Boneyard Season Predictions

[Ricker]

I haven't got much faith in my own thoughts, but with a week to go it seems time to get everybody on record.

I think we will pound all our 'buy' games, beat Memphis, beat either Colorado or Michigan St, and then win the Maui Final whether we play North Carolina, Iowa St, or Auburn. I don't think those teams have the right mix of Kryptonite to beat us. I like our matchups against each team's strengths.

I'd love to see #8 Baylor vs #6 Gonzaga 11:30 Mon night to get a better sense, but I give us an edge in each of those matchups. Same with #19 Texas.

I could see 11-0 non conference and expect at least 9-2. With 6 power conference teams and 4 opponents ranked, even a 3-3 split with the big boys should keep us at a high seed.

The Big East is where I see more trouble. I think we get tripped up 4-6x and that Creighton might slip into the #1 Big East Tourney seed. I think we split with Creighton and drop a couple to teams below the middle on a couple nights where we shoot poorly. 20 games say 15-5 = Overall 26-5 to 24-7 heading to post season.

Big East tourney make the finals then a 50/50 game.

NCAA's I do think we make the final 4 and I will not go on record against the 3peat but it is mostly hope. (With a gun to my head I'm weary of Duke)

Lastly, we can withstand any in season backcourt or wing injury, but not a center losing multiple games this year, despite keeping it together when Clingan was out in 2024. Add 2-4 more losses if we have to band aid the post.

 

[EZPass]

1. vs. Sacred Heart W
2. vs. New Hampshire W
3. vs. LeMoyne W
4. vs. Texas A&M-Commerce W
5. vs. Memphis at Maui Invitational W
6. vs. tba at Maui Invitational W
7. vs. tba at Maui Invitational W
8. vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore W
9. vs. Baylor W
10. at Texas W
11. vs. Gonzaga at MSG W
12. vs. Xavier W
13. at Butler
14. at DePaul W
15. vs. Providence W
16. at Villanova
17. at Georgetown W
18. vs. Creighton W
19. vs. Butler W
20. at Xavier W
21. vs. DePaul W
22. at Marquette W
23. vs. St. John's W
24. at Creighton W
25. at Seton Hall W
26. vs. Villanova W
27. St. John's at MSG W
28. vs. Georgetown W
29. at Providence
30. vs. Marquette W
31. vs. Seton Hall W

3 peat

 

[auror]

I would be highly shocked if we go undefeated in non-con. Too tough a schedule for how good we are likely to be. There's a chance we play 3 top 10 teams (2 on neutral courts), go on the road against a top 25 team, and have another top 25ish team on neutral. That's like 5% chance of going undefeated.

 

[JerseyAlum]

Would put this team's record > '23 and < '24.

I think we have the talent, but not the experience of this group together until mid-season. Ode to Hurley's "you better get us now" -lite.

 

[uconnfan68]

1. vs. Sacred Heart W
2. vs. New Hampshire W
3. vs. LeMoyne W
4. vs. Texas A&M-Commerce W
5. vs. Memphis at Maui Invitational W
6. vs. tba at Maui Invitational W
7. vs. tba at Maui Invitational W
8. vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore W
9. vs. Baylor W
10. at Texas W
11. vs. Gonzaga at MSG W
12. vs. Xavier W
13. at Butler W
14. at DePaul W
15. vs. Providence W
16. at Villanova W
17. at Georgetown W
18. vs. Creighton W
19. vs. Butler W
20. at Xavier W
21. vs. DePaul W
22. at Marquette W
23. vs. St. John's W
24. at Creighton W
25. at Seton Hall W
26. vs. Villanova W
27. St. John's at MSG W
28. vs. Georgetown W
29. at Providence W
30. vs. Marquette W
31. vs. Seton Hall W

3 peat

ftfy

 

[navery12]

24-7 (15-5) which is probably good for a top 2-3 seed in the East

 

[shizzle787]

