This Year So Far

[gtmoBlue]

Have no fear HLOHer's. Your season is saved. Several Jays fans have revised their outlooks to "the bottom has fell out, again." Over on the BJU, 2017-18 thread many have revised downwards, their predictions for the finish. Some are saying a 2-6 finish and some are 3-5 finish to the regular season for Creighton, and they appear to be okay with it. With a 9-9/10-8 Jays overall RS record, the 5-7 teams can take heart their position and NCAA seed will improve, thanks to the Jays collapse. Hoorah!

I'm not buying, but as a minority I chuckle at the logic, reasoning, and rationale of my more realistic Bluejay brethren. Every year it's the same - modest expectations, then if there's injury or other malady, a rapid revision into mediocrity. Gotta love the consistency, the exercising of moderation (to a fault), and the modesty of the faithful. Never too high nor too low...flex in the midranges. And one wonders why the team cannot assail the heights of a Championship - It is not expected by the majority of CU fans - and teams generally strive to meet expectations.

It appears to me that the bulk of my brethren are just "happy to be here." Perhaps for them the getting of the annual checks, winning 20, not being on the bottom, and generally making the dance is enough. NO. It's not enough. If that's all we Creighton fans aspire to, we should have refused the invite and kept our "happy asses" in the Valley. I came to the BEast for all the forementioned AND the Hardware of some Championships. I expect my teams to win some championships and to vie for greater NCAA Glory - that's why we came here, no less! Win 20 and 6th place in the BE behind Nova and X, my ass. Fortunately the coaching staff does not subscribe to the fanbases notions. #RollJays to a championship - I want my rings and trophies, and some overdue NCAA Glory.

[Novachap]

You go GTMO!!!! .... and for the record, I would not be upset if you finished above X... (assuming Nova is #1)!

[GumbyDamnit!]

You go GTMO!!!! .... and for the record, I would not be upset if you finished above X... (assuming Nova is #1)!

Here, here! #2 is more than fine in my book as well for you guys. Hey, I'd even take you guys knocking us off in the BET as long as we win the regular season. Losing in the BET seems to be a good omen for us.

And what's this, "the BE needs ditch diggers too" talk from the Jay fanbase? We need our Omaha brethren to do some damage in March and challenge for the BE title every year. You've got the scoring down. You've got the 2nd best defender in the BE (and perhaps the country) in KT. Losing MK hurts but you've got some players who can step in and step up. Let's go Jays! Suck it up and keep your eye on the prize. Enough of the weak sh!t.

[mel ott]

You go GTMO!!!! .... and for the record, I would not be upset if you finished above X... (assuming Nova is #1)!

Here, here! #2 is more than fine in my book as well for you guys. Hey, I'd even take you guys knocking us off in the BET as long as we win the regular season. Losing in the BET seems to be a good omen for us.

And what's this, "the BE needs ditch diggers too" talk from the Jay fanbase? We need our Omaha brethren to do some damage in March and challenge for the BE title every year. You've got the scoring down. You've got the 2nd best defender in the BE (and perhaps the country) in KT. Losing MK hurts but you've got some players who can step in and step up. Let's go Jays! Suck it up and keep your eye on the prize. Enough of the weak sh!t.

Exactly. I'm with gtmo and we are getting better each year. Our recruits are a higher level while still keeping the culture the way Mac likes. We do need to break through in the tournament- the good news we expect to be there for the foreseeable future with the added depth we will have. Losing Patton and perhaps Kyhri early hurts short term, but shows recruits they can accomplish all their goals at Creighton. We will have better depth next year and we shall see if our redshirt freshman center Epperson comes out to play this year. Different factors coming off a surgery, but if he can add value and is in playing form, may help us at the end of the year and the tournie. #gobigeast

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

Here’s an update of the numbers I posted a month ago.

Originally posted on the BE Non-Conference Recap For 2018 Season... thread on December 27, 2017 (the morning of the first BE conference games):

2. TODAY’S NUMBERS – UPDATED ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 27, 2017
Big East Standings - ESPN – updated December 27, 2017
RPI Rankings – UDPride – updated December 27, 2017
RPI Forecast – Teams Ranked 1 to 351 – updated December 27, 2017
RPI Forecast – Big East Conference – updated December 27, 2017
The 2018 Bracket Matrix - Bracket Matrix.com - updated December 24, 2017

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Big East Standings - ESPN – updated December 27, 2017

#1 Villanova ...... 12-0
#6 Xavier .......... 12-1
Georgetown ....... 10-1
#23 Seton Hall .... 11-2
#25 Creighton ..... 10-2
St. John's .......... 10-2
Butler .............. 10-3
Marquette .......... 9-3
Providence ......... 9-4
DePaul .............. 7-5

Big East Standings - ESPN – updated January 27, 2018

#1 Villanova ...... 19-1 (6-1)
#8 Xavier .......... 19-3 (7-2)
Creighton ......... 16-5 (6-3)
Providence ....... 14-7 (5-3)
Seton Hall ........ 15-5 (4-3)
Butler ............. 14-7 (4-4)
Marquette ......... 13-7 (4-4)

Georgetown ...... 13-7 (3-6) ==> 2 wins over St. John’s and 1 win over DePaul.
DePaul ............. 9-11 (2-6) ==> 1 win over St. John’s and 1 win over Georgetown.
St. John's ......... 10-11 (0-9)

Post # 1 on The bottom three thread:

SJU, DU, and GU are winless against the rest of the league.

While it sucks for them, it's creating a perfect storm for the league to get 7 bids, as they're providing needed wins for the bubble teams, while not burdening them with questionable losses. I guess this shows how perfectly things have to align to get 7 bids.

Shrewd observation, herodotus. The winds from the perfect storm are blowing in the direction of 7 bids for the BE.
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RPI Rankings – UDPride – updated December 27, 2017

2. Xavier (SOS Ranking = 14)
5. Villanova (SOS Ranking = 101)
14. Seton Hall (SOS Ranking = 46)
19. St. John's (SOS Ranking = 28)
38. Butler (SOS Ranking = 54)
52. Providence (SOS Ranking = 40)
57. Creighton (SOS Ranking = 216)
66. Marquette (SOS Ranking = 94)
208. DePaul (SOS Ranking = 269)
217. Georgetown (SOS Ranking = 350)

RPI Rankings – UDPride – updated January 27, 2018

2. Villanova (SOS Ranking = 39)
3. Xavier (SOS Ranking = 8)
20. Seton Hall (SOS Ranking = 28)
29. Creighton (SOS Ranking = 74)
31. Butler (SOS Ranking = 20)
32. Providence (SOS Ranking = 14)
46. Marquette (SOS Ranking = 18)

99. St. John's (SOS Ranking = 4)
167. DePaul (SOS Ranking = 101)
170. Georgetown (SOS Ranking = 237)

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RPI Forecast – Teams Ranked 1 to 351 – updated December 27, 2017

Rank – Projected RPI Rank – Team
1 - 2.4 - Villanova
4 - 7.4 - Xavier
18 - 20.6 - Seton Hall
22 - 26.5 - Creighton
38 - 43.2 - Butler
41 - 45.0 - St. John's
61 - 68.7 - Marquette
72 - 77.8 - Providence
157 - 154.6 - Georgetown
176 - 169.7 - DePaul

RPI Forecast – Teams Ranked 1 to 351 – updated January 26, 2018

Rank – Projected RPI Rank – Team
1 - 1.7 - Villanova
4 - 5.2 - Xavier
24 - 25.8 - Seton Hall
26 - 26.9 - Creighton
35 - 38.4 - Butler
46 - 45.6 - Providence
53 - 54.8 - Marquette

99 - 101.6 - St. John's
154 - 153.0 - Georgetown
177 - 172.1 - DePaul

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RPI Forecast – Big East Conference – updated December 27, 2017

Proj. RPI Rank – Team …. Forecast SOS Rank – Proj. W-L – (Proj. Conf W-L)
2.4 - Villanova ......... # 19 - 28-3 (15-3)
7.4 - Xavier .............. # 8 - 24-7 (12-6)
20.6 - Seton Hall ....... # 15 - 22-9 (11-7)
26.5 - Creighton ........ # 38 - 21-9 (11-7)
43.2 - Butler ............ # 20 - 19-12 (9-9)
45.0 - St. John's ......... # 5 - 17-13 (8-10)
68.7 - Marquette ........ # 25 - 17-13 (8-10)
77.8 - Providence ....... # 16 - 16-15 (7-11)
154.6 - Georgetown .... # 98 - 15-14 (5-13)
169.7 - DePaul ........... # 52 - 11-19 (4-14)

RPI Forecast – Big East Conference – updated January 26, 2018

Proj. RPI Rank – Team …. Forecast SOS Rank – Proj. W-L – (Proj. Conf W-L)
1.7 - Villanova ......... # 17 - 28-3 (15-3)
5.2 - Xavier .............. # 9 - 25-6 (13-5)
25.8 - Seton Hall ....... # 21 - 21-10 (10-8)
26.9 - Creighton ........ # 50 - 22-8 (12-6)
38.4 - Butler ............ # 19 - 20-11 (10-8)
45.6 - Providence ....... # 20 - 19-12 (10-8)
54.8 - Marquette ........ # 26 - 18-12 (9-9)

101.6 - St. John's ......... # 3 - 12-18 (3-15)
153.0 - Georgetown .... # 93 - 15-14 (5-13)
172.1 - DePaul ........... # 53 - 11-19 (4-14)

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The 2018 Bracket Matrix - Bracket Matrix.com - updated December 24, 2017

