Way too Early 2016-17 Speculations?

[xusandy]

Tonight, some of the fans of two BE teams are gonna disappear from this forum for 6+ months, so maybe it really isn't too early start speculating about the 2016-17 season. So take a look at who's graduating and who's likely to leave early, vs. who's coming back and who the best recruits are, and give it a shot. Who knows, it just might be really amusing to look back at our way-too-early guesses next winter. So FWIW, here are my way-too-early-speculations:

1-Xavier - plays 10 deep this season, loses only Farr and Abell, has a top 25 recruiting class coming in; will be a top 10 team nationally again next year.
2-Seton Hall - loses only #5 scorer Derek Gordon from a fast improving young team. Don't know much about the recruiting class, but they really don't have any obvious needs. This will be a top 25 team next year, maybe top 10.
3-Nova - loses Arch and Ochefu, both big losses, but plays 7 deep this year and has my current 2016-7 POY pick Josh Hart returning, plus other returning talent and a very solid recruiting class, and Jay Wright gets the max from his guys year after year. Still a top 25 team, maybe top 10 as well; could win it all again.
Those 3 could finish in any order, but now there's probably a quality gap, with a step down to:
4-Marquette - If Ellenson stays, they'll be in the top group and might even win it all, but I think it's more likely he leaves. Loses nobody else! Wojo is on track!
5-Creighton - An improving squad, overachievers this season, has plenty of young talent returning, and a good coach. Loses Groselle, but will have Watson back, plus a seemingly pretty solid recruiting class.
Marquette and Creighton might well be top 25 teams next year. But now I see another step down to two teams that MIGHT be pretty good, but might not:
6-Georgetown - Loses DSR and Hayes, but plays a deep rotation, has good returning players, and touted recruits coming in. But can they cure whatever mystery disease hit them this year - was it an effort issue or a chemistry issue? I just no longer trust JTIII to get his guys to give it their best every night.
7-Butler - Loses 3 rotation players, and Dunham and Jones are their #1 and #3 scorers. Not much noise about the recruiting class. It's hard to see anything but a step down, but I've learned never to totally discount the dogs.
And finally, here are the teams I think have some obvious issues:
8-St. John's - Is the incoming class good enough to make this team reasonably competitive next year? Who knows? They might finish at the bottom again, but I really like it that Mullins got the team to play hard all year, and they might just have the best incoming class in the conference.
9-Providence - Kris Dunn will depart from what is already pretty much a two man team, and Bentil just might go too! If so, yikes, look out below! But if Bentil stays, Cooley will at least have a nucleus, and if someone in the supporting cast can step up like he did this year, the Friars might finish a few spots higher.
10- DePaul. I hate to pick the Blue Demons here, because I think Leitao has basically done a good job with limited talent this year, but turning around a losing culture is a multi-season job, and leading scorer Myke Henry is graduating. Anyone know about the incoming class?

Care to provide your own way-too-early and possibly-amusing-whenever-we-look-back speculations?

[stever20]

I'd say-
1 Nova- here until further notice
2 Xavier
3 Seton Hall- though I think they could lose some folks to the NBA if they have a big run here
4 Creighton
5 Marquette
6 Georgetown- if we collapse again, have to think JT3 is done
7 Butler
8 Providence
9 St John's
10 DePaul

It's tough doing this just because we have no clue about the transfer story. And that story plays such a huge role in the game now..

[cu blujs]

For first time since joining the BE, Creighton will have sufficient talent, size and depth to have a realistic chance to win the conference. Whether they can put it together and figure out a way to shoot better than 30% from three, or whether the young guys will have developed enough to get there remains to be seen. We lose Milliken along with Groeselle. But, with Watson, and the addition of Marcus Foster, we will have a back court that can compete with anyone, particularly if Zierden and Hegner can find the shooting touch from outside they seem to have lost this year. Add in a healthy Cole Huff (dude hasn't practiced more than once between games almost since conference season started), and top 50 recruit redshirt freshman, Justin Patton, who has the agility and shooting range, to guard and shoot outside and the length to play inside (6'11" or better), if we get improvement one might expect from freshmen Thomas and Harrel into next season, we will have as good a lineup (and as much size) as anyone. Again, remains to be seen if and how the pieces fit. I know almost everyone will be better, but we weren't that far off this year (noted by wins over X and SH and 5 point loss to V on its home court) and we are instantly better with a proven commodity, Marcus Foster, on the court.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Fair assessment.

