MUScoop

The roster and schedule are set. We've seen the team in action at the scrimmage. What do you think? National attention always has a recency bias - do we buy the hype - are we still solidly top-25? I'm optimistic with what we have and Shaka's ability to turn the sum into more than the parts, but there's no denying we are facing the loss of some uniquely talented players. 

Losing Tyko and Oso just changes all the dynamics of this team offensively along with all the youth and/or guys in new roles along with the question of Sean's availability. Rebounding looks to be a continuing issue...will that bite back this year with a lesser offense? Team makes tourney after a very bumpy road.

Cbssports expects second in the Big East.

What if I think they'll be a 5 seed?

Then it's the dreaded 5-12 game.

6 wins in the Big East will be a successful season in my eye

Quote from: Uncle Rico on October 09, 2024, 07:37:55 AM
6 wins in the Big East will be a successful season in my eye

Why are you always so damn optimistic?

Quote from: Uncle Rico on October 09, 2024, 07:37:55 AM
6 wins in the Big East will be a successful season in my eye

You and Herman's eye.

Quote from: PGsHeroes32 on October 09, 2024, 07:43:00 AM
Why are you always so damn optimistic?

Lack of mid-range shooters, poor rebounding and inability to beat Big Ten teams = #longseason

Quote from: Uncle Rico on October 09, 2024, 07:49:48 AM
Lack of mid-range shooters, poor rebounding and inability to beat Big Ten teams = #longseason

You forgot no aircraft carrier Rico...

Quote from: MUbiz on October 09, 2024, 07:52:44 AM
You forgot no aircraft carrier Rico...

Rebounding covers that.  #longseason

Everybody knows that the portal is the secret to happiness and success.

Quote from: Uncle Rico on October 09, 2024, 07:49:48 AM
Lack of mid-range shooters, poor rebounding and inability to beat Big Ten teams = #longseason

Oh yeah, sounds very optimistic. Let's ride.

Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on October 09, 2024, 06:40:14 AM
What if I think they'll be a 5 seed?

Arbys

Quote from: tower912 on October 09, 2024, 06:11:30 AM
Cbssports expects second in the Big East.

Brew probably knows, but I wonder historically how much closer the preseason polls are to the final polls from the previous year than to the final polls of that year.

Quote from: Uncle Rico on October 09, 2024, 07:49:48 AM
Lack of mid-range shooters, poor rebounding and inability to beat Big Ten teams = #longseason

Not too mention the amount of national televised games.

For the season I am expecting to be on the right side of the bubble not sweating on Selection Sunday.  Possibly in and out of the Top 25 all year.

For some reason I think when Shaka does make a deep NCAA run, it will be with a lower seeded team instead of a protected pick.  Maybe playing up that underdog role. 

As long as we're not on Peacock, I'm good

Quote from: Jay Bee on October 09, 2024, 08:37:45 AM
As long as we're not on Peacock, I'm good

I got bad news for you.

Quote from: 🏀 on October 09, 2024, 08:39:49 AM
I got bad news for you.

Damn it. How many games and how do I get it?

We will have the best player on the floor in almost every game. A kid who score 30 plus, playing within a team concept. We will also have one of the best defensive players in the country. That is an Excellent foundation.

Shaka's team concepts on offense  and focus on defense will ensure the rest of the rotation makes important contributions.

I expect another strong season in the Big East , which will get us in the tournament .

Quote from: Herman Cain on October 09, 2024, 08:44:37 AM
We will have the best player on the floor in almost every game. A kid who score 30 plus, playing within a team concept. We will also have one of the best defensive players in the country. That is an Excellent foundation.

Shaka's team concepts on offense  and focus on defense will ensure the rest of the rotation makes important contributions.

I expect another strong season in the Big East , which will get us in the tournament .

If you didn't believe me before, you should believe me now.  #longseason

4-6 seed. I know seeding doesn't match up year to year but my thought,

is this team as good as the last two? No. Then likely not a 2 seed.

