predictions for 09-10

[downtown85]

I haven't seen much this year on this forum by posters predicting the team's non-conference, conference, and post season results.  Predictions this year are very difficult given all the unknowns surrounding the new players.  However, as I put my blue and gold glasses on, here is my stab at it.  Read my prediction then my justification below.

non-conf schedule:  9-3 (lose 2 games at Old Spice, beat Bucky, lose to NC State)
conf-schedule:  10-8 (start off weak with 2 losses to Nova but finish strong as team gels)
BE tourney:  1-1
NCAA:  0-1 Team will be a bubble team and get something like an 11 seed. Lose in 1st round. 

I think that most of this board's expectations (and various experts' expectations) are somewhat lower than my predictions but I think the following factors will surprise to the upside:

1.  Buzz's defensive philosophy/coaching.  I think the way Buzz coaches defense is much more suited for a team with length than the short team we had this year.  I liken this year's team to last year's WVU team which one a lot of games based on hard-nosed defense.  As the team buys into this philosophy and executes it, we will see some upsets. 

2. Erik Williams.  Contrary to what Murf says, I do not think he will be soft by the end of the year.  He is a high major talent and will start to play with a chip on his shoulder, especially at the defensive end of the floor where he seems to have knack for blocking shots.  He will also provide some needed offense, especially his outside shot.

3. Buzz will put the best players on the floor regardless of size.  This means that Otule, Cubes, and Mbao will still not be major contributors at the end of the year.  However, Maymon, Williams, Buycks, and DJO will all be seeing major minutes the second half of conference season and tourney time.  Hayward, Acker, and Butler will be the core around which the team is built.  Fulce is still a question mark but, if healthy, he should also be a contributor.     This would imply essentially an 8-man rotation.

4. The rotation above can generate 70 ppg offense as follows:

Hayward      16
Butler          10
Acker           5
Buycks         12
DJO              9
Maymon        7
Williams         6
Fulce            5

Well, there you have it.  I want to hear what others predict. Can't wait until the season begins!

[mugrad99]

8-4 non conference
9-9 conference
1-1 BE toruney
Win a few in the NIT, maybe making it to NYC...good foundation for the next year

[Ellenson Guerrero]

4. The rotation above can generate 70 ppg offense as follows:

Hayward      16
Butler          10
Acker           5
Buycks         12
DJO              9
Maymon        7
Williams         6
Fulce            5

I would hope we can score 70 ppg. Remember we're not playing in the Big 10. Last year we ended up scoring over 78 a game.

Basically this season is unpredictable thats why you've seen so few posts on what our outcome will be. Most of us would like for us to be predicted higher than 12 and deep down think we will be better, but there's just no way to make a case for it at this point.

But just for sport I'll keep with the board's title and make my predictions:

NON-CONF: I agree 9-3 is fairly probable outcome. Lose two in Old Spice, split Wisc and NCState. The rest of the schedule is so brutally bad even with our lack of experience I can't see us slipping up against them.

CONF: Here's where I split with you. Not only will we struggle with Nova but we'll get our ass handed to us by WV and GTown. That's a quick 0-4 start and morale will be pretty low. It'll be good to see how Buzz handles the negativity, especially since the next four are all winable (Prov, DePaul, Cuse, and Rutgers). I'm just gonna say we win 3 outta those 4 to pull to 3-5.

I say we split the next 4 with losses to UConn and Prov, and wins over USF and DSuck, bringing us to 5-7. We go to Pitt whose freshman will have gained enough experience to beat us, will get lighten up by there stacked backcourt of Vaugh and Stephenson. Totals up at 5-9.

The last four I'm gonna be safe with a 2-2 split. This brings us to an unimpressive, but not entirely disheartening, 7-11 for Conference play and 16-14 overall.

POSTSEASON: now this is truly impossible to predict based on the nature of how I have predicted the rest of the season. I haven't tried to project any unlikely major upsets, or terrible losses. These are basically  the factors which end up differentiating the bubble teams. But at around .500 with a 7-11 record in the BEast I think its pretty safe to say we'll be on the outside looking in. However, I think we'll be in the NIT and can use that as a springboard for next year. By then the freshman will have a good deal of high D1 experience and hopefully can get into a trend of winning in postseason tournaments.


