What Ifs . . . Next Year's Pieces?

[Warriors88]

Don't know much about this site but we are ranked 7th next year -

http://www.bracketologyexpert.com/2013/03/31/2013-2014-college-basketball-top-50-march-29-2013-kentucky-louisville-1-2/

Gtown ranked ahead of us, even with Porter assumed leaving early. 

[wardle2wade]

No way we are pre-season top 10.  what's your wager?

Assuming Van is back, we'll be preseason top 10 next year.  I'm guessing #8.  We got enough press with the elite eight and post-season success that even the "experts" will have to notice it. 

I'm fairly certain most pundits make their list from the final AP poll (top 10) and then looking at how many seniors leave.  Then they sprinkle in a few bluebloods into their rankings (UK, UNC, etc) and click send.  For anyone of them actually looking at recruiting rankings, we're going to be very high. 

I'd bet a decent amount on preseason top ten, for better or worse.

[wardle2wade]

Also, I'm interested in seeing how Buzz will motivate the squad when they are the "hunted" as opposed fo the underrated.  I bet he has some ideas for that.

[mu-rara]

Somebody needs to fill Lockett's role.  He was great at doing all the little things few people notice.  Not an impossible job, but someone needs to do it.  He was a huge part of the team chemistry.

[MUHoopsFan2]

Somebody needs to fill Lockett's role.  He was great at doing all the little things few people notice.  Not an impossible job, but someone needs to do it.  He was a huge part of the team chemistry.

NO one needs to fill Lockett's role. You just need a better player then he was. . . period.

He did the little things sure enough but gave you absolutely and truly NOTHING offensively when that is what they needed from him.   

This team should be completely different. Juan might give you what Trent did but I do not see what he did that needs to be replaced.

He did the little things sure enough but they might not need a guy like that next year. I think Derrick Wilson can do what Trent did.

To me he was a weak link and I would have played Mayo more but I understand why they didn't and do not disagree with them not, but I would have because I think you need scoring and Mayo's shot then what Trent gave.

But I know many disagree and that's fine.   

[robertoc]

NO one needs to fill Lockett's role. You just need a better player then he was. . . period.

He did the little things sure enough but gave you absolutely and truly NOTHING offensively when that is what they needed from him.   

This team should be completely different. Juan might give you what Trent did but I do not see what he did that needs to be replaced.

He did the little things sure enough but they might not need a guy like that next year. I think Derrick Wilson can do what Trent did.

To me he was a weak link and I would have played Mayo more but I understand why they didn't and do not disagree with them not, but I would have because I think you need scoring and Mayo's shot then what Trent gave.

But I know many disagree and that's fine.   

Yeah- I have to disagree here.  Along with many others, I had higher scoring expectations for Lockett, but he really proved to be a great addition throughout the year.  He was a capable scorer- just didn't take the shots that vander, gardner, wilson, etc did.  In two of our biggest wins of the year- Miami and Butler, he was terrific.  His lines for those games were 8pts, 11rebs, 2 assists (more than our starting pg) and 13pts, 6rebs, 2 blocks, respectively.

Along with great defense- those are good numbers for arguably, your fourth or fifth offensive option...

[Silkk the Shaka]

Yeah- I have to disagree here.  Along with many others, I had higher scoring expectations for Lockett, but he really proved to be a great addition throughout the year.  He was a capable scorer- just didn't take the shots that vander, gardner, wilson, etc did.  In two of our biggest wins of the year- Miami and Butler, he was terrific.  His lines for those games were 8pts, 11rebs, 2 assists (more than our starting pg) and 13pts, 6rebs, 2 blocks, respectively.

Along with great defense- those are good numbers for arguably, your fourth or fifth offensive option...

Lockett really won me over down the stretch this year.  He was a big reason we won the Butler game and I will forever be greatful for that.  However, I think his loss will be made up for by increased minutes from an improved Steve Taylor, 10-15 minutes from Jameel McKay, increased minutes from JWilson & Anderson, and an opportunity for wings Jajuan Johnson & Burton to make a name for themselves.  Not really all that worried about his absence - he turned out to be the perfect one year stopgap to this 2013 class though.

[BCHoopster]

Lockett really won me over down the stretch this year.  He was a big reason we won the Butler game and I will forever be greatful for that.  However, I think his loss will be made up for by increased minutes from an improved Steve Taylor, 10-15 minutes from Jameel McKay, increased minutes from JWilson & Anderson, and an opportunity for wings Jajuan Johnson & Burton to make a name for themselves.  Not really all that worried about his absence - he turned out to be the perfect one year stopgap to this 2013 class though.

