Top 144 Countdown

[yorost]

Yeah, DePaul just won't be on the list if they aren't already. Conceivable they could make someone's top 144, but not this high coming off the stretch they've had.

As for Butler, when was this list started? They may simply have been slotted before Stevens left (and Jones was injured). There are bound to be changes of opinion from the writer over 144 days. It's probably easier to just fix the ranking and forget about changing it mid-stride.

[Bill Marsh]

Scott Gleeson of USA Today is also doing a daily countdown. In his case, he's projecting the 68 teams that will make the tournament. So far, no one from the Big East, but he's only down to #56. The only Catholic school is Manhattan from the MAAC at #59. It's basically a group of mid majors so far, who are expected to win their conferences. Here's the list through today:

68. Robert Morris
67. Charleston Southern
66. Northwestern State.
65. Norfolk State
64. Georgia State
63. BU
62. Vermont
61. Texas Southern
60. Elon
59. Manhattan
58. Toledo
57. Towson
56. Florida Gulf Coast
55. Weber Stat
54. Long Beach State
53. Eastern Kentucky
52. Wright State
51. Denver

[DudeAnon]

Meh, Xavier still has a lot to prove this year, I am optimistic though.

[Bill Marsh]

Another Catholic school has shown up on the College Sports Madness 144 list. But again, it's not a Big East School. It's St. Joe's at #69, projected as an NIT team, not as the team to win the A10.

So far, the Catholic schools on the list (with projected conference finish) are

122. San Diego, 5th (CBI/CIT)
109. Seton Hall, 9th (CBI/CIT)
91. San Francisco, 4th (NIT)
88. BC, 10th (NIT)
80. Manhattan, 1st (NCAA: MAAC auto bid)
76. Xavier, 8th (NIT)
69. St. Joe's, 7th (NIT)

[dmac80]

I'm not sure if anyone will be top 20 though. This is a year where we're going to have a lot of pretty darn good teams, but I don't think an superb ones.

Whether there any in preseason polls or not the BE should finish with at least a couple in top 20 or 25...

[Lavinwood]

The Big East can easily get 4-5 teams ranked as long as teams like SJU and PC step up as expected. I really think one of the 2 will be ranked.

[BillikensWin]

I think PC can take the next step as well as the Johnnies.

Both will visit the Top 25 this year.

[Friarfan2]

I just hope St. John's and providence can make the tournament. The top 25 ranking thing seems a bit ambitious and not all that "easy" or realistic. I hope it happens, but I like to keep a perspective on reality at times.

[Jet915]

I think Creighton and Marquette will be in the top 25 to start the year with Georgetown, St. John's, Villanova and maybe Providence making appearances throughout the year.

[BillikensWin]

I just hope St. John's and providence can make the tournament. The top 25 ranking thing seems a bit ambitious and not all that "easy" or realistic. I hope it happens, but I like to keep a perspective on reality at times.

The Top 25 is not that exclusive. Remember, SLU was in it last year and they clearly weren't good enough to be in the Big East.