Big East Really Has Its Act Together....Not!

[Huskyforlife]

Temple isnt going to be very good. I believe they lost quite a bit. Cincy loses, mbodj, Parker and their starting Pg Cashmere Wright. Will be very hard to replace mbodj and Wright. That leaves only Memphis and Uconn. I think both will be solid, but I don't know how Uconn will do much without any real inside game. Love the combo of Shabazz, Boatright and Calhoun though, but teams will focus on forcing uconn to best teams with their 4 and 5 spots which will be a problem.

I tend to believe temple will improve in this conference. Uconn and Memphis are consistent tourney teams. Cincinnati should make 3/4 or more of the time. And who mdodj? Agree with the uconn stuff lol

 

[Husky68]

Temple isnt going to be very good. I believe they lost quite a bit. Cincy loses, mbodj, Parker and their starting Pg Cashmere Wright. Will be very hard to replace mbodj and Wright. That leaves only Memphis and Uconn. I think both will be solid, but I don't know how Uconn will do much without any real inside game. Love the combo of Shabazz, Boatright and Calhoun though, but teams will focus on forcing uconn to best teams with their 4 and 5 spots which will be a problem.

So return same team that won 20 games excluding Evans, bring in couple of front court guys, Nolan and Wolf play bit better, Calhoun bumps as sophomore and less physical issues and maybe Bazz healthy and Boat buying in on penetrate/pass and Daniels continues to be "a potential lottery pick" all from a team that beat MSU and Syracuse last year - and you only see solid? If best players are junior Daniels, senior Bazz, soph Calhoun, junior Boat and committee at center = better on paper than all but few teams.

Everyone last year saw big runs by VCU and Butler but not so much WS; you need guys who can win the game for you and a defense that keeps you in it - Uconn should have several of former and continue with having the latter. No assurances (ask Georgetown) but Uconn having lot of upperclass players and shooters is very good in today's CBB.

 

[MCNPA]

I see a good UConn team, but I'm not sold on the 4 and 5 spots at Uconn. Can always play "small" but I think teams will be able to force UConn to play perimeter ball. Live and die by the 3 can be tough. I don't think Temple has the roster to make a big run this season.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

I see a good UConn team, but I'm not sold on the 4 and 5 spots at Uconn. Can always play "small" but I think teams will be able to force UConn to play perimeter ball. Live and die by the 3 can be tough. I don't think Temple has the roster to make a big run this season.

DeAndre Daniels plays the 4 for Uconn. That spot is not a problem.

 

[Waquoit]

The C7 will slowly get worse over time. The loss of the FB schools will take a toll. It's not that great right now.

 

[Husky1972]

DeAndre Daniels plays the 4 for Uconn. That spot is not a problem.

No kidding. It's a strength.

The way Daniels blew up at the end of the year, if we'd been able to go on and play in the Big East Tournament, and then the NCAAs, he might not even be back.

2/27 @ Georgetown 25 pts / 10 Rebounds
3/2 @ Cincinatti 18 Pts / 8 Rebounds
3/6 @ S. Florida 23 Pts / 10 Rebounds
3/9 @ Providence 19 Pts / 8 Rebounds
Average 21.25 Pts / 9 Rebounds

Yeah, that's somebody I want to leave alone to focus on the guards.

 

[freescooter]

Interesting to note that one of the candidates for commissioner is from Providence College. Nice to see some things never change.

 

[upstater]

You're nuts. Marquette, Georgetown, st.john's, Nova, Creighton could all be top 25 teams this season, not to mention other programs like Butler, Xavier, an improved PC team. The leagues aren't close top to bottom IMO.

Wow, talk about hyperbolic posts. This one takes the cake.

 

[upstater]

But we were comparing AAC. Who are the top teams? Uconn should be solid, but I still hve my questions about the frontcourt. Memphis? Who else? Rest of the league I can't even name. Big east tough almost all the way down next year.

The bottom of the Catholic league sucks--like they always have.

 

[Yonick]

Again Alex, state dollars go a long way towards pushing those football programs along. Don't deny it. New York state built that dome for Syracuse too. If New York State slapped a dome with 50K seats at SJU, it would have been a lot easier to build a top notch product. Fwiw Alex, I don't consider uconn a "football" school. Uconn is a basketball school who is trying their hand at football thanks to state dollars. Uconn is a football pretender. The football schools destroyed the league in the name of football, hence "sullied".

My point about the charter member is that the majority kept the Big East name and deserved to. I'm not sure why UConn has any venom towards the Big East? If Uconn didn't think they were a football school, the Big East would accept UConn with open arms. Unfortunately, all the other leagues spurned UConn. The Big East schools never did.

UConn is a basketball school first, nobody denies this. One of the many reasons UConn went the D-1 football route was to save basketball. Lew Perkins, our former AD pushed hard for this.
With D-1 football UConn will definately be included in this 70 mwmber super conference that Alabama coach Saban refers to. Should this happen, these 70 schools will split from the NCAA. If this happens where does this leave the C-7 schools?
As far as the BE name, I really think UConn and the 2 other schools care about a name considering they split 100Mil in exchange for that name.

