So who's the Big East favorite in 2014-15?

[TheHall]

1) VU
2) GU (They have possibly 2 1 & done players coming in)
3) PC (Cooley)
4) SJU (Senior leadership)
5) SHU
6) DU
7) X (Is a 1st year transfer really going to become the alpha dog right away?)
8) MU (Who really knows at this point, team's morale might be shot by potential transfers/decommits)
9) CU (McGone)
10) BU

New prediction post Obekpa news. Also I think the top 6 have a good shot at thee NCAAT.

1) VU
2) GU (They have possibly 2 1 & done players coming in)
3) PC (Cooley)
4) SHU
5) DU
6) X (Is a 1st year transfer really going to become the alpha dog right away?)
7) MU (Who really knows at this point, team's morale might be shot by potential transfers/decommits)
8) SJU (No leadership)
9) CU (McGone)
10) BU

[Chalmers0]

1) VU
2) GU (They have possibly 2 1 & done players coming in)
3) PC (Cooley)
4) SJU (Senior leadership)
5) SHU
6) DU
7) X (Is a 1st year transfer really going to become the alpha dog right away?)
8) MU (Who really knows at this point, team's morale might be shot by potential transfers/decommits)
9) CU (McGone)
10) BU

New prediction post Obekpa news. Also I think the top 6 have a good shot at thee NCAAT.

1) VU
2) GU (They have possibly 2 1 & done players coming in)
3) PC (Cooley)
4) SHU
5) DU
6) X (Is a 1st year transfer really going to become the alpha dog right away?)
7) MU (Who really knows at this point, team's morale might be shot by potential transfers/decommits)
8) SJU (No leadership)
9) CU (McGone)
10) BU

DePaul in front of X? They getting some players I don't know about? Also not exactly sure what you mean by Remy being the alpha dog right away, he won't be our best player or focal point next year. He will probably be start but I don't see him being our "go to" scorer or anything. Losing Semaj hurts but other than that we essentially lose nothing other than Philmore, who should be relatively easily replaced by Jalen Reynolds who could easily be all-league caliber next year.

[R to the OB]

Here's my (very, very early) prediction for next year:

1. Villanova
2. Georgetown
3. Xavier
4. St. John's
5. Providence
6. Seton Hall
7. Creighton
8. Marquette
9. Butler
10. DePaul

In light of recent developments, I am going to revise my predictions as well...

1. Villanova
2. Georgetown
3. Xavier
4. Providence
5. Seton Hall
6. Creighton
7. Marquette
8. DePaul
9. Butler
10. St. John's

[TheHall]

New prediction post Obekpa news. Also I think the top 6 have a good shot at thee NCAAT.

1) VU
2) GU (They have possibly 2 1 & done players coming in)
3) PC (Cooley)
4) SHU
5) DU
6) X (Is a 1st year transfer really going to become the alpha dog right away?)
7) MU (Who really knows at this point, team's morale might be shot by potential transfers/decommits)
8) SJU (No leadership)
9) CU (McGone)
10) BU

DePaul in front of X? They getting some players I don't know about? Also not exactly sure what you mean by Remy being the alpha dog right away, he won't be our best player or focal point next year. He will probably be start but I don't see him being our "go to" scorer or anything. Losing Semaj hurts but other than that we essentially lose nothing other than Philmore, who should be relatively easily replaced by Jalen Reynolds who could easily be all-league caliber next year.

My dark horse is Depaul. The Jr.'s (BG & TH) will be even better as sophomores & they have 2 transfers in Henry & Stimage that most here probably don't know much about but like PC's Tyler Harris this year, most will once the season gets going. Throw is seasoned vets McKinney & Crockett as well. But the biggest improvement might actually come from Melvin being out.

As for Remy I was trying to figure out who would be the one guy the other 4 players for X would be straring at with the ball like this season

[BEX]

Remy played in all 36 games for IU his last season and was 1st team All-State in KY. Maybe he'll play 20 mins, or 5, but it will be good to have him on the team for the youngsters.

[hoyahooligan]

I'm sure this list will change several times as the pieces fall. I mean heck it's already invalid with Obekpa leaving.

but I can't see you finishing higher than 6th. Last year's team's strength was it's front court and now you pretty much have stever taylor jr and no one else. But who know's I'm biased and not particularly fond of marquette. I also do not think highly of Wojo so that's another strike against Marquette.

Luke Fischer will be our starting center during conference play. Pierce will be a back up getting significant minutes if he decides to come. That's questionable, but I won't count him out until he asks for his release. STJ and Burton will probably split minutes at PF. I expect Burton to be much improved. We may still finish 6th or below, but we aren't completely deficient up front. We should also be slightly improved in our guard play. I fully expect Duane Wilson to be an upgrade over Derrick Wilson. Mayo can be great when he is on. Ahmed Hill, if he comes, should give us some 3 point range. We may be worse next season, but we may surprise and be a little better.

Burton at PF? 6'4 Deonte Burton?

And yeah I know you get Luke Fischer by semester break, but by then it'll likely be too late. I mean look at Marquette this year. They were toast by the time conference play started. And that's assuming you actually get great production from Fischer. He's a top 100 talent, but he's not a top 25 or top 50 can't miss guy. I know ESPN was very high on him, but no one else had him top 50.

[marquette]

Burton at PF? 6'4 Deonte Burton?

And yeah I know you get Luke Fischer by semester break, but by then it'll likely be too late. I mean look at Marquette this year. They were toast by the time conference play started. And that's assuming you actually get great production from Fischer. He's a top 100 talent, but he's not a top 25 or top 50 can't miss guy. I know ESPN was very high on him, but no one else had him top 50.

Burton played a decent number of minutes at PF this season. Fischer isn't a freshman. He already has experience playing at Indiana and will have practiced with the team. A lot will depend on careful scheduling in the early going. We need to avoid the tougher teams early in the schedule, but be careful not to schedule such awful cupcakes that they kill our RPI like they did this year. I'm not saying we will be world beaters, I'm not even saying we will be better than this year, but to act like we don't even have a shot at being decent is a little ridiculous.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Put me in the camp that says that Burton will be an absolute beast before all is said and done. He might take the biggest step forward of all returning Frosh in the league. From what I saw the kid has crazy athleticism and is strong as an ox. When given time he seemed to show flashes of a very dynamic offensive player. He needs to learn how to stay out of foul trouble, but could be a surprise all league selection next year IMO.

[hoyahooligan]

Burton at PF? 6'4 Deonte Burton?

And yeah I know you get Luke Fischer by semester break, but by then it'll likely be too late. I mean look at Marquette this year. They were toast by the time conference play started. And that's assuming you actually get great production from Fischer. He's a top 100 talent, but he's not a top 25 or top 50 can't miss guy. I know ESPN was very high on him, but no one else had him top 50.

Burton played a decent number of minutes at PF this season. Fischer isn't a freshman. He already has experience playing at Indiana and will have practiced with the team. A lot will depend on careful scheduling in the early going. We need to avoid the tougher teams early in the schedule, but be careful not to schedule such awful cupcakes that they kill our RPI like they did this year. I'm not saying we will be world beaters, I'm not even saying we will be better than this year, but to act like we don't even have a shot at being decent is a little ridiculous.

It's not like Fischer lit the world on fire at Indiana. Yes I know he got hurt in the preseason, but still. He's far from a proven commodity is my point. Marquette fans are pointing to him like it's guaranteed he'll come in and be an above average center in the BE.

[Demon22]

5) DU