest levels. Newcomers Florida State pulled off a major steal as well, luring La Salle's Elias Serrano away to take on a much more difficult rebuilding project. Serrano won 22 or more each year with the Explorers, and made it to the Elite 8 and Sweet 16 the last couple of years. He's considered an elite recruiter and excellent gameplanner, especially on offense. As with Hanson, we are scratching our heads here. Elsewhere, George Jenkins leaves Morehead State to take over at Cincinatti, where he earned a reputation as a fine Xs and Os guy in earning back-to-back NCAA berths. We must question the Bearcats here though for bringing on a guy who hasn't proven he can recruit consistently to a program desperately in need of new talent on the court. The strange journey of Scott Dobbins continues as well. Unceremoniously and infamously fired by the Kansas Jayhawks after winning the national title in 1953, he spent the last couple of years as an assistant with Kentucky before getting another shot as a head coach now with Georgetown. No question he's got the ability to succeed, and it's a great move for the Hoyas. They were more or less forced to it with La Salle snagging their previous coach Royal Delgado after Serrano left ... no question to us that the Explorers got the short end of the stick as both of the other coaches are far superior both in resume and skills. And so it goes. It would seem the biggest upshot here is that there are some Independent programs looking at brighter futures: Memphis State, Florida State, and Georgetown could be primed for some good years down the road if their newly acquired leaders stick around. Conference Rankings Herein are presented the results of our latest polling, showing which conferences are regarded as being the most prestigious at the dawn of a new year. For now our purpose here is to simply present the numbers without comment. We will take a closer look at each conference in reverse order from 'worst to first' throughout the off-season months. 1. Big 7(65.6) 2. ACC(64.6) 3. Big Ten(63.9) 4. PCC(59.4) 5. SEC(52.4) 6. WYN3(48.0) 7. MVC(47.4) 8. SWC(46.1) 9. MSAC(39.5) 10. WCC(39.4) 11. Southern(35.0) 12. MAC(30.9) 13. Ivy Group(30.8) 14. Metro NY(30.4) 15. Ohio Valley(30.0) 16. Yankee(29.2) 17. BIAA(27.8) Top Quintile School Rankings What programs have earned the respect of their peers and fans? Have a look at the top quintile, i.e. the top 20%, of the nation's contenders. We would remind the reader that this has nothing to do with how good the teams are this year or will be a few years from now, it is a measure only of their reputation at this point in time. 1(t). Kansas(100) 1(t). Kansas State(100) 3. Kentucky(96) 4. Indiana(94) 5. North Carolina State(91) 6. Bradley(90) 7. West Virginia(89) 8. Illinois(85) 9. Iowa(84) 10. North Carolina(82) 11. San Francisco(81) 12(t). California(80) 12(t). Washington(80) 14. Duquesne(76) 15. La Salle(75) 16. Dayton(74) 17. Duke(72) 18. Utah(70) 19(t). Cincinatti(68) 19(t). Temple(68) 21(t). St. John's(67) 21(t). Saint Louis(67) 23. Oklahoma A&M(66) 24(t). Louisville(64) 24(t). Seattle(64) 24(t). Columbia(64) 27(t). Clemson(63) 27(t). Southern Methodist(63) 27(t). Saint Mary's(63) 30(t). Holy Cross(62) 30(t). Oregon State(62) 30(t). Mississippi State(62) 30(t). Vanderbilt(62) 34. Toledo(61) |
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10-26-2015, 05:55 PM
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#221 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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New Blood: Re-Assessing the Incoming 1956 Recruits
We find ourselves compelled to take issue with the 'official' recruiting rankings, which seems somewhat odd to us in their methodology. They seem to place too much emphasis on the number of recruits, as if a horde of warm bodies could somehow make up for a lack of talent, largely a demonstrably untrue assessment. Even more importantly, they seem to be based on rankings and star ratings from the scouting services which are a year old. Such things are extremely valuable for their time, a time which has now passed. It is always best to base conclusions on the best information available, and we've learned much about these players in the past year. Therefore with little further ado we present NBR's own recruiting rankings. These are based on a 9-point scale, and for us the relevant factor is the average quality of recruits coming in to a given program. Certainly it's harder to deal with a larger class, but that is a consideration for each coach to consider; we do not find it useful to reward or punish them for imbalanced classes from year to year. We grade here only on what they did with the scholarships available to them for this season. A modest penalty is included for every unfilled scholarship, and a modest bonus for those recruits ready to contribute immediately. We find the star rating system to be useful, and will appropriate it for the purposes here. 5-Star Classes These are quite rare, and encompass those schools with a rating at 8.0 or above in our system. This indicates that they managed to pull in blue-chip prospects across the board. Even the best programs in the country should be pleased to be mentioned here. This season, out of 171 there are but two in this section, an indicator of the difficulty of the achievement. 1. Indiana(8.63) 2. Kansas(8.0) The Jayhawks were listed first in the official rankings; here already we have our first disagreement, though Kansas obviously has a fine group of new players to be proud of. Indiana's haul is simply amazing though, all players with very high ceilings and pretty well-developed already. It's a near-perfect set of youngsters to reload with. 4-Star Most programs that are, or aspire to be, national powers will find themselves here with a mix of good and great players. Duds are rare if any are to be found at all among their new recruits. Those classes in the 5.0 to 7.99 range are included. 3(t). Purdue(7.17) 3(t). Washington(7.17) 5. Stanford(6.75) 6. North Carolina State(6.5) 7. Ohio State(6.25) 8(t). Kansas State(5.83) 8(t). Duquesne(5.83) 10. Southern California(5.67) 11(t). Oregon State(5.5) 11(t). UCLA(5.5) 13. California(5.25) 14. Arkansas(5.13) 15. Louisiana State(5.0) 3 Stars Fewer than 10% of the schools in the country have yet been accounted for. In this next category we list those in the 4.0-4.99 range, consistently classes with good players but generally few if any truly top-shelf talents. Only the very elite programs which believe themselves perennial national contenders would be disappointed to be named here. 16. Bradley(4.88) 17(t). Illinois(4.67) 17(t). Alabama(4.67) 19(t). Iowa State(4.5) 19(t). Michigan(4.5) 19(t). Villanova(4.5) 19(t). Colorado A&M(4.5) 19(t). Southern Methodist(4.5) 24. Temple(4.38) 25(t). Iowa(4.33) 25(t). Northwestern(4.33) 25(t). Penn State(4.33) 28(t). Duke(4.25) 28(t). Virginia(4.25) 28(t). Colorado(4.25) 28(t). Michigan State(4.25) 28(t). Wisconsin(4.25) 33(t). North Carolina(4.17) 33(t). St. John's(4.17) 33(t). Oklahoma A&M(4.17) 33(t). Mississippi State(4.17) 37(t). Arizona(4.0) 37(t). Brown(4.0) 37(t). Washington State(4.0) 2 Stars Another level down we find those in the 2.0-3.99 bracket. At this tier we would expect to find a good number of schools playing in the smaller conferences. A mix of good and only marginally talented players are found here. By far, this is where the lion's share of programs find themselves. 40. Agricultural & Mechanic(3.8) 41. Saint Joseph's(3.75) 42. Oregon(3.67) 43(t). Davidson(3.63) 43(t). West Virginia(3.63) 45(t). Municipal University of Wichita(3.5) 45(t). Murray State(3.5) 45(t). Santa Clara(3.5) 48. Columbia(3.4) 49. Wake Forest(3.38) 50(t). Notre Dame(3.33) 50(t). Nebraska(3.33) 50(t). Tennessee Tech(3.33) 50(t). Georgia(3.33) 50(t). Kentucky(3.33) 55. Connecticut(3.17) 56. Lehigh(3.13) 57. Texas(3.1) 58(t). Bucknell(3.0) 58(t). Colgate(3.0) 58(t). Loyola-IL(3.0) 58(t). Rutgers(3.0) 58(t). Siena(3.0) 58(t). Western Kentucky(3.0) 58(t). Florida(3.0) 58(t). Georgia Tech(3.0) 58(t). Tennessee(3.0) 58(t). VMI(3.0) 58(t). Virginia Tech(3.0) 58(t). Baylor(3.0) 58(t). San Francisco(3.0) 71. South Carolina(2.9) 72. Tulane(2.88) 73(t). Seattle(2.83) 73(t). Drake(2.83) 73(t). Idaho(2.83) 73(t). Loyola U of Los Angeles(2.83) 77. West Texas State(2.8) 78. Utah State Agricultural College(2.75) 79. Dayton(2.7) 80(t). Arizona State(2.67) 80(t). Memphis State(2.67) 80(t). Dartmouth(2.67) 80(t). Eastern Kentucky State(2.67) 84. Pittsburgh(2.63) 85. Vanderbilt(2.6) 86(t). New Mexico A&M(2.5) 86(t). Navy(2.5) 86(t). Pennsylvania(2.5) 86(t). Manhattan(2.5) 86(t). Western Michigan(2.5) 86(t). Houston(2.5) 86(t). Utah(2.5) 86(t). Vermont(2.5) 94. Middle Tennessee(2.4) 95(t). Idaho State(2.33) 95(t). Miami(2.33) 95(t). Muhlenburg(2.33) 95(t). Brooklyn(2.33) 95(t). Miami-Ohio(2.33) 95(t). Morehead State(2.33) 95(t). Citadel(2.33) 95(t). Yale(2.33) 95(t). St. Bonaventure(2.33) 104(t). Gonzaga(2.25) 104(t). Brigham Young(2.25) 104(t). Texas Christian(2.25) 104(t). Pacific(2.25) 104(t). Rhode Island(2.25) 109(t). Saint Francis-PA(2.2) 109(t). Marshall(2.2) 109(t). Alabama Polytechnic Institute(2.2) 112. San Jose State(2.13) 113(t). Saint Louis(2.0) 113(t). Oklahoma(2.0) 113(t). Loyola-LA(2.0) 113(t). Seton Hall(2.0) 113(t). Xavier(2.0) 113(t). Princeton(2.0) 113(t). New York University(2.0) 113(t). St. Francis-NY(2.0) 113(t). Bowling Green State(2.0) 113(t). Ohio(2.0) 113(t). Denver(2.0) 113(t). Mississippi(2.0) 113(t). George Washington(2.0) 113(t). Rice(2.0) 113(t). Saint Mary's(2.0) 113(t). Niagara(2.0) 113(t). University of Maine at Or(2.0) 1 Star We are now near the bottom, but have not quite reached it. Even schools struggling in the weakest conferences in the nation and low-ranking independents will be at least somewhat disappointed to not rank higher than this; and yet there are some surprisingly well-regarded programs here. Here are found those in the 1.0-1.99 range. 130. Hardin-Simmons(1.8) 131(t). Lafayette(1.75) 131(t). Canisius(1.75) 133. Portland(1.7) 134(t). Tulsa(1.63) 134(t). Cincinatti(1.63) 136. Pepperdine(1.62) 137(t). Army(1.6) 137(t). La Salle(1.6) 139(t). Butler(1.5) 139(t). Creighton(1.5) 139(t). DePaul(1.5) 139(t). Toledo(1.5) 139(t). Furman(1.5) 139(t). New Hampshire(1.5) 145. Holy Cross(1.4) 146. William & Mary(1.33) 147(t). Missouri(1.0) 147(t). Georgetown(1.0) 147(t). Iona(1.0) 147(t). Marquette(1.0) 147(t). Oklahoma City(1.0) 147(t). Texas Technological College(1.0) 147(t). City College of New York(1.0) 147(t). Fordham(1.0) 147(t). Kent State(1.0) 147(t). New Mexico(1.0) 147(t). Wyoming(1.0) 147(t). Harvard(1.0) 147(t). Massachusetts(1.0) Zero Stars One might ask why we don't use a 1-6 instead of a 0-5 star system. The reason for this is that the bottom tier is generally not worthy of any credit at all. We mean this literally; most are here not because they didn't recruit well, but because they didn't recruit period, forcing their team to make do with extra walk-ons and not bringing in any new scholarship talent at all. 160. Boston College(0.75) 161(t). Maryland(0.67) 162(t). Louisville(0.67) 163(t). Minnesota(0.6) 163(t). Texas Western(0.6) 165. Clemson(0.5) 166. Florida State(0.46) 167. Montana(0.4) 168. Mercy College of Detroit(0.38) 169. Cornell(0.25) 170. Syracuse(0.17) 171. Richmond(0.0) It is striking that even the Seminoles, who are relying soley on walk-ons in their first year of competition, managed to not be last in this rundown. It's hard not to go up from here. |
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10-26-2015, 05:56 PM
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#222 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Gazing Into the Crystal Ball
Armed with the latest figures on the new recruits, we can now begin to look at the next few years with more intelligent guestimates. Top Quintile Talent Rankings These are the same as those for reputation, except that here we are focused on the schools best positioned with talent to succeed over the next few seasons. The quality of underclassmen is what is in view here. 1(t). North Carolina State(6.91) 1(t). Indiana(6.91) 3. Kansas(6.6) 4. Kansas State(6.25) 5. North Carolina(5.82) 6. Duke(5.8) 7. Duquesne(5.1) 8. Southern California(5.08) 9. Illinois(5.0) 10. Oregon State(4.92) 11. San Francisco(4.8) 12. UCLA(4.75) 13. Kentucky(4.67) 14. California(4.6) 15(t). Iowa(4.4) 15(t). Bradley(4.4) 17. Washington(4.36) 18(t). Iowa State(4.25) 18(t). Saint Joseph's(4.25) 20. Stanford(4.07) 21(t). Colorado(4.0) 21(t). Temple(4.0) 21(t). Arkansas(4.0) 24. Ohio State(3.91) 25. Villanova(3.71) 26. Virginia(3.7) 27(t). Michigan State(3.67) 27(t). Purdue(3.67) 29(t). Notre Dame(3.6) 29(t). Seattle(3.6) 31. La Salle(3.55) 32. Southern Methodist(3.5) 33. Wake Forest(3.44) 34. Mississippi State(3.4) |
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10-26-2015, 05:59 PM
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#223 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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BTW, I didn't write any of that.