Is this team as good as 03, 12, or 13? No to 03 or 12 for sure so likely not a 3.

Is this team as good as 96? Idk I was 5 but going to say it's the ceiling given my thoughts on if they could be on par with 13.

Is this team as good as 02, or 19? I think it can be if Kam can carry a few wins.

Is this team as good as 94, 08, 10, 09 (post Dom), I certainly think so for the three I actually recall.

Quote from: Jay Bee on October 09, 2024, 08:42:06 AM
Damn it. How many games and how do I get it?

Four.

Plus the first round of the BE Tournament.

Here are the questions I have for this team:

1. Can Kam Jones slide over to the ball-handler role as seamlessly in 2024-25 as he did for six games when Kolek was out?
2. Can Ben Gold/David Joplin/Caedin Hamilton provide a minimal dropoff from Oso's level of defense? The offense will change and I think the front court can still be productive, but I worry about losing Oso's defensive capabilities.
3. Will Chase Ross emerge to the player he's shown flashes of being?
4. Will one of the reserve players (Owens, Lowery, Tre) be able to jump to a sixth starter level so there's little dropoff when we go to the bench?

If the answer to those is all no, then I think we're on the bubble. If one or two are yes, then we're in that 5-8 range, safely in, but not favored to make the second weekend. If three to four are yes, you won't really see any dropoff from the past two years.

When it comes to predictions this time of year, I tend toward optimism. I haven't done game-by-game yet, but my thoughts are...

• 30-8 overall
  
• 10-1 non-conference
  
• 15-5 Big East (2-seed in BET)
  
• 2-1 BET record (lose in title game)
  
• 3-1 NCAA record (2-seed, Elite 8)

This will continue our trend of winning one more game in the NCAA Tournament each year, which puts us on track to win the NCAA Title in 2028.

Great questions Brew. My biggest concern is the interior defense. Massive increase of opponents PPP with BG on the floor and Oso on the bench. I believe it was around 12 points per game more overall.

Quote from: Jay Bee on October 09, 2024, 08:42:06 AM
Damn it. How many games and how do I get it?

Marquette vs Seton Hall, Depaul and Georgetown; all first-round games and the afternoon quarterfinal games of the BET.

I might have missed one.

I'm thinking we'll have a slightly worse regular season and be a 3 or 4 seed but go further in the tournament

San Antonio here we come!

Quote from: Herman Cain on October 09, 2024, 08:44:37 AM
We will have the best player on the floor in almost every game. A kid who score 30 plus, playing within a team concept. We will also have one of the best defensive players in the country. That is an Excellent foundation.

Shaka's team concepts on offense  and focus on defense will ensure the rest of the rotation makes important contributions.

I expect another strong season in the Big East , which will get us in the tournament .

Given that you were one of the most wrong Scoopers last year, I'm now suddenly very concerned about the upcoming season.

Offense will not be as good- how can it be without TyKo and Oso?

Interior defense will not be as good, I don't think, but perimeter defense will be better.

Rebounding I'm not sure about. I think the added length will help in that department, but Tyler was a great rebounder for a pg and Oso was a bit underwhelming as a 5. When I saw he grabbed 7 boards in 20 NBA mins yesterday I shook my head...
Not sure what'll happen in the rebounding department.

My biggest concern remains the 5 with Ben and Caedin, and if there is a struggle there does Shaka go to a "small" lineup with Jop/Royce at the 5 and how does that work?

I suspect Kam will take his lumps when it comes to poor shooting nights and poor turnover nights, forcing the issue too much with high expectations/pressure sort of thing, but he will be so fantastic overall that it won't matter. His stage of stardom is set.

Stevie will be great as usual. Jop is the x-factor for the season, for good or bad.
The others will do their parts and a few will pleasantly surprise- Owens, Chase, and Zaide being the most likely to take that next leap into the "this dude will be one of the best 3/4 players on this team after the seniors leave" realms. Excited to watch them all try to jump into that level.

