SI research report on Big East Pre Season Rankings 2019-20

[Herman Cain]

Sports Illustrated prepared the following pre season rankings of the Big East.

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2019/07/09/big-east-power-rankings-villanova-seton-hall-georgetown

[UWW2MU]

They could have done at least a few extra minutes to research on MU besides looking at a stat sheet...   

I see why this was not an excellent research report.

[rocket surgeon]

wow!  dan didn't burn many calories getting that report together.  looks like something he could have thrown together while pushing out his sunday morning growler

[dgies9156]

Very weak assessment based on anecdotal information and high-level facts.

That said, if we're the sixth best team in a weak conference, then Wojo's seat will be at 1000 degrees Kelvin in late February.

[BM1090]

Very weak assessment based on anecdotal information and high-level facts.

That said, if we're the sixth best team in a weak conference, then Wojo's seat will be at 1000 degrees Kelvin in late February.

It's never been a weak conference and certainly will not be weak this season.

[dgies9156]

It's never been a weak conference and certainly will not be weak this season.

Brother Eagle, weak is defined by Big East standards -- according to the article there is not a national championship contender here. The SI assessment suggests we're not as strong as some of our peers.

Regardless of whether our conference is strong, if we're sixth best with a senior laden team, then I stand by my comment that Wojo's seat will make even Satan complain about the heat. As things should be.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

6th best team in the big east this year likely makes the tournament with some room to spare. So no,  the seat would not be that hot.

[Dr. Blackheart]

6th best team in the big east this year likely makes the tournament with some room to spare. So no,  the seat would not be that hot.

History suggests that the 6th place BE team will be 9-9 and have about a 50/50 chance of making the NCAAs. That feels like a crapshoot to me.

Orlando makes or breaks MU under that scenario. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

History suggests that the 6th place BE team will be 9-9 and have about a 50/50 chance of making the NCAAs. That feels like a crapshoot to me.

Orlando makes or breaks MU under that scenario.

This will be one of if not the strongest and deepest Big Easts since realignment. I think 9-9 will go a lot further this season than it has in the past. I see six top 35 teams in the Big East with two more with legitimate tournament aspirations. Plus two cellar dwellers in DePaul and St. John's that will give out a lot of wins to the top 8 teams. Villanova isn't the national title favorite like they were in the past but I think they are still top 10. Marquette, Seton Hall, and Xavier all have cases for top 25.

[Dr. Blackheart]

This will be one of if not the strongest and deepest Big Easts since realignment. I think 9-9 will go a lot further this season than it has in the past. I see six top 35 teams in the Big East with two more with legitimate tournament aspirations. Plus two cellar dwellers in DePaul and St. John's that will give out a lot of wins to the top 8 teams. Villanova isn't the national title favorite like they were in the past but I think they are still top 10. Marquette, Seton Hall, and Xavier all have cases for top 25.

All this puts a lot of pressure on Orlando. That is the most balanced Holiday tournament MU has participated in that I recall (especially with a crap home OOC).  No 8-10 NBE team has ever made the NCAAs.

[#UnleashSean]

It's never been a weak conference and certainly will not be weak this season.

Uhhhh...? Last year was pretty weak.

[The Sultan]

Last year the Big East was fifth in conference RPI at the end of the year.  That was the lowest since the C7 breakaway.  It has finished as high as second or as low as fourth.  And while they got four teams into the tournament, the only one to win a game got throttled in the second round.

So while in the grand scheme of things, the Big East isn't a weak conference, historically it was weak last year.

[UWW2MU]

Uhhhh...? Last year was pretty weak.

It's all relative.  If BE is ranked 5th best conference according to the analytics sites... are they weak compared to the usual BE level, other P6 conferences, or just in general?   I doubt MWV would call themselves weak at 5th... but the ACC surely wouldn't be happy at that level.

[Class71]

SI's assessment is meaningless. The only opinion that counts is your own. If we were to finish 6th or at any level and you think that is a great accomplishment you will be a happy camper. Otherwise, you will be frustrated and look for a coaching change that will not happen given our administration.

For me this team will need to demonstrate, in games against significant opponents, they have a well rounded team. If it is a one man show with a supporting cast it will not be enjoyable.

[The Sultan]

I'm expecting this team to finish higher than sixth.  It would be a disappointing season to be .500 even though that may comfortably get MU into the tournament.  Regardless of the Hauser's situation, this is the year MU has been building toward.  They have a All-American, NPOY candidate returning, an impact transfer (two if you count Jayce), solid senior players in Morrow and Sacar, and good young talent.

I'm not expecting a national championship.  I'm really not even expecting a BE championship.  But a 4-seed, second weekend appearance has got to be where this team ends up at least.

[BCHoopster]

SI's assessment is meaningless. The only opinion that counts is your own. If we were to finish 6th or at any level and you think that is a great accomplishment you will be a happy camper. Otherwise, you will be frustrated and look for a coaching change that will not happen given our administration.

For me this team will need to demonstrate, in games against significant opponents, they have a well rounded team. If it is a one man show with a supporting cast it will not be enjoyable.

Even without the Hausers, this team is very old, 3 fifth year seniors, 4 older by age players as well in McEven, Howard, Cain, and Bailey.  Add Theo and Elliott.  Thats 9 players with tremendous experience, should be better than 6th if Wojo can coach Howard to be more of a facillator or
one of the other guards steps up and can play turnover free point guard.

[BCHoopster]

I'm expecting this team to finish higher than sixth.  It would be a disappointing season to be .500 even though that may comfortably get MU into the tournament.  Regardless of the Hauser's situation, this is the year MU has been building toward.  They have a All-American, NPOY candidate returning, an impact transfer (two if you count Jayce), solid senior players in Morrow and Sacar, and good young talent.

