schedule

[MUDagwood]

Other than Iowa (Nov 19) and Wisc (Dec 12), any announcements yet?

[brewcity77]

We'll play 2 of NC State, LSU, and Arizona State in NYC.

We'll also play 2 of Belmont, IUPUI, South Alabama, and Kennesaw State at home, likely in November before Thanksgiving.

No other officially announced names, though it sounds like Belmont and IUPUI for the home games, and I'd wager LSU for the opener at Barclays.

[PGsHeroes32]

I hope it's not ASU first. It would be easier but I want a challenge and not. Team we just played last two years

[brewcity77]

Interesting that we've had home and homes with all these teams relatively recently.

[brandx]

We'll play 2 of NC State, LSU, and Arizona State in NYC.

We'll also play 2 of Belmont, IUPUI, South Alabama, and Kennesaw State at home, likely in November before Thanksgiving.

No other officially announced names, though it sounds like Belmont and IUPUI for the home games, and I'd wager LSU for the opener at Barclays.

I'd look forward to the LSU game to see Simmons & Ellenson on the floor together. Good way to compare their skill sets.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

We'll play 2 of NC State, LSU, and Arizona State in NYC.

We'll also play 2 of Belmont, IUPUI, South Alabama, and Kennesaw State at home, likely in November before Thanksgiving.

No other officially announced names, though it sounds like Belmont and IUPUI for the home games, and I'd wager LSU for the opener at Barclays.

Everyone in the tournament is beatable, but I think LSU, North Carolina State, and Arizona State will all be favorites against us. Hell, Belmont will be a tough match too

[PGsHeroes32]

Everyone in the tournament is beatable, but I think LSU, North Carolina State, and Arizona State will all be favorites against us. Hell, Belmont will be a tough match too

We will roll ASU.

[brewcity77]

Belmont would worry me more than ASU.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

We will roll ASU.

Every ranking service says that Arizona State was a better team than us last year (yes, I'm aware we beat them). Most services say they were significantly better. Arizona State loses 43% of their offense. Marquette loses 53%. Arizona State loses their top scorer and best thief, Shaquille McKissic and a bunch of bench players. Marquette loses their top assistman (Derrick), top scorer/three point shooter/thief (Carlino), their top rebounder (Juan) and their second best rebounder (Taylor). Marquette does have the better recruiting class but Arizona State's is nothing to turn your nose up at. Their recruiting class contains three JUCO All Americans, who are probably better next year than every player in recruiting class not named Henry.

No matter how you look at it, Arizona State is the better team on paper. Fortunately, games aren't played on paper and I'm hopeful that our freshmen are able to contribute more than average freshmen of their ranking.

[Warrior]

Every ranking service says that Arizona State was a better team than us last year (yes, I'm aware we beat them). Most services say they were significantly better. Arizona State loses 43% of their offense. Marquette loses 53%. Arizona State loses their top scorer and best thief, Shaquille McKissic and a bunch of bench players. Marquette loses their top assistman (Derrick), top scorer/three point shooter/thief (Carlino), their top rebounder (Juan) and their second best rebounder (Taylor). Marquette does have the better recruiting class but Arizona State's is nothing to turn your nose up at. Their recruiting class contains three JUCO All Americans, who are probably better next year than every player in recruiting class not named Henry.

No matter how you look at it, Arizona State is the better team on paper. Fortunately, games aren't played on paper and I'm hopeful that our freshmen are able to contribute more than average freshmen of their ranking.

I understand Sandy Cohen has put on about 20 lbs. of muscle and is working hard on his jumper etc. How the current players have developed in the off-season is huge too. The trip to Italy should be very helpful.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I understand Sandy Cohen has put on about 20 lbs. of muscle and is working hard on his jumper etc. How the current players have developed in the off-season is huge too. The trip to Italy should be very helpful.

Yep, player development is a big reason why games are not played on paper. I am optimistic because of the physical difference we have seen in the frames of Duane, JjJ, and Cohen. But let's not assume that our opponents haven't developed their players in way equal or even better than we have. I am hopeful, but the numbers say we will be a team that barely makes the NIT next season (if that). Give it one more season (assuming Henry stays) and we will be a top 25 team again. But we should prepare ourselves for one more tough season before we return to our rightful spot.

[PGsHeroes32]

Every ranking service says that Arizona State was a better team than us last year (yes, I'm aware we beat them). Most services say they were significantly better. Arizona State loses 43% of their offense. Marquette loses 53%. Arizona State loses their top scorer and best thief, Shaquille McKissic and a bunch of bench players. Marquette loses their top assistman (Derrick), top scorer/three point shooter/thief (Carlino), their top rebounder (Juan) and their second best rebounder (Taylor). Marquette does have the better recruiting class but Arizona State's is nothing to turn your nose up at. Their recruiting class contains three JUCO All Americans, who are probably better next year than every player in recruiting class not named Henry.

