Biggest surprise?

[DudeAnon]

Last year they entered conference play ranked #9. This year they enter ranked #13. Does that help?

Human Polls are pretty much totally meaningless, so not really. Butler this point last year was #23 in the RPI. This year, they are #11 in the RPI. Yeah, I'd take this year 100% of the time over last year. beating Arizona and Indiana means far more than beating Purdue and Temple.

You're an idiot.

[Bill Marsh]

1). Until the BC loss: PC. Really thought they'd struggle this year. Not sure if the can finish top 1/2 of the league but they're def better than I predicted.

I've got to agree with this assessment. Except for last season, we've gotten used to the pre-conference losses to the Browns and UMasses of the world by teams of whom more was expected. This BC loss can be chalked up to coming off exams or BC just having a hot hand one day, but in the big picture it's just a stumble in what's otherwise been a better than expected start to the season. Bullock, Lindsey, and Cartwright are all BE level talents. Holt's been a nice addition. But after those guys, Cooley doesn't have a lot to work with. He seems to be getting it done with smoke and mirrors this year.

[stever20]

what was so darn great about Butler last year OOC?
Temple 21-12?
Cincy 22-11?
Tennessee 15-19?
Purdue 26-9?

Those were Butlers ONLY wins OOC in the top 150 in KP. Also only wins in the RPI top 150. Butler if they had lost 1 game more in conference play would have been in deep trouble in making the tournament because their OOC schedule was in a word mediocre.

Compare to this year where Butler has 8 wins over teams in the KP top 150. 7 in the RPI top 150 as well.

Butler's OOC schedule this year is light years better than last years. No matter what the lazy poll voters think.

If Butler's OOC schedules were reversed, I'd be in far more agreement with you that they were a paper bulldog. But, they aren't. So even though they lost quite a bit- they have had guys like Tyler Lewis step up quite a bit. And it's not like him for instance has done it only against weak teams- he's done better vs the top teams than he has overall.

[gmoser1210]

You're an idiot.

I hope your New Year's Resolution is to be less of an annoying twat.

I understand being annoyed at Stever, but can we all avoid the ad hominem attacks? It doesn't add any value to the conversation and doesn't help Stever's argument.

[DudeAnon]

You're an idiot.

I hope your New Year's Resolution is to be less of an annoying twat.

I understand being annoyed at Stever, but can we all avoid the ad hominem attacks? It doesn't add any value to the conversation and doesn't help Stever's argument.

Yea, I apologize for that. I usually know better than to respond to the trolls because that is what they want. I have been slipping recently.

[Savannah Jay]

You're an idiot.

I hope your New Year's Resolution is to be less of an annoying twat.

I understand being annoyed at Stever, but can we all avoid the ad hominem attacks? It doesn't add any value to the conversation and doesn't help Stever's argument.

Yea, I apologize for that. I usually know better than to respond to the trolls because that is what they want. I have been slipping recently.

At least you didn't go all the way to twat waffle...that may have been uncalled for and may have drawn a flag.

[JohnW22]

what was so darn great about Butler last year OOC?
Temple 21-12?
Cincy 22-11?
Tennessee 15-19?
Purdue 26-9?

Those were Butlers ONLY wins OOC in the top 150 in KP. Also only wins in the RPI top 150. Butler if they had lost 1 game more in conference play would have been in deep trouble in making the tournament because their OOC schedule was in a word mediocre.

Compare to this year where Butler has 8 wins over teams in the KP top 150. 7 in the RPI top 150 as well.

Butler's OOC schedule this year is light years better than last years. No matter what the lazy poll voters think.

If Butler's OOC schedules were reversed, I'd be in far more agreement with you that they were a paper bulldog. But, they aren't. So even though they lost quite a bit- they have had guys like Tyler Lewis step up quite a bit. And it's not like him for instance has done it only against weak teams- he's done better vs the top teams than he has overall.

