ESPN Season Predictions

[Hunt for 7]

This morning on ESPN, their four CBB “experts”, unanimously left us out of their final four picks. Not one had us going to the final four.

Not to mention that there was no mention of Karaban on any of their all America lists.

Yet one of these guys had Hurley as the Coach of the Year. So what’s that he thinks we will be a top seed that gets upset before the final four.

Dook, Alabama and Kansas…….unbelievable….but I know where that information is going.

I should thank them for being such great “experts”….Hurley probably already working on how he is going to use those slights.

 

[aburks41]

That article was such a joke. And it's exactly why Hurley still gets pissed that we don't get enough respect. The article asked the question what is the biggest storyline of the season and only one of them said UConn's three-peat. The rest were Cooper Flagg and Alabama. I'm sorry, but when a BLUE BLOOD is going for a three-peat, that is the biggest storyline in the sport, bar none. If Kansas/UK/Duke/UNC had just done what we did in the last 2 years, the media wouldn't be able to shut up about the quest for a three-peat.

 

[RuffRuff]

There was a LOT of attention put on the Duke exhibition win over ASU, which immediately turned into a slew of Duke F4 picks. The Cooper Flagg effect is officially in place. It almost feels like the media just needed a reason to jump on them and they got it. UConn not being included is as much as people feel like it’s impossible to reset with 4 new starters. No returning champion even made a second weekend since 2016 until Hurley last year.

Otherwise what does anyone know right now? Some people want to be different, some people just throw it out there for fun and if it lands they can say they nailed it. No one knows a thing until the games start being played.

My F4:

Houston
Bama
UConn
Creighton

 

[Methalius]

If anything Hurley and his team can use that article as fuel. Use the disrespect to drive these kids. It is interesting to me that there was 1 team that everyone single one of the "experts" predicted to be in the Final Four. I'll have to see it to believe it personally. I just don't think Scheyer is that accomplished of a coach to predict that Duke will win it all. If Coach K was still there I'd be concerned and I would probably agree that they would be front runners. Duke is stacked and I am actually excited to see Cooper Flagg perform but I need to see Scheyer do something before I can comfortably agree with that prediction.

 

[HooperScooper]

That article was such a joke.

Is this the article below? Surprised none of them picked UConn to go to the Final Four since CBS Sports had a similar article last week (Expert picks for Final Four: Who will win the 2025 NCAA Tournament and more bold predictions for this season) and 4 of the 7 writers had UConn in the Final Four.

The ultimate guide to the men's college basketball season: Final Four picks, Player of the Year predictions and top storylines

Chances for Cooper Flagg to take Duke to the Final Four, UConn to three-peat and more predictions for the new season. Plus, awards and winners picks.

www.espn.com

Paine: Like most college hoops watchers, I suspect, I want to see what UConn can do for an encore to the encore. Coach Dan Hurley's team went on one of the most impressive runs in men's tournament history in winning the 2023 national title, then followed it up with an even more dominant run to the 2024 championship. The second came without many of the key players who'd fueled the first squad -- and that's something Hurley will have to navigate again this year (among UConn's top five scorers from a year ago, only Alex Karaban returns). But as long as the Huskies have their coach, they have another chance to be great.

 

[Lambeau]

Our lineup is not that impressive: Samson, Hass, and Solo totalled 14 ppg last season, and they'll probably start.
A lot has to go right: Reed coming around, McNeeley living up to the hype, Solo and Stew stepping up....
The potential is there, but nobody's seen it realized. I have utter faith in DH making it happen.
It will be fascinating watching him work his magic.

 

[gsmooth]

That article was such a joke. And it's exactly why Hurley still gets pissed that we don't get enough respect. The article asked the question what is the biggest storyline of the season and only one of them said UConn's three-peat. The rest were Cooper Flagg and Alabama. I'm sorry, but when a BLUE BLOOD is going for a three-peat, that is the biggest storyline in the sport, bar none. If Kansas/UK/Duke/UNC had just done what we did in the last 2 years, the media wouldn't be able to shut up about the quest for a three-peat.

I can see the disrespect angle for sure. I don't feel disrespected FWIW. For me, just speaking objectively without UConn goggles on, and without feeling any disrespect, the biggest storyline of this season is easily UConn's quest for a 3-peat, bar none. Every other storyline ESPN mentions is interesting, but takes a backseat to UConn's quest for a 3-peat.

 

[Chin Diesel]

That article was such a joke. And it's exactly why Hurley still gets pissed that we don't get enough respect. The article asked the question what is the biggest storyline of the season and only one of them said UConn's three-peat. The rest were Cooper Flagg and Alabama. I'm sorry, but when a BLUE BLOOD is going for a three-peat, that is the biggest storyline in the sport, bar none. If Kansas/UK/Duke/UNC had just done what we did in the last 2 years, the media wouldn't be able to shut up about the quest for a three-peat.

When you realize there is zero incentive for ESPN to hype a property they don't own, it all makes sense. Always, always, always remember what the first letter in ESPN stands for, and everything they do makes a lot more sense.

 

[Methalius]

Our lineup is not that impressive: Samson, Hass, and Solo totalled 14 ppg last season, and they'll probably start.
A lot has to go right: Reed coming around, McNeeley living up to the hype, Solo and Stew stepping up....
The potential is there, but nobody's seen it realized. I have utter faith in DH making it happen.
It will be fascinating watching him work his magic.

The same could be said of Duke. They have a bunch of Freshmen that may or may not pan out. I fully expect Flagg to be a beast but crazier things have happened.

