ESPN's Early Outlook 2013-2014

[Rockmic87]

MU is number 9!




http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9147684/very-early-top-25-2013-14-season-ncaa-men-college-basketball

[Rockmic87]

9. Marquette Golden Eagles: If the 2012-13 season taught us anything, it's not to count out Marquette. Not as long as Buzz Williams is its coach. The Golden Eagles lost their two top players (Jae Crowder and Darius-Johnson Odom) from last season's squad, yet still managed to tie for the Big East title and advance to the Elite Eight. Almost every key piece of this season's team will return in 2013-14. That includes leading scorers Vander Blue (14.8 points) and Davante Gardner (11.5) as well as glue guy Jamil Wilson (9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds). Marquette will also add the Class of 2013's No. 3-ranked shooting guard in Memphis native JaJuan Johnson. Rising junior Todd Mayo and incoming freshman Duane Wilson will try to make up for the loss of Junior Cadougan and Trent Lockett in the backcourt. Marquette plays as hard as any team in the country. Next season could be special.

[klyrish]

...season taught us anything, it's not to count out Marquette...Marquette plays as hard as any team in the country. Next season could be special.

I feel like that was said last year and they all counted us out.

[Dr. Blackheart]

So MU only Big East team in Top 25...

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Michigan not in the top 25?

[The Lens]

American Athletic Conf gonna be tough at the top.

[Marqus Howard]

Michigan not in the top 25?

Based on the assumption that Burke, McGary, Robinson and Hardaway would all leave early. Seems fair to me.

[muwarrior69]

Michigan not in the top 25?

Georgetown not even mentioned.

[Tugg Speedman]

Last year Kentucky was #3, lost in the first round of the NIT.  Next year they are projected as no.1 

The entire model of super freshman "1 and done" classes is on the line next year.  If Kentucky bombs out again, Calipari is going to have to rethink his model.

Now before you tell is why it will not happen again, remember that this year was not suppose to happen in Lexington.  Kentucky was suppose to be the team from the blue grass state cutting down the nets last night.

Fact is relying on Freshman is always dicey.  They could gel into a team, like two years ago, or fall apart like last year.  Problem is they only have a few weeks to get it together.

As long as Calipari continues with this model, every year Kentucky will be No.1 or NIT bound with nothing in between.

[Tugg Speedman]

MU's write-up makes no mention of McKay and/or Otule.

Next year McKay might be the newcomer most ready to contribute right-away.  Add the Otule we saw for the last 10 games for an entire season (hopefully!) and #9 might be too low.

If Vander and/or Duane Wilson can run the point effectively, so Derrick Wilson does not have to play 40 minutes ... final four next year.

[mugrad99]

Kentucky was suppose to be the team from the blue grass state cutting down the nets last night.

Most if not all had Louisville above Kentucky:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7767401/indiana-hoosiers-continue-moving-2012-13
http://espn.go.com/espn/dickvitale/story/_/id/7845140/dick-vitale-preseason-top-40-2012-13
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1362230-college-basketball-rankings-combined-2012-13-preseason-top-25-ranking
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57534443/indiana-no-1-in-preseason-ncaa-mens-basketball-poll/
http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2012-05-22/college-basketball-rankings-2012-13-top-25-mike-decourcy

Tires of looking to find one that backs up your claim that UK was supposed to win it all

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Nice recognition, but I'd hardly call Mayo a "rising junior." Also, I think Jamil is far more than a "glue guy."