That was done by our news section and by the NBR Analytics guy |
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10-26-2015, 06:00 PM
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#224 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Code:
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10-26-2015, 06:04 PM
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#225 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Right off the bat this year the PCC is awfully though.
Washington is ranked 7th Cal is ranked 8th Oregon State is 15th We are 24th UCLA is 25th and if that's note enough for ya Stanford comes in as receiving other votes. Not sure how I feel about being ranked 24th this early. We really haven't proven ourselves and when we have been given the opportunity we have crapped the bed... However we do have some potential, we just need to live up to it this year. |
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10-26-2015, 06:07 PM
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#226 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Code:
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10-26-2015, 06:10 PM
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#227 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Code:
As you can also see our Conf got after it recruiting wise. 3 out of the top 10 recruiting classes call their homes in the PCC. We held our own at number 18, and had 5 teams being in the top 25. That is pretty damn good for us. |
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10-26-2015, 06:18 PM
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#228 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Jess Johnson at Washington is going to be a monster next year as a freshman (he is redshirting this year).
I don't have anybody that can compete on his level, which means we gotta put some work in this year. We need 20 wins, some luck, and a run into the NCAA tourney this year. An NIT run would be a disappointment this year. I have always said this would be the year USC would be able to hold its own, and I hope that we can do just that. I liked my recruiting class. I don't have any world beaters like Washington got, but they are solid guys. I especially like a post player that I feel is under rated. Code:
At 6'10 he is already one of the taller players in the league, and with a 17 rating of inside already, he is going to create some major problems in the post for a few years on the offensive side of the ball. When you look at the PCC in general, there aren't really any dominant big men left. Next year there will be 4 guys that will be able to hang with him, and ill take that. I think the PCC is weak in the post (me included) but that just means we should be in contention. |
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10-26-2015, 06:22 PM
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#229 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Our Roster looks like this
Code:
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10-26-2015, 06:29 PM
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#230 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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We are a little bit weak on D and rebounding on the defensive side. However, we should be able to put the ball in the hoop and I am hoping one of the best teams in the country on the offensive side of the glass. My 2 starting post guys on the glass are at 18 and 19, which I am hoping create all kinds of problems. Our guards aren't slacking in that area either.
I am taking another risk, and only have 3 posts on the roster that will play. My 4th again this year is redshirting. Next season will be my first with having 4 posts available as far as depth goes. We aren't there yet, but we are getting there. This year marks the debut of 6'4 guard Edmond Nelson. Not sure where he is gonna play yet. We have a log jam at guards, so still deciding on the 2 or 3, but that is a good problem to have. We haven't had the amount of depth we will have this year. We could go 9 deep and be ok with it, but hoping we can stick with 7 and have some fun with that. |
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10-27-2015, 12:23 AM
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#231 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere More Familiar
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I'm hoping Fontes can step up and actually be the shut down post that he's supposed to have been for three years now. Unfortunately, he's never had support from the PF slot, and this year won't be much different. Plant is all about the offensive side of the ball.
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10-27-2015, 12:47 AM
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#232 | |
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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Quote:
I have a serious man-crush on Johnson. Even if it wasn't my policy to try to redshirt all my freshmen, he would have needed it because of his terrible stamina rating, but by next season he should be a beast, and I can't wait to see what he looks like as a senior. I got very, very lucky that the big boys in recruiting (Kansas, K State, Kentucky, Indiana, NC State, etc) all passed him over during the first couple of months and I was able to lock him in. |
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10-27-2015, 12:48 AM
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#233 |
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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1956 Prospectus:
Washington hit a couple of milestones last season as they claimed their first PCC title and advanced beyond the 1st round of the NCAA under Coach DeGrasse, as well as notching 31 wins. Expectations are high in Seattle, but with some key losses in Joshua Lopez and Ellis Murphy, it may be difficult to repeat that success. Still, this is a talented roster with a lot of positives, including a very talented Senior in Daniel Fenton to lead the way. While this team differs some from the 1955 version, there's a lot to like, and another PCC title is certainly possible. Here's the projected starting lineup as the Huskies look to defend their Pre-Season NIT Tournament Championship when they face off against Toledo: C: Francis Calhoun (Jr*) PF: Gregoire Dupretz (Fr*) SF: Gisbert Bittes (Sr*) SG: Italo Malocco (Jr) PG: Daniel Fenton (Sr) Key reserves: PG Marquis Gray (Fr*), SG/SF Manuel Parenteau (Fr*), PG Wayne Toro (So*), SG Jose Park (So*), C/PF Burt Lingle (So*) Strengths: Very good team passing and ball-handling; strong outside shooters; above-average rebounders; good defensive skills, particularly along the perimeter; very deep in the backcourt; excellent overall athleticism Weaknesses: Lacking a low-post offensive threat; no true shot-blocking enforcer down low; lacks quality depth in the post Summary: Washington won't be quite the defensive giants they were last season with Lopez lost to graduation, but while they will take step back in post defense, they should be even better defenders on the perimeter and be among the top teams in the country in steals and forcing turnovers. They will also take a step back in rebounding with Lopez gone, though Calhoun made big strides in training to help mitigate that loss. The big news is the move of Fenton to PG. He's always had the skill-set for the role, but with other highly capable 1's on the roster Washington had the luxury of playing him at the 2. Now he gets to run the show, and we're expecting big things. Super-sub Malocco jumps into the starting lineup thanks to his defense, ball-hawking and surprising offensive production. There's tremendous depth in the backcourt with highly-touted RS-Fr Gray and RS-So Toro providing quality options at PG, and RS-Fr Parenteau joining RS-So Park as 6th man scoring options at the wing. Bittes enters his Senior season as a well-rounded "glue guy" at the SF spot. A big question mark will be depth in the post. RS-Fr Dupretz enters the starting lineup while Lingle will again be the primary backup; injuries here could be a huge problem for the Huskies. Conclusion: The Huskies will be hard-pressed to match last season's success in the win column; the PCC continues to get better and there are at least 5 legit contenders for the conference crown this season - going 15-1 in conference play is extremely unlikely. Still, there are a lot of things to like about how this roster lines up - between plus rebounding and excellent ball-hawking, the Huskies should typically finish with a big edge in possessions, and there's enough shooting talent and passing ability to think that the offense will again be among the more efficient in the country. As long as the interior defense holds up and the post players stay healthy, this team should earn their 4th straight NCAA bid and be right in the thick of the PCC conference race. |
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10-27-2015, 03:15 PM
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#234 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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The National Basketball Report: 1956-57 Season Preview
As we said a few months ago, the times are changing. New programs are rising up against the old guard, those that have stood their ground for the last four seasons. The hotbed of basketball is heading west, then further west. The PCC owns our own title of top conference this year, with the ACC trailing not far behind. You'll also notice a change in our own preview. With the increasing presence of statistics and the analytical element, we introduced the NBR Analytics Bureau in our Too Early issue. They have been a brilliant presence here at the Agency, giving depth and reason, as well as push-back, to what we see with our eyes, and feel with our instinct. To say that they add to our reports is like saying freshly fallen snow adds to Christmas dawn. It is a universal believe, and needs no more words. You will find the Analytics Report at the conclusion of each conference preview. We all hope you enjoy. Preseason Top Twenty 1. Kansas State 2. North Carolina State 3. Kansas 4. Kentucky 5. Duquesne 6. North Carolina 7. Indiana 8. Washington 9. Bradley 10. Duke 11. Arkansas 12. California 13. Iowa 14. West Virginia 15. Seattle 16. Southern Cal 17. Dayton 18. San Francisco 19. Villanova 20. Notre Dame National Player of the Year: G John Hildebrand, West Virginia National Newcomer of the Year: C Mario Poe, Columbia Preseason All-America Team G: John Hildebrand, West Virginia (Sr) G: Billy Jacob, Kansas State (Sr) F: Dennis Sawicki, North Carolina (Jr) F: Curt Davis, Kentucky (Jr) C: Arlon Rahn, Kansas (So) G: Danny Fenton, Washington (Sr) G: Elijah Davis, Clemson (Sr) F: Arthur Brodie, Oregon State (Jr*) F: Richard Bulger, Bradley (Sr*) C: Nickolas Parker, Tennessee Tech (Jr) Atlantic Coast Conference (Conference Rank: 2) 1) North Carolina State 2) North Carolina 3) Duke Sleeper: Maryland Preseason Player of the Year: F Dennis Sawicki, North Carolina Preseason Newcomer of the Year: C Chris Stoner, North Carolina Rising: Virginia Falling: Clemson Best Backcourt: North Carolina Best Frontcourt: North Carolina State Best Offense: Duke Best Defense: North Carolina Best Bench: North Carolina State Best Scorer: G Elijah Davis, Clemson Best Passer: G Archie Means, North Carolina Best Rebounder: C John Rossi, North Carolina State Best Defender: C John Rossi, North Carolina Best Sixth Man: G Ray Griffin, Duke Best (Current) Professional Prospect: F Howard Clower, Maryland NCAA Teams: North Carolina State, North Carolina, Duke NIT Teams: Maryland, Virginia Preseason All-Conference Team G: Elijah Davis, Clemson (Sr) G: Lane McClary, Duke (Sr) F: Dennis Sawicki, North Carolina (Jr) F: Louis Bergeron, North Carolina State (So*) C: John Rossi, North Carolina State (Sr*) Synopsis: With the fall of Clemson, order is