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DePaul gets voted 10th place overwhelmingly. Now cast your vote for 9th place.

The only way DePaul gets out of the Big East cellar is with a new head coach that can effectively recruit Chicago and Chicagoland and a new athletic director that focuses on men's basketball as well as women's basketball and a new arena that's in Chicago. DePaul's new 10,000 seat "Events Center" across from McCormick Place on the Near South Side of Chicago will open by February 2017.

I went with Marquette simply because they lack a post presence. I like the guard play especially with adding Carlino, but the have a lot of undersized forwards. Burton can hold his own as my Muskies know, but fouls trouble could be an issue. I think they'll need Fischer to be ready to go right when he becomes eligible in December.

xavierfano8 wrote:I went with Marquette simply because they lack a post presence. I like the guard play especially with adding Carlino, but the have a lot of undersized forwards. Burton can hold his own as my Muskies know, but fouls trouble could be an issue. I think they'll need Fischer to be ready to go right when he becomes eligible in December.

I agree, especially with a first time head coach.

For me, it's Butler. They just don't have enough in the post - enough size. They will have good guard play, but I see them getting outscored, out rebounded and worn out inside as the season progresses. I think they are still a year away.

R to the OB wrote:For me, it's Butler. They just don't have enough in the post - enough size. They will have good guard play, but I see them getting outscored, out rebounded and worn out inside as the season progresses. I think they are still a year away.

The question is, if they don't finish any better than 9th in the league this season, what are they a year away from? I actually think their front court depth will be a strength for this team (though none of the players except maybe Chrabascz will score a ton, IMO). Granted, their front court is young with 1 senior, 2 freshman and a sophomore, but really other than Woods, they all at least look like Big East players, and honestly I had a tough time saying that about anyone other than maybe Barlow and Chrabascz last season. Same on the wing with Jones, Martin and Etherington (if he can stay healthy). Real question to me is actually the health of Dunham and Barlow. Either one of those guys goes down, there is no one to back them up. Both will need to play Bryce Cotton type minutes this year, and I think if anyone has the potential of getting worn down and beat up from the season for Butler (aside from any freshman "wall" that you sometimes see), it's those two.

I like them getting picked 9th though, they should be plenty motivated after last year, but this certainly can't hurt. Doesn't mean I think they can't finish 9th, but really after Villanova, anything can happen this season.

Irishdawg wrote:

R to the OB wrote:For me, it's Butler. They just don't have enough in the post - enough size. They will have good guard play, but I see them getting outscored, out rebounded and worn out inside as the season progresses. I think they are still a year away.

The question is, if they don't finish any better than 9th in the league this season, what are they a year away from? I actually think their front court depth will be a strength for this team (though none of the players except maybe Chrabascz will score a ton, IMO). Granted, their front court is young with 1 senior, 2 freshman and a sophomore, but really other than Woods, they all at least look like Big East players, and honestly I had a tough time saying that about anyone other than maybe Barlow and Chrabascz last season. Same on the wing with Jones, Martin and Etherington (if he can stay healthy). Real question to me is actually the health of Dunham and Barlow. Either one of those guys goes down, there is no one to back them up. Both will need to play Bryce Cotton type minutes this year, and I think if anyone has the potential of getting worn down and beat up from the season for Butler (aside from any freshman "wall" that you sometimes see), it's those two.

I like them getting picked 9th though, they should be plenty motivated after last year, but this certainly can't hurt. Doesn't mean I think they can't finish 9th, but really after Villanova, anything can happen this season.

We are going into the year with only 10 on scholarship, one of which is already injured, and 3 freshmen. Very, very thin even with a healthy squad. Our bench will be freshmen Wideman, Martin, Davis, seldom used Senior Aldridge and hopefully a healthy Etherington. If all three freshmen don't step up big time, we are looking at a finish 8th to 10th place. Last year only one freshman was left standing, so we need some magic this year. We need Etherington on the floor and not in the trainers room.

R to the OB wrote:For me, it's Butler. They just don't have enough in the post - enough size. They will have good guard play, but I see them getting outscored, out rebounded and worn out inside as the season progresses. I think they are still a year away.

You can say the same thing of Marquette. They'll have Fischer by BE season but besides that they have 6'7" Taylor and 6'4" Burton and that's it.

Has to be Butler. I don't know how Butler is going to fare after losing arguably the best coach in college basketball (in my opinion at least, guy is a basketball genius.) Hopefully they return to form quickly but to me that is a big question mark.

hoyahooligan wrote:

R to the OB wrote:For me, it's Butler. They just don't have enough in the post - enough size. They will have good guard play, but I see them getting outscored, out rebounded and worn out inside as the season progresses. I think they are still a year away.

You can say the same thing of Marquette. They'll have Fischer by BE season but besides that they have 6'7" Taylor and 6'4" Burton and that's it.

You're generally correct, but 6'6'' Juan Anderson and 6'6'' Sandy Cohen will get some time at forward as well (possibly center early in the season). Once Fischer is eligible I expect him and Taylor to be the primary options in the middle, with Taylor playing some PF. It's going to be a rough season.