[Paint Touches] WAY Too Early Bracketology

[Herman Cain]

Providence could win the league. They return everyone from last year's team that won their last 6 in Big East play. Will likely start 4 seniors while also adding top-50 recruit Makai Ashton-Langford.

Ed Cooley is an excellent  coach and I enjoy our rivalry with The Friars.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think people are sleeping on Xavier as well. Yes they went into a tailspin when Sumner got hurt,  but after they had some games to figure it out (and get Blueitt fully healthy) they made the semi finals of the BEast tourney and the Elite Eight. I think that is who they really are, not the team that was reeling from injuries. Add the best recruiting class in the BEast and a solid grad transfer in Kanter and I think you have solid squad.

To me it is clear that Nova,  X,  Providence,  and Hall are the top 4 in the BEast. Creighton,  Butler,  and Marquette are basically interchangeable at 5-7. St. John's is close to that trio but I don't believe theyre a tourney team yet. Depaul and Georgetown will share the basement.

[brewcity77]

Xavier, Butler, and Creighton all have the same dilemma. Who runs the point? Is Paul Scruggs ready to go from day one? Who replaces Lewis/Savage/Woodson? Is Kaleb Joseph the next Maurice Watson or just the guy that flamed out at Syracuse?

4-8 in the league is very interesting, but I'm glad that at least we know who'll have the ball in their hands.

[GB Warrior]

I think people are sleeping on Xavier as well. Yes they went into a tailspin when Sumner got hurt,  but after they had some games to figure it out (and get Blueitt fully healthy) they made the semi finals of the BEast tourney and the Elite Eight. I think that is who they really are, not the team that was reeling from injuries. Add the best recruiting class in the BEast and a solid grad transfer in Kanter and I think you have solid squad.

To me it is clear that Nova,  X,  Providence,  and Hall are the top 4 in the BEast. Creighton,  Butler,  and Marquette are basically interchangeable at 5-7. St. John's is close to that trio but I don't believe theyre a tourney team yet. Depaul and Georgetown will share the basement.

+1 on X.

This league is not going to be completely and utterly dominated by Nova as it has been the past couple of years. Should be fun.

[We R Final Four]

I am not going to pencil DePaul as the co-basement dwellers, along with GT. I think they will be improved and sneak up and bite some teams.

[GooooMarquette]

I just hope we don't lose a secret scrimmage, 'cuz that could bump us out of the field....

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Xavier, Butler, and Creighton all have the same dilemma. Who runs the point? Is Paul Scruggs ready to go from day one? Who replaces Lewis/Savage/Woodson? Is Kaleb Joseph the next Maurice Watson or just the guy that flamed out at Syracuse?

4-8 in the league is very interesting, but I'm glad that at least we know who'll have the ball in their hands.

After the Sumner injury, Quintin Goodin put up 7.2 ppg, 5.3 apg, and 1.1 spg as a true freshmen. I think with a year's experience and a summer preparing to be the lead guard, I don't think X will have a problem with Goodin at the point.

Butler has Paul Jorgensen, a transfer from George Washington, but he wasn't all that impressive at a lesser school. Could see some trouble there.

Creighton has Kaleb Joseph. Not sure about him. He started for Syracuse as a true freshmen but then saw all of his minutes disappear as a sophomore, getting only 7 minutes a game. If he used the year off to improve on his freshmen year stats he could be solid. I thought Marcus Foster wasn't worth all the hype because he had a down sophomore year (after a stellar freshman year) before transferring to Creighton. I was wrong on that one.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

One thing I am convinced of - the Big East is going to be really really good. 1-8 are legit top 50 teams, with the chance for 4-5 top 20 type teams. Even DePaul should be improved and while Georgetown is definitely a dumpster fire, they still have some very talented big men.

This has the makings of arguelably being the best league in the country from top to bottom - again. I think it's safe to say that the this league is here to stay amongst the country's best every season.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

One thing I am convinced of - the Big East is going to be really really good. 1-8 are legit top 50 teams, with the chance for 4-5 top 20 type teams. Even DePaul should be improved and while Georgetown is definitely a dumpster fire, they still have some very talented big men.

This has the makings of arguelably being the best league in the country from top to bottom - again. I think it's safe to say that the this league is here to stay amongst the country's best every season.

The only definite top 20 team I see is Villanova. I think Xavier is top 20 but could be wrong. I see Providence and Hall as top 30 teams and Creighton/Marquette/Butler as top 45 teams. I don't believe in St. John's yet, they will be improved but I still see them as more of a top 75 team than a top 50. Depaul will be improved but still sub 100.

Top to bottom best conference is Big 12 easily. Two top 10 teams in Kansas and West Virginia. Two other top 25 teams in TCU and Baylor. I could make arguments for OK State, Texas Tech, TU, K State, OU, and IA State to all be top 50 teams this season. That's the entire conference btw. One or two will undoubtably sink to the bottom (my guess is Oklahoma and Iowa State) but they will still be top 100.

SEC is also making a surprising surge. They lack great teams at the top but I think all 14 teams are among the 100 best in D1. I dedicate a paragraph to it in the article.

ACC also has a strong argument. They have two top 10 (probably top 5) in Louisville and Duke. North Carolina, Virginia, Miami, and Notre Dame all belong in or very close to the top 25. Virginia Tech and Wake Forest are both top 40 teams. Florida State and Clemson could both be top 50. Georgia Tech and Syracuse should both be top 75 or at least top 100. They are just weighed down by a bad NC State team and two horrendous teams in Boston College and Pitt.

The Big East will be stronger than all the mid-majors (including the American), the PAC 12, and the Big 10 for sure. I think the SEC has a better bottom this season but the Big East will be better overall. I'd give the B12 the top spot, followed by the ACC, and then the Big East.

[Herman Cain]

The only definite top 20 team I see is Villanova. I think Xavier is top 20 but could be wrong. I see Providence and Hall as top 30 teams and Creighton/Marquette/Butler as top 45 teams. I don't believe in St. John's yet, they will be improved but I still see them as more of a top 75 team than a top 50. Depaul will be improved but still sub 100.

Top to bottom best conference is Big 12 easily. Two top 10 teams in Kansas and West Virginia. Two other top 25 teams in TCU and Baylor. I could make arguments for OK State, Texas Tech, TU, K State, OU, and IA State to all be top 50 teams this season. That's the entire conference btw. One or two will undoubtably sink to the bottom (my guess is Oklahoma and Iowa State) but they will still be top 100.

SEC is also making a surprising surge. They lack great teams at the top but I think all 14 teams are among the 100 best in D1. I dedicate a paragraph to it in the article.

ACC also has a strong argument. They have two top 10 (probably top 5) in Louisville and Duke. North Carolina, Virginia, Miami, and Notre Dame all belong in or very close to the top 25. Virginia Tech and Wake Forest are both top 40 teams. Florida State and Clemson could both be top 50. Georgia Tech and Syracuse should both be top 75 or at least top 100. They are just weighed down by a bad NC State team and two horrendous teams in Boston College and Pitt.

The Big East will be stronger than all the mid-majors (including the American), the PAC 12, and the Big 10 for sure. I think the SEC has a better bottom this season but the Big East will be better overall. I'd give the B12 the top spot, followed by the ACC, and then the Big East.

Looking forward to your top 50 players of the Big East analysis again this season.