seemingly restored to the ACC. North Carolina State purposely sacrificed last year for this season, and they look the part of a national championship contender. North Carolina and Duke will not let them off easily, of course. Either would make a worthy champion, both of the conference, and of the nation. Virginia and Maryland should provide suitable resistance to Tobacco Road, but in the end, it comes down to the dynamic duo of Duke, the veterans of North Carolina, or the long-term vision of the Wolfpack. Analytics Reputation: 2nd(64.6) Talent: 1st(4.15) Recruiting: 6th(2.90) No conference can claim to be in a better position than the ACC, but it's a precarious one. It's a top-heavy league, but one with an impressive power structure. There are six programs that are really head-and-shoulders above the rest going forward and three of them are here. N.C. State is the head of the snake but North Carolina and Duke appear neck-and-neck as major national powers behind them. Virginia, Wake Forest, and South Carolina provide a solid middle as well. Unfortunately, Clemson has fallen off a cliff and Maryland seems to be following them over the edge as well. This was also not a good year for the ACC in recruiting, to put it mildly; our assessment is that everyone except Virginia took a step backwards to one degree or another. Nobody will want any part of the Big 3 here for the next few seasons, but if things don't turn around they won't be able to hold their current status as probably the top conference in the nation. Big 7 Conference (Conference Rank: 3) 1) Kansas State 2) Kansas 3) Colorado Sleeper: Nebraska Preseason Player of the Year: G Billy Jacob, Kansas State Preseason Newcomer of the Year: G Irwin Lear, Kansas Rising: Nebraska Falling: Missouri Best Backcourt: Kansas State Best Frontcourt: Kansas Best Offense: Kansas State Best Defense: Kansas State Best Bench: Kansas State Best Scorer: G Billy Jacob, Kansas state Best Passer: G Steven Burns, Kansas Best Rebounder: F Chris Spratt, Iowa State Best Defender: F Tommy Fritts, Kansas State Best Sixth Man: G Normand Herbert, Kansas State Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G David Gunter, Kansas State NCAA Teams: Kansas State, Kansas NIT Teams: Colorado Preseason All-Conference Team G: Billy Jacob, Kansas State (Sr) G: David Gunter, Kansas State (Sr) F: Tommy Fritts, Kansas State (Sr) F: Erich Walton, Kansas State (Sr) C: Arlon Rahn, Kansas (So) Synopsis: In the Too Early piece, we discussed the ticking clock on Kansas State's legacy. They have reached the National Semifinals three straight seasons, and have nothing to show for it. Rather, the national title in two of those three years have gone to the Jayhawks, who seem to be able to expert brilliantly in March. The two are star-crossed once again, as the last of that incredible group that arrived in Manhattan four years ago play out the final act of their collegiate careers. Standing in their way is the Automarahn, the 7'1, 282 immovable object standing in the heart of Lawrence. Of course, there is plenty around Arlon Rahn...but he is the symbol of what Kansas State must go through (first), as they try to write a happy ending to the story of the last four years. Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa State all have redeeming qualities that should endear themselves to those who select the NIT. But this, as it has been, is a two-horse race. It is, much like the last three years, one built for distance, not as a sprint. Analytics Reputation: 1st(65.6) Talent: 4th(3.52) Recruiting: 2nd(5.03) One of the Kansas superpowers has played in the national title game for the past three years, with the Jayhawks winning both of theirs while the Wildcats lost to Bradley in the middle of that. It's no wonder that popular opinion has the Big 7 as the best around with those kind of results. Colorado and Iowa State provide a very solid second tier, but we are far less impressed with Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The Tigers in particular have all the appearance of a ship sinking, and doing so pretty quickly. We think Kansas has gained the upper hand over their in-state rivals, and figures to edge them out as the top program not just here but anywhere. The weakness of the bottom three schools though will eventually rob the Big 7 of some of it's luster if it continues. Big Ten Conference (Conference Rank: 4) 1) Indiana 2) Iowa 3) Michigan State Sleeper: Illinois Preseason Player of the Year: F Cyril Clancy, Michigan State Preseason Newcomer of the Year: C Columbus Dotson, Iowa Rising: Ohio State Falling: Northwestern Best Backcourt: Iowa Best Frontcourt: Indiana Best Offense: Indiana Best Defense: Indiana Best Bench: Indiana Best Scorer: G Des Phillips, Indiana Best Passer: G Chet Terrazas, Iowa Best Rebounder: F Merv Erickson, Indiana Best Defender: C Octavio Broussard, Indiana Best Sixth Man: G Paul Williams, Iowa Best (Current) Professional Prospect: C Octavio Broussard, Indiana NCAA Teams: Indiana, Iowa NIT Teams: Michigan State, Illinois, Purdue Preseason All-Conference Team G: Des Phillips, Indiana (So) G: Chet Terrazas, Iowa (Sr) F: Cyril Clancy, Michigan State (Sr) F: Joshua Stripling, Northwestern (So) C: Octavio Broussard, Indiana (Sr) Synopsis: The Hoosiers are very vulnerable. only one-and-a-half starters return (Erickson started 14 games in his career). Iowa is coming on strong, and while nobody else in the conference is a terrible threat to take the title, Indiana has to feel as insecure as possible about repeating for the fourth time. Iowa, behind their stellar backcourt, will pressure Indiana's young guards. Michigan State has a solid starting group, though their bench lends itself to question. Illinois has regressed, but they have enough talent to beat anyone, anytime. The rest of the Big Ten have major holes, but there is more talent in the league than there ever has. Watch Ohio State closely; they have a lot of youth, a wealth of potential, and have the feel of a sleeping giant. Analytics Reputation: 3rd(63.9) Talent: 3rd(3.64) Recruiting: 3rd(4.75) The Big Ten is definitely an elite conference, but it is not quite as good as it thinks it is or as public opinion thinks it is, at least not yet. There's no question that Indiana has as bright a future as any program in the country. Iowa and Illinois are an over-rated second tier though: they have only one NCAA win in the last three years between them, and while they are still better than the rest of the conference, the gap between them and the Hoosiers is much greater than commonly thought. Gradually rising to catch them is Ohio State, followed closely by Michigan State and Purdue. Michigan is sort of in no-man's land by themselves, not as good as that trio but well ahead of Northwestern and Wisconsin. Minnesota has collapsed; few schools in the country have less talent than the Gophers and we expect them to be a doormat for at least a while. While Illinois and Iowa are an exception, most of the conference was strengthened in the recruiting haul this year. As a whole, the Big Ten was not far behind the Big 7 and PCC, and far ahead of everyone else in terms of incoming prospects. This is the continuation of a trend the last few years that has seen increasing numbers of highly regarded players joining the league, and there's no question the conference is getting better. In the next few years, the overall product should match it's outsized reputation. Border Conference (Conference Rank: 16) 1) Arizona 2) Texas Western 3) Arizona State Sleeper: None Preseason Player of the Year: G Silvio Flores, Texas Western Preseason Newcomer of the Year: G Len Smith, Arizona Rising: Texas Western Falling: Arizona State Best Backcourt: Texas Western Best Frontcourt: Arizona Best Offense: Arizona Best Defense: Arizona State Best Bench: Texas Western Best Scorer: G Elden Trull, Arizona State Best Passer: G Robert Williams, Texas Western Best Rebounder: F Roland Dabney, Texas Western Best Defender: G Hayden Murray, Arizona State Best Sixth Man: G Hayden Murray, Arizona State Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G Elden Trull, Arizona State NCAA Teams: Arizona State NIT Teams: None Preseason All-Conference Team G: Silvio Flores, Texas Western (Jr) G: Elden Trull, Arizona State (Sr*) F: Roland Dabney, Texas Western (Sr) F: Jonathan Moeller, Arizona (So) C: Kris Jensen, Arizona State (Sr) Synopsis: The conference has fallen over the past two seasons, but the top three--Arizona State, Texas Western, and Arizona--remain large within the league parameters. The Miners can steal this behind their backcourt...but the Sun Devils, with their stout defense, should be able to run away with things. Analytics Reputation: 18th(27.8) Talent: 15th(1.87) Recruiting: 13th(2.14) The BIAA is definitely in the lowest tier of conferences, but it is somewhat under-rated. When you are thought of as dead last, there is nowhere to go but up. Arizona is the best-positioned going forward, with Arizona State looking ready to surpass distintegrating Texas Western in the runner-up position. However, this is a conference that is very competitive, and nobody is very good -- for the most part it's looking like a year-to-year scramble with no clear hierarchy behind Arizona's small advantage at the top. There isn't a school here that I would mention as definitely being in the top half nationwide. It was a pretty good recruiting year, and it's possible the BIAA may drag itself somewhat up the chain as the years progress. Ivy Group (Conference Rank: 8) 1) Columbia 2) Dartmouth 3) Princeton Sleeper: Pennsylvania Preseason Player of the Year: F Sonny Freeman, Dartmouth Preseason Newcomer of the Year: C Mario Poe, Columbia Rising: Brown Falling: Harvard Best Backcourt: Princeton Best Frontcourt: Columbia Best Offense: Dartmouth Best Defense: Pennsylvania Best Bench: Columbia Best Scorer: F Sonny Freeman, Dartmouth Best Passer: G Stephen Martin, Cornell Best Rebounder: C Marvin Maroney, Harvard Best Defender: C Havel Richter, Yale Best Sixth Man: G Marquis Theriot, Yale Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G James Paradis, Yale NCAA Teams: Columbia NIT Teams: Dartmouth Preseason All-Conference Team G: James Paradis, Yale (Sr) G: Justin Root, Columbia (Sr) F: Sonny Freeman, Dartmouth (Jr) F: Charlie Smith, Dartmouth (Jr) C: Mario Poe, Columbia (Fr) Synopsis: The gap between Columbia and the rest of the Ivy is closing. The Lions, which enjoyed ranked status last year, could again this season. The cause of this result would be Mario Poe dominating the Group. The freshman is quite capable of that. The Indians, with their talented forwards in Freeman and Smith, along with Roddy McFall at the point, will be a severe threat to the Lions' sustainted dominance. We wrote that last year, and truth be told, the Indians nearly knocked off the Lions. Princeton will be a tough out, while Penn will use this season to prepare for the next two, when they could somehow be the kings of the conference. The Ivy is one of the most heated, highly-contested conferences in the nation. This year will be no different. Analytics Reputation: 14th(30.8) Talent: T-11th(2.05) Recruiting: 8th(2.48) It's hard to have stringent admission standards like the Ivy schools do and not have a bit of an arrogant chip on your shoulder, but they don't really seem to try to resist the tendency much. Collectively they are among the best of the bottom of the barrel, which is fairly impressive given the conference's requirements for prospective students. Three-time defending champion Columbia is the unquestioned king of the hill, and they will probably stay there but it is no longer a sure thing. They have a massive advantadge in financial resources, but we actually like Dartmouth's collection of players a little bitter over th next few years and Brown's every bit as well with Penn not far behind. That quartet appears to be the new power structure. Princeton appears to be in chaos with their third coach in as many years, with