2012 Big East preview

[MU82]

I can't speak to the rest of the conference, but I think we'll be fine next year if we are healthy (big if).  Otule/Gardner/Wilson is the best and most experienced front court we've had in a long time.  Rely on them to set the table.  Get some improvement from Mayo and Blue at 2 guard and that will help to make up for some of the loss of DJO (this is the biggest question mark, but I think it will work out ok).  Cadougan will be a senior and I think he'll play well next year.

Will it be a dropoff from this year?  Probably.  But I think it will be a good, competitive team.

Otule coming off injury. Wilson lots of potential but still mostly unproven. Gardner a 20-minute-per-game player, at least so far.

So how is that frontcourt better than the 2010-11 frontcourt of a healthy Otule, future first-round draft pick Jimmy Butler, JUCO player of the year newcomer Jae Crowder and, by the final third of the season, developing freshman Gardner off the bench?

[TJ]

I did say 'if healthy', so assuming so:

Jimmy is amazing and played out of position out of necessity.  I wasn't counting him as a front court player.
I think Otule will be far better now than he was in 10-11, when he only played about 17 minutes a game and scored about 5 a game.
Jae Crowder was really good in 10-11, but he dropped off pretty hard at the end of the year.  I'm hoping that Wilson can fill that role well.
Gardner hardly played as a freshman, even during the final third of the season.  He will be MUCH improved in 12-13 over his 10-11 role.

So in conclusion...  10-11 Otule, Crowder, Gardner < 12-13 Otule, Wilson, Gardner.  Throw Butler into the mix and maybe you're right.  I honestly don't care.  My only point was that I'm looking forward to seeing what next year's front court can do and I think they'll lead us to a decent season.

[MarquetteDano]

Otule coming off injury. Wilson lots of potential but still mostly unproven. Gardner a 20-minute-per-game player, at least so far.

So how is that frontcourt better than the 2010-11 frontcourt of a healthy Otule, future first-round draft pick Jimmy Butler, JUCO player of the year newcomer Jae Crowder and, by the final third of the season, developing freshman Gardner off the bench?

When you add Steve Taylor to the mix next year is the definitely going to be one of our better frontcourts in awhile.  We can afford foul trouble and not have big dropoffs like we've had in seasons past.

Guard is another story.  A lot of big "ifs".  Can Cadougan make the jump of scorer (I think he will) and can we get adequate three point shooting from the other guards?

[MU82]

I didn't mean to sound so nitpicky. I hope next season is our best frontcourt in years and years, and maybe it will be.

[JTBMU7]

one of the best things ive seen over the past 2 seasons for us is the progression towards better and tougher team defense. the more length and size we add, the better that should get. solid, consistent D and rebounding is what usually separates good from great.

looking at a line up with vander, todd, jamil and otule makes me very optimistic that we make up for some of the scoring from jae/djo on the other end of the floor. 

[Canadian Dimes]

We have no time for this nonsense.  

There are haikus to be spun, nits to pick, baseless rumors to be taken as gospel....

Actually, this is the first breathe of fresh air on this board.  

Nova should be much better.  ND will suck.  Curious how USF will do.....great showing this year.

Nd will suck???   Ahh they return every starter and there best player will be a soph.  Listen i hate ND more than the next guy but they will be very good

[brewcity77]

Okay...here's my waaaaaay too early guesses at who I'd rate 1-15:

1) Louisville: They return virtually everyone, and shot-happy Kuric leaving is addition by subtraction. Considering who other programs will lose, I'd put them at preseason #1 not just in the Big East, but the country.
2) Cincinnati: Dixon and Gates are gone, but Mbodji, Jackson, and Gaines should all show improvement and Kilpatrick's already a stud. Shaquille Thomas will likely be an impact player, after his year off.
3) Notre Dame: I hate putting them up there, but with Atkins, Grant, and Cooley, they will be very good even if neither Abro nor Martin are back. Somehow Brey always gets his team to overachieve.
4) Syracuse: They lose Jardine, Joseph, and likely Melo, but still have Southerland, Triche, Keita, Fair, and possibly Waiters. Add in development from MCW and Christmas, along with the addition of McDAA DaJuan Coleman, and they'll be a contender again.
5) Marquette: Personally, I think the losses of DJO and Jae are significant, but not as major as many think. Jamil Wilson has already shown flashes, Mayo and TJ are both scoring 2s. Add in expected improvement from Blue and Gardner, the return of Otule, and a steady senior point and this team can challenge for a double-bye.
6) Pittsburgh: Down year, but they'll be back. Losing chucker Ashton Gibbs is the best thing that can happen to this team. They are loaded with talent and a senior Woodall will steady this team.
7) Rutgers: I think they make the jump. Miller will be a senior and they had a stud 2011 class that will all be sophomores, including Myles Mack and Eli Carter. Think this year's Seton Hall, but I like Mike Rice to avoid the late-season collapse.
8) Georgetown: They will be one of the favorites, but losing Sims, Clark, and Thompson is a lot. Zero senior leadership, and while Porter and Whittington are studs, what else is there?
9) South Florida: They lose a lot, and Rudd is a fool to declare early, but they return Poland, Fitzpatrick, Collins, and Nash, and add two solid JUCOs. They'll scrap their way close to the NCAAs again.
10) St. John's: They lose Harkless, but so much talent has had a chance to grow up. Harrison and Garrett are studs, Sampson will be good from day one, and Branch will be an immediate contributor come Big East season. Maybe not NCAA-worthy, but they can at least get back to the bubble.
11) Providence: Council is the best player in the Big East no one talks about, Henton is a stud, and they bring in a great recruiting class, including McDAA Kris Dunn. Ed Cooley has them going in the right direction.
12) Villanova: Wayns declared? Ouch...Ty Johnson better grow up fast. Wright has a talented team, but little leadership and they're still young. VU is a rudderless speedboat.
13) Connecticut: Lamb, Drummond, Boatright, and Oriakhi will all be gone, so the question is how far can Shabazz Napier carry an inexperienced team with reduced scholarships and no hopes of the NCAAs? My guess is not far...this may be overrating them.
14) DePaul: I am a huge fan of Young and Melvin, but there's so little supporting cast. Guys like Morgan, Kirk, McKinney, and Clahar need to contribute a lot more to lift them in the standings. If Young and Melvin never see postseason play, that would be really sad for two players as good as they are.
15) Seton Hall: For all Marquette loses in DJO and Jae, SHU loses more in Theodore and Pope simply because there's no one to pick up the load. No seniors and Fuquan Edwin is your best player. Hello, cellar.