Like I said originally, with so many new faces predictions are basically worthless. But I gave it my best go.

[willie warrior]

If Acker is in the "core group" all year, we will only win about 6 games in BE and be about 8-4 nonconference.

[bma725]

Non-Conference (8-4 or 9-3)
Cenetary: Win
UM - Eastern Shore: Win
Grambling: Win
South Dakota: Win
Xavier: Loss
Creighton or Michigan: Loss
FSU, Baylor, Bama or Iona:  Loss to the first three, win over Iona
NC State: Win
UWM: Win
UW: Loss
North Florida: Win
Presbyterian: Win

Conference(9-9)
WVU - Loss
Villanova - Loss
Georgetown - Loss
Villanova - Loss
Providence - Win
DePaul - Win
Syracuse - Win
Rutgers - Win
UConn - Loss
DePaul - Win
Providence - Win
USF - Win
Pitt - Loss
Cincy - Loss
St. John's - Win
Seton Hall - Loss
Louisville - Loss
ND - Win

BET: No idea who we're playing so I'll say 1-1.

I think, if my math is right that means something like 18-14 or 19-13 for the year.  That's good enough for the NIT or CBI, I make no predictions on that.

[groove]

15 wins

[NCMUFan]

Hayward      16
Butler          11
Acker           4
Buycks         7
DJO              9
Maymon        13
Williams         5
Fulce            4
Otule            5

Maymon is going to be to much for the opposition.  He will be BEAST Rookie of the year.  10-8 Conf record and NCAA berth.

[chapman]

Thanks for the copy and paste of schedule and the players....

Non-Conference (10-3)
Cenetary: Win
UM - Eastern Shore: Win
Grambling: Win
South Dakota: Win
Xavier: Loss
Creighton or Michigan: Win
FSU, Baylor, Bama or Iona:  Win
NC State: Loss
UWM: Win
UW: Loss
North Florida: Win
Presbyterian: Win

Conference(9-9)
WVU - Loss
Villanova - Loss
Georgetown - Win
Villanova - Loss
Providence - Win
DePaul - Win
Syracuse - Loss
Rutgers - Win
UConn - Loss
DePaul - Win
Providence - Loss
USF - Win
Pitt - Win
Cincy - Loss
St. John's - Win
Seton Hall - Win
Louisville - Loss
ND - Loss

BET: 1-1

Post-season: Don't have an NCAA berth with this record, don't care about the Not In Tournament.  If we improve and turn out better than expected any of the last four losses could turn into wins; it would take two to make the NCAA.

Hayward 16
Butler 10
Acker 5
Buycks 8
DJO 6
Maymon 13
Williams 4
Fulce 2
Otule 5
Mbao 2
Cubillan 3

[Big Papi]

Non-Conference (8-4, 9-3 if we play Iona)

Cenetary: Win
UM - Eastern Shore: Win
Grambling: Win
South Dakota: Win
Xavier: Loss
Creighton or Michigan: Loss
FSU, Baylor, Bama or Iona:  Loss to the first three, win over Iona
NC State: Win
UWM: Win
UW: Loss
North Florida: Win
Presbyterian: Win

Conference (8-10)
WVU - Loss
Villanova - Loss
Georgetown - Loss
Villanova - Loss
Providence - Win
DePaul - Win
Syracuse - Loss
Rutgers - Loss
UConn - Loss
DePaul - Win
Providence - Win
USF - Win
Pitt - Loss
Cincy - Loss
St. John's - Win
Seton Hall - Win
Louisville - Loss
ND - Win


That first stretch of games could ruin the season.  If the team hangs in there and competes we could pull out a decent season with a good stretch run.  If the team gives up even just a little, St. Johns and Seton Hall will turn into losses as both of those teams actually have decent talent this year.  

I think we are one and done in the BET.

[Boognish_MU]

Just read this season preview about MU:
http://w3.nbebasketball.com/2009/10/23/2009-2010-big-east-preview-13-marquette/


Their prediction: 6-12

[groove]

Just read this season preview about MU:
http://w3.nbebasketball.com/2009/10/23/2009-2010-big-east-preview-13-marquette/


Their prediction: 6-12

That's about right. Maybe 7 or 8.