Overall, at this point I'd say this team is a 3rd-5th place in the BE type of team.
That should put them safely in the tournament. I'd put mid range 6-9 type seed as more likely than a top 5 seed.
I'm slightly more hopeful than I was a few months ago, and imo that would be a success the year after losing TyKo and Oso.

I've said for a while that if Shaka succeeds the year after losing those two then there's very little to worry about going forward

Offense will not be as good- how can it be without TyKo and Oso?

Interior defense will not be as good, I don't think, but perimeter defense will be better.

Rebounding I'm not sure about. I think the added length will help in that department, but Tyler was a great rebounder for a pg and Oso was a bit underwhelming as a 5. When I saw he grabbed 7 boards in 20 NBA mins yesterday I shook my head...
Not sure what'll happen in the rebounding department.

My biggest concern remains the 5 with Ben and Caedin, and if there is a struggle there does Shaka go to a "small" lineup with Jop/Royce at the 5 and how does that work?

I suspect Kam will take his lumps when it comes to poor shooting nights and poor turnover nights, forcing the issue too much with high expectations/pressure sort of thing, but he will be so fantastic overall that it won't matter. His stage of stardom is set.

Stevie will be great as usual. Jop is the x-factor for the season, for good or bad. Clear off that chicken wing young man.
The others will do their parts and a few will pleasantly surprise- Owens, Chase, and Zaide being the most likely to take that next leap into the "this dude will be one of the best 3/4 players on this team after the seniors leave" realms. Excited to watch them all try to jump into that level.

Overall, at this point I'd say this team is a 3rd-5th place in the BE type of team.
That should put them safely in the tournament. I'd put mid range 6-9 type seed as more likely than a top 5 seed.
I'm slightly more hopeful than I was a few months ago, and imo that would be a success the year after losing TyKo and Oso.

I've said for a while that if Shaka succeeds the year after losing those two then there's very little to worry about going forward

#1 in postseason poll or bust.

Quote from: MUbiz on October 09, 2024, 10:33:20 AM
Great questions Brew. My biggest concern is the interior defense. Massive increase of opponents PPP with BG on the floor and Oso on the bench. I believe it was around 12 points per game more overall.

Just looked it up and according to hoop-explorer, with garbage time filtered out, when Gold was out there without Oso, we gave up 68.6 2PFG% at the rim. When Oso was out there, we gave up 51.2%. It's definitely something to keep an eye on (or just cover your eyes).

Quote from: brewcity77 on October 09, 2024, 03:54:43 PM
Just looked it up and according to hoop-explorer, with garbage time filtered out, when Gold was out there without Oso, we gave up 68.6 2PFG% at the rim. When Oso was out there, we gave up 51.2%. It's definitely something to keep an eye on (or just cover your eyes).

#longseason

Quote from: Uncle Rico on October 09, 2024, 03:57:06 PM
#longseason

I said fringe top 25, win one in the NCAAs because I trust in Shaka.  We know what we have in Kam Jones, Mitchell, Joplin and Gold.  Everyone else, in my mind, is a question mark, including Ross.  I think he needs to take a big stride forward for us to be good.  I don't think the four listed above are going to improve appreciably (maybe some more consistency from Jop), but we're gonna need two or three of the guys not in the starting lineup turn out to be useful guys for us to be good.

Quote from: CTWarrior on October 09, 2024, 04:08:08 PM
I said fringe top 25, win one in the NCAAs because I trust in Shaka.  We know what we have in Kam Jones, Mitchell, Joplin and Gold.  Everyone else, in my mind, is a question mark, including Ross.  I think he needs to take a big stride forward for us to be good.  I don't think the four listed above are going to improve appreciably (maybe some more consistency from Jop), but we're gonna need two or three of the guys not in the starting lineup turn out to be useful guys for us to be good.

