10 Questions for the BE in 2014

[gofriars08]

1. How many BE teams make the tourney? - 4 - Nova, Georgetown, St. John's and one of Xavier/PC
2. How many make the Sweet 16? - 2 - Nova and Georetown
3. Best chance to surprise (team)? - Butler - return a lot of talent, Rosevelt Brown will be a huge difference
4. Best chance to disappoint (team)? - Marquette - lot of turnover
5. Opposing player I want on my team? Why? - Darrun Hilliard - Friars could be elite with a scorer/shooter like him
6. BE player most responsible for a team having success this year? - Kris Dunn - without him, Friars would start a frosh PG (Cartwright) not even ranked in top 200
7. The BE Coach I would want leading my program for the next 10 years (other than yours)? - Ed Cooley - homer alert!
8. In an ideal (yet realistic) world the first program that I would want the BE to take in expansion? - St. Louis
9. Final RPI of league (rank)? 5th
10. Biggest challenge for the league moving forward? - Getting teams into the Final 4 to attract national attention

[NJRedman]

To the fans picking SJ to still go to the tourney, are you aware we lost Thomas and barely escaped with a W vs. Humboldt State today? The upside is that Obekpa is going to be a beast this year. Never seen a player in any sport improve so drastically in such a short period of time. He actually has a nice shot now which he never used to have. So for us to have ANY thought of playing in the tourney he will have to be a monster offensively and defensively and most importantly stay healthy.

I would put SJ's tourney odds after today at about 30%. 70% chance we miss it. I just don't see the chemistry, I see zero front court except Obekpa, and it doesn't look like anyone improved from last year except Obekpa. Like I said, if we somehow sneak in the tourney Lavin deserves coach of the year. My gut is usually pretty accurate and I would be very surprised (pleasantly) if we made it.

Oh god give this chit a rest! Why do you turn every thread into a diatribe of you telling us all how SJU's season is done before they even play a game! No, Humboldt state doesn't count as a game since it's an exhibition, you know it doesn't count right?

You know Thomas was going to be at the very best our 5th best player right?

[muskienick]

Someone asked something similar on the Nova Rivals board, so I thought to shamelessly duplicate it. Here are 10 questions for the BE this year:

1. How many BE teams make the tourney?
2. How many make the Sweet 16?
3. Best chance to surprise (team)?
4. Best chance to disappoint (team)?
5. Opposing player I want on my team? Why?
6. BE player most responsible for a team having success this year?
7. The BE Coach I would want leading my program for the next 10 years (other than yours)?
8. In an ideal (yet realistic) world the first program that I would want the BE to take in expansion?
9. Final RPI of league (rank)?
10. Biggest challenge for the league moving forward?

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My responses:

1. 4 (Nova, X, Gtown, SJU)
2. 1 (not sure who but we're due)
3. Creighton (Butler a close 2nd; one of these 2 finish in the Top 5)
4. Nova - natural pressure being overwhelming favorite
5. Jalen Reynolds - We're good at G, could use a beast up front
6. DSR. Needs to carry that team at G spot. I think as he goes, so go the Hoyas this year (he will be the B. Cotton of this year's BE)
7. Wojo. Like the program or not Duke and Coach K are the gold standard. Seems to be able to recruit; seems intelligent; was a scrappy/heady player which usually translates well for coaches (see: B. Donovan, K. Ollie, Scott Skiles, etc.). If his X's and O's are halfway decent I think MU has a great one.
8. UConn
9. 4 (behind ACC, B1G & Pac12)
10. Tourney success.

I think you nailed it from top to bottom, Gumby!

[Boyee]

1. 4 (Villanova, Georgetown, Xavier, and Marquette)
2. 1(Villanova)
3. DePaul
4. DePaul
5. Ryan Arcidiacano due to his skills
6. Smith-Rivera
7. Greg McDermott
8. Saint Louis University
9. 4th
10. Lacking some of the former power schools of the original Big East Conference (Connecticut, Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Boston College) and only having 10 schools. I think Saint Louis University and 1 of the following should be added from the Northeast (Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, Siena College, Canisius College, Niagara University, College of the Holy Cross, Loyola University Maryland, Iona College) to get to 12 schools.