[Dr. Blackheart]

I think it showed in the Elite 8  that a team has to have an inside-out game to advance.  MU has the inside game but JJJ and DuWilson need to play that role as freshman to meet such lofty expectations.  Michigan softened up that Cuse zone forcing Coach Bo to extend it which opened McGary and Robinson in the middle of it or behind it, for example. We know how bad a shooting game against Cuse was for MU, but it was 0.1 pt. way from being the worst eFG% game in recorded history. Those two need to get significant freshman minutes, while JWilson, Jaun, Van and Todd improve to mediocre on treys.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/games/stats?season1=1997&season2=2012&conf=&team=marquette&stat=effective_fg_pct&low=1

MU won this year with a ton of experience and depth and a little talent. No injuries, and just a little drama. If the frosh step up, watch out next year, and I am of the camp that DuWilson starts eventually as MU needs to uptempo it to get transition threes before defenses set up.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Sports writers glom onto the "one and done" thing with Cal, but people forget they also had a lot of experienced players returning to that National Championship team due to the NBA lockout affecting that draft's early entries. His Memphis F2 team was the same.

[LloydMooresLegs]

Sports writers glom onto the "one and done" thing with Cal, but people forget they also had a lot of experienced players returning to that National Championship team due to the NBA lockout affecting that draft's early entries. His Memphis F2 team was the same.

+1.  Interesting to see next year with Noel, Goodwin and Harrel thought to be leaving early and May granduating (around 45 + points), although they have 3 contributors returning.

[wadesworld]

People point to this year as the norm for Cal/Kentucky and say 1 and done doesn't truly work, claiming that their National Championship was the exception to the rule.  We forget that they were in the Final Four with a lot of 1 and dones the year before and I believe the Elite 8 the year before that.  He also had his years at Memphis where it worked out just fine for him.  I hate the guy and I hate the way he wins, but this year was more the exception than it was the rule.  Even this year, Kentucky was starting to come around whenNoel got injured.

I guess we'll see what happens, but I would not at all be surprised if they are right back at the top next year.  I don't see Cal failing to succeed with his system for an extended period of time; however, not many programs will be able to follow the same system...only so much 1 and done talent to go around.

[bradley center bat]

The way McGary talked in the postgame, it sounds like he will be back.

[Groin_pull]

The way McGary talked in the postgame, it sounds like he will be back.

All players sound like that after an emotional loss. Means nothing. Give it a few days.

[Coleman]

So MU only Big East team in Top 25...

Honestly, I'm ok with that, especially if we are ranked top 10 to start the season. At that point, all we have to do is keep winning, and we will move up the rankings. Plus, I'd love to win the conference in its first year. And even if there aren't others in the Top 25, there will be plenty of top 100 RPI opponents in the new Big East, which is what really matters come tournament time.

[Coleman]

Also, St. John's, Butler, and Villanova were all listed as one of the other 15 teams to watch (top 40).

[MerrittsMustache]

Mayo is a "rising junior?" I hope he's right.

[CTWarrior]

Mayo is a "rising junior?" I hope he's right.

Rising junior simply means he's going to be a junior next year, as opposed to being a junior right now.  It is not a comment on his expected level of play.

[kmwtrucks]

Mcgary went to a 5th year of Prep school, and was old for his grade as well.  He is 1 month older then Vander.  Scouts will love his Size and feet, toughness and soft hands but he still needs allot of work on his post moves and jump shot.  If too many of the guys leave he will get doubled allot and it might expose his Off game.  He would go in the Top 20 this year and probably about the same in he is solid next year.  He would need a big year to move up into the top 10.  I think you could make a good argument either way on him staying or going, But the fact he would be 22 before next years draft means he will have to go as a soph if he has a good year or not, he might want to really consider going. Coming back as Jr and being 23 when the draft comes around would be a big mistake.

[MerrittsMustache]

Rising junior simply means he's going to be a junior next year, as opposed to being a junior right now.  It is not a comment on his expected level of play.

Oh. I thought maybe he was being forced to repeat his sophomore year 

[Benny B]

The way McGary talked in the postgame, it sounds like he will be back.

The way McGary talks, I'm surprised he made it through the first year of school.  The academic requirements (to stay eligible) disproportionately jump after the first year, so unless the faculty is going to take a few pages from Auburn's grading guidelines, McGary may be best served to declare ASAP.