2015-16 Preview #2: Marquette

[stever20]

I think a big question for Marquette is will Ellensen go pro after first year?

[R Jay]

learning curve for frosh in div 1? Are you serious? Did you watch the final 4?

Well, those frosh were mostly 5 star, surefire NBA Draft picks. As good as Marquette's class is, outside of Ellenson, there isn't an NBA lock in that group.

[MUBoxer]

Al McGuire once said you need 3 1/2 stars to win a championship. I believe now days that saying fits to get a bid to the ncaa tournament, we have two, three if ellanson pans out if one more guy steps up a big we're going to be fine.

[stever20]

NBC not impressed with their schedule:
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports. ... e-desired/

11/9: Valley City State (Exhibition)
11/13: Belmont (Legends Classic)
11/16: IUPUI (Legends Classic)
11/19: Iowa (Gavitt Tip-Off Games)
11/23-24: Arizona St./LSU/NC St., New York, N.Y. (Legends Classic)
11/29: Jackson State
12/02: Grambling St.
12/05: Maine
12/08: San Jose State
12/12: at Wisconsin
12/22: Chicago State
12/27: Presbyterian
1/27: Stetson

outside of the Iowa, Legends Classic, and Wisconsin- the other 9 teams- only 1 of them finished in the top 286 of KenPom. 7 of 8 finished 316 or worse, and 3 of the 7 lowest ranked ones(with quite possibly the 2 worst teams).

Kind of schedule where they will need wins in the Iowa, Legends Classic, or Wisconsin- or have a huge conference season. Terrible home schedule as well- with Iowa and then a bunch of dogs.

[MUBoxer]

NBC not impressed with their schedule:
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports. ... e-desired/

11/9: Valley City State (Exhibition)
11/13: Belmont (Legends Classic)
11/16: IUPUI (Legends Classic)
11/19: Iowa (Gavitt Tip-Off Games)
11/23-24: Arizona St./LSU/NC St., New York, N.Y. (Legends Classic)
11/29: Jackson State
12/02: Grambling St.
12/05: Maine
12/08: San Jose State
12/12: at Wisconsin
12/22: Chicago State
12/27: Presbyterian
1/27: Stetson

outside of the Iowa, Legends Classic, and Wisconsin- the other 9 teams- only 1 of them finished in the top 286 of KenPom. 7 of 8 finished 316 or worse, and 3 of the 7 lowest ranked ones(with quite possibly the 2 worst teams).

Kind of schedule where they will need wins in the Iowa, Legends Classic, or Wisconsin- or have a huge conference season. Terrible home schedule as well- with Iowa and then a bunch of dogs.

People are undervaluing Belmont. But yes overall I hate this schedule.

[stever20]

thing is, even if Belmont is like what they were last year, they were only #135 in Ken Pom. So while a decent game, it's not going to move the needle.

If anything, Marquette has got to hope that Iowa, and then their opponents in the Legends Classic are good.

[MUBoxer]

thing is, even if Belmont is like what they were last year, they were only #135 in Ken Pom. So while a decent game, it's not going to move the needle.

If anything, Marquette has got to hope that Iowa, and then their opponents in the Legends Classic are good.

You think a team that returns 4 starters (3top scorers) is going to be just the same at best? I'm not saying they'll be world beaters but I'd bet you a solid local six pack of beer they end up in the top 25 at some point with a better rpi than last year

[stever20]

thing is, even if Belmont is like what they were last year, they were only #135 in Ken Pom. So while a decent game, it's not going to move the needle.

If anything, Marquette has got to hope that Iowa, and then their opponents in the Legends Classic are good.

You think a team that returns 4 starters (3top scorers) is going to be just the same at best? I'm not saying they'll be world beaters but I'd bet you a solid local six pack of beer they end up in the top 25 at some point with a better rpi than last year

thing you have to remember with Belmont- a lot of their RPI is in the conference- and their conference isn't good at all. Maybe they have a bit better RPI this year- last year it was 100. Teams like Belmont to me though are in a lot of ways no win situations- you beat them, you won't get much credit for them, but a loss obviously is a big ding to you. Like I said, it's not really a game that the committee will look at end of the year and be impressed by it.

Best case scenario for Belmont is maybe a top 70 RPI. It's definitely not the kind of game you want for your 5th best OOC game- by far. The other 8 teams finished 286 or worse in Ken Pom. If Belmont was like your 7th or 8th best game- they're great. But in the slot they're at- it's not good. If Belmont was your best OOC win, you are in trouble.

[gtmoBlue]

OOC record of 10-3 or 11-2 will look good until folks look at this schedule. Marquette was ranked in 1-2 of the early summer polls, which led me to think they would have had a couple more "tests" on the schedule. Oh well. Could be problematic for NCAA selection. They need to win the NY event, as both Iowa and Wisconsin will be strong.

[Irishdawg]

Best case scenario for Belmont is maybe a top 70 RPI. It's definitely not the kind of game you want for your 5th best OOC game- by far. The other 8 teams finished 286 or worse in Ken Pom. If Belmont was like your 7th or 8th best game- they're great. But in the slot they're at- it's not good. If Belmont was your best OOC win, you are in trouble.

FWIW, Belmont was Butler's 7th best game in the non-conference (by Kenpom ranking) last season. Marquette's definitely going to need to win a couple of their big games and can't have any bad losses coming into Big East play or it could be tourney champs or bust if they're hoping to get into the NCAA's. To me, this schedule looks like that of a team hoping to fall into the NIT rather than position themselves to be an at large team on Selection Sunday. There's a lot to like about this year's Marquette team, but IMO, the non-conference schedule isn't one of them.