 

[Hunt for 7]

Is this the article below? Surprised none of them picked UConn to go to the Final Four since CBS Sports had a similar article last week (Expert picks for Final Four: Who will win the 2025 NCAA Tournament and more bold predictions for this season) and 4 of the 7 writers had UConn in the Final Four.

The ultimate guide to the men's college basketball season: Final Four picks, Player of the Year predictions and top storylines

Chances for Cooper Flagg to take Duke to the Final Four, UConn to three-peat and more predictions for the new season. Plus, awards and winners picks.

www.espn.com

Paine: Like most college hoops watchers, I suspect, I want to see what UConn can do for an encore to the encore. Coach Dan Hurley's team went on one of the most impressive runs in men's tournament history in winning the 2023 national title, then followed it up with an even more dominant run to the 2024 championship. The second came without many of the key players who'd fueled the first squad -- and that's something Hurley will have to navigate again this year (among UConn's top five scorers from a year ago, only Alex Karaban returns). But as long as the Huskies have their coach, they have another chance to be great.

Yes that was the article that led to this thread. It almost read like they were trying to avoid mentioning UConn in any way. Then one of them picks Hurley as the National Coach of the Year.

 

[Ricker]

My worthless projection
Duke
UConn
Creighton
Kansas

 

[7774]

The same could be said of Duke. They have a bunch of Freshmen that may or may not pan out. I fully expect Flagg to be a beast but crazier things have happened.

Sure it could, and Duke is ranked below us in basically every preseason poll, so I'm not sure what the issue is. That article seemed like nothing. It's 4 people's opinion. One of them picked Hurley as coach of the year, and another one picked us as the 1 story line he's watching this season.

 

[cwh20]

Dook, Alabama and Kansas…….unbelievable….but I know where that information is going.

To be fair everyone is currently 0-0 and therefore noone’s FF prediction is wrong yet. I’m not too concerned with who anyone has predicted in this year’s FF. A case can be made for UConn and Hurley or against them. Against would be based on the unproven players that will be in major roles this year. I trust in the staff to get the most they can out of the team as they are showing zero inclination to rest on their B2B laurels so I think UConn will have a great shot at the FF. As for the predictors, as long as they judge the team fairly once the season unfolds I’m good. It can still be interesting to check back when it is all said and done though.

 

[Waquoit]

I can see it. They don't love the guys like we do. The thought that a team can win 3 in a row with all of the great players that have left is crazy talk. For all but UConn, of course.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think this is mostly about, over a 3 year stretch, the odds being stacked against UConn. A major injury, a gut not really living up to expectations (like Timberlake last year), a bad luck shooting night, anything can knock you out before the final four. So the odds are somewhat against us.

No idea who will get there. Nobody would have picked San Diego State or Miami or Florida Atlantic. I have no doubt we will have at least one surprise team.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I can see it. They don't love the guys like we do. The thought that a team can win 3 in a row with all of the great players that have left is crazy talk. For all but UConn, of course.

Like winning five games in a row in a conference tournament.

Unpossible
-Ralph Wiggins

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Look, no one should expect a team in this era, with roster turnovers and virtually no star players staying 4 years, to three-peat. I mean, it can't be done, right? It's 'un-possible!'

I already have my money down for a 3rd NC.

There are areas that need to develop in actual games - Ball, Stewart and Ross? McNeeley? Team defense? Rebounding? - but I have confidence that with the great talent on board and this coaching staff they will be a force come February, maybe earlier.

 

[Waquoit]

Like winning five games in a row in a conference tournament.

Unpossible
-Ralph Wiggins

But we're not the only ones now!

 

[WestCoastHusky]

UConn isn't an ESPiN property, which is why we are covered that way on the channel. Those guys got their usual propaganda memo from the above already so the result speaks for itself.

 

[ucp990411]

Syracuse guys probably

 

[Ha Who]

UConn isn't an ESPiN property, which is why we are covered that way on the channel. Those guys got their usual propaganda memo from the above already so the result speaks for itself.

ESPN

 

[TheChamps990411]

That article was such a joke. And it's exactly why Hurley still gets pissed that we don't get enough respect. The article asked the question what is the biggest storyline of the season and only one of them said UConn's three-peat. The rest were Cooper Flagg and Alabama. I'm sorry, but when a BLUE BLOOD is going for a three-peat, that is the biggest storyline in the sport, bar none. If Kansas/UK/Duke/UNC had just done what we did in the last 2 years, the media wouldn't be able to shut up about the quest for a three-peat.

BSPN lost all credibility over a decade ago. If this was one of those other blue bloods or a womens team itd be wall to wall coverage.

 

[7774]

BSPN lost all credibility over a decade ago. If this was one of those other blue bloods or a womens team itd be wall to wall coverage.

They wrote a stand alone article all about us going for a 3-peat yesterday, and also included us multiple times in a high level season preview article. I'm not sure how that's unreasonable.

 

[bendm]

1 seeds:
Bama (south)
Houston (midwest)
Gonzaga (west)
UConn (east)

2 seeds:
Kansas (midwest)
Duke (east)
ISU (south)
Zona (west)

 

[JB75]

I mean we all know ESPN is not like it used to be when we were younger: barely any highlights , mostly sappy human interest pieces , large amount of staff/host turnover etc.. sportscenter used to be must see tv in my house in the past(nfl Primetime with berman and Tom Jackson- who cud forget that?). Not the same anymore. However, bilas did pick us last 2 years , no? And I still do watch ESPN of course , just not as much. Almost kind of like how MTV went away from showing videos - miss those days - great times for cable tv -lol —- ahhh the good ole days - now I’m watching Oregon vs Michigan in a conference football matchup on nbc on a Saturday—- what the hell is going on? lol