(4) Wednesday, Dec. 2nd. 2020

[XUFan09]

X seems to be playing a soft-ish preseason slate. Each of these teams seem the same—small mid majors that lack in size but can give you problems with energy and timely scoring. Hoping they have some P6 games scheduled as well as they types of teams in conf play don’t look like the ones they’re now playing.

Other than Tennessee Tech, the low-majors they have faced aren't that bad (not saying they're good either), and then they have Cincinnati and Oklahoma after that. That sets up as being a pretty solid schedule. The main thing is that X has been able to get 5 games out already while controlling the setting and not having to leave Cincinnati, which is a good combo with the complications Covid is going to cause this year. It would be a disaster for the non-conference schedule, though, if Covid issues shut down the team right now, because their two good games are back-to-back.

[Xuperman]

X seems to be playing a soft-ish preseason slate. Each of these teams seem the same—small mid majors that lack in size but can give you problems with energy and timely scoring. Hoping they have some P6 games scheduled as well as they types of teams in conf play don’t look like the ones they’re now playing.

I simply don't understand this. WTF is soft about the 2 TIME reigning MVC champs? What's wrong with a projected top tier MAC team, WITH the probable conference POY?

I know you understand that both of these conferences are very formidable at the top.....even making the F4 in recent history. These guys are not Hartford! I don't think BC could win either of these conferences. Just me being me.

I will throw this in for effect.

"I started following Kentucky HS hoops closely when we were recruiting that large Cov Cath turd and even more so when KyKy and Miles were on board.
So, I have a much different take on the quality of the EKU roster because most of their key players were studs in the KHSAA.

Robb and Moreno were teammates on powerhouse Scott Co. Robb especially has somewhat of a legend status down in Georgetown for his cut throat accuracy from distance. I remember wondering why X had zero interest in this guy, similar to CJ Fredrick who is a very nice sniper for the Hawkeyes.
Moreno was just a nasty, do everything frontcourt guy that will develop into a extremely productive college player.

Tre King, a big athletic kid out of Lexington, ended up at the prestigious Hargrave Military Academy (we got a pretty nice player from there). He was team captain as a SR on the #4 rated school nationally. He would start for us. This kid can flat out ball with anyone.

Now on to their 2 Freshman guards. Curt Lewis was arguably the top player in the state as a SR averaging 25 per. Mack and several other top tier D1s wanted him, but Academics forced him into JUCO. Eastern snatches him up and he looks VERY impressive as a 6'5" 220 scoring machine. Lastly, Wendell Green Jr out of Detroit was a member of national prep power La Lumiere. He ran the show for the Lakers, surrounded by and playing against the country's best talent. Going to be a wreaking ball of a PG when all is said and done.

I think we beat a very good group of up and comers....a very respectable dub IMO."

[GumbyDamnit!]

X seems to be playing a soft-ish preseason slate. Each of these teams seem the same—small mid majors that lack in size but can give you problems with energy and timely scoring. Hoping they have some P6 games scheduled as well as they types of teams in conf play don’t look like the ones they’re now playing.

I simply don't understand this. WTF is soft about the 2 TIME reigning MVC champs? What's wrong with a projected top tier MAC team, WITH the probable conference POY?

I know you understand that both of these conferences are very formidable at the top.....even making the F4 in recent history. These guys are not Hartford! I don't think BC could win either of these conferences. Just me being me.

I will throw this in for effect.

"I started following Kentucky HS hoops closely when we were recruiting that large Cov Cath turd and even more so when KyKy and Miles were on board.
So, I have a much different take on the quality of the EKU roster because most of their key players were studs in the KHSAA.

Robb and Moreno were teammates on powerhouse Scott Co. Robb especially has somewhat of a legend status down in Georgetown for his cut throat accuracy from distance. I remember wondering why X had zero interest in this guy, similar to CJ Fredrick who is a very nice sniper for the Hawkeyes.
Moreno was just a nasty, do everything frontcourt guy that will develop into a extremely productive college player.

Tre King, a big athletic kid out of Lexington, ended up at the prestigious Hargrave Military Academy (we got a pretty nice player from there). He was team captain as a SR on the #4 rated school nationally. He would start for us. This kid can flat out ball with anyone.

Now on to their 2 Freshman guards. Curt Lewis was arguably the top player in the state as a SR averaging 25 per. Mack and several other top tier D1s wanted him, but Academics forced him into JUCO. Eastern snatches him up and he looks VERY impressive as a 6'5" 220 scoring machine. Lastly, Wendell Green Jr out of Detroit was a member of national prep power La Lumiere. He ran the show for the Lakers, surrounded by and playing against the country's best talent. Going to be a wreaking ball of a PG when all is said and done.

I think we beat a very good group of up and comers....a very respectable dub IMO."

Boy, you guys are sensitive. So of that murderous row as you describe, the highest current ranked team of them all in KenPom is Toledo at 113. Tenn Tech and Oakland are 300+. BC is at 86, VTech 29 and ASU at 30. And I wasn't trying to say Nova schedule good, X bad. Here's my point... There is a class of athlete at most of the Major Conference programs that you simply cannot find (across the board) at the lower tier schools. Look at the sizes and the types of athletes at SHU, Marq., PC, Nova, UConn or now Creighton. Big, strong, quick. Are there some good players at the lower levels? Absolutely. The game is just played differently. It's more about smallish players, playing a style that you don't find anywhere in the BE. So when I question if X is preparing themselves for what they'll see in conference, I just mean that Oakland and Tenn Tech look and play a lot differently than what Travis and Co. will see. And to have 5 of those games to start your season seemed like overkill to me. Sorry to offend.

I knew you guys would get a test with Cinn. and the BE-B12 challenge but wasn't sure who else was on your schedule. I would think as a fan of X you too would rather see your team challenged by an ACC or SEC school over teams that probably aren't getting a bid if they don't win their league tourneys.

[MADXSTER]

Re Xavier. Their schedule changed due to Covid. They got out of the MTE in Orlando and created their own MTE which has worked out well since Orlando ended up getting canceled.

[XUFan09]

Let's not commit revision; Eastern Kentucky isn't good. They might be better than preseason expectations, but preseason Kenpom put them outside the top 200, so that's not saying much.

Cooper Robb's highest offensive rating in three seasons was 95 against Ohio Valley defenses when the D1 average fluctuated between 102 and 105. Xavier had zero interest in the guy for a reason; he is bad defensively and he can't score efficiently. He would not have even seen the court in 2018-2019, let alone in better sessons. He just had a really good game versus X. Michael Moreno is a good role player at that level. Tre King is a really good rebounder, but his scoring efficiency is meh. Wendell Green might end up fine at the Ohio Valley level but he's not a world-beater. Curt Lewis is absolutely legit and is going to either dominate at that level or transfer up. He's the one player that stands out from that team.