College Basketball Countdown

[REDMEN1415]

Last year i posted as SJUREDMEN85.
I wanted him gone after the RM game, but knew that 2 years left, that no way would they eat two years on his contract AND pay another coach. No way was that happening.

I sick of living in the 80s so i canned that name and hoping this year we get to the NCAA.
Anything less then he must go. If he gets extended after the NIT, then I`ll go bye bye. Why? Because that would show me that they accept the NIT. That to me are for losers, and I won`t be a fan of losers.
Anyway, GO REDMEN. BIG YEAR FOR A CHANGE.

[GumbyDamnit!]

PC at #56? Wow. I'm sure a lot of it is because they just won the BET, but is anyone aware that Bryce Cotton aka the guy I watched score at or around 30 points almost every game I saw him is now gone? PC has other nice pieces but I see PC as more of a #75-80 ish squad this year. There seems to be a double standard with these people regarding SJ vs. other teams. Almost always the experts will expect a big drop from a team that just graduated their stud star player (Cotton) and expect the same level of play or perhaps better if they return their leading scorer and almost every other key player as veterans (SJ).

Not that I can blame them though…I think the reason so many are down on SJ is because the team simply doesn't give you results to match the talent. With Creighton (McDermott/Gibbs/Wragge), PC (Cotton), and Xavier (Semaj) all weaker/much weaker losing their best players, not sure how SJ is picked 30 something slots worse than a team like PC.

I know this SJ team has failed to deliver to its potential, but with so many upperclassmen and one of the best groups of guards in the country, I just can't see them falling off a cliff like experts and many on here seem to believe. As a SJ fan I've learned to expect nothing, but there's always that other side of my head that says "maybe this is the year it clicks like 2011". We shall see.

Hooper your passion for SJU hoops is admirable and often entertaining. I happen to share some of your optimism, and am big fans of Harrison and Jordan. But what I am going to call you on is your need to constantly pull other teams down in an effort to boost the image of your own team. Why not just stick to the reasons why you think SJU is deserving of a higher placement instead of throwing darts at PC, Creighton, X and any other conference member who you think SJU is better than? Your arguments seem to follow a pattern like: "Creighton is done without Dougie McD" and "Hello, PC lost Cotton, they're not going to be nearly as good as SJU," etc. But when looking at your own team you just casually dismiss any player losses as insignificant. We all have opinions and I get that this is a message board to share opinions. I understand that sometimes those opinions include some observations and criticisms of other conference mates. But man, you really seem determined to point out everyone's flaws when given the opportunity.

[stever20]

just saw this:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... /15525087/

Xavier picked #39 by USA Today. 10 seed and I believe #3 in the Big East(it's tough to see the #3 Big East team projected only as a 10 seed).

[Xudash]

PC at #56? Wow. I'm sure a lot of it is because they just won the BET, but is anyone aware that Bryce Cotton aka the guy I watched score at or around 30 points almost every game I saw him is now gone? PC has other nice pieces but I see PC as more of a #75-80 ish squad this year. There seems to be a double standard with these people regarding SJ vs. other teams. Almost always the experts will expect a big drop from a team that just graduated their stud star player (Cotton) and expect the same level of play or perhaps better if they return their leading scorer and almost every other key player as veterans (SJ).

Not that I can blame them though…I think the reason so many are down on SJ is because the team simply doesn't give you results to match the talent. With Creighton (McDermott/Gibbs/Wragge), PC (Cotton), and Xavier (Semaj) all weaker/much weaker losing their best players, not sure how SJ is picked 30 something slots worse than a team like PC.

I know this SJ team has failed to deliver to its potential, but with so many upperclassmen and one of the best groups of guards in the country, I just can't see them falling off a cliff like experts and many on here seem to believe. As a SJ fan I've learned to expect nothing, but there's always that other side of my head that says "maybe this is the year it clicks like 2011". We shall see.

Hooper your passion for SJU hoops is admirable and often entertaining. I happen to share some of your optimism, and am big fans of Harrison and Jordan. But what I am going to call you on is your need to constantly pull other teams down in an effort to boost the image of your own team. Why not just stick to the reasons why you think SJU is deserving of a higher placement instead of throwing darts at PC, Creighton, X and any other conference member who you think SJU is better than? Your arguments seem to follow a pattern like: "Creighton is done without Dougie McD" and "Hello, PC lost Cotton, they're not going to be nearly as good as SJU," etc. But when looking at your own team you just casually dismiss any player losses as insignificant. We all have opinions and I get that this is a message board to share opinions. I understand that sometimes those opinions include some observations and criticisms of other conference mates. But man, you really seem determined to point out everyone's flaws when given the opportunity.

