Holy Land fan poll - who finishes in 7th place?

[OutlawWales]

i just dont see creighton adjusting well this year,next year for sure,to big of a jump up to be an immediate contender,i see them as really making some noise in a few years though.

I don't know if you know much about Creighton, but this comment sounds like somebody who isn't all that familiar with Creighton's roster.

THIS year is the year that Creighton has a roster to immediately adjust and compete. The next year, however, is most likely going to be a rougher year. This coming year the Jays return almost all starters and a two time first team all-American. Unless somebody new steps up to be a major scorer this year, the Jays will end up losing roughly 90 percent of the true offensive threats after this coming year. They will be losing a lot of leadership and toughness, too. Young guys might grow into that role, but I'm expecting the next year is going to be the one with the growing pains.

Hopefully the recruiting adjustments can be made to make Creighton a team that competes in years to come -- but so far Jays fans are waiting for the first decent recruiting commit.

[ChelseaFriar]

PC was picked dead last in the BE last season. They finished 9-9. That was the BE with Syracuse, L'Ville, UConn, Pitt, etc.

[gofriars08]

It would be a huge disappointment if PC finishes 7th or lower based on expectations down in Providence going into this season. Then again doesn't that seem like a similar sentiment between all the members this year? The BE is so competitive that everyone believes they can compete for the top half. I do fear that only 5 max will get invites so its going to be a bitter pill for certain programs used to annual NCAA trips if they get squeezed out some years now.

This vote could be headed for a run-off between Xavier and PC if it remains tied!!

The league's bids will ultimately get determined during their performance during the non-conference schedule. Some of the key games that can help the league win additional bids:

Nova @ Cuse
Nova vs. LaSalle
Nova @ Temple
Nova in Battle4Atlantis
SJU vs. Wisconsin
SJU vs. Cuse
Seton Hall vs. Oklahoma
PC vs. BC
PC vs. Kentucky
PC vs. Vanderbilt
Marquette vs. Ohio State
MQ @ Arizona State
MQ @ Wisconsin
MQ vs. New Mexico
GTown vs. Oregon
GT @ Kansas
GT vs. Mich State
GT in Puerto Rico Tip-off
DePaul vs. Wichita State
Creighton vs. Cal
Butler vs. Vandy
Butler vs. Purdue
Butler in Old Spice Classic
Xavier vs. Tennessee
Xavier vs. Cincy
Xavier @ Alabama
Xavier in Battle4Atlantis

That's at least 27 key games the league really needs to show well in. If the league can pull down 15-18 wins in these games and avoid too many embarrassing losses, I think 6 bids is possible.

[dmac80]

It would be a huge disappointment if PC finishes 7th or lower based on expectations down in Providence going into this season. Then again doesn't that seem like a similar sentiment between all the members this year? The BE is so competitive that everyone believes they can compete for the top half. I do fear that only 5 max will get invites so its going to be a bitter pill for certain programs used to annual NCAA trips if they get squeezed out some years now.

This vote could be headed for a run-off between Xavier and PC if it remains tied!!

The league's bids will ultimately get determined during their performance during the non-conference schedule. Some of the key games that can help the league win additional bids:

Nova @ Cuse
Nova vs. LaSalle
Nova @ Temple
Nova in Battle4Atlantis
SJU vs. Wisconsin
SJU vs. Cuse
Seton Hall vs. Oklahoma
PC vs. BC
PC vs. Kentucky
PC vs. Vanderbilt
Marquette vs. Ohio State
MQ @ Arizona State
MQ @ Wisconsin
MQ vs. New Mexico
GTown vs. Oregon
GT @ Kansas
GT vs. Mich State
GT in Puerto Rico Tip-off
DePaul vs. Wichita State
Creighton vs. Cal
Butler vs. Vandy
Butler vs. Purdue
Butler in Old Spice Classic
Xavier vs. Tennessee
Xavier vs. Cincy
Xavier @ Alabama
Xavier in Battle4Atlantis

That's at least 27 key games the league really needs to show well in. If the league can pull down 15-18 wins in these games and avoid too many embarrassing losses, I think 6 bids is possible.

Good post. But wow, all that hard work and it MIGHT result in 1 more bid. Gonna be very tough year in and year out.

[gofriars08]

Yeah, I mean realistically SHU and DePaul have no shot at making the NCAAs. Butler will need some serious magic to turn things around. So you're really looking at trying to get six bids from seven teams. It will be especially important for Xavier, PC, and SJU to make hay when they have a chance, and it will be important for Creighton not to screw up during their Charmin-soft non-conference slate.

Marquette, Georgetown and Nova all scheduled non-conference slates the way you'd want top tier teams to. So long as they take a couple of those heavyweight matchups, those games will help their RPI enough to likely earn an NCAA bid so long as they end up in the top 4-5 of the conference.

[FlyByNight101]

and it will be important for Creighton not to screw up during their Charmin-soft non-conference slate.

Sorry, we are still cleaning up the mess that was the Bracketbusters commitment - Creighton will have considerably more schedule flexibility after this season.

[ChelseaFriar]

Just looked at Creighton's schedule. Other games that are important for them and the league: St. Joe's (have to separate BE from A10) and Nebraska (BCS conference). How is Long Beach State this year?

Botton line is I think any BE games vs. BCS conferences and the A-10 are important. Need to create separation from the A-10 in the selection committee's eyes. PC has road games at URI and UMass. Both are important for PC and the reputation of the BE.

[FlyByNight101]

Just looked at Creighton's schedule. Other games that are important for them and the league: St. Joe's (have to separate BE from A10) and Nebraska (BCS conference). How is Long Beach State this year?

Botton line is I think any BE games vs. BCS conferences and the A-10 are important. Need to create separation from the A-10 in the selection committee's eyes. PC has road games at URI and UMass. Both are important for PC and the reputation of the BE.

LBSU will be solid this year (solid enough to run away with the Big West, for what that is worth...probably hovering around the 100-125 mark in RPI by the time the year is over)
More importantly though for Creighton's schedule is the Wooden Classic lineup, Arizona State (Jahii Carson is the real deal) and then potentially San Diego State and hopefully Marquette.

[Bill Marsh]

I don't see a list so much as a prediction. After all, who can really predict the outcome of the race? Anyone predicting is bound to be wrong.

The value in projects IMO is to identify who are the teams to beat. The deck has been reshuffled as plAyers have graduated, left for the NBA, etc. and new players have joined to take their place.

IMO Providence is one of the teams in the upper half of the league that teams better be prepared to beat. They finished .500 in the league last year, finished strong, return last year's Big East leading scorer, lose only one starter albeit an important one, and have good young talent ready to step up.

Xavier may well be as good as their fans claim they are but they still have to prove that, so rather being a team to beat, I see them as a team with something to prove especially since they are joining a new league which will require them to adjust to a higher caliber of play. I wish them well.

[DanofXav76]

i just dont see creighton adjusting well this year,next year for sure,to big of a jump up to be an immediate contender,i see them as really making some noise in a few years though.

I don't know if you know much about Creighton, but this comment sounds like somebody who isn't all that familiar with Creighton's roster.

THIS year is the year that Creighton has a roster to immediately adjust and compete. The next year, however, is most likely going to be a rougher year. This coming year the Jays return almost all starters and a two time first team all-American. Unless somebody new steps up to be a major scorer this year, the Jays will end up losing roughly 90 percent of the true offensive threats after this coming year. They will be losing a lot of leadership and toughness, too. Young guys might grow into that role, but I'm expecting the next year is going to be the one with the growing pains.

Hopefully the recruiting adjustments can be made to make Creighton a team that competes in years to come -- but so far Jays fans are waiting for the first decent recruiting commit.[/quote

Creighton could not have hand picked a better year to join the NBE. Without a doubt out of the three newbies they are best equipped to mix it up with the established powers. Also my opinion is that out of the three it's more important for them to have a great year in conference to set them up for future success. Other than two games I'll be rooting hard for the Blue Jays.