 

[zls44]

I see a good UConn team, but I'm not sold on the 4 and 5 spots at Uconn. Can always play "small" but I think teams will be able to force UConn to play perimeter ball. Live and die by the 3 can be tough. I don't think Temple has the roster to make a big run this season.

Serious question- did you watch DeAndre Daniels in the last ten games of last year.

 

[MCNPA]

Serious question- did you watch DeAndre Daniels in the last ten games of last year.

Sure I did. I was at the SJU game. He played a solid game. I still see him more as a wing forward though. Like I said, I like Uconn this year. I just don't know what will make Uconn a ton better than last year. Uconn clawed back in that SJU game for sure, especially with Harrison on the bench. I saw a Uconn team that is very good from the perimeter, but if dribble penetration is shut down, the offense and especially the frontcourt sputters. This is not an unfounded criticism. Just something I can see being an issue. Uconn will be a good team this year. Certainly top 3 in the AAC.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Sure I did. I was at the SJU game. He played a solid game. I still see him more as a wing forward though. Like I said, I like Uconn this year. I just don't know what will make Uconn a ton better than last year. Uconn clawed back in that SJU game for sure, especially with Harrison on the bench. I saw a Uconn team that is very good from the perimeter, but if dribble penetration is shut down, the offense and especially the frontcourt sputters. This is not an unfounded criticism. Just something I can see being an issue. Uconn will be a good team this year. Certainly top 3 in the AAC.

That's great that you see him as a wing forward. He plays the 4 for Uconn. And Uconn's 1-4 are going to be as good as just about anyone in the country next year.

 

[Rico444]

Sure I did. I was at the SJU game. He played a solid game. I still see him more as a wing forward though. Like I said, I like Uconn this year. I just don't know what will make Uconn a ton better than last year. Uconn clawed back in that SJU game for sure, especially with Harrison on the bench. I saw a Uconn team that is very good from the perimeter, but if dribble penetration is shut down, the offense and especially the frontcourt sputters. This is not an unfounded criticism. Just something I can see being an issue. Uconn will be a good team this year. Certainly top 3 in the AAC.

Yeah...DeAndre Daniels was terrific the last 10 games of the year, and did most of his damage within the 3-point arc. Assuming he keeps improving, it's going to be really, really tough to stop him AND stop dribble penetration.

 

[PRHusky]

Sure I did. I was at the SJU game. He played a solid game. I still see him more as a wing forward though. Like I said, I like Uconn this year. I just don't know what will make Uconn a ton better than last year. Uconn clawed back in that SJU game for sure, especially with Harrison on the bench. I saw a Uconn team that is very good from the perimeter, but if dribble penetration is shut down, the offense and especially the frontcourt sputters. This is not an unfounded criticism. Just something I can see being an issue. Uconn will be a good team this year. Certainly top 3 in the AAC.

Hope you are aware that UConn's game vs STJ last season was arguably UConn's worst performance of the season.

 

[MCNPA]

Hope you are aware that UConn's game vs STJ last season was arguably UConn's worst performance of the season.

That's what they all say, dont they? SJU only had an injured Phil Greene at Pg at that time. Branch was out. No upperclassmen on the roster etc. Harrison sat much of UConn's comeback. SJU should be vastly better this season with lots of additions and everybody returning.

 

[Huskyforlife]

That's what they all say, dont they? SJU only had an injured Phil Greene at Pg at that time. Branch was out. No upperclassmen on the roster etc. Harrison sat much of UConn's comeback. SJU should be vastly better this season with lots of additions and everybody returning.

are you a uconn fan? Am guessing st. Johns but not sure

 

[PRHusky]

That's what they all say, dont they? SJU only had an injured Phil Greene at Pg at that time. Branch was out. No upperclassmen on the roster etc. Harrison sat much of UConn's comeback. SJU should be vastly better this season with lots of additions and everybody returning.

I have never seen a fan from the winning team use so many excuses.

As for UConn that night, no excuses. They just played horrible basketball much of the night. Only two games this past season in which that was the case, with UL being the other(although we even had a lead at the half in that one).

 

[MCNPA]

I have never seen a fan from the winning team use so many excuses.

As for UConn that night, no excuses. They just played horrible basketball much of the night. Only two games this past season in which that was the case, with UL being the other(although we even had a lead at the half in that one).

I was making excuses to make a point. I could also say we played a horrible game, horrible second half at least. And yes I'm a SJU fan. Been coming to these boards since the old boneyard.

 

[CL82]

I was making excuses to make a point. I could also say we played a horrible game, horrible second half at least. And yes I'm a SJU fan. Been coming to these boards since the old boneyard.

Using what name?

 

[upstater]

I was making excuses to make a point. I could also say we played a horrible game, horrible second half at least. And yes I'm a SJU fan. Been coming to these boards since the old boneyard.