If I may amplify what you wrote: it's one thing to have an opinion, but it always is a better thing to have an informed opinion. Semaj was an important piece of the puzzle for Xavier last year, but anyone who thinks Xavier is going to be weaker this year is just out to lunch.

[muskienick]

PC at #56? Wow. I'm sure a lot of it is because they just won the BET, but is anyone aware that Bryce Cotton aka the guy I watched score at or around 30 points almost every game I saw him is now gone? PC has other nice pieces but I see PC as more of a #75-80 ish squad this year. There seems to be a double standard with these people regarding SJ vs. other teams. Almost always the experts will expect a big drop from a team that just graduated their stud star player (Cotton) and expect the same level of play or perhaps better if they return their leading scorer and almost every other key player as veterans (SJ).

Not that I can blame them though…I think the reason so many are down on SJ is because the team simply doesn't give you results to match the talent. With Creighton (McDermott/Gibbs/Wragge), PC (Cotton), and Xavier (Semaj) all weaker/much weaker losing their best players, not sure how SJ is picked 30 something slots worse than a team like PC.

I know this SJ team has failed to deliver to its potential, but with so many upperclassmen and one of the best groups of guards in the country, I just can't see them falling off a cliff like experts and many on here seem to believe. As a SJ fan I've learned to expect nothing, but there's always that other side of my head that says "maybe this is the year it clicks like 2011". We shall see.

Perhaps the people who put out these pre-season rating systems actually do some research and find out who is returning to a program like PC or Xavier and who has been recruited to join those teams this year. What value would come to such prognosticators by simply basing their ratings on some supposed pre-conceived biases?

[FriarJ]

PC is going to be a hard team to predict before we see them. They are going to be a completely different team, with all the added depth and length. general consensus among the staff and other people close to the program is that the team will be a tougher out late in the season then they were last year, with a significantly improved defense. If Kris Dunn stays healthy this is an NCAA squad no doubt in my mind. Also the word is that Rodney Bullock will be a very key part of this team. 90% of the time Kris Dunn at 6'4" will be the shortest player on the court for us with our 2G's rotating between two 6'6" players and 2 other players at 6'8" and 6'9" plus two players over 7' seeing big minutes with another one at 6'9" who is already more ripped than Batts was.

That being said I can see where people would think they lose a step without Cotton. Like I said though this will be a completely different squad. If they play well this year Cooley will have set them up to be good for a long time.

[stever20]

PC is going to be a hard team to predict before we see them. They are going to be a completely different team, with all the added depth and length. general consensus among the staff and other people close to the program is that the team will be a tougher out late in the season then they were last year, with a significantly improved defense. If Kris Dunn stays healthy this is an NCAA squad no doubt in my mind. Also the word is that Rodney Bullock will be a very key part of this team. 90% of the time Kris Dunn at 6'4" will be the shortest player on the court for us with our 2G's rotating between two 6'6" players and 2 other players at 6'8" and 6'9" plus two players over 7' seeing big minutes with another one at 6'9" who is already more ripped than Batts was.

That being said I can see where people would think they lose a step without Cotton. Like I said though this will be a completely different squad. If they play well this year Cooley will have set them up to be good for a long time.

56 with everything you said makes a lot of sense. Maybe a touch under-rated- but you can understand with the questions about Dunn and also how tough it is to replace Cotton. It feels right.

And, I can see where PC gets the benefit of the doubt while St John's doesn't because of coaching. Cooley is a darn good coach(I think if you took a poll of everyone- if you couldn't have your schools coach, what other BE coach you want coaching your team- Cooley would be probably #1 or 2).

[Amase2]

PC at #56? Wow. I'm sure a lot of it is because they just won the BET, but is anyone aware that Bryce Cotton aka the guy I watched score at or around 30 points almost every game I saw him is now gone? PC has other nice pieces but I see PC as more of a #75-80 ish squad this year. There seems to be a double standard with these people regarding SJ vs. other teams. Almost always the experts will expect a big drop from a team that just graduated their stud star player (Cotton) and expect the same level of play or perhaps better if they return their leading scorer and almost every other key player as veterans (SJ).

Not that I can blame them though…I think the reason so many are down on SJ is because the team simply doesn't give you results to match the talent. With Creighton (McDermott/Gibbs/Wragge), PC (Cotton), and Xavier (Semaj) all weaker/much weaker losing their best players, not sure how SJ is picked 30 something slots worse than a team like PC.

