Big East Preseason Predictions Part II

[xufan02]

Here is how I see it.

1) Villanova - Nova has the most talented roster in the league, with a nice blend of upperclassmen and young stars. They also have the best coach in the Big East. Colin Gilespe is straw that stirs the drink, he is the most important guy to that team, and has been very good in his junior season.

2) Butler - The Bulldogs have had a great pre-conference season. Kamar Baldwin is really good, but Butler is very balanced. Solid and consistent post play has been the difference this year; Golden and Nze are tough. Alsso Aaron Thompson is a hell of a point guard, not a scorer, but he imposes his will on the game.

3) DePaul - Yes, DePaul is back. Charlie Moore is really good, as is Paul Reed. Jalen Butz is leading the conference in field goal percentage. Romeo Weems is going to be in the all freshman team, and Jalen Coleman Lands has hit some big shots for the Blue Demons home and away this year. This is the most talented team Dave Lieto has had, and if you watch them they play together.

4) Xavier- Like Jon Rothstein says, playing Xavier is 'Hell in a cell". Their defense is very good and it has traveled to neutral and away venues. Offensively they have improved in the last 5 games and so has their 3 point %. I think Jason Carter is finally settling into his role. Also expect to see more of KyKy Tandy off the bench. He has only played in 4 games due to injury.

5) Seton Hall - They are tough and protect the rim like no other team in the Big East. Once Myles Powell is back I think they will be able to hold serve with the hopes of Manu returning from a hand injury.

6) Creighton- Same old Creighton, let it fly. Zegarowski is a stud with Mitch and Tyshan as the scorers. I like what Mahoney has brought since becoming eligible. They are also working Mintz back from injury who can contribute. Small ball will need to be the game, as Bishop is the only formidable big man.

7) Marquette- Marcus Howard show continues. Outside of Howard I'm not sold on this roster. They are talented enough to finish 7th, and they will sellout home games and steal some big wins.

8) Saint John's- There system and personal are difficult to prepare for. They have two seniors who lead them. Also, Mike Anderson has developed their bench. I like them 8th.

9) Georgetown- Hell of a run with the transfer of 4 contributors. They are one injury or two fouls in the first half away from getting blown out in Big East play. Also, Big East coaches have the scouting report here. Take away Yurtseven and limit Mcclung.

10) Providence- This is a dangerous team, but for some reason the pieces are not working. Cooley is a good enough coach to pick off some of the top tier teams.

[kmacker69]

Going to be a crazy year again in the Beast! Too many teams that can get hot and win any given night for me to stick my neck too far out.

BU or Nova on top at 12-6 and 13-5 and Providence at the bottom. The rest will be a mix of 10-8,9-9, and 8-10 needing tie breakers to sort it out. I also think the last place team will be 7-11 again this year, so the bottom might again go to the NIT... (Forgot DePaul went CBI instead of the NIT, but two of us went NIT from last place tie.)

I think we get 6 into the NCAA and 4 in the NIT if it plays out that way. But it depends on who ends up at 8-10 because SH could get a bye at 8-10 if they come on strong when their players get back from injury, so who the heck knows.

[scoscox]

3) DePaul - Yes, DePaul is back. Charlie Moore is really good, as is Paul Reed. Jalen Butz is leading the conference in field goal percentage. Romeo Weems is going to be in the all freshman team, and Jalen Coleman Lands has hit some big shots for the Blue Demons home and away this year. This is the most talented team Dave Lieto has had, and if you watch them they play together.

I would've been fine with this placement a few weeks ago, but Depaul really looked shaky in their last few games and I've lost a little confidence. I don't trust them yet to finish in the top 3.

[eye of the jay]

I think that people are putting a lot of weight in non-conference (and rightfully so), but I think Seton Hall will be the most dangerous team once Powell comes back. Their size down low and improved defense will be tough to contend with. After that, the Jays are getting healthy at the right time. I have more trust in Zegarowski than any other BE point guard.