Yale close behind them, Harvard just unable to attract much real talent and Cornell having decided they basically don't care about anything anymore at the bottom. Even with that, it appears that the Ivy will likely continue to improve, at least somewhat, overall in the coming years. There are a number of effective coaches here. Whether they can do enough to escape their spot among college basketball's also-rans is uncertain though. Metro Conference (Conference Rank: 15) 1) St. John's 2) St. John's JVs 3) NYU Sleeper: None Preseason Player of the Year: C Dennis Shelby, St. John's Preseason Newcomer of the Year: G Melvin Murray, St. John's Rising: CCNY Falling: Fordham Best Backcourt: St. John's Best Frontcourt: St. John's Best Offense: St. John's Best Defense: St. John's Best Bench: St. John's Best Scorer: G Justin Drummond, NYU Best Passer: G Andres Peden, CCNY Best Rebounder: F Kelvin Denton, St. John's Best Defender: F Kelvin Denton, St. John's Best Sixth Man: F Kelvin Denton, St. John's Best (Current) Professional Prospect: F Veniamin Alexeev, St. John's NCAA Teams: St. John's NIT Teams: None Preseason All-Conference Team G: Justin Drummond, NYU (Jr) G: Andres Peden, CCYU (Jr) F: Kelvin Denton, St. John's (Jr*) F: Veniamin Alexeev, St. John's (Sr) C: Dennis Shelby, St. John's (Jr*) Synopsis: It's the Johnnies, then their backups, then everyone else. The City has various parts around it that are appealing, and City games are always fun to watch for the rivalry. But there is no debate here. The Johnnies are 17-1 in conference play since its formation, and will be 23-1 at the end of this year. They're also young...we don't expect them to contend nationally, but they have enough games with national issue that, with the right teaching from those games, they can be on the radar next season. Analytics Reputation: 15th(30.4) Talent: 18th(1.83) Recruiting: 14th(2.14) This here is as bad as it gets in the sport today. St. John's has a solid team, though not quite as good as you'd expect. The rest of the Metro flat-out stinks. NYU is considered a credible number two, which they are minus the term 'credible', as they are barely better than the rest of the drek here. It is not a conference without potential to improve; there is a lot of homegrown talent in New York, but right now most of it is poached by others. Brooklyn and Manhattan appear to be getting a little better, but the coaching is pretty awful on balance in the league and until that changes, no major improvements are anticipated. Mid-American Conference (Conference Rank: 12) 1) Toledo 2) Kent State 3) Marshall Sleeper: Miami-Ohio Preseason Player of the Year: F Mike Gehring, Kent State Preseason Newcomer of the Year: G Marco Goldman, Western Michigan Rising: Bowling Green Falling: Miami-Ohio Best Backcourt: Toledo Best Frontcourt: Toledo Best Offense: Toledo Best Defense: Toledo Best Bench: Toledo Best Scorer: G Darnell Carrington, Kent State Best Passer: G Don Larson, Western Michigan Best Rebounder: F Mike Gehring, Toledo Best Defender: F Gordon Barron, Toledo Best Sixth Man: G Brian Schmaranzer, Toledo Best (Current) Professional Prospect: F Mike Gehring, Kent State NCAA Teams: Toledo NIT Teams: Kent State Preseason All-Conference Team G: Timmy Torre, Toledo (Jr) G: MIchael Ashe, Marshall (Sr) F: Mike Gehring, Kent State (Sr) F: Gordon Barron, Toledo (Sr*) C: Irvin Sullivan, Bowling Green (Jr) Synopsis: Toledo could go oh-fer this season, and it is doubtful anyone would hold it against them. All they did is deliver the greatest upset in sports history, knocking off Indiana in the first round of the NCAA last season. Most of that group is gone, but a few remain. Add in the fact that the majority of the MAC is young, and the Rockets should be able to get back to the NCAA Tournament once again. Analytics Reputation: 13th(30.9) Talent: 13th(2.01) Recruiting: 16th(2.00) The Mid-American's chance to be something other than an afterthought has long rested with standard-bearers Toledo. Unfortunately, the Rockets haven't brought in any significant talent lately, and in another year or two they may not be much better than the rest here. Last year's upset of Indiana and eventually run to the Elite Eight got them a lot of deserved attention, but it won't last unless they massively upgrade their recruiting effectiveness. Behind them, it's a highly competitive mess of barely-competent programs, with the exception of Ohio who is a couple steps behind the rest. Missouri Valley Conference (Conference Rank: 6) 1) Bradley 2) Saint Louis 3) Oklahoma A&M Sleeper: Wichita Municipal Preseason Player of the Year: G Michael Laguna, Saint Louis Preseason Newcomer of the Year: G James Gomez, Wichita Municipal Rising: Wichita Municipal Falling: Houston Best Backcourt: Saint Louis Best Frontcourt: Bradley Best Offense: Bradley Best Defense: Bradley Best Bench: Bradley Best Scorer: G Dionisio Vega, Bradley Best Passer: G Jody Spring, Saint Louis Best Rebounder: F Felix Holzer, Bradley Best Defender: F Richard Bulger, Bradley Best Sixth Man: G Max Cruse, Bradley Best (Current) Professional Prospect: C James Calvo, Bradley NCAA Teams: Bradley, Saint Louis NIT Teams: Oklahoma A&M Preseason All-Conference Team G: Dionisio Vega, Bradley (Jr) G: Michael Laguna, Saint Louis (Sr) F: Richard Bulger, Bradley (Sr*) F: Loyd Gardiner, Detroit Mercy (Jr) C: James Calvo, Bradley (Sr*) Synopsis: We thought Bradley would drop off after entering a conference, but they have made the transition from independent seamlessly. This year's team is decidedly on the second tier of national contenders; however, they are on the list of national contenders. Vega, Calvo and Bulger led an excellent, well-rounded team. Max Cruse is the next star at Bradley, and he should start to take off as the season continues. The Billikens have the offense, but their defense will be their ultimate shortcoming. Laguna is a star who needs to begin proving he can make it at the next level. The Cowboys need their overhyped backcourt of Witcher and O'Bryant to begin producing if they are going to be taken seriously. The rest of the conference is filler. Analytics Reputation: 7th(47.4) Talent: 7th(2.59) Recruiting: 9th(2.32) It seems everything is changing in the MVC these days. After having Bradley, one of the top programs in the nation, join a couple years back, now Drake expands the conference to eight this year. After Bradley, Oklahoma A&M and Saint Louis are strong programs as well, but the former is rising a bit while the Billikens are crashing hard. Tulsa stinks and is getting worse, despite their middling reputation as well, and Detroit Mercy is doing nothing whatsoever at all. Houston is on the rise and could well soon be the #3 team in the MVC, with Municipal University of Wichita and Drake also looking to improve. Nobody around here is standing pat, it seems the whole conference is in an upheaval, either rising or falling. A new status quo seems unlikely to be found anytime soon. Last edited by muns : 10-27-2015 at 03:16 PM. |
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10-27-2015, 03:18 PM
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#235 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Mountan State Athletic Conference (Conference Rank: 11)
1) Utah State 2) Utah 3) Wyoming Sleeper: None Preseason Player of the Year: G Robert Peeler, Utah Preseason Newcomer of the Year: G Rudy Grimmett, Colorado A&M Rising: Utah State Falling: Brigham Young Best Backcourt: Utah State Best Frontcourt: Utah State Best Offense: Utah State Best Defense: Utah Best Bench: Utah State Best Scorer: G Benjamin Doolittle, Utah State Best Passer: G Robert Peeler, Utah Best Rebounder: F Benjamin Whetstone, Denver Best Defender: C Edmundo Price, Brigham Young Best Sixth Man: F Demarcus Michaud, Utah State Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G Francis Upshaw, Utah State NCAA Teams: Utah State NIT Teams: Utah Preseason All-Conference Team G: Robert Peeler, Utah (Sr) G: Francis Upshaw, Utah State (Sr*) F: Steven Salcedo, Utah State (Sr*) F: Brian Warren, Wyoming (Jr*) C: Joshua Bernal, Colorado A&M (Jr) Synopsis: The Aggies have control of a conference currently going through a rough stretch. The Mountain State should be better than this, honestly. BYU is a team filled with pride and prestige; they are capable of much more than their current output. The Utes are the same; they have wasted Robert Peeler's considerable talent, and the draw he could have had as a player. Now, instead of getting top-notch talent, the Utes will wonder what could have been. The Aggies are the power of the conference now. With Upshaw, Doolittle, and the depth of their frontcourt, they are not as good as the teams of the past in the MSAC. But they should represent the conference well enough. Analytics Reputation: 10th(39.5) Talent: 18th(1.64) Recruiting: 18th(1.82) The MSAC gives the Independents a run for their money as the most overrated. The common consensus is that there are four quality programs here: Utah, Utah State, BYU, and Wyoming. The consensus is wrong. There is exactly one, and it's Utah State. The other three are shells, shadows of what they should be. Things are so bad that even the cellar is over-rated here: Denver, New Mexico, and Montana are among the least talented teams in the nation, belying a vague veneer of competence. Colorado A&M actually managed to snag a decent player this year, and they've won more games each of the past three years than the year before. They have yet to post a winning record and are top-heavy with juniors and seniors though, so we are far from convinced. Utah State's Weston Kingsley, a defensive genius with no particular weakness as a coach, looks positioned to rule this league by default. But that won't be enough: the MSAC is a sinking ship, seemingly destined to fall into the abyss of the nation's also-rans bit by bit each year. Ohio Valley Conference (Conference Rank: 13) 1) Western Kentucky 2) Murray State 3) Middle Tennessee State Sleeper: Morehead State Preseason Player of the Year: C Nickolas Parker, Tennessee Tech Preseason Newcomer of the Year: G Kris Ladner, Eastern Kentucky Rising: Western Kentucky Falling: Murray State Best Backcourt: Western Kentucky Best Frontcourt: Tennessee Tech Best Offense: Murray State Best Defense: Tennessee Tech Best Bench: Murray State Best Scorer: Sandy Raymond, Eastern Kentucky Best Passer: G Ben Guidry, Murray State Best Rebounder: C Joe Lopez, Murray State Best Defender: C Jerrell Moore, Western Kentucky Best Sixth Man: G Boris Jeffrey, Murray State Best (Current) Professional Prospect: C Brian Jacob, Murray State NCAA Teams: Western Kentucky NIT Teams: None Preseason All-Conference Team G: Kris Ladner, Eastern Kentucky (Jr) G: Brooks Schulman, Murray State (Jr) F: George Houtson, Morehead State (Jr) F: Brian Jacob, Murray State (Sr) C: Nickolas Parker, Tennessee Tech (Jr) Synopsis: In hindsight, this is the conference pick we will get wrong, with all certainty. We are taking the Hilltoppers as a hunch pick. The conference is so tight, any of five teams can win it (sorry, Eastern Kentucky). This is the most heated conference in the nation, and arguably, the most fun to watch. It is also nearly impossible to predict. There isn't a wealth of talent in the conference, but there is more than you'd think. There is no shortage of rivalry, though. Analytics Reputation: 16th(30.0) Talent: 14th(1.91) Recruiting: 7th(2.82) Few people spend much time thinking about the OVC. There rarely seems a reason to. That will change if they keep bringing in players like they did this year. Several teams took a step forward, and none regressed. That's not enough to drag them out of the muck, but a couple more years like it will certainly move things in that direction. Western Kentucky, Murray STate, and Morehead State are the established powers here, but it's Tennessee Tech that looks primed to challenge WKU in the upcoming years. Morehead State has been the champion the last couple of years, but they