JJ, I agree with you whole heartidly, Lockett was nice stop gap, played great by the end of the year, did a lot of the little things, I think he will be missed but other players now have
the chance to step up, really think Steve Taylor will.  Not sure about Jameel yet, it usually takes an adjustment for JC kids, plus you probably will not see McKay and Anderson playing at
the same time, somebody will have to be able to shoot the ball.

[Badgerhater]

I think it was Jamie Dixon who said this year that Marquette does a good job of staying old (meaning experienced and tough), and Lockett was part of that.

Next year's team with our three best players as seniors will be old, tough and battletested.

It is going to be fun.

[Silkk the Shaka]

JJ, I agree with you whole heartidly, Lockett was nice stop gap, played great by the end of the year, did a lot of the little things, I think he will be missed but other players now have
the chance to step up, really think Steve Taylor will.  Not sure about Jameel yet, it usually takes an adjustment for JC kids, plus you probably will not see McKay and Anderson playing at
the same time, somebody will have to be able to shoot the ball.

Steve Taylor is going to be fun to watch next year.  I predict first semester he will have a huge game or two, then second semester will really break out.  It's going to be fun to watch him grow. 

RE: JUCO adjustment - DJO, Buycks, and Crowder all played heavy minutes their first year in the program and Jimmy played the 10-15 range I have slotted for McKay.  Fulce was the only exception but he had separate injury issues.  I think Jameel gets at least that much PT.  With all the subbing that Buzz did this past year it's a safe bet he'll be doing even more of that next year.  10 players with 10+ mpg is not hard to envision at all.  Exciting times ahead.

[MU82]

I agree. Nobody is going to improve their team as much as we will.  We start out ahead of everyone execpt Georgetown.  And if Porter moves on to the NBA we will have the talent to put together an 18-0 conference record. 

Dis sounds like one of dose "superfan" sketches on SNL, my friend.

18-and-oh? Hell, we can go 18-0 with  Mini Vander! Trow in da non-con and da postseason, my friend, and we'll be 37-0.

Prediction for championship game: Da Warriors 100, Kentucky 1.

My friend.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Dis sounds like one of dose "superfan" sketches on SNL, my friend.

18-and-oh? Hell, we can go 18-0 with  Mini Vander! Trow in da non-con and da postseason, my friend, and we'll be 37-0.

Prediction for championship game: Da Warriors 100, Kentucky 1.

My friend.

I actually agree with Equalizer.  The roster Buzz has constructed for next year is nearly perfect for how he wants to play.  I have a feeling we will see some intense pressure with mass substitutuions.  College hoops is all about matchups, and we will have the ability to play nearly any style.  Buzz has given himself a loaded deck.  I've seen what he can do with far less options - combine that with a league that is less top heavy then the BEast we're used to and I think we run away with the conference next year.

[Aughnanure]

Somebody needs to fill Lockett's role.  He was great at doing all the little things few people notice.  Not an impossible job, but someone needs to do it.  He was a huge part of the team chemistry.

It's called Juan.

[bkooncy]

We will be unranked and Buzz will use that all year.

There is no way we are unranked in the preseason poll.  Every good team ahead of us is losing key pieces.  With a top ten recuiting class coming in, if we are ranked higher than 10 that should be considered disrespect.

[MU82]

I actually agree with Equalizer.  The roster Buzz has constructed for next year is nearly perfect for how he wants to play.  I have a feeling we will see some intense pressure with mass substitutuions.  College hoops is all about matchups, and we will have the ability to play nearly any style.  Buzz has given himself a loaded deck.  I've seen what he can do with far less options - combine that with a league that is less top heavy then the BEast we're used to and I think we run away with the conference next year.

I agree we'll be good. Maybe very good. Maybe even great. Undefeated is considerably better than great.

I'm going to hold off on grandiose predictions for the 2014 Big East season until I see how our PG plays in the non-con.

Lots and lots and LOTS of great, great teams couldn't go undefeated in their conference seasons against opponents a lot less formidable than what we'll face.

But hey, I like the confidence!

[Goose]

If everything falls into place, Vander back and no transfers, the team will have high expectations next season. Instead of predictions on my part I have a hope for next season. Above everything else it would be great to see us play uptempo and pressure D all over the court. We will have the athletes and speed to play more non traditional next year and that is what I am looking forward to the most.

[MU82]

If everything falls into place, Vander back and no transfers, the team will have high expectations next season. Instead of predictions on my part I have a hope for next season. Above everything else it would be great to see us play uptempo and pressure D all over the court. We will have the athletes and speed to play more non traditional next year and that is what I am looking forward to the most.

I agree, Goose. I like that kind of game, too.