1. vs. Sacred Heart W
2. vs. New Hampshire W
3. vs. LeMoyne W
4. vs. Texas A&M-Commerce W
5. vs. Memphis at Maui Invitational W
6. vs. tba at Maui Invitational W
7. vs. tba at Maui Invitational W
8. vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore W
9. vs. Baylor W
10. at Texas W
11. vs. Gonzaga at MSG W
12. vs. Xavier W
13. at Butler W
14. at DePaul W
15. vs. Providence W
16. at Villanova W
17. at Georgetown W
18. vs. Creighton W
19. vs. Butler W
20. at Xavier L
21. vs. DePaul W
22. at Marquette L
23. vs. St. John's L
24. at Creighton L
25. at Seton Hall W
26. vs. Villanova W
27. St. John's at MSG W
28. vs. Georgetown W
29. at Providence W
30. vs. Marquette W
31. vs. Seton Hall W

Final record: 27-4 (16-4)

 

[Lambeau]

The toughest stretch is the early non-conference schedule before the team jells, during which I would expect two losses from:

Nov 27 North Carolina (#9 AP Poll) or Iowa State (#5)
Dec 4 Baylor (#8)
Dec 8 @Texas (#19)
Dec 14 Gonzaga (#6)

I would anticipate two more losses during the Big East season out of:

Jan 25 @Xavier
Feb 1 @Marqette
Feb 11 @Creighton
Feb 23 @St. John's

That's four losses; then undefeated through the tournaments until the Final in Tampa against Alabama--I dunno who wins.
Does Reed dominate Omoruyi?

 

[ucp990411]

1. vs. Sacred Heart W
2. vs. New Hampshire W
3. vs. LeMoyne W
4. vs. Texas A&M-Commerce W
5. vs. Memphis at Maui Invitational W
6. vs. tba at Maui Invitational W
7. vs. tba at Maui Invitational W
8. vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore W
9. vs. Baylor W
10. at Texas W
11. vs. Gonzaga at MSG W
12. vs. Xavier W
13. at Butler
14. at DePaul W
15. vs. Providence W
16. at Villanova
17. at Georgetown W
18. vs. Creighton W
19. vs. Butler W
20. at Xavier W
21. vs. DePaul W
22. at Marquette W
23. vs. St. John's W
24. at Creighton W
25. at Seton Hall W
26. vs. Villanova W
27. St. John's at MSG W
28. vs. Georgetown W
29. at Providence
30. vs. Marquette W
31. vs. Seton Hall W

3 peat

Finally someone that agrees with me

 

[ucp990411]

I think Xavier will be the 2nd best team in The Big East

 

[HooperScooper]

1. vs. Sacred Heart W
2. vs. New Hampshire W
3. vs. LeMoyne W
4. vs. Texas A&M-Commerce W
5. vs. Memphis at Maui Invitational W
6. vs. tba at Maui Invitational W
7. vs. tba at Maui Invitational W
8. vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore W
9. vs. Baylor W
10. at Texas W
11. vs. Gonzaga at MSG W
12. vs. Xavier W
13. at Butler W
14. at DePaul W
15. vs. Providence W
16. at Villanova W
17. at Georgetown W
18. vs. Creighton W
19. vs. Butler W
20. at Xavier L
21. vs. DePaul W
22. at Marquette L
23. vs. St. John's L
24. at Creighton L
25. at Seton Hall W
26. vs. Villanova W
27. St. John's at MSG W
28. vs. Georgetown W
29. at Providence W
30. vs. Marquette W
31. vs. Seton Hall W

Final record: 27-4 (16-4)

I'd sign up for that right now. Seems too optimistic.

 

[shizzle787]

I'd sign up for that right now. Seems too optimistic.

Texas was the game I switched from L to W at the last second.

 

[thekollieman]

Undefeated national champions.

 

[Chin Diesel]

#7.

How it gets there isn't a concern.

 

[TheChamps990411]

The toughest stretch is the early non-conference schedule before the team jells, during which I would expect two losses from:

Nov 27 North Carolina (#9 AP Poll) or Iowa State (#5)
Dec 4 Baylor (#8)
Dec 8 @Texas (#19)
Dec 14 Gonzaga (#6)

I would anticipate two more losses during the Big East season out of:

Jan 25 @Xavier
Feb 1 @Marqette
Feb 11 @Creighton
Feb 23 @St. John's

That's four losses; then undefeated through the tournaments until the Final in Tampa against Alabama--I dunno who wins.
Does Reed dominate Omoruyi?

