nelsonmuntz
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The first league games start this week, so want to discuss how folks think the league is shaping up.
First, this is possibly the weakest the league has been since it split off in 2013. There may have been worse seasons in terms of inter-conference records, but in terms of eye test, the league looks bad this season. It is a credit to the Big East coaches that the league is right around .500 vs. the P4, because it doesn't look like a .500 vs. P4 league watching the games.
1) Marquette (16-4 projected BE) - There are benefits to roster continuity. Marquette looks really smooth on both ends. I don't think this team is as talented as the last couple of Marquette teams, but the players are on the same page on both ends and it shows.
2) St. Johns (15-5) - the team is deep, fast, athletic, and I am a huge Ejiofor fan. The team should be 9-0, so the 7-2 is a bit of a cause of concern. I thought Pitino blew the game against Baylor, and he may be losing his fastball as a game coach.
3) UConn (15-5) - the offense is coming around, but the defense still has problems. When the Hurley/Murray UConn offense is clicking, it is unstoppable, and it was clicking for most of the Texas game. If the offense is that good, then Hurley has two months to fix the defense before March before we will really need it again after Gonzaga.
4) Creighton (13-7) - The Isaacs injury is going to hurt. I think Creighton will still play its way to a 7 to 10 seed, but this team could have been really good. Isaacs really hurts because Creighton has no depth in the backcourt. Creighton has a lot of depth up front, and will play a lot of lineups with three players of 6'9 or taller and should be able to keep Kalkbrenner fresh.
5) Xavier (10-10) - Not sure how a school like this is going to compete in the NIL era. The team doesn't suck, but it isn't great either. Freemantle has come back nicely from the foot injury, but Miller needs to manage his minutes and practice time. Conwell and McKnight are OK, not great. Probably not making the NCAA.
6) Butler (9-11) - same team as last year. Reasonably skilled and figures out how to score but painfully unathletic and not viable as an NCAA Tournament team. Telfort may be the slowest leading scorer who isn't a center at any major conference school.
7) Villanova (9-11) - Neptune is a terrible coach, but Dixon has apparently decided that he will "will" the team to wins. There is talent on this team if Neptune can get out of the way. They have already blown the tournament bid, but an NIT wouldn't be a bad way to go out for a team with 4 senior starters.
8) Providence (9-11) - Another decently talented team that does not play well. PC has to do better than 1-4 against the first semi-decent teams it plays.
9) Depaul (6-14) - Depaul is a lot better than it has been in recent years, but that is a low bar. This team is still a year or two from competing for anything that matters, but it does not completely suck, which is a big upgrade.
10) Georgetown (5-15) - I think Cooley is a mediocre coach and the talent level on this team is embarrassing based on my understanding that Georgetown is able to actually compete in NIL. Lost by 21 and 13 to the only two semi-decent teams Georgetown has played.
11) Seton Hall (3-17) - I am a huge Halloway fan, and I posted years ago that he should leave the program because Seton Hall is not even trying to compete in NIL. This season could end Halloway's career as a head coach, which would be sad because I think he would be really good at the right school.
First, this is possibly the weakest the league has been since it split off in 2013. There may have been worse seasons in terms of inter-conference records, but in terms of eye test, the league looks bad this season. It is a credit to the Big East coaches that the league is right around .500 vs. the P4, because it doesn't look like a .500 vs. P4 league watching the games.
1) Marquette (16-4 projected BE) - There are benefits to roster continuity. Marquette looks really smooth on both ends. I don't think this team is as talented as the last couple of Marquette teams, but the players are on the same page on both ends and it shows.
2) St. Johns (15-5) - the team is deep, fast, athletic, and I am a huge Ejiofor fan. The team should be 9-0, so the 7-2 is a bit of a cause of concern. I thought Pitino blew the game against Baylor, and he may be losing his fastball as a game coach.
3) UConn (15-5) - the offense is coming around, but the defense still has problems. When the Hurley/Murray UConn offense is clicking, it is unstoppable, and it was clicking for most of the Texas game. If the offense is that good, then Hurley has two months to fix the defense before March before we will really need it again after Gonzaga.
4) Creighton (13-7) - The Isaacs injury is going to hurt. I think Creighton will still play its way to a 7 to 10 seed, but this team could have been really good. Isaacs really hurts because Creighton has no depth in the backcourt. Creighton has a lot of depth up front, and will play a lot of lineups with three players of 6'9 or taller and should be able to keep Kalkbrenner fresh.
5) Xavier (10-10) - Not sure how a school like this is going to compete in the NIL era. The team doesn't suck, but it isn't great either. Freemantle has come back nicely from the foot injury, but Miller needs to manage his minutes and practice time. Conwell and McKnight are OK, not great. Probably not making the NCAA.
6) Butler (9-11) - same team as last year. Reasonably skilled and figures out how to score but painfully unathletic and not viable as an NCAA Tournament team. Telfort may be the slowest leading scorer who isn't a center at any major conference school.
7) Villanova (9-11) - Neptune is a terrible coach, but Dixon has apparently decided that he will "will" the team to wins. There is talent on this team if Neptune can get out of the way. They have already blown the tournament bid, but an NIT wouldn't be a bad way to go out for a team with 4 senior starters.
8) Providence (9-11) - Another decently talented team that does not play well. PC has to do better than 1-4 against the first semi-decent teams it plays.
9) Depaul (6-14) - Depaul is a lot better than it has been in recent years, but that is a low bar. This team is still a year or two from competing for anything that matters, but it does not completely suck, which is a big upgrade.
10) Georgetown (5-15) - I think Cooley is a mediocre coach and the talent level on this team is embarrassing based on my understanding that Georgetown is able to actually compete in NIL. Lost by 21 and 13 to the only two semi-decent teams Georgetown has played.
11) Seton Hall (3-17) - I am a huge Halloway fan, and I posted years ago that he should leave the program because Seton Hall is not even trying to compete in NIL. This season could end Halloway's career as a head coach, which would be sad because I think he would be really good at the right school.