I don't know that he WILL take the big jump, but I don't think we can say for sure that we "know what we have" from Ben Gold.  He's stepping into a completely new role.

Quote from: Jay Bee on October 09, 2024, 08:42:06 AM
Damn it. How many games and how do I get it?

It's easy and it's actually a pretty good streaming service.

Craving willie golden eagle's take on this year's team. Need it.

Quote from: Jay Bee on October 09, 2024, 08:42:06 AM
Damn it. How many games and how do I get it?

It's basically the same as needing cable in the 90s or a sports package in the 2000s to see all your games. Just a matter of keeping up with the times. My guess is the presentation will be better than CBSSN. These are the Peacock games:

Nov 8: George Mason
Jan 21: @ Seton Hall
Feb 11: DePaul
Mar 1: @ Georgetown

Also have Iowa State on ESPN+, so that's streaming only, and there's still no TV carrier (network or streaming) for Georgia.

at this point, i have to trust shaka.  my issues however, are depth.  we don't have much room for error and/or injuries.  unless # 8, 9 10 off the bench step up and surprise us.  shaka has an uncanny ability to get all of HIS players to buy into the concept of TEAM MU. 

we can talk and prognosticate till the manatees come home... unless i see anything that disputes my faith in shaka, i'm just going to have to sit back and watch

Quote from: wadesworld on October 09, 2024, 05:05:02 PM
I don't know that he WILL take the big jump, but I don't think we can say for sure that we "know what we have" from Ben Gold.  He's stepping into a completely new role.

Biggest X factor to stay near where we were last year and not take a step back. 

IF each returning player improves YOY...whether that's improved shooting, improved D, rebounding, ball handling or simply playing with more confidence and assertiveness...each player has a different area of needed improvement...AND if Hamilton can offer quality minutes of D and boards, and if DO has some impactability off the bench, MU can be a top 3 BE team and easily a 5 or 6 seed. I know, I pretty much covered the bases, but status quo in player development won't cut it. Worst case I think MU is still 5th in-conference, and a 8-seed ncaa. From there, and as we all know, its about health, hot hand and matchups.  Imo there are two players that must definitely take a step up for MU to maximize this teams potential, Tre Norman and Ben Gold.

Quote from: Viper on October 09, 2024, 08:36:44 PM
IF each returning player improves YOY...whether that's improved shooting, improved D, rebounding, ball handling or simply playing with more confidence and assertiveness...each player has a different area of needed improvement...AND if Hamilton can offer quality minutes of D and boards, and if DO has some impactability off the bench, MU can be a top 3 BE team and easily a 5 or 6 seed. I know, I pretty much covered the bases, but status quo in player development won't cut it. Worst case I think MU is still 5th in-conference, and a 8-seed ncaa. From there, and as we all know, its about health, hot hand and matchups.  Imo there are two players that must definitely take a step up for MU to maximize this teams potential, Tre Norman and Ben Gold.

I'd say Chase is more important to MU taking a step up than Tre is.

Quote from: Viper on October 09, 2024, 08:36:44 PM
IF each returning player improves YOY...whether that's improved shooting, improved D, rebounding, ball handling or simply playing with more confidence and assertiveness...each player has a different area of needed improvement...AND if Hamilton can offer quality minutes of D and boards, and if DO has some impactability off the bench, MU can be a top 3 BE team and easily a 5 or 6 seed. I know, I pretty much covered the bases, but status quo in player development won't cut it. Worst case I think MU is still 5th in-conference, and a 8-seed ncaa. From there, and as we all know, its about health, hot hand and matchups.  Imo there are two players that must definitely take a step up for MU to maximize this teams potential, Tre Norman and Ben Gold.

So you think the difference between our floor and ceiling next year is 2 or 3 seed lines? I disagree there.

Also, if Shaka can't beat RED this December, we'll have a mid season coaching change so that could alter the course of our season greatly. Cannot, I repeat, CANNOT go 0-4 against RED and survive.