[sellit07]

I am looking at the schedule people are basing the record off of and it is missing UWM which will be a tougher game but is very winnable. Update: n/m just saw it at least on bma's lists but no one elses.

[sellit07]

Non-Conference (9-3,10-2 or 11-1) Depending on the Old Spice Classic
Cenetary: Win
UM - Eastern Shore: Win
Grambling: Win
South Dakota: Win
Xavier: Loss
Creighton or Michigan: Win over Creighton and loss to Michigan
FSU, Baylor, Bama or Iona:  Loss to the first three, win over Iona
NC State: Win
UWM: Win
UW: Win
North Florida: Win
Presbyterian: Win

Conference(11-7,10-8)
WVU - Loss
Villanova - Loss
Georgetown - Win
Villanova - Loss
Providence - Win
DePaul - Win
Syracuse - Win/Loss
Rutgers - Win
UConn - Loss
DePaul - Win
Providence - Win
USF - Win
Pitt - Win/Loss
Cincy - Loss
St. John's - Win
Seton Hall - Win
Louisville - Loss
ND - Win

BE Tourney - Most likely 1-1.

Even worse case scenario with my records it will be barely making the NCAA tourney but losing in the first round.

[bma725]

I am looking at the schedule people are basing the record off of and it is missing UWM which will be a tougher game but is very winnable. Update: n/m just saw it at least on bma's lists but no one elses.

That's because I forgot it and then went back in later to add it when the math didn't work.  That should tell UWM fan's how much we care about this game when we can't even remember to include it in the schedule.

[GOMU1104]

19-11 (9-9 Big East)...Probably good for 8th in the Big East

Losses in the Non-Con - Xavier, and @ UW

Wins in the Big East - vs. Georgetown, vs. Providence, @ DePaul, vs. Rutgers, vs. DePaul, @ Providence, vs. South Florida, @ St. Johns, vs. Notre Dame

Losses in the Big East: @ West Virginia, vs. Villanova, @ Villanova, @ Syracuse, @ Connecticut, vs. Pittsburgh, @ Cincinnati, @ Seton Hall, vs. Louisville

I would love to think this record would get them into the NCAAs, but it wont. Get ready for some home NIT games come March.

Dont worry though...when you are getting frustrated, just watch this video:

http://www.viddler.com/explore/YoungMUFan4/videos/27

[Hards Alumni]

19-11 (9-9 Big East)...Probably good for 8th in the Big East

Losses in the Non-Con - Xavier, and @ UW

Wins in the Big East - vs. Georgetown, vs. Providence, @ DePaul, vs. Rutgers, vs. DePaul, @ Providence, vs. South Florida, @ St. Johns, vs. Notre Dame

Losses in the Big East: @ West Virginia, vs. Villanova, @ Villanova, @ Syracuse, @ Connecticut, vs. Pittsburgh, @ Cincinnati, @ Seton Hall, vs. Louisville

I would love to think this record would get them into the NCAAs, but it wont. Get ready for some home NIT games come March.

Dont worry though...when you are getting frustrated, just watch this video:

http://www.viddler.com/explore/YoungMUFan4/videos/27

I'd love to beat Gtown and St. Johns at St. Johns, cuz.  I see us at 17-13 or 16-14.  I think the way your schedule pans out we would be on the bubble of the NCAAs or a top seed in the NIT. 

Either of which I am fine with for this year.

[GOMU1104]

I'd love to beat Gtown and St. Johns at St. Johns, cuz.  I see us at 17-13 or 16-14.  I think the way your schedule pans out we would be on the bubble of the NCAAs or a top seed in the NIT.  

Either of which I am fine with for this year.

As I look at my results...I realize that there would be 1 quality win (maybe 2 because of ND) in this scenario....whoops.

The selection committee would laugh at the resume, and move on.


The BE gave us 4 gimmies in the mirrors with PROV and DEP...CANT sh*t the bed in those games. They may not have more than 5 wins combined.

[Hards Alumni]

As I look at my results...I realize that there would be 1 quality win (maybe 2 because of ND) in this scenario....whoops.

