Preseason KenPom Numbers

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

https://kenpom.com/

MU starts the season at #34 (3rd in the Big East). #31 on offense, #39 on defense.

MU's known opponents:
#4 Villanova
#7 Wisconsin
#13 Creighton
#28 UCLA
#33 Oklahoma State
#43 UConn
#50 Seton Hall
#56 Butler
#63 Providence
#65 Xavier
#72 St. John's
#85 DePaul
#86 Georgetown
#168 Eastern Illinois
#265 UWGB
#353 Arkansas Pine-Bluff

[Johnny B]

pretty optimistic by the algorithim. Id rate us 45-55 if i had to guess.

[Shooter McGavin]

There is a lot of talent on this team.  Hopefully we are simply better than many people think.  I am cautiously optimistic.

[goldeneagle91114]

I look at Wisconsin and think back to how we were in similar situations not that long ago. It kinda stings to watch that program elevate their level of play, while Wojo and Co. have not quite been able to find the right recipe for sustained success.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

So the Big East will be tough again.......

[BM1090]

DJ Carton is very good.

Think MU is a bit overrated here though.

[mileskishnish72]

Wow. I thought there were 351 programs. Pine Bluff must be baaad.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wow. I thought there were 351 programs. Pine Bluff must be baaad.

We're up to 357 programs now. In 18-19, California Baptist and North Alabama were added. In 19-20, Savannah State dropped from D1 but Merrimack was added. This season, UC San Diego, Dixie State, Tarleton State, and Bellarmine all jumped to D1.

Brew did a good write up on Pine Bluff for Cracked Sidewalks. KenPom says they are baad but T-rank says they are very good for a SWAC program. Truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

[Dr. Blackheart]

pretty optimistic by the algorithim. Id rate us 45-55 if i had to guess.

His blog post this week said, in validation, that in his pre-season to post rankings, teams are plus or minus 20 spots, on average. So, 54 fits in your range.

[Dawson Rental]

Wow. I thought there were 351 programs. Pine Bluff must be baaad.

Several players just transferred, so they should be better.

[Loose Cannon]

Several players just transferred, so they should be better.

Was that In or Out.

[Dawson Rental]

Was that In or Out.

Out.  Got rid of all those low efficiency numbers weighing them down.  I hope the walk ons look good in their uniforms.

[Loose Cannon]

Out.  Got rid of all those low efficiency numbers weighing them down.  I hope the walk ons look good in their uniforms.

Thanks

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-1-357-rankings-here-are-the-projected-best-68-teams-for-the-2020-21-season/

CBS' take on ranking all 357 teams. Marquette at #47 (6th in the Big East). Here's the MU blurb:

47. Marquette: Out goes Markus Howard, but D.J. Carton could be a volume get after transferring from Ohio State. MU has the highest-rated freshman in the Big East in 6-11 forward Dawson Garcia, who was our pick for league freshman of the year. If Theo John is improved, he and Garcia will make for a fabulous frontcourt, while Koby McEwen is going to be tasked with being the step-up guy for an offense that will need a few weeks to find its rhythm.

I think 47 is pretty close to right for this team on paper. Lots of reasons, both positive and negative that this team could end up higher or lower when all is said and done.

6th in the Big East is an okay prediction too...but Butler in 5th is crazy. If that's where they finish, LaVall Jordan will deserve major props.

[The Big East]

There may be some times we run DJ and Greg in the backcourt with Koby at the Wing. If that combination could click we may have the potential to exceed expectations . 

[WarriorFan]

There may be some times we run DJ and Greg in the backcourt with Koby at the Wing. If that combination could click we may have the potential to exceed expectations .

DJ, Greg, Jamal, Symir and Koby... and just run

[Dr. Blackheart]

Revisiting this after our last 2020 game. 51st in KPom. 17th in offense, 90th in defense. Lower half of Big East (coaches picked MU 6th). Basically, we are who we thought we were, with a bumpy road in the toughest segment of our schedule.

Predicted to be 14-12 and 10-10. 9-7 for the rest of the year is the statistical expectation. Will anyone here be surprised by this?