23-25 regular season wins.  Second weekend.

Quote from: tower912 on October 09, 2024, 08:48:27 PM
23-25 regular season wins.  Second weekend.

I like it Tower.  Hope you are right.

I think MU makes the tournament but I do not see that many regular season wins. 

Will be really fun to see the recruit, retain and develop model working to its fullest this year.

Quote from: mug644 on October 09, 2024, 08:45:39 PM
I'd say Chase is more important to MU taking a step up than Tre is.

Chase definitely important. I went with Tre because if he can lock it down at pg, allowing Kam to cook at the 2, MU is better for it.

Quote from: Viper on October 09, 2024, 09:08:28 PM
Chase definitely important. I went with Tre because if he can lock it down at pg, allowing Kam to cook at the 2, MU is better for it.

I can see that. Still, if Tre can lock it down at PG, what are the dominos for the lineup? Kam and Stevie stay in, with Ben at the 5. So, does Jop or Chase get pushed out? I can't see Jop, as a senior getting pushed out, so it's Chase. And, thus, I see Chase as more important, because he has the position now, and would lose it, with it being essentially a swap.

Of course, game by game, it's important that lots of guys, Tre being among them, are able to step up.

Quote from: tower912 on October 09, 2024, 08:48:27 PM
23-25 regular season wins.  Second weekend.

Who are you and what have you done w the real Tower?

Quote from: mug644 on October 09, 2024, 09:13:45 PM
I can see that. Still, if Tre can lock it down at PG, what are the dominos for the lineup? Kam and Stevie stay in, with Ben at the 5. So, does Jop or Chase get pushed out? I can't see Jop, as a senior getting pushed out, so it's Chase. And, thus, I see Chase as more important, because he has the position now, and would lose it, with it being essentially a swap.

Of course, game by game, it's important that lots of guys, Tre being among them, are able to step up.

I can see us definitely having O and D lineups - tre, kam, chase, jop, Ben would put up some serious pts - kam will clearly be max minutes - jop probably 30-35 - I could see everyone else under 25 as situation and matchups will define rotations

Quote from: rocket surgeon on October 09, 2024, 07:11:57 PM
at this point, i have to trust shaka.  my issues however, are depth.  we don't have much room for error and/or injuries.  unless # 8, 9 10 off the bench step up and surprise us.  shaka has an uncanny ability to get all of HIS players to buy into the concept of TEAM MU. 

we can talk and prognosticate till the manatees come home... unless i see anything that disputes my faith in shaka, i'm just going to have to sit back and watch

I was sort of hoping you'd get to lace em up

Quote from: brewcity77 on October 09, 2024, 06:56:41 PM
It's basically the same as needing cable in the 90s or a sports package in the 2000s to see all your games. Just a matter of keeping up with the times. My guess is the presentation will be better than CBSSN. These are the Peacock games:

Nov 8: George Mason
Jan 21: @ Seton Hall
Feb 11: DePaul
Mar 1: @ Georgetown

Also have Iowa State on ESPN+, so that's streaming only, and there's still no TV carrier (network or streaming) for Georgia.

Thanks, I'll know which games I need to watch in a perfectly legal way.

Looking at the options given.. you can be top 3 in the big east, a top 25 team in the country, and still be a 6 seed. And still maybe win your first round game.

6*4 is 24.

Quote from: Viper on October 09, 2024, 09:08:28 PM
Chase definitely important. I went with Tre because if he can lock it down at pg, allowing Kam to cook at the 2, MU is better for it.

Barring injury, I don't believe a world exists where Stevie isn't a 27-30 mpg guy, and strong as he is, he ain't playing the 4.

I think they will be a top twenty team for most/all of the season. Should have very solid NC part of the schedule and end up in the top 4 of BE. Too hard to pick a seed ranking, but definitely think they will be safely in the tournament well before BE ends. I think the post TK/Oso era is going to be fun to watch, especially on defense.