No matter how you look at it, Arizona State is the better team on paper. Fortunately, games aren't played on paper and I'm hopeful that our freshmen are able to contribute more than average freshmen of their ranking.

I'm sorry but no. We lose 2 of the worst starters we've had in a long time and a guy with bad knees. Carlino was good for us but that's it.

We have Luke and JJJ back who murdered those guys. Duane with more reign and experience plus Hank.

That doesn't factor in the rest of the class a better Sandy and Wally who is at the very minimum a better jumping version of Juan.

Sure you can say 53% of the scoring but only 1 was really a loss....although I wish we had Steve for some real PF depth but production wise it's whateveer.

Just not seeing it at all.

[PGsHeroes32]

Yep, player development is a big reason why games are not played on paper. I am optimistic because of the physical difference we have seen in the frames of Duane, JjJ, and Cohen. But let's not assume that our opponents haven't developed their players in way equal or even better than we have. I am hopeful, but the numbers say we will be a team that barely makes the NIT next season (if that). Give it one more season (assuming Henry stays) and we will be a top 25 team again. But we should prepare ourselves for one more tough season before we return to our rightful spot.

And you really still sell Henry short. Which is odd since you like Wally quite a bit lol.

If he stays 2 years then we are more than just talking about "being a top 25 team again" we're back to the competing for weekly top 10 rankings and 3 seed team agin if Hank returns. I'd sell my soul on that.

[brewcity77]

I'm more concerned with losing 64% of our rebounding, including our two best rebounders in the front court and two best rebounding guards.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

And you really still sell Henry short. Which is odd since you like Wally quite a bit lol.

If he stays 2 years then we are more than just talking about "being a top 25 team again" we're back to the competing for weekly top 10 rankings and 3 seed team agin if Hank returns. I'd sell my soul on that.

I'm not selling Herny short. He is one kid. One. Basketball is a team sport. Duane and Luke are very good, not great. The rest of our team based on last year's performance is either blah or a freshman. I don't think one summer of development is enough to change that into a tournament team. I hope I am wrong.

I don't think you appreciate how bad we were last year. We were outside the top 100 teams according to every ranking service. Now we've lost four of the six best players on that really crappy team and have replaced them with one stud freshman, a transfer who did nothing at his last school, and four freshmen ranked in the range of 75-200. That is not a recipe for an immediate successful season. Is it a great start to a quick rebuild. But unless every player develops significantly above average and every freshman plays at an above average level for their ranking, then we are still going to struggle next season. I think NIT is reachable, so it will be an improvement, but still a struggle.

[Sharpie]

I'm not selling Herny short. He is one kid. One. Basketball is a team sport. Duane and Luke are very good, not great. The rest of our team based on last year's performance is either blah or a freshman. I don't think one summer of development is enough to change that into a tournament team. I hope I am wrong.

I don't think you appreciate how bad we were last year. We were outside the top 100 teams according to every ranking service. Now we've lost four of the six best players on that really crappy team and have replaced them with one stud freshman, a transfer who did nothing at his last school, and four freshmen ranked in the range of 75-200. That is not a recipe for an immediate successful season. Is it a great start to a quick rebuild. But unless every player develops significantly above average and every freshman plays at an above average level for their ranking, then we are still going to struggle next season. I think NIT is reachable, so it will be an improvement, but still a struggle.

I agree with you 100%. Expectations have to be tempered a bit. I'm hoping for a surprise season.

[bilsu]

I'm sorry but no. We lose 2 of the worst starters we've had in a long time and a guy with bad knees. Carlino was good for us but that's it.

We have Luke and JJJ back who murdered those guys. Duane with more reign and experience plus Hank.

That doesn't factor in the rest of the class a better Sandy and Wally who is at the very minimum a better jumping version of Juan.

Sure you can say 53% of the scoring but only 1 was really a loss....although I wish we had Steve for some real PF depth but production wise it's whateveer.

Just not seeing it at all.

Derrick would start over Traci, so I do not think we should take comfort in him not being here. Fischer took ASU by surprise as they had no idea how he was going to play. Now with his shoulder surgery we have no idea at this point how Fischer is going to play. I expect Henry to be an improvement over Juan, but freshmen can be inconsistent. I expect Cohen to start and have a breakout year. Duane should be improved. Fischer had a career game against ASU, so no matter where he his in his recovery period he is not likely to play as we well against ASU.

[Sharpie]

Derrick would start over Traci, so I do not think we should take comfort in him not being here. Fischer took ASU by surprise as they had no idea how he was going to play. Now with his shoulder surgery we have no idea at this point how Fischer is going to play. I expect Henry to be an improvement over Juan, but freshmen can be inconsistent. I expect Cohen to start and have a breakout year. Duane should be improved. Fischer had a career game against ASU, so no matter where he his in his recovery period he is not likely to play as we well against ASU.