# 1 seed (# 1 overall) - Villanova (32 of 32 brackets)
# 3 seed (# 10 overall) - Xavier (32 of 32 brackets)
# 5 seed (# 23 overall) - Seton Hall (32 of 32 brackets)
# 7 seed (# 28 overall) - Creighton (29 of 32 brackets)
# 11 seed (# 45 overall) - Butler (20 of 32 brackets)
# 11 seed (# 46 overall) - St. John's (19 of 32 brackets)

The 2018 Bracket Matrix - Bracket Matrix.com - updated January 26, 2018

# 1 seed (# 1 overall) - Villanova (92 of 92 brackets)
# 2 seed (# 6 overall) - Xavier (92 of 92 brackets)
# 5 seed (# 19 overall) - Seton Hall (92 of 92 brackets)
# 7 seed (# 25 overall) - Creighton (92 of 92 brackets)
# 9 seed (# 34 overall) - Butler (90 of 92 brackets)
# 10 seed (# 38 overall) - Providence (87 of 92 brackets)
# 11 seed (# 42 overall) - Marquette (85 of 92 brackets)

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Big East Men’s Basketball 2017-18 Composite Schedule - Big East.com – updated daily

SATURDAY JANUARY 27, 2018
St. John's @ Butler
Georgetown @ Creighton

SUNDAY JANUARY 28, 2018
Villanova @ Marquette
Seton Hall @ DePaul

NCAA Basketball Game Point Spreads – Odds Shark.com – updated daily

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

It’s interesting that 'everyone' except the Big East coaches correctly predicted the bottom 3 teams, as it is now appears quite unlikely that any of the present bottom 3 teams will overtake any of the top 7 teams. Originally posted on the BE Non-Conference Recap For 2018 Season... thread:

1. PRESEASON PREDICTIONS (listed chronologically)

Villanova Sits Atop Coaches’ Preseason Poll Again - Big East.com – October 18, 2017

Big East 2017-18 Preseason Coaches’ Poll (First-place votes in parentheses.)

1. Villanova (8) ..... 80
2. Seton Hall (1) .... 71
3. Xavier (1) ......... 63
4. Providence ........59
5. Creighton ......... 48
6. St. John’s ......... 36
7. Marquette ........ 34

8. Butler ............. 32
9. Georgetown ...... 15
10. DePaul ........... 12

Men's Basketball Top 144 Previews – College Sports Madness.com – June 19 to November 9, 2017

6. Villanova Wildcats
12. Seton Hall Pirates
22. Xavier Musketeers
26. Butler Bulldogs
29. Providence Friars
38. Creighton Bluejays
49. Marquette Golden Eagles

87. St. John's Red Storm
--- Georgetown Hoyas
--- DePaul Blue Demons

Ranking all 351 college basketball teams – CBS Sports - October 25, 2017

7. Villanova Wildcats
22. Xavier Musketeers
26. Providence Friars
28. Seton Hall Pirates
43. Creighton Bluejays
54. Butler Bulldogs
56. Marquette Golden Eagles

64. St. John's Red Storm
106. DePaul Blue Demons
120. Georgetown Hoyas

Ranking Every Team in College Basketball From No. 1 to No. 351 – SI.com - October 31, 2017

5. Villanova Wildcats
15. Xavier Musketeers
25. Seton Hall Pirates
34. Creighton Bluejays
36. Providence Friars
37. Butler Bulldogs
45. Marquette Golden Eagles

87. St. John's Red Storm
103. DePaul Blue Demons
125. Georgetown Hoyas

Ranking every team in college basketball from 1-351 – ESPN – November 2, 2017

What does "RPM%" mean?

This is the percentage of possession-minutes that a roster returns from last season. For example, Bradley is bringing back every player thataveraged at least four minutes a game last season, so the Braves' figure there is 100 percent. At the other extreme, not surprisingly, is Kentucky, which returns just 7 percent of last season's possession-minutes. This is a statistical way of saying simply, "Wenyen Gabriel is back, and everyone else is gone."

Here's a forecasting rule of thumb for the vast majority of programs that aren't blessed with sensational incoming freshmen and/or a sensational transfer. The D-I average for returning possession-minutes this season is 56 percent, and the shape of that particular bell curve means any figure below 37 or above 75 percent is statistically extreme. Couch expectations accordingly.

Rank – Team – RPM%

5. Villanova Wildcats | RPM% 53
18. Xavier Musketeers | RPM% 69
25. Seton Hall Pirates | RPM% 89
29. Providence Friars | RPM% 96
32. Butler Bulldogs | RPM% 54
36. Marquette Golden Eagles | RPM% 51
44. Creighton Bluejays | RPM% 57

63. St. John's Red Storm | RPM% 72
92. Georgetown Hoyas | RPM% 40
118. DePaul Blue Demons | RPM% 59

[muskienick]

My head just exploded.

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

My head just exploded.

Long posts and Slim Whitman's music do that to some folks. Not to worry ... your Musketeers are doing quite well this season.

[jfan]

We need Stever to interpret ( sorry bad joke!)

[gtmoBlue]

Well alrighty then. Thanks for the extremely long post. Now delete it and put up the link to it.

Thanks.