Did Stever just say there wasn't anything great about the AAC's top 2 teams last season

[scoscox]

I would say the biggest surprises positively have been creighton and butler but I would say on the whole I've been pleasantly surprised with seton hall, nova, and providence and encouraged by Georgetown and Marquette. DePaul I had no illusions of grandeur for and St. John's I'm not really sure what to make of but the situation is tough so let's give mullin the benefit of the doubt. Xavier is in my mind by far the biggest disappointment. I think this is partly a natural result of unfortunately losing guys to transfer and jalen to graduation and then having kaiser and Myles out to start the year. Top to bottom I thought we were arguably the best team in the country last year and blew our best chance. Even entertaining that thought about this years team is laughable at the moment. I kind of hoped we could keep jalen but even if we didn't we still be getting tons of talent back. Unfortunately all those losses happened and the non conference hasn't been nearly as fun as it should have been. That's just my perspective.

Also, no matter what the numbers say I've been far more impressed by butler this season than last. Also I think it's a good sign not to have to rely on Dunham, a fairly one dimensional player prone to disappearin, and jones, who may have legitimately been cut before he got through layup lines for the a team in sixth grade. Just joking, but really I'm much more worried about losing to bu this year than last.

[kayako]

I agree that Nova is not short of talent but they've accomplished what they have without a true center. As important as Ochefu was to them, I'm surprised to see them so effective with Reynolds and Bridges as their primary inside options. I also thought they would have been hurt more by the loss of Booth. He seemed poised to have a big year.

While Nova is not short of talent, there's a lot of talent all over the league. I don't think anyone has more talent than Georgetown despite defections from the program. Xavier is loaded as well.

Nova's gonna be Nova and win 30 games, Guard U or not. But your concerns are welcome and IMO spot on. Nova is far more vulnerable to an off shooting night by Josh Hart this year. I agree that they can't run plays inside-out as they liked to do with Ochefu. Spellman would've fit like a glove with this team, but it's something that'll probably haunt Nova in the NCAA tournament. You'd think the smaller lineup would lead to faster pace, but nope the team continues its trajectory to catch Virginia as the America's slowest paced team. I am a little surprised that Wright hasn't even attempted to get some meaningful minutes for Painter or Delaney. Are they that bad? (they do look slow footed...) It's always baffled me that other lesser programs have no problem getting 6'9" athletic players who can at least rebound and defend a little, while we always seem to be 1 injury away from disaster. end of an ill-timed rant.

There hasn't been a dull moment in watching Georgetown games this season, what a fascinating team! I so want to see UCONN and Syracuse miss the tourney together, while Georgetown makes a surprise elite 8 run.

[Bill Marsh]

I agree that Nova is not short of talent but they've accomplished what they have without a true center. As important as Ochefu was to them, I'm surprised to see them so effective with Reynolds and Bridges as their primary inside options. I also thought they would have been hurt more by the loss of Booth. He seemed poised to have a big year.

While Nova is not short of talent, there's a lot of talent all over the league. I don't think anyone has more talent than Georgetown despite defections from the program. Xavier is loaded as well.

Nova's gonna be Nova and win 30 games, Guard U or not. But your concerns are welcome and IMO spot on. Nova is far more vulnerable to an off shooting night by Josh Hart this year. I agree that they can't run plays inside-out as they liked to do with Ochefu. Spellman would've fit like a glove with this team, but it's something that'll probably haunt Nova in the NCAA tournament. You'd think the smaller lineup would lead to faster pace, but nope the team continues its trajectory to catch Virginia as the America's slowest paced team. I am a little surprised that Wright hasn't even attempted to get some meaningful minutes for Painter or Delaney. Are they that bad? (they do look slow footed...) It's always baffled me that other lesser programs have no problem getting 6'9" athletic players who can at least rebound and defend a little, while we always seem to be 1 injury away from disaster. end of an ill-timed rant.

There hasn't been a dull moment in watching Georgetown games this season, what a fascinating team! I so want to see UCONN and Syracuse miss the tourney together, while Georgetown makes a surprise elite 8 run.

Villanova was impressive against Purdue, a team that should have been equipped to exploit their lack of size. Villanova this year reminds me of the Doug McDermott Creighton team of a few years ago. That team blew through the regular season but then stumbled in the postseason.

I agree with your optimism for Georgetown. Despite some early season losses, they have a lot of talent and JT III is showing signs of maturing as a coach. He may be doing his best job yet.