1 Seton Hall - Powell will carry them to BE title
2 Creighton - with Mintz (if his ankle is good) and Mahoney the Jays can wear teams out
3 Villanova - missing go-to guys and 3s aren’t falling. Obviously still dangerous
4 Butler - they look like the real deal, but BE coaches may find ways of shutting down a similar roster like they did last year
5 Depaul - seeing a 9-9 finish with pretty good home court wins for the Demons
6 Marquette - Howard will shoot his ways to wins by himself
7 Xavier - fears that their shooting may hold them back a little
8 St John’s - some impressive wins but 8 Q4 wins too, looking a lot more disciplined
9 Georgetown - think teams will scheme to stop McClung and Yurtseven
10 Providence - scared they’ll play like they did vs Texas, but honestly this team couldn’t get the ball through the basket for 12 games

[GumbyDamnit!]

I think that people are putting a lot of weight in non-conference (and rightfully so), but I think Seton Hall will be the most dangerous team once Powell comes back. Their size down low and improved defense will be tough to contend with. After that, the Jays are getting healthy at the right time. I have more trust in Zegarowski than any other BE point guard.


2 Creighton - with Mintz (if his ankle is good) and Mahoney the Jays can wear teams out
3 Villanova - missing go-to guys and 3s aren’t falling. Obviously still dangerous

I don’t disagree on the whole. The biggest reason that I am bullish on Creighton is they have the most dangerous perimeter team. Ballock, Z and Alexander will put up a LOT of points. Today’s game is about making shots. That’s why I’m high on CU and not on X and PC, at this point. Like always CU will either be just good or great based on their ability to play D. I think Nova will slowly improve on that side. They always do. But has CU ever figured out the D side under Mac?

But 1 thing about “3’s not falling...”
CU - 3FG% = 37.6%
VU - 3FG% = 36.2%

Take out the KU game, where there just seemed to be a lid on the hoop (lots of half down looks), and I don’t see a huge difference between VU shooting and CU shooting to date.

[handdownmandown]

That’s not entirely fair.

Damien Jefferson is 4 for 23 from 3. Now he’s a lot better than that but that’s not my point. The point is, force feeding him 3s to get him unstuck was a thing during the non-con, which isn’t going to be a thing going forward. He will still shoot some but it’s going to be nowhere near what it was. In fact I look for Mahoney to slowly eat his minutes and he’s light years better from three than Damien is.

Thats 4 gunners who’ll average greater than 40 as a group eating all the food from outside.

[MarquetteRustler]

1. Butler - seem like the most complete team.
2. Nova - will get better as the year goes on, probably win the tourney in NYC.
3. Marquette - solid D and the best scorer in the conference.
4. Xavier - solid D and will find ways to score enough.
5. Seton Hall - Will make a late run when Mamukelashvili comes back.
6. Georgetown - Yurtseven looks like the best big in the conference. Don't trust their ability to get stops.
7. DePaul - Who the hell knows. Better than most years, but still DePaul.
8. Creighton - Too reliant on the 3. Will get killed in the paint most games.
9. SJU - Anderson will take his lumps in his first year in the BEAST. Better beat them this year because they'll keep getting better.
10. Providence - They've looked inept offensively the few games I've watched.

[gtmoBlue]

Updating projections...? What the heck - might as well join the party.

My original August predictions -

2019-20 Big East projected final standings…*

1. Villanova: It would be silly to bet against Jay Wright’s program at this point, but the Wildcats have more than a name and pedigree this season. They’re loaded with talent and experience with a great recruiting class. They’re not in the top-tier of national title contenders this preseason, but they’re not far behind, either.

2. Seton Hall: The distance between Villanova and the Pirates is relatively narrow, with Seton Hall returning a ton of talent from last year’s NCAA tournament 10-seed. Myles Powell is a difference-maker on both ends, and it’s far from a one-man squad. This group will have to improve, but it’s got the profile of a team that’s capable of making a significant leap.

3. Creighton: This is a team that will be knocking on the door of preseason top-25s on the strength of a solid-though-not-remarkable returning core. Ty-Shon Alexander is a serious breakout candidate, if such a distinction fits for a player who averaged nearly 16 points per game last season. The additions of Ctr Kelvin Jones and SF Denzel Mahoney, if reasonably productive, can make the difference between 2nd and 4th place conference finishes for the Jays.