I'm not expecting a national championship.  I'm really not even expecting a BE championship.  But a 4-seed, second weekend appearance has got to be where this team ends up at least.

Thinking alike, agree totally

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm expecting this team to finish higher than sixth.  It would be a disappointing season to be .500 even though that may comfortably get MU into the tournament.  Regardless of the Hauser's situation, this is the year MU has been building toward.  They have a All-American, NPOY candidate returning, an impact transfer (two if you count Jayce), solid senior players in Morrow and Sacar, and good young talent.

I'm not expecting a national championship.  I'm really not even expecting a BE championship.  But a 4-seed, second weekend appearance has got to be where this team ends up at least.

I agree on expectations. I personally see a second place finish and a 5 seed as a realistic expectation. Below that and I'll be disappointed. But there is difference between personal disappointment and coach ending up on the hot seat.

[wadesworld]

I agree on expectations. I personally see a second place finish and a 5 seed as a realistic expectation. Below that and I'll be disappointed. But there is difference between personal disappointment and coach ending up on the hot seat.

Unless the top team is winning 16+ games and 2nd through 7th all win 8-11 games, I think 2nd place in this year's Big East will be in the 2-3 seed range.

(No longer directed at you) My favorite comment on Scoop is that "this administration" won't be making a change.  What does that even mean?

[Class71]

Unless the top team is winning 16+ games and 2nd through 7th all win 8-11 games, I think 2nd place in this year's Big East will be in the 2-3 seed range.

(No longer directed at you) My favorite comment on Scoop is that "this administration" won't be making a change.  What does that even mean?

Means no Hot Seat for Wojo. That is he will not be fired. He is well liked. He is the kind of coach MU wants. Results are secondary. Win or loose he will  continue as head coach. Time to move on.

[Herman Cain]

DePaul has the potential to be a dangerous team by the second half  of the conference season. Likewise The Johnnies.

DePaul had good momentum at the end of the season last year . I think they can maintain it with a little bit of time to transition to the new group of talent.

DePaul has some quality newcomers coming in to replace the production that was graduated. It will take a while for everyone to jell, but the potential is there. Carte' Are Gordon, Charlie Moore, Darious Hall are all  interesting transfers. Romeo Weems and Markese Jacobs (should be healthy by end of season) are high quality freshman. Paul Reed was named the most Improved Player in the Big East and was very formidable last year , will likely be an All Big East type player this year .  Gage and Butz are serviceable Big East types.

Heron and Figueroa are both back for the Johnnies and there are a slew of transfers  coming in. Mike Anderson is a quality coach who will milk as much as he can from the group he has. Similar to DePaul it will take a while to get everyone working together in a cohesive way.

Hopefully, both The Johnnies and DePaul have moderate OCC schedules and can build their NET ranking early before the conference season.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Unless the top team is winning 16+ games and 2nd through 7th all win 8-11 games, I think 2nd place in this year's Big East will be in the 2-3 seed range.

Good point, though I think that's exactly what could happen. I see Nova as a 2 seed, but then I see Marquette, Seton Hall, Xavier, and Creighton all in the 4-7 seed range with Providence right behind in the 8-10 seed range. 1 very good team, lots of really good teams, a couple good teams, and two bad teams.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Means no Hot Seat for Wojo. That is he will not be fired. He is well liked. He is the kind of coach MU wants. Results are secondary. Win or loose he will  continue as head coach. Time to move on.

Simply not true.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

DePaul has the potential to be a dangerous team by the second half  of the conference season. Likewise The Johnnies.

DePaul had good momentum at the end of the season last year . I think they can maintain it with a little bit of time to transition to the new group of talent.

DePaul has some quality newcomers coming in to replace the production that was graduated. It will take a while for everyone to jell, but the potential is there. Carte' Are Gordon, Charlie Moore, Darious Hall are all  interesting transfers. Romeo Weems and Markese Jacobs (should be healthy by end of season) are high quality freshman. Paul Reed was named the most Improved Player in the Big East and was very formidable last year , will likely be an All Big East type player this year .  Gage and Butz are serviceable Big East types.

DePaul has a good young class that could be good in a few years. Maybe they upset a team or two this season but they are still going to be nowhere near the tournament (or NIT).

Heron and Figueroa are both back for the Johnnies and there are a slew of transfers  coming in. Mike Anderson is a quality coach who will milk as much as he can from the group he has. Similar to DePaul it will take a while to get everyone working together in a cohesive way.

Hopefully, both The Johnnies and DePaul have moderate OCC schedules and can build their NET ranking early before the conference season.

Heron and Figueroa were the 3rd and 4th best players on a team that finished 88th in KenPom. The slew of transfers include a guy from Houston Baptist (333rd in Kenpom that year), a juco who only managed 4.1 points a game for Jacksonville (320th in Kenpom that year) as a freshman, a guy who averaged 5 points a game for Monmouth (295th in Kempom) this year, a guy who averaged 3 points a game for Mississippi State, and a former 3 star who appeared in 1 game for NC State (who I don't think is eligible for the first semester).

I have no doubt that Anderson will have them in fighting shape in a few years. But they will be very bad this season.

[GooooMarquette]

I'm expecting this team to finish higher than sixth.  It would be a disappointing season to be .500 even though that may comfortably get MU into the tournament.  Regardless of the Hauser's situation, this is the year MU has been building toward.  They have a All-American, NPOY candidate returning, an impact transfer (two if you count Jayce), solid senior players in Morrow and Sacar, and good young talent.

I'm not expecting a national championship.  I'm really not even expecting a BE championship.  But a 4-seed, second weekend appearance has got to be where this team ends up at least.

+1