[friars321]

1. How many BE teams make the tourney? 4 Nova, Gtown, X, PC
2. How many make the Sweet 16? 2Nova, Georgetown
3. Best chance to surprise (team)? Seton Hall
4. Best chance to disappoint (team)? St. Johns..-always a good bet to disappoint with Lavin
5. Opposing player I want on my team? Why? DMR. Best gaurd in league. Also most Efficient. Could fit real well as PC 2gaurd
6. BE player most responsible for a team having success this year? DSR, then Harrison
7. The BE Coach I would want leading my program for the next 10 years (other than yours)? Wright
8. In an ideal (yet realistic) world the first program that I would want the BE to take in expansion? Uconn then VCU if we go public; St. Louis then Dayton if private
9. Final RPI of league (rank)? 5
10. Biggest challenge for the league moving forward? Overcoming espn trying to pigeon BE a mid major

[FlyJays]

1. How many BE teams make the tourney? 4
2. How many make the Sweet 16? 1
3. Best chance to surprise (team)? Seton Hall
4. Best chance to disappoint (team)? St. John's
5. Opposing player I want on my team? Why? Rysheed Jordan. He's the exact type of player Creighton doesn't have. Slasher, athletic wing who can impact the game on both sides of the floor.
6. BE player most responsible for a team having success this year? Smith-Rivera
7. The BE Coach I would want leading my program for the next 10 years (other than yours)? Jay Wright
8. In an ideal (yet realistic) world the first program that I would want the BE to take in expansion? UConn.
9. Final RPI of league (rank)? 5th. (ACC, B1G, Big 12, Pac-12 ahead).
10. Biggest challenge for the league moving forward? Tournament success, lack of media attention, and negative recruiting.

[aughnanure]

10. Lacking some of the former power schools of the original Big East Conference (Connecticut, Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Boston College) and only having 10 schools. I think Saint Louis University and 1 of the following should be added from the Northeast (Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, Siena College, Canisius College, Niagara University, College of the Holy Cross, Loyola University Maryland, Iona College) to get to 12 schools.

This is like the worst possible list you couldv'e come up with.

[FlyJays]

10. Lacking some of the former power schools of the original Big East Conference (Connecticut, Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Boston College) and only having 10 schools. I think Saint Louis University and 1 of the following should be added from the Northeast (Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, Siena College, Canisius College, Niagara University, College of the Holy Cross, Loyola University Maryland, Iona College) to get to 12 schools.

This is like the worst possible list you couldv'e come up with.

Agreed. If a single school from the group you listed was ever added to this conference, that would be the beginning of the end of this league.

[marquette]

10. Lacking some of the former power schools of the original Big East Conference (Connecticut, Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Boston College) and only having 10 schools. I think Saint Louis University and 1 of the following should be added from the Northeast (Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, Siena College, Canisius College, Niagara University, College of the Holy Cross, Loyola University Maryland, Iona College) to get to 12 schools.

This is like the worst possible list you couldv'e come up with.

Agreed. If a single school from the group you listed was ever added to this conference, that would be the beginning of the end of this league.

At the risk of bunny-trailing, there were rumblings of Siena at one point.

[billyjack]

10. Lacking some of the former power schools of the original Big East Conference (Connecticut, Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Boston College) and only having 10 schools. I think Saint Louis University and 1 of the following should be added from the Northeast (Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, Siena College, Canisius College, Niagara University, College of the Holy Cross, Loyola University Maryland, Iona College) to get to 12 schools.

This is like the worst possible list you couldv'e come up with.

Agreed. If a single school from the group you listed was ever added to this conference, that would be the beginning of the end of this league.

I never knew it was called "Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit".