Will 2016-2017 be the strongest year for the "new" Big East?

[FriarJ]

also, if basically everyone (on this board, on the internet, in the basketball media sphere at-large) is picking providence to finish in the same range, and you're the only one here crying about it, who looks to be more in the wrong? Do you want Westbrook or these other repeated offenders of dissing on PC to prostrate themselves before you? Not really sure why you have to be so venomous about this

Venomous? LOL, it was sarcasm followed up with a small rant. I assume you either joking or we need to create a safe space on this board for you.

[GumbyDamnit!]

I would think bottom quarter would be where most expect us to finish, which has been the case in 3 out of the 4 years on this board. It just strikes us as funny as almost no one on this board knows anything about the current Friar squad except they lost Dunn and Bentil, that's all anybody talks about just like every other year, I'm sure that's why we are sensitive because it's the same tune every year from the same posters, who never admit they were wrong and come right back the next year with the exact same predictions. For some reason on this board and it doesn't seem to apply to other schools PC is always judged by what they lost and never by what they have.

Examples: You lost Marshawn Brooks and Vincent Council; expect a down year, You lost Bryce Cotton and Kadeem Batts; they will be worse, You lost Henton, Harris, Derosiers, Chuckwu; expect a down year. You lost Dunn and Bentil; this year should be the year this board is right. My expectations are for zero wins in conference

This is a mixed school fan board and I know more than anyone that it's natural to come to the defense of the team that you love when felt slighted or attacked. I am guilty of it more times than probably anyone on here. So I respect that loyalty FriarJ.

Here's the reality... No one knows what's going to happen. It's all conjecture. PC might end up last or might be a tourney team. Really, no idea until they lace them up and we all get a glimpse in preseason of what these teams have.
I will man up and say that I had PC as last in a thread titled "Bold Predictions," so I guess I am one of those that, for this year, have less faith in PC. I just really, really liked both Dunn and Bentil. Just great college players last year. Those guys did sooooo much for you guys. You are dead on when saying that no one knows what PC has, just what they lost.

Here was my rationale for putting PC last (and quite frankly looking at it more closely I am fairly confident that I'll be way wrong). 4 lock tourney teams IMO. VU, X, CU, SHU. Leaning tourney: G'town. Unknown but expect to be decent: Butler. That leaves bottom 4. Just have a feeling that SJU & Marq take a step forward. Little data behind it other than law of averages and some young players maturing. That leaves you guys and Depaul. Everyone always pegs DePaul into last place every year. But they've only finished in last once in the last 3 years. So on a whim and to not kick a program's fanbase too much while they're down, I had them escaping the basement. Out of default I had PC last, which to the spirit of the thread would be a "bold prediction," considering what they have done in the conference.

Not blowing smoke but PC is the first program, other than Nova, that I root for. Always root for you guys vs the rest of the league b/c of the long history between us, and I really like Cooley. You guys have carried a big load for the conference the first 3 years. You guys, X and Nova all 3 straight tourney teams. Huge. So despite my bold prediction know that there is "bigly" respect for you guys.

In reality though PC, Marq, and SJU are probably even. We'll probably see very few games separating them. So finishing 7th or finishing 9th is going to be a hair's difference. Guessing each will have around 5-7 wins in conference.

When this league started the Marquette fans were (rightfully) sticking their chests out declaring themselves the best program in conference. In year 2 they finished dead last. Georgetown, the other "top" program has finished in 7th and 8th in 2 of the 3 years in conference. CU went from Penthouse to Outhouse and hoping back to Penthouse again this year. This is becoming a super competitive, grueling conference. I don't think there is any shame in being a bottom half team for a year while Cooley reloads and is back in the tourney in short order. If that happened this year my respect for PC would only increase.

Peace and good luck to the Friars.

[FriarJ]

I can't argue with that. In regards to Nova I always have had a soft spot. My daughter is a SHU graduate, was a GA in the athletic department there and now is finishing up an MFA at Nova. I have no venom for any of the schools except maybe the Bluejays!

I'm joking Hortie!

[Hall2012]

Yup, only Providence has ever been underrated on this board because we all hate them. They're the only school that gets judged on who they lose and not who they gain.

PC Board picks (from Holy Land Fan Poll) vs actual finish so far:

2013-14: Picked 6th, finished in 3 way tie for 3rd (1 game above 6th)
2014-15: Picked 4th, finished 4th
2015-16: Picked 6th, finished tied for 4th (1 game above 6th)

So PC has never (until this year which is still unfinished) been picked by this board to finish in the bottom 3rd of the league. They slightly outperformed where they were picked in 2 of the 3 years, but they've never been horribly disrespected in their preseason ranking.

[hortle]

I can't argue with that. In regards to Nova I always have had a soft spot. My daughter is a SHU graduate, was a GA in the athletic department there and now is finishing up an MFA at Nova. I have no venom for any of the schools except maybe the Bluejays!