Nova is actually gaining 5 new players next year. Spellman - beast. Paschall - transfer now eligible. Then DiVencenzo and Delaney (redshirt Frosh) and Painter (most likely a redshirt next year). So a good recruiting class is much better than on paper and there are only a couple holes to fill anyway.

So the story for us is can Spellman and Reynolds replace Ochefu's production. No one is replacing Arch, but Brunson will take the keys at point and be very good.

Expect top 25 team that might be more suited for March than current team. A def jump in athleticism.

If X, Butler, SHU or Nova make a run to the final four you have to worry about the following people going on a tear and moving up to a first round pick in the draft:

SHU
Whitehead

Butler
Kelan M.

X
Blueitt
Sumner

Nova
Hart

Losing any of those guys would have a significant impact on their teams next year.

[MUBoxer]

I'm almost sure Henry is gone but till it's announced and my dreams are crushed I'm going to be foaming at the mouth for next year.

Sadly if Henry leaves we're going to be playing a 4 out 1 in with good talent and experience so it'll be a test of Wojo's coaching abilities.

[kellernr]

Fair assessment.

Nova is actually gaining 5 new players next year. Spellman - beast. Paschall - transfer now eligible. Then DiVencenzo and Delaney (redshirt Frosh) and Painter (most likely a redshirt next year). So a good recruiting class is much better than on paper and there are only a couple holes to fill anyway.

So the story for us is can Spellman and Reynolds replace Ochefu's production. No one is replacing Arch, but Brunson will take the keys at point and be very good.

Expect top 25 team that might be more suited for March than current team. A def jump in athleticism.

If X, Butler, SHU or Nova make a run to the final four you have to worry about the following people going on a tear and moving up to a first round pick in the draft:

SHU
Whitehead

Butler
Kelan M.

X
Blueitt
Sumner

Nova
Hart

Losing any of those guys would have a significant impact on their teams next year.

losing sumner and blueitt would hurt but X has Gooden coming in who apparently has better rankings then sumner. I hope Sumner stays another year so those 2 can play together. Would be a stellar back court duo

[XUFan09]

Fair assessment.

Nova is actually gaining 5 new players next year. Spellman - beast. Paschall - transfer now eligible. Then DiVencenzo and Delaney (redshirt Frosh) and Painter (most likely a redshirt next year). So a good recruiting class is much better than on paper and there are only a couple holes to fill anyway.

So the story for us is can Spellman and Reynolds replace Ochefu's production. No one is replacing Arch, but Brunson will take the keys at point and be very good.

Expect top 25 team that might be more suited for March than current team. A def jump in athleticism.

If X, Butler, SHU or Nova make a run to the final four you have to worry about the following people going on a tear and moving up to a first round pick in the draft:

SHU
Whitehead

Butler
Kelan M.

X
Blueitt
Sumner

Nova
Hart

Losing any of those guys would have a significant impact on their teams next year.

losing sumner and blueitt would hurt but X has Gooden coming in who apparently has better rankings then sumner. I hope Sumner stays another year so those 2 can play together. Would be a stellar back court duo

Sumner's recruiting rankings were based off a 6'2 130-lb combo guard who's burst was limited by chronic tendonitis. Since he's now 6'6" and 170 pounds and he's had a year off to properly treat the chronic tendonitis, I think it's safe to say he's a very different player. I wouldn't assume the same transformation from Goodin and his moderately better recruiting rankings. He'll be good, but Sumner could be a lottery pick in a year if not a first-rounder this year (depending on how the postseason plays out). I agree though that it would be fun to see the two play together.