I know this SJ team has failed to deliver to its potential, but with so many upperclassmen and one of the best groups of guards in the country, I just can't see them falling off a cliff like experts and many on here seem to believe. As a SJ fan I've learned to expect nothing, but there's always that other side of my head that says "maybe this is the year it clicks like 2011". We shall see.

Hooper your passion for SJU hoops is admirable and often entertaining. I happen to share some of your optimism, and am big fans of Harrison and Jordan. But what I am going to call you on is your need to constantly pull other teams down in an effort to boost the image of your own team. Why not just stick to the reasons why you think SJU is deserving of a higher placement instead of throwing darts at PC, Creighton, X and any other conference member who you think SJU is better than? Your arguments seem to follow a pattern like: "Creighton is done without Dougie McD" and "Hello, PC lost Cotton, they're not going to be nearly as good as SJU," etc. But when looking at your own team you just casually dismiss any player losses as insignificant. We all have opinions and I get that this is a message board to share opinions. I understand that sometimes those opinions include some observations and criticisms of other conference mates. But man, you really seem determined to point out everyone's flaws when given the opportunity.

If I may amplify what you wrote: it's one thing to have an opinion, but it always is a better thing to have an informed opinion. Semaj was an important piece of the puzzle for Xavier last year, but anyone who thinks Xavier is going to be weaker this year is just out to lunch.

Maybe I am out to lunch. Im not gonna pretend like I saw xavier play more than 5 times last year but was Christon not their best player? Did they not lose their top two scorers? Maybe he didnt help the team as much as outsiders would perceive (similar to my thoughts on Jakarr) but what about Xavier makes them a shoe in to improve? Not discounting them and understand that Reynolds has the potential to be a top 5 big in the conference but maybe I am missing what makes it so obvious that they'll be better this season.

[X-man]

If I may amplify what you wrote: it's one thing to have an opinion, but it always is a better thing to have an informed opinion. Semaj was an important piece of the puzzle for Xavier last year, but anyone who thinks Xavier is going to be weaker this year is just out to lunch.

Maybe I am out to lunch. Im not gonna pretend like I saw xavier play more than 5 times last year but was Christon not their best player? Did they not lose their top two scorers? Maybe he didnt help the team as much as outsiders would perceive (similar to my thoughts on Jakarr) but what about Xavier makes them a shoe in to improve? Not discounting them and understand that Reynolds has the potential to be a top 5 big in the conference but maybe I am missing what makes it so obvious that they'll be better this season.[/quote]

What you are missing is based upon the fact that Xavier is deeper and more talented as a team than I have ever seen in my 30 years of watching Xavier hoops. Yes Semaj and Martin will be missed, but the team relied too much on Semaj last year and Martin was a headcase, one who showed up sometimes and disappeared others. Plus neither was a good team player. Xavier is very young, and that will present problems early in the season. But make no mistake...this team is loaded at every position except perhaps the five (though Stainbrook will cover up any depth issue there, I believe). Frankly I will be very surprised if Xavier finishes the BE below second place.

[Xudash]

Maybe I am out to lunch. Im not gonna pretend like I saw xavier play more than 5 times last year but was Christon not their best player? Did they not lose their top two scorers? Maybe he didnt help the team as much as outsiders would perceive (similar to my thoughts on Jakarr) but what about Xavier makes them a shoe in to improve? Not discounting them and understand that Reynolds has the potential to be a top 5 big in the conference but maybe I am missing what makes it so obvious that they'll be better this season.

Yes, Christon was the best player on Xavier's roster last year.
Yes, X lost its top two scorers, but Justin Martin, as #2, could be a headcase at times.

Core returners include Matt Stainbrook, Dee Davis and Jalen Reynolds. Remy Able comes over from Indiana and plays this year. Trevon Bluiett apparently is ready to go now. James Farr and Brandon Randolph now have a solid year under their belts. And then there is the rest of the heralded recruiting class that, even as freshmen, may contribute nicely in spots.

Semaj was great and all Xavier fans will miss him, but there were times where he was depended upon too much last season. We lost to Iowa in the Islands early because he was cramped up on the sidelines, and we lost late because teams figured out how to shut him down or limit him.

This edition of Xavier basketball will be very much about team execution, and that hasn't been around for a while. The scoring options are exciting. I think they'll jell together this year, even with the amount of youth that is on the roster. Bottom-line: Xavier has real, impressive depth this year, and will have that for the foreseeable future if this freshmen group holds together.