The selection committee would laugh at the resume, and move on.


The BE gave us 4 gimmies in the mirrors with PROV and DEP...CANT sh*t the bed in those games. They may not have more than 5 wins combined.

hmmm yeah, you're probably right.

[muwarrior69]

Anything less than a National Championship would be a disappointment!!





Oops, forgot the teal.

[77champs]

Non-Conference (7-5, or 8-4) Depending on the Old Spice Classic
Cenetary: Win
UM - Eastern Shore: Win
Grambling: Win
South Dakota: Win
Xavier: Loss
Creighton or Michigan: Loss
FSU, Baylor, Bama or Iona:  Loss unless Iona
NC State: Loss unless they bring back the 1074 FINAL 2 team for a 35th Anniversary but I hear Buzz is not big on that
UWM: Win
UW: Loss
North Florida: Win
Presbyterian: Win

Conference(6-12)
WVU - Loss
Villanova - Loss
Georgetown - Loss
Villanova - Loss
Providence - Win
DePaul - Win
Syracuse - Loss
Rutgers - Win
UConn - Loss
DePaul - Win
Providence - Loss on the road
USF - Win
Pitt - Loss
Cincy - Loss
St. John's - Win
Seton Hall - Loss on the road
Louisville - Loss
ND - Loss

BE Tourney - Most likely 0-1.

Win 2 in the NIT for an overall of 15-17

Now I think there may be a few great wins in there such as ND or Wis but they are young and just as likely to lose to DePaul or St. John's on the road to even it out.

[jmayer1]

As I understand, the Old Spice is a bracket tournement.  Thus, do people realize that if MU loses to both Xavier and then Creighton/Michigan that we will either face Iona, a team that loss to Iona, or a team that loss to the team that loss to Iona.  If people are that confident that MU would beat Iona, why would you not be confident that they would beat a team that loss to Iona?  Or do people just think Iona only wins any game in a major, major upset and that if they beat Florida St in the first round that MU would still lose to the loser of the FSU & Baylor/Bama game.

I'm just curious as I've seen several people have posted that we would only beat Iona.

[Daniel]

An overall losing record would be disapointing, but certainly a genuine and realistic possibility.  Somehow, I hope we can come through with a winning record and surprise in a positive way.

[bma725]

As I understand, the Old Spice is a bracket tournement.  Thus, do people realize that if MU loses to both Xavier and then Creighton/Michigan that we will either face Iona, a team that loss to Iona, or a team that loss to the team that loss to Iona.  If people are that confident that MU would beat Iona, why would you not be confident that they would beat a team that loss to Iona?  Or do people just think Iona only wins any game in a major, major upset and that if they beat Florida St in the first round that MU would still lose to the loser of the FSU & Baylor/Bama game.

I'm just curious as I've seen several people have posted that we would only beat Iona.

I think the only way Iona wins a game is a major major upset and expect them to be pounded by pretty much everyone in the event.  They went 12-18 last year, lost two of their three best players to graduation, and aren't bringing in an impact players as freshman. 

[Jay Bee]

15-15 for the regular season with 8 to 9 wins in the non conference is what I'd go with if I was putting money on it.  I think the potential/hope is there for 19-20 wins, but it would be an accomplishment (although not remarkable - we need to see how these guys play together - I'm hoping they far exceed expectations... Buycks is real).

The kids need to win games early on.  If they go 9-3 in the non-conference, that's great, but 9-7 is very likely.  The key is going to be where they are at the halfway point, two weeks into the Big East campaign and how they respond to where they are at. 

When you've got teams like Rutgers with a Mike Rosario, nothing will be easy.  There is plenty of young talent and an absolute stud in Lazar on this squad, and even though this isn't the Big Ten, the Big East Conference can be brutally tough even in a 'down year'. 

[hoyasincebirth]

Not going to offer my prediction. because let's be honest, you don't care what I think.
I will only say 1) I do not get the people that predict losing to NC St yet also making the NCAA's if you guys are actually bad enough to lose to NC st. you won't make the NCAA's. 2) You guys will not be bad enough to lose to NC st. they are terrible the worst team in the ACC which will be having yet another down year.