I'm joking Hortie!

I know its all in good fun, but you may just want to let up a bit. Just because we aren't as high on your program's prospects as you doesn't mean we think PC is trash. imho Cooley is only behind Wright and Mack in terms of coaching ability, and what Bryce Cotton did to CU Doug's senior year will never leave my memory. We all have tremendous respect for PC

[Westbrook#36]

Yup, only Providence has ever been underrated on this board because we all hate them. They're the only school that gets judged on who they lose and not who they gain.

PC Board picks (from Holy Land Fan Poll) vs actual finish so far:

2013-14: Picked 6th, finished in 3 way tie for 3rd (1 game above 6th)
2014-15: Picked 4th, finished 4th
2015-16: Picked 6th, finished tied for 4th (1 game above 6th)

So PC has never (until this year which is still unfinished) been picked by this board to finish in the bottom 3rd of the league. They slightly outperformed where they were picked in 2 of the 3 years, but they've never been horribly disrespected in their preseason ranking.

Hey now, what do you think you're doing? Bringing factual information into a internet message board dispute, quit that right now!

[FriarJ]

Yup, only Providence has ever been underrated on this board because we all hate them. They're the only school that gets judged on who they lose and not who they gain.

PC Board picks (from Holy Land Fan Poll) vs actual finish so far:

2013-14: Picked 6th, finished in 3 way tie for 3rd (1 game above 6th)
2014-15: Picked 4th, finished 4th
2015-16: Picked 6th, finished tied for 4th (1 game above 6th)

So PC has never (until this year which is still unfinished) been picked by this board to finish in the bottom 3rd of the league. They slightly outperformed where they were picked in 2 of the 3 years, but they've never been horribly disrespected in their preseason ranking.

Hey now, what do you think you're doing? Bringing factual information into a internet message board dispute, quit that right now!

My rant seems misplaced with these facts, please cease and desist

[TAMU Eagle]

I would think bottom quarter would be where most expect us to finish, which has been the case in 3 out of the 4 years on this board. It just strikes us as funny as almost no one on this board knows anything about the current Friar squad except they lost Dunn and Bentil, that's all anybody talks about just like every other year, I'm sure that's why we are sensitive because it's the same tune every year from the same posters, who never admit they were wrong and come right back the next year with the exact same predictions. For some reason on this board and it doesn't seem to apply to other schools PC is always judged by what they lost and never by what they have.

Examples: You lost Marshawn Brooks and Vincent Council; expect a down year, You lost Bryce Cotton and Kadeem Batts; they will be worse, You lost Henton, Harris, Derosiers, Chuckwu; expect a down year. You lost Dunn and Bentil; this year should be the year this board is right. My expectations are for zero wins in conference

All I've seen on this board is that Marquette loses Ellenson so they will be worse. Same with Hall and Whitehead. Same with Butler and Durham/Jones. I don't think PC is alone in this. However, PC loses more production than any other team besides St Johns (which was bad production so it's OK).

[milksteak]

I would think bottom quarter would be where most expect us to finish, which has been the case in 3 out of the 4 years on this board. It just strikes us as funny as almost no one on this board knows anything about the current Friar squad except they lost Dunn and Bentil, that's all anybody talks about just like every other year, I'm sure that's why we are sensitive because it's the same tune every year from the same posters, who never admit they were wrong and come right back the next year with the exact same predictions. For some reason on this board and it doesn't seem to apply to other schools PC is always judged by what they lost and never by what they have.

Examples: You lost Marshawn Brooks and Vincent Council; expect a down year, You lost Bryce Cotton and Kadeem Batts; they will be worse, You lost Henton, Harris, Derosiers, Chuckwu; expect a down year. You lost Dunn and Bentil; this year should be the year this board is right. My expectations are for zero wins in conference

All I've seen on this board is that Marquette loses Ellenson so they will be worse. Same with Hall and Whitehead. Same with Butler and Durham/Jones. I don't think PC is alone in this. However, PC loses more production than any other team besides St Johns (which was bad production so it's OK).

To go off of this topic...here's how much each team returns in scoring...
1. Georgetown: 81.1%
2. Marquette: 77.9%
3. Villanova: 73.8%
4. Creighton: 68.0%
5. Seton Hall: 67.3%
6. Xavier: 65.4%*
7. St. John's: 60.6%
8. DePaul: 54.0%
9. Butler: 53.5%
10. Providence: 45.1%

* Assumes Myles Davis' return. Xavier returns 52.1% of its scoring if he is ineligible.

[stever20]

man, kind of amazing how much Xavier loses if Davis isn't around.

Also small problem with your sorting- 54% for DePaul would be 8, 53.5% for Butler would be 9.