2019-20 Predictions

[cu blujs]

Losing JE really hurts, because it forces us to once again use Christian Bishop as a 6'7" post man instead of possibly getting him on the floor with Epperson as a second guy bigger than 6'5" on the floor. With our grad transfer big, Jones, being highly foul prone and our only other big being a freshman walk-on, neither of whom realistically is on par with other Big East bigs, we really don't have any choice but to keep Bishop for post play. Since Bishop is the only guy between 6'5" and 6'10" on the roster, that means another year of playing four guys 6'5" and smaller on the court at all times. It is going to take the team consistently shooting in the mid 40% from 3 for this team to not be playing on Wednesday night at MSG. Mintz being out will hurt some during preseason, but frankly I have never been all that enamored with his play. I think his production is replaceable on both sides of the ball by what we will have at the guard spots.

[Jet915]

Real tough breaks for Creighton going back to Watson I believe? I remember one of their very good guards going down a few years ago when they had legit Sweet 16 or better potential. Now a big and Mintz? Jeez. Sorry guys.

Yeah, a few years ago when Watson went down was our year to break through. I think we were AP #9 at the time he got hurt and were never the same. This year is trying to end before it start, Epperson is a huge loss. Bishop will have to play the majority of the 5 as a 6'7 forward. Analytics actually showed we were better defensively last year with Bishop at the 5 than Krampelj but he's only got 5 fouls to give. Kelvin Jones will be serviceable at 6'11 but he is supposedly foul prone. We do get Denzel Mahoney in December, a 6'5 beefy 230 lbs forward with a long wingspan who I suspect will play some 5 if need. He average 19 ppg as a sophomore.

[hoyahooligan]

Feel bad for the Creighton Players, but able to use the information to my advantage in Fantasy Basketball: Have Bishop and Zegarowski which should both get a boost with the current injuries.

[ChestRockwell85]

Tough break for Creighton, being a Villanova fan, I know all about the injuries. Always puts a damper on things. Would love to see all Big East teams playing at full-strength. Hoping to see Creighton have a good season regardless.

gtmo is my boy!

[Novachap]

Lunardi's latest Bracketology has 7 BE teams in... Grain of Salt... it is Lunardi.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... acketology

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

LAST PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

A few minutes before the first regular-season game of the 2019-20 season tipped off, ESPN’s Jay Bilas posted his predictions for his top 68 teams.
In compiling his predictions, Jay had the benefit of knowing: (a) late pre-season roster additions and subtractions, (b) recent injuries to key players, and (c) the results of the recent preseason exhibition games.

Bilas Index: 1-68 team rankings, player ranks and more - Jay Bilas, ESPN – November 5, 2019

1. Michigan State Spartans
2. Kansas Jayhawks
3. Florida Gators
4. Kentucky Wildcats
5. Maryland Terrapins
6. Louisville Cardinals
7. Gonzaga Bulldogs
8. North Carolina Tar Heels
9. Duke Blue Devils
10. Villanova Wildcats

15. Davidson Wildcats
17. VCU Rams

21. Ohio State Buckeyes
22. Providence Friars
23. Cincinnati Bearcats
25. Seton Hall Pirates
29. Dayton Flyers

31. Xavier Musketeers
38. Georgetown Hoyas

41. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
47. Marquette Golden Eagles

55. Creighton Bluejays
57. UConn Huskies

60. Butler Bulldogs
63. UCLA Bruins

[Novachap]

Good news for the Cats:


Jon Rothstein
@JonRothstein

Villanova's Bryan Antoine (shoulder) has been fully cleared for all basketball related activities, per Jay Wright. Will return to practice today. No timetable on a return to game action.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Good news for the Cats:


Jon Rothstein
@JonRothstein

Villanova's Bryan Antoine (shoulder) has been fully cleared for all basketball related activities, per Jay Wright. Will return to practice today. No timetable on a return to game action.

GREAT news. If he can contribute anywhere near what JRE and Moore are giving us, I like our chances.

The thing I noticed vs Army is that the ball was moving again. Everyone got involved. Booth and Paschall were undoubtedly our warriors last year but there was an over-reliance on them to bail us out offensively. So the ball always found them and often stopped there.

Add BA to the mix and it only adds to a very balanced top 9. There may not be a 1st team All-BE player on the roster this year but it is a VERY deep team with lots of options. It will provide a much greater challenge for opposing teams defensively then last year’s team IMO. The challenge for JW is finding the right combinations.

[kayako]

Perfect timing to ease him in vs. a few cupcakes to get ready for Kansas.

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

JonRothstein

Villanova's Bryan Antoine (shoulder) has been fully cleared for all basketball related activities, per Jay Wright.

Great news for Jay Wright and the Big East. Here's more:

Bryan Antoine, highly regarded freshman guard, cleared to begin practice at Villanova - Joe Juliano,The Philadelphia Enquirer - November 7, 2019, 9:45

The 6-foot-5 Antoine, a McDonald’s All-American who was ranked in the top 20 high school prospects by all major recruiting services, played his entire senior season at The Ranney School in Tinton Falls, N.J., with a sore shoulder (he shoots right-handed) and had the injury diagnosed after he arrived at Villanova. He underwent surgery on May 31.

Antoine averaged more than 20 points in all four of his seasons at Ranney, including a 21.3-point average in his senior year. He finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in the Shore Conference.

Antoine was part of a 2019 Villanova recruiting class that was ranked fifth nationally by 247Sports and eighth by ESPN.com.

Seton Hall Edges Villanova For Top Spot In Coaches’ Preseason Poll – Big East Conference [Media Day] – October 10, 2019

2019-20 Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Seton Hall (5) .. 77
2. Villanova (5) ... 76
3. Xavier ........... 52
T4. Marquette .... 50
T4. Providence ... 50
6. Georgetown ... 49
7. Creighton ...... 45
8. Butler .......... 21
9. St. John’s ..... 19
10. DePaul ....... 11
First-place votes in parentheses.

AP Top 25 First poll of the season released. https://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll/2020/1

10. Nova
12. Seton Hall
19. Xavier
RV: Marquette (68), Georgetown (11), Creighton (4), Providence (1)

On paper, Villanova looks like a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which should put Coach Wright in contention for this third college championship.