I hope Cohen has a breakout year. I have a feeling JJJ has the breakout year. Both would be nice but it's just a gut feeling that JJJ has a better year.

[PGsHeroes32]

I'm not selling Herny short. He is one kid. One. Basketball is a team sport. Duane and Luke are very good, not great. The rest of our team based on last year's performance is either blah or a freshman. I don't think one summer of development is enough to change that into a tournament team. I hope I am wrong.

I don't think you appreciate how bad we were last year. We were outside the top 100 teams according to every ranking service. Now we've lost four of the six best players on that really crappy team and have replaced them with one stud freshman, a transfer who did nothing at his last school, and four freshmen ranked in the range of 75-200. That is not a recipe for an immediate successful season. Is it a great start to a quick rebuild. But unless every player develops significantly above average and every freshman plays at an above average level for their ranking, then we are still going to struggle next season. I think NIT is reachable, so it will be an improvement, but still a struggle.

My argument isn't really about us makin the tourney. Although I think we will be on the bubble when it comes.

It's that we are better than an ASU team that we beat last year because we are already going to be a better team than last years team. Just using the % of scoring lost doesn't work. We had guys logging major minutes last year that shouldn't have been.

Call it a fluke, call it whatever but even if he doesn't vastly improve(which I think he's going to big time) JJJ has already lit ASU up twice.

Duane and Luke are now coming off full season and will be better and Luke owned these guys...unprepared or not. They just didn't have BE style bigs to slow him up and it's not like this was his only good scoring game.

Henry is better than everyone we lost and can rebound.

Sandy at least won't be worse.

The only chance is if Traci happens to absolutely suck...which still shouldn't kill us at least vs fellow bad teams because Wojo would probably just use Duane at point or Haanif rather than past two years where we had to live with Derrick the "vet"

I just ain't seeing ASU as better

[Loose Cannon]

My argument isn't really about us makin the tourney. Although I think we will be on the bubble when it comes.

It's that we are better than an ASU team that we beat last year because we are already going to be a better team than last years team. Just using the % of scoring lost doesn't work. We had guys logging major minutes last year that shouldn't have been.

Call it a fluke, call it whatever but even if he doesn't vastly improve(which I think he's going to big time) JJJ has already lit ASU up twice.

Duane and Luke are now coming off full season and will be better and Luke owned these guys...unprepared or not. They just didn't have BE style bigs to slow him up and it's not like this was his only good scoring game.

Henry is better than everyone we lost and can rebound.

Sandy at least won't be worse.

The only chance is if Traci happens to absolutely suck...which still shouldn't kill us at least vs fellow bad teams because Wojo would probably just use Duane at point or Haanif rather than past two years where we had to live with Derrick the "vet"

I just ain't seeing ASU as better

Plus Coach Johnson is on our bench and might know what their top recruits bring.

[GGGG]

I'm not selling Herny short.

I think Herny is the best nickname since Teve.

[DoggyDaddy]

Hey, we could then start Herny, Sadny, Dunae, Luek and JJ.   

[The Lens]

I think Herny is the best nickname since Teve.

How did Teve get started again?

[GooooMarquette]

I'm not selling Herny short. He is one kid. One. Basketball is a team sport. Duane and Luke are very good, not great. The rest of our team based on last year's performance is either blah or a freshman. I don't think one summer of development is enough to change that into a tournament team. I hope I am wrong.

I don't think you appreciate how bad we were last year. We were outside the top 100 teams according to every ranking service. Now we've lost four of the six best players on that really crappy team and have replaced them with one stud freshman, a transfer who did nothing at his last school, and four freshmen ranked in the range of 75-200. That is not a recipe for an immediate successful season. Is it a great start to a quick rebuild. But unless every player develops significantly above average and every freshman plays at an above average level for their ranking, then we are still going to struggle next season. I think NIT is reachable, so it will be an improvement, but still a struggle.

I think you're overselling how bad we really were in terms of talent.  We were absolutely abysmal the last 10 or 11 games, with some blowout losses, and only two close wins over really bad teams.  Just painful.  But before that, we were consistently close to beating some pretty good teams.  Overtime losses to GTown and Butler, 3, 4 and 6 point road losses @ Xavier, SJU and GTown.  Any of those games could have turned out differently if just one or two shots that had fallen.  I think the string of close losses killed the team mentally, so we went from so-so to terrible.  In the end, our record was more a reflection of the team's mental state than its talent.

Because of that, I don't think Wojo's biggest challenge this season is a lack of talent or even experience - it's instilling a winning atmosphere within the program; a belief that we're going to win the close games to replace the "oh no, not this again" attitude we seemed to have late last season.

If he can do that, I think we have the talent to surprise people.

[MerrittsMustache]

I think Herny is the best nickname since Teve.

Herny could be the second-coming of Dwyane.