IMO MU will be a top 4 seed.  One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that where retention will be especially impactful is in the non con opening quarter of season.  We win games vs teams we might not later in the season due to us hitting the ground running, 90-95% of rotation having been in the system a couple years.  This is a huge advantage I think.  Its why I thought that hot takes from Goodman that maybe MU would not be a tourney team were so off - we will have our big non con wins, our tournament resume nailed down before January, even if some the transfer heavy BE teams turn out to be really good by mid season...

Quote from: milwaukee expat on October 10, 2024, 01:48:46 PM
IMO MU will be a top 4 seed.  One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that where retention will be especially impactful is in the non con opening quarter of season.  We win games vs teams we might not later in the season due to us hitting the ground running, 90-95% of rotation having been in the system a couple years.  This is a huge advantage I think.  Its why I thought that hot takes from Goodman that maybe MU would not be a tourney team were so off - we will have our big non con wins, our tournament resume nailed down before January, even if some the transfer heavy BE teams turn out to be really good by mid season...

Sometimes I wonder who is the dumber guy with the bigger mouth.

Goodman or Katz.

Then I remember that they use their hot takes to bait clicks and outrage for engagement.

Quote from: Goose on October 10, 2024, 01:02:03 PM
I think they will be a top twenty team for most/all of the season. Should have very solid NC part of the schedule and end up in the top 4 of BE. Too hard to pick a seed ranking, but definitely think they will be safely in the tournament well before BE ends. I think the post TK/Oso era is going to be fun to watch, especially on defense.

Call me entitled but this is pretty much what I am expecting from Shaka year in and year out...and as long as he's recruiting at a decent pace and his retention is above average, we'll always be right there.

I agree with Lens and defensive intensity wins the tight games. This is a very fast bunch and beefer up front.     

Quote from: Hards Alumni on October 10, 2024, 02:41:40 PM
Sometimes I wonder who is the dumber guy with the bigger mouth.

Goodman or Katz.

Then I remember that they use their hot takes to bait clicks and outrage for engagement.

Goodman, he's the idiot who was harassing the DePaul fan for his piece on Cooley that's definitely looking more true.

Well, I just bought my tickets for Rounds 1 and 2 in Cleveland. Come on, Marquette, make it happen!

Edited to add:  I just double-checked and Cleveland is the closest site to Milwaukee. I really hope MU gets that protected seed.

Could see us struggling a little bit in the non-conference, but still see 12+ conference wins.  Go dancing, and after that point, it's all about match-ups.

I don't know ball that well, but my gut says:

23-8 Overall come march madness
9-2 non-conference (losing to Iowa State and one of MD/PU/GA just because)
14-6 Big East
BET: Lose championship game
NCAA: Lose in S16 game

It only took Shaka two years to purge the COLE. That might be his greatest accomplishment yet.

Pomeroy: 20–11, 10-8 in conference, #22 in the country.

Quote from: MUDPT on October 14, 2024, 05:53:46 AM
Pomeroy: 20–11, 10-8 in conference, #22 in the country.

Huh.  Villanova is 20.  6 BE teams in the top-30.  League shaping up to be a battle.

Projected loss to Dayton.  😬

Dayton AND Wisconsin.

Quote from: tower912 on October 14, 2024, 06:14:24 AM
Dayton AND Wisconsin.

Wisconsin is a projected win but my metrics say that's a loss

Quote from: MUDPT on October 14, 2024, 05:53:46 AM
Pomeroy: 20–11, 10-8 in conference, #22 in the country.

12-8 in conference, FWIW.

Shaka playing more head games

https://x.com/coachshakasmart/status/1845948515778023572?s=46&t=QSiaGcOIKZrrpw0ciZkI5Q

Chase showing off some Kam action at the glass.

