College Sports Madness Previews

[stever20]

so down to #64- Alabama. #65 was Utah... They are the 15th and 16th teams out of the tournament...

by teams left now-
ACC 12
BE, B10 8 ea
P12, B12 7 ea
SEC, A10 5 ea
AAC 4
MWC 3
WCC 2
BW, CAA, MVC 1 ea

I really think this poll shows the extra respect the Big East is getting. Why I always said the NCAA tournament is so huge is because of this(along with the recruiting boost that we're seeing). Like it or not- perception in college basketball is driven almost entirely by March. I mean last year regular season the ACC and Big 12 were pretty darn close to each other. But the ACC takes the cake because of what they did in the month that matters to most folks- March.

[stever20]

UNLV shows up at #63.. MWC down to 2 teams... UNLV 14th team out of the tourney.

So of the 62 teams left now- 55/62 are from the top 8 conferences. It's amazing how much conferences 9-13 have dropped now from the past. I sure don't remember a time like this in a long time.

[stever20]

Providence shows up at 62- 13th team out of tourney.
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/13516

interesting point the column had towards the end- There are enough options on this team that the scoring can be much more balanced than it has been over the last couple of years.

So guessing St John's then didn't make the countdown?

[FriarsForever]

Providence shows up at 62- 13th team out of tourney.
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/13516

interesting point the column had towards the end- There are enough options on this team that the scoring can be much more balanced than it has been over the last couple of years.

So guessing St John's then didn't make the countdown?

Providence fans have only been saying this for about 5 or 6 months now. It's such a lazy, unfair, and dull analysis for all the experts on this board to constantly say Providence lost its two best players and because they were NBA draft picks they're definitely going to be terrible this year.
First off, I'm sorry but no team with Ed Cooley in charge will ever finish in last place in this conference. Secondly, don't give me the "they lost too much" bullsh--...they won the damn title with 6 guys and a walkon two years ago. Thirdly, this is the deepest Providence team in YEARS. Every year since Cooleys been here he's had to deal with and game plan around gaping holes in his team's personnel due to injury, transfer, academics etc. As of right now, barring any injuries, the Friars are at least 2 deep 1-5 of Big East caliber players under Ed for the first time, with a lot of interchangeable and multi-positional guys.
I'm not saying they're going to make the tournament, but they are going to be the farthest thing from a penciled-in victory on the rest of the conference's schedules.

[stever20]

Providence shows up at 62- 13th team out of tourney.
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/13516

interesting point the column had towards the end- There are enough options on this team that the scoring can be much more balanced than it has been over the last couple of years.

So guessing St John's then didn't make the countdown?

Providence fans have only been saying this for about 5 or 6 months now. It's such a lazy, unfair, and dull analysis for all the experts on this board to constantly say Providence lost its two best players and because they were NBA draft picks they're definitely going to be terrible this year.
First off, I'm sorry but no team with Ed Cooley in charge will ever finish in last place in this conference. Secondly, don't give me the "they lost too much" bullsh--...they won the damn title with 6 guys and a walkon two years ago. Thirdly, this is the deepest Providence team in YEARS. Every year since Cooleys been here he's had to deal with and game plan around gaping holes in his team's personnel due to injury, transfer, academics etc. As of right now, barring any injuries, the Friars are at least 2 deep 1-5 of Big East caliber players under Ed for the first time, with a lot of interchangeable and multi-positional guys.
I'm not saying they're going to make the tournament, but they are going to be the farthest thing from a penciled-in victory on the rest of the conference's schedules.

well the thing with being picked 7th is still playing on 1st day of BET. It would be like a 6 or 7 win conference season. So not terrible, but a definite drop from before.

[Novachap]

Agreed... I think Providence is going to surprise a lot of people

[FriarJ]

Cooley just received a commitment from 6'9" Nate Watson one of the top power forwards in the east out of VA/MD area. They beat Miami, NC State, Kansas and Maryland for him. Just a huge get for Cooley after losing MAL to UConn 5 days ago.

[Red Rooster]

Cooley just received a commitment from 6'9" Nate Watson one of the top power forwards in the east out of VA/MD area. They beat Miami, NC State, Kansas and Maryland for him. Just a huge get for Cooley after losing MAL to UConn 5 days ago.

This thread is about this upcoming season and not next season.

Watson also wasn't a priority for Kansas. So, technically the Friars only beat out Miami, NC State, and Maryland. Not bad company at all, to say the least. A good get for the Friars.

[hoyahooligan]

Cooley just received a commitment from 6'9" Nate Watson one of the top power forwards in the east out of VA/MD area. They beat Miami, NC State, Kansas and Maryland for him. Just a huge get for Cooley after losing MAL to UConn 5 days ago.

This thread is about this upcoming season and not next season.

Watson also wasn't a priority for Kansas. So, technically the Friars only beat out Miami, NC State, and Maryland. Not bad company at all, to say the least. A good get for the Friars.

Not even all those schools. lots of people backed off of him with his injury concerns. He's not a bad player and if he gets healthy could be quite good, but he kinda fell into their lap because Kansas and Maryland backed off. Really just Providence vs. NC state in the end and that's a no brainer to go to Providence.

As for this year I don't think providence will finish last but they're certainly going to fall off majorly. I see them in the 6-8 range with Marquette and Butler and maybe St. John's.

Cooley is a good coach and a better person, but there's just not that much talent there. There's Bullock and then a lot of either new players or guys who haven't shown much. For as much talk of depth and the talk of the 6 person team, not sure any of the current players would start over any of the 6 from that team. Bullock would've gotten time that's about it. Depth is overrated. It's great if you have injuries, but playing a strong core more is usually better than running in 10 guys because no matter how much depth and talent you have the top 6 or so are always going to give you a better chance to win than players 7-10.

Now obviously from the outside we can't know how those players who showed minimally in the past: Lindsey, Edwards, Fazekas, Cartwright will perform or how well the new guys: Diallo, young, holt, Jackson, white will contribute.

Likely rotation from the outside is: Cartwright, Edwards, Lindsey, Bullock, Holt, with Diallo, Fazekas, Young, and Jackson contributing off the bench. That's not bad but it's not great. No depth at center or PG. Just a lot of 6'6"-6'8" guys who want to stay on the perimeter and jack up threes.

[stever20]

Long Beach St shows up at #61. In tourney as Big West Champs...

ACC 12
B10 8
P12, B12 7 ea
BE 6
SEC, A10 5 ea
AAC 4
MWC, WCC 2 ea
CAA, MVC 1 ea

Got 12 teams to go before NCAA tourney teams. To me, we're about 4 teams away where at that point the next 16 teams are pretty much interchangeable. Last 8 in/1st 8 out- that's such a narrow difference- 1 game can make or break it.