AP Preseason #3

[auror]

You’re judging this purely off of HS rankings.

No. They also all have good veterans, transfers, and returnees.

 

[AntG168]

No. They also all have good veterans, transfers, and returnees.

Bama and Kansas, sure. Duke, we’ll agree to disagree

When it comes to Duke, regardless of who the coach is, I’d rather have our roster.

 

[HuskyHawk]

No. They also all have good veterans, transfers, and returnees.

I'm biased, but KU is loaded. Self is still a top tier coach and learned his lesson about depth. They should have a two headed monster at center. We know how that works. Dickenson being able to play without needing to stay on the court 30+ minutes might be a much better defender.

I don't know Bama's roster, but they have become a perennial contender.

UConn probably does not have the starting 5 we had either of the last two years, but should have more depth. Can we use that effectively? Will we press for example? It's going to be interesting.

 

[AntG168]

I'm biased, but KU is loaded. Self is still a top tier coach and learned his lesson about depth. They should have a two headed monster at center. We know how that works. Dickenson being able to play without needing to stay on the court 30+ minutes might be a much better defender.

I don't know Bama's roster, but they have become a perennial contender.

UConn probably does not have the starting 5 we had either of the last two years, but should have more depth. Can we use that effectively? Will we press for example? It's going to be interesting.

Kansas and Bama are indeed loaded. Duke is what they’ve been. I think Bama’s roster fits a little better than KU’s.

 

[Fan1978]

Big East:
3. UConn
15. Creighton
18. Marquette
RV. St John’s, Xavier, Providence

I think Xavier will be much better now that they’re healthy with Freemantle.

Would not be on freemantles foot lasting the year

 

[auror]

Kansas and Bama are indeed loaded. Duke is what they’ve been. I think Bama’s roster fits a little better than KU’s.

Duke didn't have the veteran bench defending/shooting role player wings they have this year. Sion James and Mason Gillis. They had defenders (like Stewart and Mitchell), but none of them could shoot and were young. Or they could shoot, but couldn't defend (Power). They won't rely on them to start, but they (or at least one) will be in the rotation. Maliq Brown should be a better version of Sean Stewart, as well. Just generally they're going to be an insanely good defensive team this year with Flagg, Brown, and Maluach. So, so much better than the zero rim protection they had with Filipowski.

(I also have Alabama #1. Oats is hungry).

 

[CONN78SEJ]

That’s offen how talent is evaluated, yes.

Kansas just outright is probably the most talented team, regardless of recruit rankings.

Yeah, but Bill Self is the coach.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Yeah, but Bill Self is the coach.

What a weird attempt at an insult.

 

[alphasigko]

Going into today I thought the top 5 would be:
1. Houston
2. Gonzaga
3. UConn
4. Alabama
5. Auburn

Surprised to see Kansas at 1. I figured 6-8 range for them.

Kansas was preseason #1 last year as well. Look at where they wound up... Same thing will happen this year.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

What a weird attempt at an insult.

I’m sorry, didn’t mean to insult you, but it’s insulting to me that you seem to be defending one of the dirtiest coaches in NCAA history. The guy’s a slimeball. Great recruiter, no argument there, but his resume as a game coach is also questionable.

 

[Kitaman]

Ranked number 3 after losing 4 Championship starters; All American Newton, lottery picks Hawkins and Clingan and NBAer Cam!

How can we complain?

 

[superjohn]

Ranked number 3 after losing 4 Championship starters; All American Newton, lottery picks Hawkins and Clingan and NBAer Cam!

How can we complain?

We lost Hawkins the year before.

No complaint but I think UConn should be preseason #1.

 

[gtcam]

Ranked number 3 after losing 4 Championship starters; All American Newton, lottery picks Hawkins and Clingan and NBAer Cam!

How can we complain?

Damn - we must have been soo good last season that Hawkins didn't score a point and he was a lottery pick.

 

[Kitaman]

We lost Hawkins the year before.

No complaint but I think UConn should be preseason #1.

Coffee deficiency. Meant Castle.

 

[gtcam]

That last statement is patently false. Cooper Flagg is more talented than anyone we have, by a pretty large margin. Talent doesn’t always win as we know. But Duke probably has a more talented team than us. They don’t have as talented a coach or staff though, which matters as well.

Flagg is really good but to say he is more talented by a large margin is BS.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Flagg is really good but to say he is more talented by a large margin is BS.

No it isn’t. He’s pretty often considered a generational/near generational talent.

 

[aceboon]

BY is the only place where people think Kansas will be mediocre, Self had like 4 players last season and they were still a top 4 seed. With the depth and shooting they've added I will be shocked if they're not a top 5 team in the regular season all year.

 

[aceboon]

I know Dykes is an SEC homer but he's arguing he can't rank UConn top 10 because of what they lost but having Tenn that high is funny. Knecht was their offense.

 

[uh-no]

No it isn’t. He’s pretty often considered a generational/near generational talent.

there's a "generational" talent every year it seems.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

there's a "generational" talent every year it seems.

Not really, before Wemby there really wasn’t one after AD in ‘12.

 

[Icehawk]

I know Dykes is an SEC homer but he's arguing he can't rank UConn top 10 because of what they lost but having Tenn that high is funny. Knecht was their offense.

It’s almost like last year didn’t even happen. Fuel for the fire I guess.

 

[TheRealKBuks]

Yeah, but Bill Self is the coach.

Dude has two rings and KU fans have a legit gripe that would've won in 2020 if the tournament wasn't cancelled. When Jay Wright retired everyone thought Bill Self was going to be THE coach until Hurley claimed the crown.

 

[superjohn]

I know Dykes is an SEC homer but he's arguing he can't rank UConn top 10 because of what they lost but having Tenn that high is funny. Knecht was their offense.

I always liked Jimmy Dykes but this is an all-time dumb take from him. We should be preseason #1.

 

[AntG168]

That last statement is patently false. Cooper Flagg is more talented than anyone we have, by a pretty large margin. Talent doesn’t always win as we know. But Duke probably has a more talented team than us. They don’t have as talented a coach or staff though, which matters as well.

You named one guy. Do the rest. You'll have to fall back on HS recruiting rankings. Because if you look at college production there isn't a great case.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

You named one guy. Do the rest. You'll have to fall back on HS recruiting rankings. Because if you look at college production there isn't a great case.

That’s why we are talking about talent and not college production. Why are we moving goalposts from the original point?

Also FYI, we don’t have a ton of returning production ourselves…