seem to be just treading water and that's not likely to be good enough around these parts. Eastern Kentucky State brings up the rear, and despite prize JC transfer Kristofer Ladner they still have work to do to catch the others. Pacific Coast Conference (Conference Rank: 1) 1) Washington 2) California 3) Southern California Sleeper: UCLA Preseason Player of the Year: G Danny Fenton, Washington Preseason Newcomer of the Year: F/C Willie Legault, California Rising: Oregon State Falling: Stanford Best Backcourt: Washington Best Frontcourt: California Best Offense: California Best Defense: Washington Best Bench: California Best Scorer: F Arthur Brodie, Oregon State Best Passer: G Danny Fenton, Washington Best Rebounder: F Robert Hutton, UCLA/F JC Quiles, USC Best Defender: F Gisbert Bittes, Washington Best Sixth Man: F Marc Cundiff, California Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G Danny Fenton, Washington NCAA Teams: Washington, Cal, Southern Cal, UCLA NIT Teams: Oregon State, Oregon Preseason All-Conference Team G: Danny Fenton, Washington (Sr) G: Tony Eyre, California (Jr) F: Arthur Brodie, Oregon State (Jr*) F: Gisbert Bittes, Washington (Sr*) C: Ken Foster, Oregon (Sr*) Synopsis: The PCC made good on our speculation two seasons ago, when we said the conference would be the deepest, most talented in the nation. They are definitely there this year. Originally, we liked Oregon State to win this conference. Now, they rank fifth or sixth to us. That's how deep things are here. In the end, Washington and Cal should be able to hold on for one more season. The kids at Southern Cal and Oregon State haven't grown up as quickly as their respective coaching staffs would like. As a result, the old guard should be able to hold...for one more year. UCLA and Oregon are interesting teams, though defensive flaws (especially in UCLA's case) should limit their ability to disrupt the PCC hierarchy. Analytics Reputation: 4th(59.4) Talent: 2nd(4.03) Recruiting: 1st(5.13) The PCC is quickly building a tradition of excellence. They had the best composite collection of new players come in this year, and only the ACC boasts a better overall collection of players. Another year like this one and that will no longer be true either. It is not a conference without issues though. They lag behind the Big 3 leagues in the public mind, and a big reason for that is there is no clear alpha, no obvious standard-bearer. There is great depth in the PCC but a top champion to capture the imagination has not yet emerged. We see Southern California edging out Oregon State over the next few years, with UCLA and California very close behind. Washington had a fabulous haul this year and another like it would put them back in that conversation as well. Stanford seems pretty alone in the middle of the pack, and even they are still quite good but it's a tough neighborhood. Washington State is next, and then it's a ways further to Oregon and Idaho bringing up the rear. Only those last two could rightly be said to be subpar, and even at that they aren't that horribly off. Many insiders think it's only a matter of time until the critical mass here leads to the PCC becoming recognized as the nation's premier conference, but the more well-established powers in the Big 7, Big Ten, and ACC will not give up their supremacy easily. Southeastern Conference (Conference Rank: 5) 1) Kentucky 2) Alabama 3) Mississippi State Sleeper: Tulane Preseason Player of the Year: F Curt Davis, Kentucky Preseason Newcomer of the Year: G Nelson Gonzales, Louisiana State Rising: Tulane Falling: Georgia Tech Best Backcourt: Mississippi State Best Frontcourt: Kentucky Best Offense: Alabama Best Defense: Kentucky Best Bench: Kentucky Best Scorer: G Lenny Snell, Kentucky Best Passer: G Douglas Lapierre, Mississippi State Best Rebounder: F Elisha Rice, Florida Best Defender: F James Williams, Kentucky Best Sixth Man: G Lenny Snell, Kentucky Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G Joshua Merwin, LSU NCAA Teams: Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi State NIT Teams: Tulane, Georgia Tech Preseason All-Conference Team G: Douglas Lapierre, Mississippi State (Jr) G: Ernie Clark, Tennessee (Sr) F: Charlie Johnson, Vanderbilt (Jr) F: Curt Davis, Kentucky (Jr) C: Scott Moncada, Kentucky (So*) Synopsis: Kentucky is head and shoulders above the rest of the conference. After that, it is a toss-up. We like Alabama, but it could be any one of three or four teams. We are most interested in Tulane and Georgia Tech. The former is rising, though how far depends on where their vaunted backcourt takes them. Eusebio Williams arrived on campus with much fanfare, but it can easily be argued that he has not made good on the potential. Georgia Tech has played better than anyone expected the past two years. With a depleted roster, how will the Yellow Jackets respond? Analytics Reputation: 5th(52.4) Talent: 5th(3.03) Recruiting: 5th(3.20) The SEC is well-known for being Kentucky and then everybody else. This is still very much the case, but the Wildcats have not brought in talent appropriate to their status the last couple of seasons. Their spot atop the conference is not in jeopardy, but the status as one of the very best programs in the country could very well be. The mass of teams below them forms probably the most competitive conference in the nation. They are not among the elite, but neither are they a middle-of-the-pack league, essentially in no-man's land with no real peers at this point. Ask us who will emerge from that pack and you'll get an atlas. Kentucky as mentioned is above it; Tennessee and Mississippi are sliding below it. The other nine, believe it or not, are all in play. It's easy to ignore Tulane but we actually have them 4th in the conference on talent, though they lack the bankroll in support of it so who knows where they end up. LSU and Alabama brought in the best talent this year, but both were underwhelming in previous years. Probably the favorite is Mississippi State, both the most prestigious by a small margin and they've consistently had solid players to work with. But the Georgia schools, Vandy, Florida, Alabama Poly -- they all will have their say. Trust us -- if you like drama, if you like a conference race where there are surprises every week and every game matters, the SEC is going to be the best game in town probably throughout the rest of the 50s. Southern Conference (Conference Rank: 9) 1) West Virginia 2) George Washington 3) Virginia Tech Sleeper: Davidson Preseason Player of the Year: G John Hildebrand, West Virginia Preseason Newcomer of the Year: F Will Gendron, George Washington Rising: Davidson Falling: Richmond Best Backcourt: West Virginia Best Frontcourt: George Washington Best Offense: West Virginia Best Defense: West Virginia Best Bench: West Virginia Best Scorer: G James Warnock, Furman Best Passer: G John Hildebrand, West Virginia Best Rebounder: C Billy Williams, Davidson Best Defender: F Len Weinstein, Virginia Tech Best Sixth Man: G Andrew Batson, George Washington Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G John Hildebrand, West Virginia NCAA Teams: West Virginia, George Washington NIT Teams: Virginia Tech Preseason All-Conference Team G: John Hildebrand, West Virginia (Sr) G: Charlie Arroyo, George Washington (Sr*) F: Demarcus Woods, West Virginia (Sr*) F: Billy Williams, Davidson (Sr) C: Len Weinstein, Virginia Tech (Sr) Synopsis: We really wanted to take the Colonials over West Virginia. Their talent, overall, stacks up very well against the Mountaineers. But GW is not a defensive-minded team in the slightest. They will be very hard-pressed to take out the Mountaineers, especially with Hildebrand and Woods back. Hildebrand may be the best point guard in the nation (we believe he is, but leave things opened up for discussion), and Woods has gotten increasingly better every season. West Virginia and Davidson will be intriguing to watch...the Hokies, in particular, can make a run at the NCAA. The Mountaineers, however, are our pick. They've earned it, after two national semifinals and a championship appearance. Analytics Reputation: 12th(35.0) Talent: 10th(2.09) Recruiting: 12th(2.17) The Southern Conference occupies a position somewhat above the bottom half-dozen or so conferences, but it's unclear if they will retain it. There are some schools doing a solid job at building respectability, while others are totally stinking it up. West Virginia is off course the headliner, especially after reaching the title game last year. We don't see them reaching those heights again soon, but certainly they should be a fixture in the tournament. Surprisingly, their best competition around these parts might be Davidson. David Horton's offense-focused Wildcats have been assembling a surprisingly robust collection of talent that should have them rising to clear second-place contenders. The more established programs at GW and VT have been less impressive, while Richmond, Furman, and William & Mary are looking fairly disastrous lately. Southwestern Conference (Conference Rank: 7) 1) Arkansas 2) Southern Methodist 3) Texas Christian Sleeper: Texas Preseason Player of the Year: G Charlie Garay, Southern Methodist Preseason Newcomer of the Year: G Will Bingham, Arkansas Rising: TCU Falling: Texas Best Backcourt: SMU Best Frontcourt: Arkansas Best Offense: Arkansas Best Defense: Texas Christian Best Bench: Arkansas Best Scorer: G Bennett Dougherty, Arkansas Best Passer: G Charlie Garay, SMU Best Rebounder: C Hank Kingery, SMU Best Defender: G Bennett Dougherty, Arkansas Best Sixth Man: G Seth Wessels, Arkansas Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G Charlie Garay, SMU NCAA Teams: Arkansas, SMU NIT Teams: Texas Christian, Texas Preseason All-Conference Team G: Bennett Dougherty, Arkansas (Jr*) G: Charlie Garay, SMU (Sr) F: Will Bingham, Arkansas (Jr) F: Jose Pritchett, TCU (Sr) C: Hank Kingery, SMU (So) Synopsis: Arkansas has a crackerjack outfit, one capable of making a prolonged run in the NCAA Tournament. The Southwest has been a hidden treasure, like the Ohio Valley. Unlike the OVC, the SWC has a boatload of talent. Garay is one of the finest players in the country, as is Dougherty. Kerry Groves would be a top guard on many teams in the nation. We haven't even mentioned Don Seawright, the senior guard at TCU. He is a fantastic, wel-rounded player. There is a lot to love in the Southwest. In the end, Arkansas should earn their praise as the best little program in the nation. (They won't be so little for long.) Analytics Reputation: 8th(46.1) Talent: 6th(2.70) Recruiting: 4th(3.56) If the events of the last year become a trend, don't sleep on the SWC. Arkansas looks primed to wrest control of the conference from SMU, who unseated them last year. We're hardly the only ones to have noticed, as they are ranked 12th in the pre-season. Texas is looking solid as well, Baylor seems to be on the rebound a bit, and Agricultural & Mechanic had a good group of five additions this past year. Rice is really the only school that doesn't seem to be going anywhere. This is a solid league, and the way the top pair are going it is likely to only get better. West Coast Conference (Conference Rank: 10) 1) San Francisco 2) Saint Mary's 3) San Jose State Sleeper: None Preseason Player of the Year: G Stephen Ferrari, San Francisco Preseason Newcomer of the Year: F Ronnie Veasey, San Francisco Rising: Santa Clara Falling: San Jose State Best Backcourt: San Francisco Best Frontcourt: San Francisco Best Offense: San Francisco Best Defense: San Francisco Best Bench: San Francisco Best Scorer: G David Buckner, Loyola U Best Passer: G Stephen Ferrari, San Francisco Best Rebounder: C Marvin Rau, Saint Mary's Best Defender: C Drew Olson, San Jose State Best Sixth Man: G Warren Tandy, San Francisco Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G Stephen Ferrari, San Francisco NCAA Teams: San Francisco NIT Teams: Saint Mary's Preseason All-Conference Team G: Stephen Ferrari, San Francisco (Sr) G: David Buckner, Loyola U (Jr) F: Eric Waldron, San Jose State (Jr) F: Ronnie Veasey, San Francisco (Fr*) C: Vaughn Griffis, San Francisco (Jr) Synopsis: The Dons are the kings of the West Coast Conference, and could easily fit into the Pacific Coast if they wanted to make a change (not that we're suggesting anything...). Stephen Ferrari has been an absolute delight to watch for the past three years. We know he will continue his career, rather well, we might add, at the next level. But there is a joy in watching him perform here that will be lost in the pro ranks. If you have an opportunity to see the Dons play this year, do so. You will not be limited to just Ferrari, but a host of fantastic players. We won't go out on a limb and say the Dons are national semifinal worthy, like two years ago. But if things break their way, they could be on par with Washington as the best in the west. Analytics Reputation: 11th(39.4) Talent: 8th(2.39) Recruiting: 10th(2.25) This is San Francisco's domain, but the Dons appear to be on the decline a bit. They still have plenty of talent to be scary for a year or two, but may be regressing to the level of a merely regional power. Saint Mary's is in much rose shape, a real paper tiger. San Francisco will rule this conference for the forseeable future, as decent is the most complimentary thing that can be said of anybody else in the WCC. It's far too lofty a descriptor for Pacific, San Jose State, or newcomers Pepperdine who are still figuring things out. Santa Clara looks like the best of the rest, but there remains much work to do there. Overall, the level of play here is not great, but not terrible either. |
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10-27-2015, 03:18 PM
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#236 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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West New York 3 Conference (Conference Rank: 17)
1) Niagara 2) St. Bonaventure 3) Canisius Sleeper: None Preseason Player of the Year: G Curt To, Niagara Preseason Newcomer of the Year: F Dan Judge, Niagara Rising: n/a Falling: n/a Best Backcourt: Niagara Best Frontcourt: Niagara Best Offense: Niagara Best Defense: Niagara Best Bench: Niagara Best Scorer: G Monroe Serrato, Niagara Best Passer: G Curt To, Niagara Best Rebounder: F Robert Lombard, Niagara Best Defender: F Larry Lewis, St. Bonaventure Best Sixth Man: G Matthew Ashton, Niagara Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G Curt To, Niagara NCAA Teams: Niagara NIT Teams: None Preseason All-Conference Team G: Curt To, Niagara (Sr) G: John Johnson, St. Bonaventure (Sr) G: Monroe Serrato, Niagara (Sr) F: Robert Lombard, Niagara (Sr*) C: Grady Waters, Canisius (Jr) Synopsis: The final chapter in this four-year run of Perez and To comes to an end, as Curtis graduates at the end of this year. It has been a very successful run for this pairing, with 43 wins in the last two years, and a NCAA win last year. That will likely not be the case this year, even with a couple of players as talented as Monroe Serrato and Robert Lombard flanking To. They should easily win the four-game playoff for a NCAA berth again (with all due respect, how does this guarantee a NCAA berth?), and should get a seven or eight-seed in the tournament field. That's about all they are good for, but it's definitely more than good enough for this small school. Analytics Reputation: 6th(48.0) Talent: 12th(2.05) Recruiting: 17th(2.00) This trio is the picture of resting on your laurels. None of them are living up to their billing lately, most notably with Niagara with St. Bonaventure at least holding their ground to become the best here. On the whole, these schools are as overrated as the Independents, perhaps more so. It seems that most players want to play in the larger conferences, and if that continues the New York trio is in serious trouble. Yankee Conference (Conference Rank: 14) 1) Connecticut 2) Massachusetts 3) Rhode Island Sleeper: Vermont Preseason Player of the Year: G Jessie Calvert, Connecticut Preseason Newcomer of the Year: G Joaquin Goodwin, Maine Rising: Vermont Falling: New Hampshire Best Backcourt: Connecticut Best Frontcourt: Connecticut Best Offense: Connecticut Best Defense: Rhode Island Best Bench: Connecticut Best Scorer: G Jessie Calvert, Connecticut Best Passer: G Jessie Calvert, Connecticut Best Rebounder: F Henry Powell, New Hampshire Best Defender: F John Buzzell, Vermont Best Sixth Man: G Gary Garfield, Connecticut Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G Jessie Calvert, Connecticut NCAA Teams: Connecticut NIT Teams: None Preseason All-Conference Team G: Jessie Calvert, Connecticut (Sr) G: Harry Germany, Vermont (Sr) F: Joe McInerney, Connecticut (Jr*) F: Brien Taylor, Connecticut (Sr) C: Josiah Douglas, Maine (Jr) Synopsis: With the rest of the conference searching for answers, the Huskies march on, and the distance between them and the rest of the conference gets a little wider. Calvert, who burst onto the scene with a surprise All-American nod two years ago, is now a senior. He has a solid #2 in McInerney, and a very capable backcourt to rule the Yankee roost. UMass is a far cry from what they could be, and the rest of the conference is hoping for an off-night by the Huskies. They can get them...UConn has not gone through any season without at least two in-conference losses. New England travel can wear on teams in the winter. Regardless, the Huskies should see their way to another first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament. Analytics Reputation: 17th(29.2) Talent: 17th(1.81) Recruiting: 11th(2.25) The Yankee Conference is another with one dominant team in Connecticut and everyone else chasing. In this case the chasers are abysmal without exception, and UConn is dominant only by comparison. Vermont and Rhode Island seem the best chances for a legitimate challenger riht now, with New Hampshire and UMass definitely at the bottom of the pile. The Huskies themselves are looking to build a future in which their influence extends further on a regional scale, bringing in a full half-dozen bodies this offseason. On the whole the Yankee is getting better, but it would be hard not to given it's present status as one of the nation's laughingstocks. Independents (Conference Rank: -) 1) Duquesne 2) Dayton 3) La Salle Sleeper: Seattle, Villanova Preseason Player of the Year: G Chauncey Hinkley, Duquesne Preseason Newcomer of the Year: F Arden Summer, Villanova Rising: Villanova, Marquette, Oklahoma City Falling: Louisville, Holy Cross, Temple Best Backcourt: Duquesne, Notre Dame, Seattle Best Frontcourt: Seattle, Dayton, La Salle Best Offense: Notre Dame, Duquesne, Villanova Best Defense: Seattle, Dayton, La Salle Best Bench: Duquesne, Cincinnati, Villanova Best Scorer: G Trent Rueda, Texas Tech; G Gregory Wyman, Seattle; G William Amador, DePaul Best Passer: G Andrew Cosme, St. Joseph's; G Hubert Cox, Temple Best Rebounder: C Brady Poe, Siena; C Denver Logan, Dayton Best Defender: G Chauncey Hinkley, Duquesne; F Joe Gard, Miami; F David Harder, Seattle Best Sixth Man: G Elvis Cox, Notre Dame; F Brent Dampier, Duquesne Best (Current) Professional Prospect: G Chauncey Hinkley, Duquesne NCAA Teams: Duquesne, Dayton, La Salle, Seattle, Villanova, Notre Dame, NIT Teams: Temple, Holy Cross, Cincinnati, Oklahoma City, Marquette, St. Joseph's Preseason All-Conference Team G: Chauncey Hinkley, Duquesne (Sr) G: Guy Jeter, Notre Dame (Sr) F: Charles Tillery, Holy Cross (Jr*) F: Jesus Jones, Seattle (Jr) C: Denver Logan, Dayton (Sr) Synopsis: A few teams, notably Seattle, Villanova, and Marquette, are attempting to disrupt the old guard of Duquesne, Dayton, and the like. Like with other conferences, this probably won't give way...this year. But Villanova is getting better, Marquette is young, Seattle is a rising giant in the West, and Notre Dame is consistently hawking underrated talent. While Duquesne is the king of the Indies, with Dayton a close second, there is a very close line between the top, and the second tier. By this time next year, it is likely that the line of the elite will grow to include these teams. For now, Seattle appears to be extremely dangerous. Watch them...they are hidden by the giants of Washington, San Francisco, and the rest...but they should not be overlooked for too long. Analytics Reputation: 9th(45.2) Talent: 9th(2.34) Recruiting: 15th(2.13) Making generalized statements about the Independents as a whole is a risky thing: it's too large and diverse a group of schools for any such assessment to be entirely accurate. Fully a quarter of the nation's programs are to be found here. On balance though it is unquestionably the most overrated collection of teams at the present time. Many of those regarded as established powers are crashing, while few if any of the less-regarded teams are on the rise to any significant degree. Boston College, Cincinatti, Syracuse, Louisville, and Texas Tech are just a few of the more extreme examples of programs that are in very serious danger of a sharp decline. The Independents may have a very respectable reputation on the whole right now, but we don't see that lasting very long if current trends persist. One notable exception is Duquesne, who in our evaluation is 8th both in overall talent level and this year's incoming recruits. Saint Joseph's, Temple, Villanova, Seattle, and Notre Dame are probably those with the best future behind them, but among the Independents Duquesne is in a class by themselves right now. Unfortunately, when it comes to offensive execution coach Ronald Polson is, well ... lacking is the nice way to say it. They should do ok defensively, but they need a more complete leader to consistently compete with the best in the nation. Still, last year's NIT visit should be an outlier, and we'd expect to see them winning an NCAA game or even two most seasons. Our NCAA Picks: As always, we project the NCAA Tournament. We are making our selections based off of this model. Naturally, things change over the course of the season. However, this is our first actual projection of the season, along with our pick for the 1956-57 champion. If memory serves, we are one-for-three thus far. Preseason Pick (Actual winner in parenthesis) 1953: Kansas over Bradley (Kansas over Duquesne) 1954: Kansas State over Indiana (Bradley over Kansas State) 1955: Kansas State over Indiana (Kansas over West Virginia) Have we learned our lesson? Well, for starters, we put Kansas State and Indiana in the same region. So...maybe. 1 NC State Kentucky 1 8 Niagara W. Kentucky 8 5 Villanova Notre Dame 5 4 Seattle West Virginia 4 East South 3 Duke Arkansas 3 6 Saint Louis Alabama 6 7 St. John's Columbia 7 2 Duquesne North Carolina 2 1 Kansas State Kansas 1 8 Toledo Arizona 8 5 Dayton Southern Cal 5 4 California San Francisco 4 Midwest West 3 Bradley Iowa 3 6 La Salle SMU 6 7 Utah State Connecticut 7 2 Indiana Washington 2 East Seattle over NC State; Duquesne over Duke Seattle over Duquesne South Kentucky over West Virginia; Arkansas over North Carolina Kentucky over Arkansas Midwest Kansas State over Dayton; Bradley over Indiana Kansas State over Bradley West Kansas over Southern Cal; Washington over SMU Kansas over SMU National Semifinal Kansas State over Seattle Kentucky over Kansas National Championship: Kansas State over Kentucky The third time's the charm. |
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10-27-2015, 03:28 PM
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#237 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Quote:
I have a man crush as well  |
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10-29-2015, 10:57 AM
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#238 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Madison, WI
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Man. This is such a great league. I need to remember to make time to do more than export every other week.
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10-29-2015, 11:08 AM
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#239 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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The National Basketball Report
November 23, 1956 Top Twenty 1. Kentucky (3-0, LW 4) 2. North Carolina (3-0, 6) 3. Seattle (5-0, 15) 4. Washington (5-0, 8) 5. North Carolina St (3-1, 2) 6. Duquesne (4-1, 5) 7. Kansas State (1-1, 1) 8. Indiana (3-1, 7) 9. Bradley (1-1, 9) 10. Dayton (2-0, 17) 11. Kansas (1-2, 3) 12. California (0-0, 12) 13. Iowa (0-0, 13) 14. Duke (1-1, 10) 15. Arkansas (3-1, 11) 16. West Virginia (1-1, 14) 17. San Francisco (3-1, 18) 18. Holy Cross (1-0, NR) 19. Oregon (3-0, NR) 20. Colorado (2-0, NR) Dropped Out: Southern Cal (16), Villanova (19), Notre Dame 1 NC State Kentucky 1 8 Connecticut W. Kentucky 8 5 Holy Cross Duke 5 4 West Virginia Arkansas 4 East South 3 Duquesne Dayton 3 6 St. Joseph Georgia Tech 6 7 Niagara St. John 7 2 Indiana North Carolina 2 1 Kansas State Washington 1 8 Toledo Arizona State 8 5 California La Salle 5 4 Iowa San Francisco 4 Midwest West 3 Bradley Seattle 3 6 Colorado Oregon 6 7 Utah State Columbia 7 2 Seattle Kansas 2 AP Poll (AP stands for Absolutely Preposterous) Pity the poor Associated Press voting machine. They have an unenviable task. The poll, which is in mid-flux (ours is being created mid-week, rather than on a Monday), may look like a traffic jam with all lanes shut down. Where in the world do they go with this? The entire landscape has cannibalised itself. Let's try to sort out our own ranking: Kentucky went through Kansas and Kansas State, and didn't have the let down against Bowling Green State. They are worthy of the top ranking. Meanwhile, Kansas getting knocked out of the AP poll is the biggest overreaction possible, in our view. More on that to come shortly. North Carolina is 3-0, and while they didn't play anybody, they didn't lose and were already ranked high to begin the season. Fine. Seattle is 5-0, beating Duquesne in the process. They didn't beat anyone of conseqeunce, but they held opponents to 43.8 points per game. Duquesne scored just 36. Holy cow. Washington is also 5-0, beating Michigan and ranked San Francisco handedly in the process. In fact, they are winning by 18.4 points per game. Those four are set where they are, with hard-earned places among the poll. And then... North Carolina State, currently atop the AP poll, will not be next week. They lost to Bradley, 82-59, at home, in a game where they were never, ever competitive. Bradley led by twenty at the break, controlled the rebounds, and went 20-21 at the stripe. Duquesne went 4-1, beat Villanova and crushed Indiana, before being flat against Seattle. The following win against Columbia (1-3) means very little right now. By the way, Indiana comes calling on December 1st in a scheduled game (the first go-round was in the semifinals of the Chuck Taylor All-Star Classic). That game will come with much intrigue. Kansas State fell to Kentucky, but beat West Virginia, in the Tournament of Champions. That shouldn't totally warrant such a fall, but Duquesne had an impressive start, and the win over West Virginia may not be as impressive as one would think. Indiana went 3-1, but were run off the floor by the Dukes. Bradley blew out NC State, but lost to San Francisco, who lost to Washington by thirteen. Dayton won both of their games, proving their rank. Kansas fell to Kentucky and West Virginia, which necessitated a fall...the way things shook out, a fall is more than justified. But...out of the poll? (Patience...) Cal and Iowa haven't played yet, and therefore, stayed put. Duke fell to Ohio State, which is somehow ranked in the AP poll. We do not feel the Buckeyes, despite a good win here, are worthy of that just yet. More on that shortly. Arkansas fell to Georgia Tech, but rebounded well heading into their matchup against Kansas State in Manhattan. West Virginia split the Tournament of Champions, falling two spots. San Fran lost to Washington, but played well otherwise, and moved up a spot. Holy Cross, Oregon and Colorado all earned their way into the poll, while Southern Cal, Villanova and Notre Dame earned their way out. This is a tangled web, as teams are realizing that having a good schedule enhances their reputation in the eyes of the Tournament Selection Committee. In this case, though, it may make them go blind, especially when many marquee games are on the upcoming schedule. Here is a quick glimpse: 11.23.56 Seattle at California Indiana at Toledo (we really cannot wait for that) 11.24.56 Arkansas at Kansas State 11.25.56 Saint Joe at San Francisco 11.26.56 Kentucky at Louisville 11.27.56 West Virginia at Ohio State Illinois at NC State Michigan at Maryland Southern Cal at Arizona State 11.29.56 Notre Dame at George Washington Kentucky at Clemson 12.1.56 Indiana at Duquesne Seattle at Southern Cal NC State at Kansas 12.2.56 Duquesne at Stanford 12.3.56 Georgia Tech at San Francisco Notre Dame at Penn State Michigan at Maryland 12.4.56 Duquesne at Temple Holy Cross at Duke That is only the next week and a half (covering our publishing cycle). The nation's elite are choosing to rise to a challenge, rather than become scheduling seperatists. The fans win, while the committee gets more information (and a much bigger web to try and sift through). We believe this is here to stay, too. Schools obviously notice the atmosphere, the interest, and the bottom line. Reader Q: What is the deal with Kansas not being ranked? You will find Kansas ranked 11th in our poll. They are not ranked at all in the Associated Press Top 25, which is absolutely ludicrous. You're going to take a team that goes 0-2 in the Tournament of Champions, which is a replay of last year's National Semifinals, one ranked in the top five to begin the year, one that is also DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPION, and bounce them after one week? Did their team defect to Oklahoma? Were they swept away in some Dust Bowl mishap we were unaware of? Did they all flunk their courses? (Of course not! Academics, ha!). With all due respect to those who vote for the AP...did someone slip you a mickey? You think this team, trying to replace three starters and find its identity, but still with more talent than anyone not in their own state, to fall completely out of your ranking, held by a tribunal that suddenly lacks common sense, let alone credibility? Is this what you wish to portray, that a team who lost to the #3 team in the land (our current #1) and the #25 team (who also lost to the #3 team, and you felt the need to drop them twelve spots), should fall completely out of the poll? With all due respect to the starts of Oklahoma A&M and Colorado, you're mad to believe that Kansas should receive less votes than either of those teams, let alone a Syracuse team that overcome the insurmountable odds in beating Pacific and New Mexico. You're as bad as the NCAA putting Indiana and Kansas State into the same region two years in a row. Screw your heads on right, or reliquinsh your power to someone who will use it with a wiser demeanor. We have an even better suggestion, one for the reader: Ignore their poll. Ours doesn't overreact. Preseason Tournament Update Chuck Taylor: Seattle ran the gauntlet, beating Idaho, Virginia, Denver, and Duquesne in the final. The Dukes, even in the loss, were the talk of the tournament for their 70-48 thrashing of Indiana. The Hoosiers are in transition, and are having difficulty finding someone who can take the lead on the scoring. Right now, Octavio Broussard is leading the team with 15.8 ppg. He has a career average of just five points a game. In the final, Seattle hed Duquesne to 15-59 from the field. Heart of Texas: Oregon ripped through Brown, Tulane, and Alabama Poly to win the Heart of Texas and the giant horseshoe trophy. Tulane went 2-1 in the tournament, but had an overall good showing. They beat Brown and Arizona in the tournament. Losing to Oregon, who is a NCAA-caliber team, is nothing to get upset at. King of the Bluegrass: Everyone expected a Duke-Louisville final, and were surprised to see the Buckeyes of Ohio State upend Duke, 67-64. Louisville was caught off-guard, and were crushed by the Buckeyes, 81-51, in the final. The Cardinals have fallen from grace over the past couple of seasons, and appears to be far, far away from the power we saw three years ago. Ohio State, meanwhile, may be arriving earlier than expected. We said in the national preview that the Buckeyes were a sleeping giant. This begs the question: Have they woken up already? Let's look at their wins: vs Duke, 67-64: Solid win, but also in a season opener in which neither team knows truly what to expect. More upsets happen on opening night than any other. Ohio State got incredibly hot in the second half, and Duke turned the ball over repeatedly. The Blue Devils led 35-20 at the half...remember that. vs Louisville, 81-51: Do not think the Cardinals are what they used to be. They're not. They also shot horribly (31%) and committed 31 fouls, while also turning Ohio State over only half as much as they did (eight for OSU, sixteen for Louisville). It was only a twelve-point lead at the half (46-34), before Louisville went dreadfully cold and fouled like crazy in the second half. Also, Timothy Schutz shot 2-12, and Shaun Wilmoth 1-8. This was a decided victory, but wed pin this more on Louisville's struggling to find an identity and Ohio State riding the Duke win for confidence. at Pacific, 58-44: You have to play who is in front of you, but make no mistake...Pacific is bad. But they still outshot the Buckeyes, percentage-wise (46%-44%). The issue was turnovers: Pacific had twenty, to just eight for the Buckeyes. at Pepperdine, 69-51: Pepperdine, never known for their scoring, shot 31% from the field. Ohio State is good at making teams feel uncomfortable, sure. But Pacific and Pepperdine? They are not a barometer of how good Ohio State is. The Buckeyes were outrebounded in three of their four games. We expect a better barometer of Ohio State's ceiling to be found when West Virginia comes calling on the 27th. After that, there isn't a solid loss to be found on the Buckeyes schedule until Big Ten play. The AD in Columbus scheduled this perfectly...cupcakes all along the way, get some confidence, and then hope for the best in the Big Ten. Of course, that makes for a double-edged sword. The Buckeyes cannot afford any losses, outside of one against the Mountaineers, on the out-of-conference slate. And they have to beat everyone but Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan State in-conference. They can split with Michigan and Illinois...but if they are NCAA-worthy, a top-four finish is a must. In short: We don't think the Buckeyes have arrived. But they forced our hand with analysis of their start. So, they've achieved that much...however much our analysis is worth. MSG Holiday Festival: The Thanksgiving tradition saw North Carolina rip through the field, beating upset-minded Citadel, 73-47, in the championship. The Citadel beat Vanderbilt (67-53) and PCC heavyweight Oregon State (63-60) to get there. UNC glided through Tulsa (81-52) and outlasted Rutgers (72-68) to arrive at the title tilt. Oregon State recovered from the Citadel defeat to upend Rutgers in the third-place game. Naismith Invitational: This was, essentially, a Big 5 mini-tournament. Three Philadelphia teams--St. Joe, Penn, and Temple--suited up, along with Wichita Municipal. The semifinal saw St. Joe whip Wichita, 88-74, while Penn surprised Temple, 86-79. St. Joe took that into mind, and promptly dispatched the Ivy Grouper, 76-53, in the final. Temple crushed Wichita, 78-65. In the end, it was a lackluster tournament. Preseason NIT: The tournament had several top-flight outfits, including Bradley San Francisco, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Southern Methodist, and Mississippi State. In the end, it was PCC kingpin, Washington, that settled matters against the unlikeliest of challengers. Day 1 saw Washington prevent Toledo from another monumental upset, while Miss State crushed Temple. Southern Methodist surprised Notre Dame, 76-62, while South Carolina beat Utah. The Dons beat Bradley, 71-65, in the game of the day. Southern Cal took out St. Francis-NY, 61-50. New Hampshire upended Colgate, while Michigan outlasted VMI. Day 2 saw Washington roll past Michigan, while San Francisco did the same to South Carolina. New Hampshire surprised Miss State, 57-53, while Southern Methodist shocked Southern Cal, 94-71. In the semis, Washington upended San Fran, 75-62, while New Hampshire shocked everyone by taking out SMU, 58-55. In the final, Washington cruised to an 80-47 victory. Tournament of Champions: Kentucky emerged victorious in this go-round of last year's national semifinal participants. They beat Kansas, 80-77, and Kansas State, 71-57. West Virginia fell to Kansas State, 78-69, but upended Kansas, 75-65, in the third-place game. Kentucky looked sluggish against Kansas, giving away an eleven-point halftime lead and a fourteen-point second-half lead, before preserving the victory at the end. What was most surprising about Kentucky's wins was Curt Davis' disappearing act during them. He scored just four points and grabbed six rebounds in only thirteen minutes during Kansas, suffering an injury late in the first half. He was replaced by top pro prospect Carson White (if only every team could have that luxury), and did not return. White started the Kansas State game, though Davis ended up playing 28 minutes. He got just eight points and ten rebounds in that (with five blocks, of course). Kentucky will need Davis, its best player, for these games. White is a solid player, of course, but Davis is the heart and soul of the Wildcats. Warner Bros. Classic: North Carolina State rolled through BYU, Stanford, and Idaho State, to take the title. They looked every bit the champion many think they can be (until they got blasted by Bradley earlier this week, of course). Arkansas fell to Georgia Tech in the first game, but beat Yale and BYU to recover. Many, including us, were hoping for a Wolfpack-Razorback matchup. Alas, it was not to be. Reader Q: Which one of the preseason tournament champions will go the furthest towards a championship? This excludes the Tournament of Champions. Here is the list, from best chance, to worst, at an NCAA title, along with their ceiling: 1. NC State: With all due respect to Washington, we still believe NC State will have the best chance of a NCAA championship. We don't believe in the Husky frontcourt all that much, and there is too much muck to go through out west. NC State has UNC and Duke to get through, and a host of independent powers, sure...but they have a straight track to the top seed in the East. That would bring with it, most likely, the weakest second-seed. Right now, if Washington got the #1 in the West, Kansas would draw the #2. Or Seattle. San Francisco would draw the third seed. Want to go through that region? Regardless, the Wolfpack has the talent, and enough experience, to make the deepest run. 2. Washington: The Huskies do look pretty good so far, don't they? Even though we find their path tougher than most, they would still be the top seed in the West right now...that's worth a lot more than the #2 seed. 3. North Carolina: Loaded with talent, and likely to stay close to home in the South. Would mean they'd go through Kentucky, okay. And if they were to win the ACC, they'd likely take the top seed in the East. Everything we said about NC State applies to the Tar Heels. 