Looking ahead to 2017 national rankings

[Jet915]

NBC's 2017 rankings.

3. Nova
15. Xavier

Considered: Creighton.......I guess everyone thinks that Whitehead is leaving.

http://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2016/04/04/the-nbc-sports-2016-17-way-too-early-preseason-top-25/

[stever20]

NBC's 2017 rankings.

3. Nova
15. Xavier

Considered: Creighton.......I guess everyone thinks that Whitehead is leaving.

http://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2016/04/04/the-nbc-sports-2016-17-way-too-early-preseason-top-25/

yeah even on the espn one where they ranked Seton Hall they said they feel if Whitehead feels like he's going to be taken in the 1st round, he's going to go to the NBA.

[Hall2012]

Gary Parrish:

3. Villanova
5. Xavier
24. Creighton
25. Butler

So 4!! Big East schools but interestingly (again) no Seton Hall.

[Hall2012]

Sporting News:

3. Villanova

8. Xavier

20. Seton Hall- the write-up says this is with the assumption that Whitehead is gone and they'll jump a few notches if he returns

[milksteak]

Gary Parrish:

3. Villanova
5. Xavier
24. Creighton
25. Butler

So 4!! Big East schools but interestingly (again) no Seton Hall.

Parrish really likes Butler, so he might be a little biased.

Personally, I think we are gonna stink next year. We can certainly soften the blow if we make some moves this off-season. I think the staff is trying to get at least both a grad transfer and one more 2016.

I'll make an official prediction before the season. Right now, I kinda have everyone sorted out like this...

First Tier (Big East Contenders):
Xavier - Best front court in Big East next year if Reynolds returns. If he doesn't, they'll still be really good good very balanced between front and back court.
Villanova - Bridges, Booth, Brunson are all future stars in this league (Booth certainly made his case last night ). Does Hart return? If so, their back court will be the best in the league.
Second Tier (NCAA Tournament Teams):
Creighton - Easily the best guard tandem in the Big East next year. Might not have the same amount of depth at guard/wing as Nova, though.
Providence - Might fall if Bentil is gone. Can Lindsey step up? Cartwright too? Bullock also needs to have a huge year. Really an intriguing and unpredictable team.
Seton Hall - Don't think Whitehead will be back. Easily first tier if he returns. Their sophomore class will continue to improve.

Third Tier: (NIT, CBI, CIT, etc.)
Butler - Good mixture of seniority and youth, but very little talent outside of Kelan Martin. Who else steps up? Point guard is humongous question mark.
Georgetown - Is DSR addition by subtraction like Gibbs was for Seton Hall? Doubt it.

Fourth Tier (No Postseason):
DePaul - Billy Garret Jr. is back, Eli Cain was a real bright spot and a surprise...good guard tandem...but DePaul's front court will be horrendous.
Marquette - Ellenson is gone. Really doubt he returns. They have some nice players, but he absolutely carried them this year. Cheatham will be an All Big East type player someday. Cohen needs to step the eff up.
St. John's - Still a long way to go.

[xusandy]

Milksteak, I'll agree with you that Nova and X should be the class of the league next year, and that Seton Hall will be in that top tier IF Whitehead returns. In fact I pretty much agree with your overall assessment, with these exceptions. I see Marquette as being second tier even without Ellenson, and I think Providence falls to third tier even with Bentil. Butler might be second tier as well (they always seem to play up to their potential), but (sorry, Parrish) the Bulldogs are not a top 25 team to start the season.

[MUBoxer]

Gary Parrish:

3. Villanova
5. Xavier
24. Creighton
25. Butler

So 4!! Big East schools but interestingly (again) no Seton Hall.

Parrish really likes Butler, so he might be a little biased.

Personally, I think we are gonna stink next year. We can certainly soften the blow if we make some moves this off-season. I think the staff is trying to get at least both a grad transfer and one more 2016.

I'll make an official prediction before the season. Right now, I kinda have everyone sorted out like this...

First Tier (Big East Contenders):
Xavier - Best front court in Big East next year if Reynolds returns. If he doesn't, they'll still be really good good very balanced between front and back court.
Villanova - Bridges, Booth, Brunson are all future stars in this league (Booth certainly made his case last night ). Does Hart return? If so, their back court will be the best in the league.
Second Tier (NCAA Tournament Teams):
Creighton - Easily the best guard tandem in the Big East next year. Might not have the same amount of depth at guard/wing as Nova, though.
Providence - Might fall if Bentil is gone. Can Lindsey step up? Cartwright too? Bullock also needs to have a huge year. Really an intriguing and unpredictable team.
Seton Hall - Don't think Whitehead will be back. Easily first tier if he returns. Their sophomore class will continue to improve.

Third Tier: (NIT, CBI, CIT, etc.)
Butler - Good mixture of seniority and youth, but very little talent outside of Kelan Martin. Who else steps up? Point guard is humongous question mark.
Georgetown - Is DSR addition by subtraction like Gibbs was for Seton Hall? Doubt it.

Fourth Tier (No Postseason):
DePaul - Billy Garret Jr. is back, Eli Cain was a real bright spot and a surprise...good guard tandem...but DePaul's front court will be horrendous.
Marquette - Ellenson is gone. Really doubt he returns. They have some nice players, but he absolutely carried them this year. Cheatham will be an All Big East type player someday. Cohen needs to step the eff up.
St. John's - Still a long way to go.

Ok buddy. We still return 4 double digit scorers (5 if you include Rowsey) and won't be one of the youngest teams in basketball next year. Experience make a big difference in this conference, see the difference between last year seton hall and this year.

[milksteak]

Ok buddy. We still return 4 double digit scorers (5 if you include Rowsey) and won't be one of the youngest teams in basketball next year. Experience make a big difference in this conference, see the difference between last year seton hall and this year.

You guys were 20-13 with a lottery pick, who is very, very likely not returning for next season.

Look I like Marquette a lot, but I don't see how they will be better next year. I'd love to be wrong because the league needs Marquette to be good.

[MUBoxer]

Ok buddy. We still return 4 double digit scorers (5 if you include Rowsey) and won't be one of the youngest teams in basketball next year. Experience make a big difference in this conference, see the difference between last year seton hall and this year.

You guys were 20-13 with a lottery pick, who is very, very likely not returning for next season.

Look I like Marquette a lot, but I don't see how they will be better next year. I'd love to be wrong because the league needs Marquette to be good.

Georgia Tech with Chris Bosh: 16-15

Georgia Tech the following year after Bosh left: 28-10 FF

I've got a few more examples in the back of my pocket that I can use if you'd like. But lets not pretend that that is the end all be all. You're ignoring a fact that this Marquette team had no seniors, and 1.5 Jrs (this year was Fischer's first full year despite being a Jr). It was one of the youngest rosters in all of basketball.

Next it's easy to say 20-13, mind you Belmont, you guys the second time, Creighton at home and Depaul we beat ourselves due to extremely youthful mistakes down the stretch. Those things get corrected with age and experience. I just think you're making a judgement due to the past couple years and taking a very simple way out with throwing MU down there without taking a well rounded look.

[stever20]

Marquette this year was #124 SOS. Of the 20 wins that Marquette got, a whopping 12 of them were 188 or worse.

So a mediocre record and losing by far best player. It's easy to see why there are going to be major questions with Marquette next year.