The Way-Too-Early 2017-18 Big East Hoops Prediction Thread

[BigmanU]

This is the year the Hall takes that #1 spot, Hart was a closer and will be greatly missed a lot more than other players in the past.

NCAA locks
1. Seton Hall
2. Villanova
3. Providence
4. Xavier (only if Bluiett retuns, if not 6th place)
5. Butler
6. Creighton (missing dynamic PG & Post finisher)

Fringe NCAA teams
7. St. John's
8. Marquette

9. Georgetown
10. DePaul

[FriarJ]

This is the year the Hall takes that #1 spot, Hart was a closer and will be greatly missed a lot more than other players in the past.

NCAA locks
1. Seton Hall
2. Villanova
3. Providence
4. Xavier (only if Bluiett retuns, if not 6th place)
5. Butler
6. Creighton (missing dynamic PG & Post finisher)

Fringe NCAA teams
7. St. John's
8. Marquette

9. Georgetown
10. DePaul

The Big East will be a monster next year, I agree with your overall premise but I think you have to leave Nova at the top until they get dethroned. I think Xavier with Bluiett, SHU and PC have the best chance at that, with the best road team breaking through. I also think 7 bids this year due to parity with one of SJU, Marquette, Butler, Creighton making the NIT. If SJU can become consistent then they have a real shot at NCAA.

[Jet915]

I don't think Creighton is an NCAA team as is. Just no post presence, rebounding and PG is a question mark. If we add Bowen and or Waters that changes...

[Novachap]

This is the year the Hall takes that #1 spot, Hart was a closer and will be greatly missed a lot more than other players in the past.

NCAA locks
1. Seton Hall
2. Villanova
3. Providence
4. Xavier (only if Bluiett retuns, if not 6th place)
5. Butler
6. Creighton (missing dynamic PG & Post finisher)

Fringe NCAA teams
7. St. John's
8. Marquette

9. Georgetown
10. DePaul

You may be right about Hart. He was fantastic for us. That being said, Nova has done pretty well replacing "the guy". First Bell, then Hilliard, then Arch / Ochefu, now Hart / Jenkins... clearly a challenge but there has been success with the next man up philosophy and Jay's system.

Brunson is the go to guy, no question. I think he will be 1st team BE and in the running for POY. That said, Spellman to me is the key. If he is as good as advertised I believe they can ultimately win the league again. It may take longer to get to the top of the hill working through the various lineups, but I think the parts are there (Bridges, Paschal, Donte, Booth, Samuels, Painter, Crosby-Roundtree), particularly if Booth is healthy.

I am very curious how Spellman will match up with Delgado. Angel is a beast and it will be a great test for Omari.

Overall, the depth this year in the league is awesome. No easy ones for anyone.

[GumbyDamnit!]

This is the year the Hall takes that #1 spot, Hart was a closer and will be greatly missed a lot more than other players in the past.

NCAA locks
1. Seton Hall
2. Villanova
3. Providence
4. Xavier (only if Bluiett retuns, if not 6th place)
5. Butler
6. Creighton (missing dynamic PG & Post finisher)

Fringe NCAA teams
7. St. John's
8. Marquette

9. Georgetown
10. DePaul

You may be right about Hart. He was fantastic for us. That being said, Nova has done pretty well replacing "the guy". First Bell, then Hilliard, then Arch / Ochefu, now Hart / Jenkins... clearly a challenge but there has been success with the next man up philosophy and Jay's system.

Brunson is the go to guy, no question. I think he will be 1st team BE and in the running for POY. That said, Spellman to me is the key. If he is as good as advertised I believe they can ultimately win the league again. It may take longer to get to the top of the hill working through the various lineups, but I think the parts are there (Bridges, Paschal, Donte, Booth, Samuels, Painter, Crosby-Roundtree), particularly if Booth is healthy.

I am very curious how Spellman will match up with Delgado. Angel is a beast and it will be a great test for Omari.