You really haven't watched Daniels play much. It shows.

 

[zls44]

That's what they all say, dont they? SJU only had an injured Phil Greene at Pg at that time. Branch was out. No upperclassmen on the roster etc. Harrison sat much of UConn's comeback. SJU should be vastly better this season with lots of additions and everybody returning.

He didn't say UConn was unlucky to win, but that it was their worst performance. You can judge him on that one game, or the slew of incredible performances he had after that.

I bet you think Fernando Tatis was a better power hitter than Albert Pujols, too.

SJU still has one major problem that will keep holding it back- the head coach is a train wreck in-game.

 

[zls44]

Yeah...DeAndre Daniels was terrific the last 10 games of the year, and did most of his damage within the 3-point arc. Assuming he keeps improving, it's going to be really, really tough to stop him AND stop dribble penetration.

To be fair, if UConn doesn't get dribble penetration, they'll have to just shoot threes, something they were terrible at last year- oh, wait, they were actually REALLY REALLY GOOD at it.

 

[MCNPA]

To be fair, if UConn doesn't get dribble penetration, they'll have to just shoot threes, something they were terrible at last year- oh, wait, they were actually REALLY REALLY GOOD at it.

I was confident going into that game that SJU was winning it because of UConn's lack of interior ability and toughness. UConn really made it a game after getting beaten up early with their outside shooting. Sju didnt have enough inside game either last year, but Jakarr was really stepping it up and Obekpa a monster guarding the rim. Daniels has turned out to be a pretty good player for sure. Im surprised abiut how much he advanced since freshman year. Still see him as more of a hybrid forward.

This season, I'd still approach UConn by locking down dribble penetration by guards that are pretty small and forcing Uconn to the perimeter game or to the inside. UConn IS Napier right now. Kid is real good.

 

[MCNPA]

Using what name?

I think I was under this name. I was probably banned at the time for being a fan of a rival program. Glad to see an independent site like this one for uconn fans. Much better than scout/rivals IMO.

 

[Waquoit]

I just don't know what will make Uconn a ton better than last year.

Does UConn really need to be a ton better to be in the mix? They beat a highly regarded Sweet 16 team last year. Only a lucky 30-footer at the buzzer from a lousy shooter kept them from beating an Elite 8 team on the road. And we all know they took a Final 4 team to the woodshed, don't we? This team is returning everyone from last year, of course they will be a better team by experience alone. Daniels was beginning to make "the leap" by year end. A healthy Calhoun will contribute even more and they are lead by one of the best players (clutch and otherwise) in the country. As for the bigs, they haven't shrunk. They will get better as well.

And for the record, I can vouch for MCN's long tradition of existence on the 'Yard. I think he even goes back to to the pre-Yard AOL board.

 

[MCNPA]

Does UConn really need to be a ton better to be in the mix? They beat a highly regarded Sweet 16 team last year. Only a lucky 30-footer at the buzzer from a lousy shooter kept them from beating an Elite 8 team on the road. And we all know they took a Final 4 team to the woodshed, don't we? This team is returning everyone from last year, of course they will be a better team by experience alone. Daniels was beginning to make "the leap" by year end. A healthy Calhoun will contribute even more and they are lead by one of the best players (clutch and otherwise) in the country. As for the bigs, they haven't shrunk. They will get better as well.

And for the record, I can vouch for MCN's long tradition of existence on the 'Yard. I think he even goes back to to the pre-Yard AOL board.

Yes I was on the AOL boards as well. I've always enjoyed other team boards in our conference. I don't try to cause any trouble, but of course any rival fan posing comes across that way.

I guess when it comes to looking at UConn taking the next step, I just have questions about interior play. I have different questions about. My own SJU team who I felt was on the cusp of being real good last year but were missing a few pieces, we're too young and had a very talented D'Angelo Harrison who didn't have his head on straight. SJU adds quite a bit so I'm hoping we can parlay that into this season where I legitimately think SJU like Uconn are teams that can advance 2-3 rounds into Sweet-16/Elite 8 range if things go the right way.

 

[FriarJ]

Interesting to note that one of the candidates for commissioner is from Providence College. Nice to see some things never change.

If a UConn grad was the President of an NBA team and had some level of interest, then they might be considering them also, unlike the other commissioners this has little to do with where he went to school. Though I do see the irony.

 

[Yonick]

If a UConn grad was the President of an NBA team and had some level of interest, then they might be considering them also, unlike the other commissioners this has little to do with where he went to school. Though I do see the irony.

Well, a UConn grad is commissioner of the new BE, and the new AAC. Is anyone thrilled as to where we all are? If God were commish of the BE over the past few years he couldn't have prevented what happened to the BE. Sooner or later the football schools were going to break away, one way or the other. C-7 did what they had to do. Bottom line, however, is to hire a savy commish. Doesn't matter where he graduated from. He just better know what the hell he's doing.