Dont be so sure Bama gets there. Something tells me they do not get to the F4. Not hating either because i like their team but i think they get knocked off. I do think they are a bigger threat than Purdue ever was. Lets be real Purdue loses to to us in 2023 also. As far as us and a 3peat i say no...right? Thats not possible? Im getting deja vu. Im 99% sure i said the same thing about a B2B last season. I thought it was nonsense talk before the season and even the first two months of the season. By january i was like well maybe. By February i liked our chances. By March 1rst i had no doubt it was happening. I cant wait to do the roller coaster ride once again.

 

[RuffRuff]

Expect an early season non con loss, whether in Maui or @ Texas. I like us beating Zags at MSG and Baylor in GP. In the BE will take law of averages and see 4 road losses against the other 4 best teams (Marq, Creighton, StJ and Xavier) with another loss somewhere else (at PC). 25-6, 15-5

Maui is likely to be:

Memphis
Mich St
Auburn/UNC/Iowa St

 

[Hunt for 7]

We will finish 1 or 2, BE regular season. Make the championship game in the BE Tourney…..either a 1 or 2 seed heading into the tourney.

The perfect season ends with us beating Dook in the national championship game. We let their player of the year score as much as he wants and we shut down the rest of the team just like we did Purdue/Edey

 

[UCLJ0211]

25–26 regular season wins

 

[RuffRuff]

I think Xavier will be the 2nd best team in The Big East

The next tier of the BE will be fun to follow this year. I personally think Miller is the second best coach in the league, so if he has the parts I like their potential. It’s just hard to make a call given I don’t know the new pieces all that well or how the health of Freemantle/Hunter hold up. Creighton is going to be interesting rolling back Kalk and an experienced PG going on 25 in Ashworth. Can Pop become efficient at all? While he put up numbers at TT, 35%/29% are brutally inefficient. McAndrew has the makings to become a stud and will give them a really big front court. StJ also has upside.

UConn
Creighton (possibly challenging the Huskies)
Xavier
STJ (could just as easily see them at 3)
Marquette (least dynamic but consistency will give them a floor)

 

[GlastonTim]

I don’t see more than 4 losses. #1 seed in the East region. This team will be driven to get to Providence, Newark and San Antonio.

 

[ec33]

It might get messy at some point as things sort themselves out, but in the end another national title.

 

[NewBlood]

If we win Maui we go non conference undefeated.

4 losses in conference play

BET Champs
#1 seed in East (Duke 2# seed)

 

[Son of Robert]

All I know is that we will learn, adjust, and grow stronger from our losses. It's one of the primary ways we learn how to win. We will get better, more 'team-centric' as the season progresses, and we will be in the thick of it come March with a very good chance to take home the title.

 

[Get a Job]

I don’t see more than 4 losses. #1 seed in the East region. This team will be driven to get to Providence, Newark and San Antonio.

A bus trip to Texas would be brutal. I hope they fly.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

I haven't got much faith in my own thoughts, but with a week to go it seems time to get everybody on record.

I think we will pound all our 'buy' games, beat Memphis, beat either Colorado or Michigan St, and then win the Maui Final whether we play North Carolina, Iowa St, or Auburn. I don't think those teams have the right mix of Kryptonite to beat us. I like our matchups against each team's strengths.

I'd love to see #8 Baylor vs #6 Gonzaga 11:30 Mon night to get a better sense, but I give us an edge in each of those matchups. Same with #19 Texas.

I could see 11-0 non conference and expect at least 9-2. With 6 power conference teams and 4 opponents ranked, even a 3-3 split with the big boys should keep us at a high seed.

The Big East is where I see more trouble. I think we get tripped up 4-6x and that Creighton might slip into the #1 Big East Tourney seed. I think we split with Creighton and drop a couple to teams below the middle on a couple nights where we shoot poorly. 20 games say 15-5 = Overall 26-5 to 24-7 heading to post season.

Big East tourney make the finals then a 50/50 game.

NCAA's I do think we make the final 4 and I will not go on record against the 3peat but it is mostly hope. (With a gun to my head I'm weary of Duke)

Lastly, we can withstand any in season backcourt or wing injury, but not a center losing multiple games this year, despite keeping it together when Clingan was out in 2024. Add 2-4 more losses if we have to band aid the post.

I think we lose two or three before the NCAA’s, and then we go on a 6 game winning streak.