4. Xavier: The Musketeers aren’t all that different than Seton Hall, with talented returners from a good team needing who fit the bill of a team on the rise. It’s easier said than done, and they’ll have to deal with increased expectations, but this team has the chops to be the best in the conference if things break their way.

5. Georgetown: The Hoyas were really fun to watch last season, but the trick for them is going to be making the transition from entertaining young squad to a still-green-but-successful team. The easiest path to that would be improved shooting as the youthful Hoyas struggled to connect from distance consistently.

6. Marquette: The Golden Eagles may have been the favorites to win the conference had the Hauser brothers not elected to transfer, but their departures throws this season into question for Marquette. The cupboard is obviously not bare even beyond Markus Howard, who might just power the program to near the top of the league on his own, but it’s certainly a harder team to peg.

7. DePaul: The Blue Demons got over .500 last season, but it came on a diet of non-conference cupcakes and then four wins in the CBI. With the addition of transfers PF/Ctr Carte’Are Gordon (SLU), PF Darius Hall (Ark), possible play (with waiver) of PG Charlie Moore (KU), and a standout frosh class incl. Top 100 recruits Romeo Weems and Markese Jacobs, here’s betting DePaul equals or betters last season.

8. Providence: Alpha Diallo is one of the conference’s best and most productive players, but the Friars have to improve offensively if they’re going to get back to the NCAA tournament after a five-year streak was snapped last season.

9. Butler: The Bulldogs are probably the best candidate to outperform these rankings, on the strength of Kamar Baldwin’s talent alone, but they just haven’t proven enough beyond Baldwin to slide them further up the list.

10. St. John’s: Mike Anderson has his work cut out for him after Chris Mullin was only able to get a First Four appearance in four years with the Red Storm. St. John’s has only been in the NCAA tournament proper twice since 2005.

*Used NBC's list with rearrangement to suit me.


Revised 26Dec19... Let's get it started in here, let's git the season started!

1 Creighton
2 DePaul
3 Butler
3 Villanova
5 Georgetown
5 Marquette
7 Xavier
8 St Johns
9 Seton Hall
10 Providence

I believe in DePaul this season, not so much SH and X. DePaul and Butler will continue their success. Jays getting healthy at the right time and have Marquette, Nova at home early, Butler (2nd conf game) on the road early. I look for Jays to start 4-0/5-0 in early-mid January conference slate and join the rankings party. Gtwn & Marquette no change. Biggest swings DePaul & Butler up, with SH and X down.

[scoscox]

I think that people are putting a lot of weight in non-conference (and rightfully so), but I think Seton Hall will be the most dangerous team once Powell comes back. Their size down low and improved defense will be tough to contend with. After that, the Jays are getting healthy at the right time. I have more trust in Zegarowski than any other BE point guard.

1 Seton Hall - Powell will carry them to BE title
2 Creighton - with Mintz (if his ankle is good) and Mahoney the Jays can wear teams out
3 Villanova - missing go-to guys and 3s aren’t falling. Obviously still dangerous
4 Butler - they look like the real deal, but BE coaches may find ways of shutting down a similar roster like they did last year
5 Depaul - seeing a 9-9 finish with pretty good home court wins for the Demons
6 Marquette - Howard will shoot his ways to wins by himself
7 Xavier - fears that their shooting may hold them back a little
8 St John’s - some impressive wins but 8 Q4 wins too, looking a lot more disciplined
9 Georgetown - think teams will scheme to stop McClung and Yurtseven
10 Providence - scared they’ll play like they did vs Texas, but honestly this team couldn’t get the ball through the basket for 12 games

Your write up for xavier is a fear that our shooting may hold us back a little. You're not wrong, but creighton's defense is even worse than our offense, by a lot. Does that concern you?

[Omaha1]

Rumor circulating that senior guard Davion Mintz will not play this year for creighton. He’s missed all of non-conference play already and no guarantee when he might return. Current speculation is that he’ll grad transfer somewhere else for next season.