[novahoops11]

For first time since joining the BE, Creighton will have sufficient talent, size and depth to have a realistic chance to win the conference.

Uhh, were you not around in 2014, when your team finished 2nd in conference and advanced to the BET championship game?

[JohnW22]

My predictions will change about 20 times by the start of next season but here it goes. I think 1-3 will be well ahead of the rest of the pack. 4-8 will be very close and could have similar records. Then I see a small drop off to the 9 spot then a major drop off to 10.

1. Creighton- Marcus Foster + Mo Watson will be something to see add Patton for a third option and that can be scary for other teams in the Big East. Huff and Harrel will have another year of experience and will be good pieces on the wing.

2. Nova- Losing Arch and Ochefu will hurt but a Bridges Brunson backcourt with Spellman, Jenkins, Heart, Paschall in that rotation will be top 10. Jay Wright is a hell of a coach and with that talent it was hard not putting them 1 but I have them a very close second.

3. Xavier- Remy, Farr, and Reynolds(From everything I hear from Rick Broering and Brian Snow from Scout there is nobody in the program who thinks Reynolds will be back next year. He had to sit out 2 years and is getting old for college) will be gone. Guard play and wing play will be solid with Sumner, Bluiett, Myles, and Macura. But who's going to play down low? They have Senior transfer Rashid Gaston from Northfolk State but from the practices I've been to he just didn't look that good. Mabey Gates as the 4 but I don't know if he's ready to start.

4. Marquette- I'd be shocked if Ellison stays so I have him as gone. Marquette will have a solid lineup built with Carter, Wilson, Cheatum, and Fisher. Behind those 4 could be questions. I can see Fisher being one of the best bigs in the league and Marquettes young players has got some great experience this year.

5. St. John's- Might be crazy here but Ponds will allow Mussini to play off the ball and be more of the pure shooter he is. Sims and Yawke is a very athletic front court who were only freshman this year, could be pretty good next year. Add Freudenberg to the mix and St. John's might have a pretty good team.

6. Georgetown- They got talent but I just don't think JT3 can put it together. The other problem is they don't have a true point guard that will be impactful. If Copeland can finally reach his potential this team could be good with him, Peak, Govan, and Derrickson.

7. Providence- A lot rides on what Lomumba and Cartwright brings to the table. If Bentil returns I think him at the 5 would be good with Lindsey at the 4 who would stretch the floor for him. Bullock will be solid at the wing but I think the major question is what can Lomumba and Cartwright do?

8. Seton Hall- I feel Whitehead will be gone. That leaves them with Delgado and Desi. Carter and Signh could be good additions. I think will be a good team but without Whitehead they could lack a real go to guy.

9. Butler- A team that struggled in conference play this year and will be losing two of their 3 best players on the team. Martin is great possible first team Big East. Wideman, Lewis, and Chrabascz will be good around him but nothing great. Fowler, Bunk, and Davis need to be able to give good minutes off the bench but who will be the backup guards?

10. DePaul- Losing Henry hurts a lot on a team that can't afford to lose much. Hamilton and Garret are good players but nothing around it. Can't see them better than any other team in the conference. I try not to pick on Depual just hammy honest opinion though.

[SJUBBALL]

I like this thread. Gumby although it is way early, I actually agree with you, I think next years nova team is going to be way more suited for March madness. Jenkins and Hart are already studs, and Brunson is getting better every game, so by this time next year that team should be very hard to beat. So many go to guys.


St John's will finish I think anywhere from 6th to 10th in the conference. You can't really pinpoint where they finish because there are so many question marks. In my opinion, only one player that is on the team now will start next year. So 80% of the starting lineup at St. John's isn't on the team yet. So who knows how we do with the incoming talent. I think our ceiling next year is flirting with the bubble a little bit. And then the year after we solidify ourselves as an NCAA tournament team and hopefully stay that way for many years