Quote from: Uncle Rico on October 14, 2024, 05:19:34 PM
Shaka playing more head games

https://x.com/coachshakasmart/status/1845948515778023572?s=46&t=QSiaGcOIKZrrpw0ciZkI5Q

Rumors are heavily pointing to multiple transfers/defections due to this tweet.

Quote from: We R Final Four on October 14, 2024, 05:29:12 PM
Chase showing off some Kam action at the glass.

Good.  Needs to finish better in traffiic at the rim. More so than straight line drive dunks.  Love to see it.

Liked the right handed scoop.

Quote from: Uncle Rico on October 14, 2024, 05:19:34 PM
Shaka playing more head games

https://x.com/coachshakasmart/status/1845948515778023572?s=46&t=QSiaGcOIKZrrpw0ciZkI5Q

Love that we've added an ant man and Jrue holiday award

Pardon my ignorance but what exactly would an " Ant Man" award winner be honored for?

I mean I get the Jrue Holiday reference........and yes I know Anthony Edwards is the Ant Man.......

Quote from: MuMark on October 14, 2024, 07:01:36 PM
Pardon my ignorance but what exactly would an " Ant Man" award winner be honored for?

I mean I get the Jrue Holiday reference........and yes I know Anthony Edwards is the Ant Man.......

Glad you asked.  That was not apparent to me either.

And Jrue could be DPOW or Teammate of the Week.

Quote from: MuMark on October 14, 2024, 07:01:36 PM
Pardon my ignorance but what exactly would an " Ant Man" award winner be honored for?

I mean I get the Jrue Holiday reference........and yes I know Anthony Edwards is the Ant Man.......

My assumption is that it goes to the player who plays with the most violence, given Ant Man's well known hatred of the rim. The video above shows a particularly forceful block by Chase.

Good week with the ladies, maybe?

Quote from: Jay Bee on October 14, 2024, 10:43:44 PM
Good week with the ladies, maybe?

Not sure the NIL fund for these guys can cover cover going full Ant Man with the ladies

Quote from: Jay Bee on October 14, 2024, 10:43:44 PM
Good week with the ladies, maybe?

Doubt it.  Marquette is a Jesuit institution and its students wouldn't do that.

Now that non-con is over, and it seems everyone is primarily grading our non-con as a 'B', where does the team stand compared to what you voted for here?

While I graded our non-con as a 'B' as well, primarily due to our tendency to struggle in the 2H of road games and my high new standards for the team, we are still doing as good or better thus far than I predicted at the beginning of the season.

Quote from: UWW2MU on October 11, 2024, 12:24:27 PMI don't know ball that well, but my gut says:

23-8 Overall come march madness
9-2 non-conference (losing to Iowa State and one of MD/PU/GA just because)
14-6 Big East
BET: Lose championship game
NCAA: Lose in S16 game

As I mentioned yesterday, I think the ceiling is lower and the floor is higher than the past two years. At this point, I would expect a 3-4 spot in BE, a 5 seed or higher and no idea past that.

Quote from: Goose on December 16, 2024, 11:22:45 AMAs I mentioned yesterday, I think the ceiling is lower and the floor is higher than the past two years. At this point, I would expect a 3-4 spot in BE, a 5 seed or higher and no idea past that.

I'm still bullish on this bench developing over the course of the year and being an asset at the end.  Parham and Owens will be able to contribute more offensively and Jones will be able to give some end off the bench. If either of those things happen to minor degree against Dayton I think it's a win against a tough team.  I like Zaides defense as well.  Caedin and Tre, not too certain about but hopefully Caedin will  develop into a serviceable big for 5-10 min a game by the end of the season.  Need more size for certain matchups. 

If the bench develops, the starters are good enough for a top 2 finish in the Big East and a protected seed.  The ceiling of this team may be lower but barely.  Hopefully they don't pull and NC state in the tournament. 

Was looking at old polls and this start-of-the-year one from Oct was prescient.

Good selection of options and one that appears right-on AND the choice of the "wisdom of the crowd".   Good job scoop.

PS. and good poll 1SE