Overall, the depth this year in the league is awesome. No easy ones for anyone.

"If Booth is healthy..." is huge. I love me some DD and he can certainly play next to Brunson and we'll be fine. But Phil Booth is really, really good. If he is 100% fit, I have little doubt that we win the league again. Let's say Nova falls off as much as 3 games from last year and finishes 12-6. Do you think SHU, PC or X can win 13 games in this league next year? I just think the best shot at Nova will come after Brunson leaves. Kid is special; makes everyone around him better.

Additionally, the 2016 H.S. class was one of the deepest in a long time (see this year's NBA draft class) and Omari was a top 20 player in that class. He spent a year working off the baby fat and learning the system. I think his impact on Nova will be much like Patton's was for the Jays last year.

Brunson--Booth--Bridges--Paschall--Spellman; Donte D & Samuels off the bench. I like it.

[Hall2012]

This is the year the Hall takes that #1 spot, Hart was a closer and will be greatly missed a lot more than other players in the past.

NCAA locks
1. Seton Hall
2. Villanova
3. Providence
4. Xavier (only if Bluiett retuns, if not 6th place)
5. Butler
6. Creighton (missing dynamic PG & Post finisher)

Fringe NCAA teams
7. St. John's
8. Marquette

9. Georgetown
10. DePaul

You may be right about Hart. He was fantastic for us. That being said, Nova has done pretty well replacing "the guy". First Bell, then Hilliard, then Arch / Ochefu, now Hart / Jenkins... clearly a challenge but there has been success with the next man up philosophy and Jay's system.

Brunson is the go to guy, no question. I think he will be 1st team BE and in the running for POY. That said, Spellman to me is the key. If he is as good as advertised I believe they can ultimately win the league again. It may take longer to get to the top of the hill working through the various lineups, but I think the parts are there (Bridges, Paschal, Donte, Booth, Samuels, Painter, Crosby-Roundtree), particularly if Booth is healthy.

I am very curious how Spellman will match up with Delgado. Angel is a beast and it will be a great test for Omari.

Overall, the depth this year in the league is awesome. No easy ones for anyone.

Well Spellman is obviously more athletic than Delgado (but who isn't?). It's talent and athleticism vs experience and guile. I'd expect things to go similarly to how they went for Justin Patton against Delgado last year. Which is to say he'll get his points (since Delgado isn't a shot blocker at all) but Delgado will score his share as well and likely win the battle on the boards.

Patton vs Delgado H2H last year (over 2 games)

Points - 32-27 Patton
Rebounds - 27-10 Delgado
Offensive Rebounds - 13-1 Delgado
Blocks - 2-1 Patton
Assists - 3-1 Delgado
Steals - 3-2 Patton

So overall, Patton held his own against Delgado with the exception of getting absolutely destroyed on the offensive glass. The only other thing Delgado did significantly better was get to the free throw line - but that isn't particularly useful when he doesn't knock down those free throws.

[scoscox]

DiVincenzo is already a better player than booth has ever been. Can someone explain the love for Phil Booth to me? I don't get it.

[bmorex]

Blueitt is coming back.

[Jet915]

DiVincenzo is already a better player than booth has ever been. Can someone explain the love for Phil Booth to me? I don't get it.

Probably his NCAA tournament performance but I agree, DiVincenzo is probably better.

[GumbyDamnit!]

DiVincenzo is already a better player than booth has ever been. Can someone explain the love for Phil Booth to me? I don't get it.

Did you watch the Nova - UNC Nat Champ Game? 20 pts off the bench ring a bell?

DD is more athletic but PB is the more polished player at this point. He's been battling some injuries for two years but for those of us that watch the team non-stop will tell you that Phil is a gamer. In fact many killed Jay for the NC St loss a few years back because he took out Phil in favor of an upper class man: Dylan Ennis. I guess we'll both see. But a healthy Booth is not a good thing for the rest of the league.