4. Seattle: We love their defense, but their offense...they will run into teams that will challenge them to score. The question here is...can they? And is Jesus Jones ready to lead? Gregory Wyman can only do so much. 5. St. Joseph: This is where things bog down. We think St. Joseph has a better chance than the rest to simply make the NCAA, which makes them a better bet to win it than either Oregon or Ohio State. But we don't particularly love what St. Joe's has done so far. They've played Wichita Municipal, Penn, and Cornell. That isn't exactly the Trifecta of Doom. 6. Oregon: They have a lot of talent. But can they win with a freshman point guard (Jonathan Azure) in the PCC? They are not the deepest of teams, and they are one more built for the future. Only 7'0 center Ken Foster is a senior that contributes. They start three juniors and a freshman, and their entire rotation is underclassmen. We really like them next year (assuming they find more height that can contribute). But this year, in the toughest conference in the country? No thank you. 7. Ohio State: Hopefully this puts our feelings on Ohio State's start in the clearest of images. Recruiting Buzz Much of the talk around the recruiting circuit was about San Francisco's early haul, receiving pledges from the #3 recruit nationally, guard Steven Williams, as well as power forward Clayton Browder, who is ranked eleventh. Williams, a 6'1, 190-pound guard from Mt. Eden High School, averaged 28.4 points and 3.8 rebounds last season. He is a deadly scorer from all over the floor. There are whispers that his defense leaves something to be desired, and that he is best when he is running the offense. San Francisco won't have that problem, with Stephen Ferrari leaving after this season. The Dons beat out Southern Cal for Williams' services. More remarkable, perhaps, is their pickup of Browder. The 6'9, 250-pounder from San Diego averaged 13.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.3 steals last year for Mira Mesa High. He should fit in with Vaughn Griffis and Ronnie Veasey next year, forming one of the top frontcourts in the nation. The Dons beat out Kansas, Kansas State, North Carolina and California for his services. This is surprising, to say the least. You can say that the Powers of Oz were focused on others, but rumor has it both offered him. And he chose the Bay. Combine that with San Francisco's start, and it's entirely possible nobody in the country, outside of Washington and Seattle, had a more productive past couple of weeks than the Dons. Meanwhile, there was big news that the #1 overall recruit, forward Joe Keck of Georgia, is not eligible to participate with the NCAA next season. He will go to the junior college circuit, and will hopefully be eligible in two seasons. This is an astonishing blow for both Iowa and Southern Cal, each of whom he was heavily considering. The #2 overall recruit, 6'10 Lowell Lynch out of Virginia, is also ineligible. Indiana had offered him, and he was considering Purdue and Southern Cal on his short list. It needs to be said that Southern Cal is in on many of these players, and seems to have their reaches all over the West Coast. The MAC's Awful, No Good, Very Bad So-Far Season The Mid-American Conference wants a win. So far, the rest of the nation refuses to oblige. The MAC is a rather unceremonious 0-8, with two teams abstaining from playing, on grounds that whatever the rest of the MAC has, it may be contagious. Toledo (0-1): Lost to Washington, 76-53. Fine. First possible win: Hmmm. 11.23: vs Indiana: No 11.26: vs Marquette. Maybe. 12.04: at Kansas. Fat chance. 12.08: at Texas. Possible, but unlikely. 12.10: at Syracuse. Potentially disappointing. 12.13: at NC State. Keep moving. 12.17: at Xavier. Yes, probably. 12:20: vs Detroit Mercy. This one, for sure. So, Toledo could start the year 0-8. Ohio (0-2): Fell at Saint Mary's, 71-49, and at Wisconsin, 58-50. Possible 1st win: Saturday vs VMI (0-1) at home. Bowling Green State (0-2): Lost against Richmond, 83-73, and at Kentucky, 83-53. First possible win: Hold on... 12.1: at Bradley. Next. 12.10: at Rutgers. Doubtful, but maybe. 12.15: vs West Virginia. Would be a whopper of an upset... 12.19: at Michigan State. We don't think so. 12.21: vs Colorado. There is potential here, but we find it unlikely. 12.26: at Wake Forest: No. 12.29: at Loyola-IL. This is most likely. BG could start the year at 0-8, just like Toledo. Kent State (0-1): Lost to Southern Cal, 69-57. First possible win: at Canisius, on 11.25. If not then, then definitely either at VMI (12.07) or at home vs Vermont (12.15). Marshall (0-0) First game is at Loyola-Illinois on 11.25. They should win that. If not then, then 11.27 at Saint Francis. Miami-Ohio: Also abstained from performing. They play Harvard today. They should win that. If not then, then Wichita Municipal on 11.25. Western Michigan (0-2): Lost at Michigan (83-62) and at Michigan State (70-58). First possible win: 11.27 vs Idaho. After that, it could be a long time. 12.03: vs Wisconsin. 12.06: vs Saint Louis 12.11: vs Murray State. This one has win potential all over it. 12.14: at Villanova. This one does not. 12.17: at Ohio State. Neither does this. 12.20: at Marquette. We doubt this. 12.27: vs Tennessee Tech. Nickolas Parker...can anyone stop him? 1.2.57: at Drake. High possibility here. 1.8.57: at Loyola-Illinois. Probably. How do you feel if you're Loyola-Illinois? The school appears to be the gateway to winning in the MAC. Question to our readers: Who do you think will be the last time to get a win this season? Please write correspondence to the address below: National Basketball Report 315 W. 63rd Street New York, NY 10023 Care of: [email protected] |
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10-29-2015, 11:09 AM
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#240 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Quote:
I'm still surprised we don't have more guys wanting to join this. The amount of writing alone in the preseason is more than other leagues (not just FBB OR FBCB leagues) have in total. Really just is a fun league to be apart of |
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10-29-2015, 11:40 AM
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#241 |
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Pro Rookie
Join Date: Jan 2004
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muns, I just read your most recent write-up. Good stuff! One of these days when I get time I'll read the whole thing. With college basketball starting, I can't wait to get back to my teams in this, as well as get going on my FBCB Interactive Player Dynasty and FBCB Interactive Coaches Dynasty again. I believe you signed up for a coach in the Coaches Dynasty, can't remember. Keep up the good work, NCAA53 is a blast and I can't wait to get back in town and get back to my teams.
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10-29-2015, 02:46 PM
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#242 | |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Quote:
Yes, UNC/NC State needs to be the top rivalry for the next 40+ seasons  |
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10-29-2015, 07:53 PM
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#243 |
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Pro Rookie
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Macomb, MI
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I need to get back into this league
I lost track when we were relocating but now that we are settled in |
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10-30-2015, 04:32 PM
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#244 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Quote:
Yes come on back Balldog. We can use another vet around the place. Was also hoping you could pick up another team in a power conf to go along with Detroit Mercy |
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10-30-2015, 04:33 PM
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#245 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Quote:
I cant take credit for those write ups. Those are the guys writing for the NBR. I contribute from time to time, but none of that stuff is mine. They are doing a hell of a job, and why this league is as fun as it is |
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10-30-2015, 04:34 PM
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#246 | |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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Quote:
I hope to poke through with a 3rd in that rivalry in a good 4 seasons |
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10-30-2015, 04:48 PM
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#247 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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USC starts the year with a victory, however the injury bug bit us square in the ass again.
We need to hire a new trainer, do some sort of praying before games, some smoke rituals... something for goodness gracious. Our most prized recruit in USC history Freshman SG- Edmond Nelson went down 11 mins into the first game with a scratched eye. We lose him for the next 2 weeks, which really irks me as I need to figure out how good or bad this teams is In his 11 mins his stats were 3-4 for 6 points, a rebound an assist and a turnover. Not a bad first game before the injury. We then go on to lose against a tough Southern Methodist team 94-71. Just an ugly ugly game as we couldn't shoot or guard for shit. We win the next 2 games, and then lose to another decent team in Arizona State. We had 2 starters foul out in this one couldn't really compete as our depth couldn't keep us afloat here. Next game, Nelson comes back and its against Top 25 Seattle who was ranked 20th and we beat them 56-48. If Freddie Nation could not turn the ball over 12 times we would have blown them the hell out, but hey a win is a win am I right, especially a top 25 win. So we sit at 4-2 at the moment looking ok. Still some major things to figure out, and I still cant yet until we get healthy. SG- Vincent Lincoln went down in the Seattle game with a Fractured Hip so we will miss him for a few weeks. That is important because I was going to insert him into the starting lineup as do not like the way Allen Storer is playing. But 4-2 is an ok start for a team that has scheduled tough competition this year. Just wish the injuries will go away sooner rather than later |
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10-30-2015, 07:27 PM
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#248 | |
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Head Coach
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Quote:
A strong Big 4 would be awesome as well |
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11-01-2015, 06:37 AM
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#249 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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How things look so far this year
Code:
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11-01-2015, 06:41 AM
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#250 |
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Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Baltimore MD
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I forgot to do a conf preview. Too late to do one now, however, I will say that I think Washington takes home the PCC crown this year. I think Oregon State and Oregon battle for number 2 in the North, and Oregon might play spoiler this year. They have one hell of an athletic team and could beat anybody on a good day.
In the South, I do think this is the year for the Trojans. Cal is just so weak in the post, it will be a shame on my part if they are able to keep up. They have better guards than we do, but the difference in the post is greater than the guard play. On that note, if UCLA's post have a couple of good games I think they have a shot at beating CAL as well. Last edited by muns : 11-01-2015 at 06:42 AM. |
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