If I could build my perfect team for the style I'd like to play, it would be very similar to Louisville this season. Maybe the guards could be a couple inches taller, but I love their lineup and the way Pitino uses his guys.

Quick as hell guards who can press on defense and get into the lane at will on offense, plus hit some shots, even difficult shot-clock-beaters. Tough role-playing forwards who can shoot a little and enjoy slamming opponents under the rim. And a shot-blocking center who also can knock down an open 10-footer. Plus, decent to good depth at every position.

If a couple of our freshmen-to-be turn out to be as good as advertised, we might have most or all of this next season.

[Silkk the Shaka]

I agree we'll be good. Maybe very good. Maybe even great. Undefeated is considerably better than great.

I'm going to hold off on grandiose predictions for the 2014 Big East season until I see how our PG plays in the non-con.

Lots and lots and LOTS of great, great teams couldn't go undefeated in their conference seasons against opponents a lot less formidable than what we'll face.

But hey, I like the confidence!

I don't think we WILL go undefeated, I just think the talent is there in a somewhat weaker conference.  I understand that road games are always tough, so expecting to go undefeated is unreasonable.  Put it this way, we went 14-4 this year in a conference featuring two final four teams.  Fully healthy, I find it highly unlikely we go worse than 15-3.  I'd put money on 16-2 or better, with 18-0 about a 8-10% chance (yes I just pulled those #s out of my ass).  So while an undefeated conference record is not probable, it's certainly far more possible than any other time I've been paying attention to this team (starting with the '02-'03 season).

[Goose]

MU82

Complete agreement on Louisville stye to play. That type of ball will always be in style and never get old. Similar to Syracuse recruiting certain type players for 2-3 zone I hope Buzz recruits kids that play Louisvilee type ball. We saw some of that with Jae and DJO season and was fun as hell to watch. Plus I think that style is perfectly suited for Vander next season.

[The Equalizer]

I agree we'll be good. Maybe very good. Maybe even great. Undefeated is considerably better than great.

I'm going to hold off on grandiose predictions for the 2014 Big East season until I see how our PG plays in the non-con.

Lots and lots and LOTS of great, great teams couldn't go undefeated in their conference seasons against opponents a lot less formidable than what we'll face.

But hey, I like the confidence!

To be fair, I did say that if Porter left Georgetown we had the talent to be undefeated--not that we actually would be. 

If you disagree with me, which team do you see as more talented than us?

[BCHoopster]

MU82

Complete agreement on Louisville stye to play. That type of ball will always be in style and never get old. Similar to Syracuse recruiting certain type players for 2-3 zone I hope Buzz recruits kids that play Louisvilee type ball. We saw some of that with Jae and DJO season and was fun as hell to watch. Plus I think that style is perfectly suited for Vander next season.

To play fast you need guards like Siva and Smith, Smith might be the quickest guard since A.I., Cadougan and Lockett are not that type of players, next year might be different.

[MU82]

To be fair, I did say that if Porter left Georgetown we had the talent to be undefeated--not that we actually would be. 

If you disagree with me, which team do you see as more talented than us?

I don't see any team more talented than us.

A team can be far and away the most talented team in its conference and odds are still incredibly long that the team goes undefeated, especially in a good league.

Hey, I hope it happens.

[Galway Eagle]

I know everybody's all excited for next year (and I am to) but let's just balance that out with the possibility that everything goes to hell in the offseason.  If Otule, Mayo and Ferguson all leave, and Vander tries for the draft.  That leaves us essentially giving scholarships to Swanson and Flood (and I believe Dawson will be walking on so him as well).  And that's a team that would be pretty harsh to watch.  I don't think it'll happen but it's worth it to get our heads out of the clouds for one second and think what may happen if all hell breaks loose. 

[LloydMooresLegs]

I don't see any team more talented than us.

A team can be far and away the most talented team in its conference and odds are still incredibly long that the team goes undefeated, especially in a good league.

Hey, I hope it happens.

Yep.  Really really really hard to go 9-0 on the road in conference.   Even if your team is better than every other team.

[Silkk the Shaka]

I know everybody's all excited for next year (and I am to) but let's just balance that out with the possibility that everything goes to hell in the offseason.  If Otule, Mayo and Ferguson all leave, and Vander tries for the draft.  That leaves us essentially giving scholarships to Swanson and Flood (and I believe Dawson will be walking on so him as well).  And that's a team that would be pretty harsh to watch.  I don't think it'll happen but it's worth it to get our heads out of the clouds for one second and think what may happen if all hell breaks loose. 

If your "all hell breaks loose" scenario breaks out, I still think we challenge for the conference title and get no worse than a 6 seed.