z8-Minutemen

Z8's New Predictions Below

Tier 1:

1. UMass: The clear favorite now that Rick Majerus has stepped down at SLU, UMass has the best combination of talent, depth, and coaching in the A-10. UMass returns all but one player from a final four NIT team that is ready to take the next step. UMass has the conference POY in Chaz Williams, and easily the most athleticism and size in the conference. Not to mention a top 3 coach as well. Look for UMass to finish first and win its first A-10 title in over a decade.

2. VCU: The only other title contender in the mix, VCU returns most of its players from a very young team which did fairly well in the tournament a year ago. VCU boasts of having the best coach in the A-10, and one of the best point guards in Darius Theus. They run a havoc system much like UMass’ system that no team in the A-10 will be able to keep up with, besides UMass of course. VCU is the only other tournament lock in the conference now.

Tier 2:

3. St. Joseph’s: After UMass, St. Joes has the most talent and depth in the A-10. They return Tay Jones, Langston Galloway, and CJ Aiken, one of the nation’s top shot blockers. They are a young and talented team that couldn’t quite put it together last year, but look for them to contend for an NCAA tournament appearance.

4. La Salle: The team no one seems to be talking about, their chances just skyrocketed up with the news of Rick Majerus and Dez Wells. They are another talented team that just couldn’t put it together last year. Led by possible 1st-teamer Ramon Galloway, La Salle has the A-10’s most talented stable of guards which also includes Tyreek Duren and DJ Peterson. Sophomore center Steve Zack should make an impact as well. Look for La Salle to contend for its highest A-10 finish in a long, long time.

5. Butler: With a top 3 coach in the A-10, along with some good young talent, Butler should have a favorable transition into their first year in the A-10. Playing with a chip on their shoulder, I expect them to surprise many A-10 teams next season. Talented center Andrew Smith, along with forward Roosevelt Jones should contend for A-10 awards. And sharp-shooting transfer Rotnei Clarke should excel in the A-10 as well. Butler will be a borderline tournament team in 2012-13.

6. Richmond: The Spiders are a young, up-and-coming team that should cause problems for other A-10 teams come next season. Led by outstanding coach Chris Mooney, Richmond returns many good players from their team a year ago. This includes Derrick Williams, and last year’s A-10 freshman of the year, Kendall Anthony. The Spiders have a shot at an NCAA bid.

Tier 3:

7. St. Louis: With Rick Majerus out the door, this is a team that has lost all hope for an NCAA tournament bid this year. Jim Crews should do a solid job, but he ain’t no Rick Majerus, and I’m afraid there just isn’t enough talent on this team to compete at the same level as before his departure. Top tier A-10 point guard Kwamain Mitchell should keep them competitive.

8. Dayton: Kevin Dillard is one of the A-10’s top PG’s, but there just isn’t much to work with around him. Dayton has a group of solid players, but none that have the size to bang with other A-10 players. Dayton’s players are skilled, but are too finesse and lack the athleticism to compete in the A-10. With an inexperienced coach as well, look for Dayton to struggle to finish in the top half of the league next year.

9. Temple: With all of its top players departing from an NCAA tournament team a year ago, look for the Owls to struggle in the final year of A-10 play. Fran Dunphy is an outstanding coach, but sadly he just has too little to work with on this Temple team. A lack of talent, coupled with a Big East target on their back, should hamper Temple’s chances of success in their final year as an A-10 member.

10. URI: This is a young, talented team that should surprise a few teams in A-10 play this year. They have a top 5 coach and a very good freshman class, and I expect them to be dangerous by the end of the A-10 season. Don’t expect them to be a basement dweller again this year.

11. Xavier: This is a young and talented team, but I’m afraid they’re just too young now. They had probable A-10 1st-teamer Dez Wells to lead them and be their star, but now he has been expelled due to sexual misconduct. The problem is that there is nobody to take his place in terms of production. This should be Xavier’s first down year in a long time, but expect Chris Mack to have his talented, young team competing by the end of A-10 play, where they could be a dangerous team in the conference tourney.

Tier 4:

12. GW: This is another young team with a solid coach in Lonergan that should surprise a few teams. With a strong freshman class coming in, look for them to be dangerous come A-10 tournament time.

13. Fordham: This isn’t your usual Fordham. With possible 1st-teamer and NBA draft pick Chris Gaston leading them in his senior year, expect the Rams to not finish last in the A-10 this year. Expect Pecora to get the most out of his players and keep them from finishing in the A-10 basement yet again.

14. St. Bonaventure: After winning the A-10 in the previous year, Bona will take an epic fall into the lower tier of the A-10. Last year, this untalented and badly coached team rode the coattails of one of the best players the conference has ever seen to get to the NCAA tourney. Nicholson is gone now, and they have nowhere to look to keep up his production. Expect the Bonnies to struggle mightily.

15. Charlotte: This is a team that just has nothing going for it. Major is a terrible coach and there is a serious lack of talent on this team, besides Chris Braswell. Every time I watched Charlotte play last year, I saw a lack of passion and intensity that no other team had. I don’t expect that to change. This team can’t get to the Sun Belt soon enough.

Tier 5:

16. Duquesne: The Dukes have an old and mediocre coach and a roster that returns none of its good players from a year ago. This team has the worst combination of talent and coaching in the entire conference. To put it short, this is a team that would struggle to win conferences such as the MEAC and Southland.

Thank you for listening to my predictions.

__________________
Dallas Cowboys- 5 super bowls and counting...

UMass Minutemen- 8 tournament appearances, 1 final four. Alumni: Julius 'Dr. J' Erving, Marcus Camby

Northeastern Huskies- 7 tournament appearances. Alumni: Reggie Lewis, Jose Juan 'JJ' Barea

Title_BU

Bona84

This is as good a response as any. And, I love it when the Bonnies are overlooked.

__________________
Bona84

Bona84

Actually, I take that back. Pretty sure that z8 is dead serious.

__________________
Bona84

MudFlap

"clear favorite" for NIT - what a joker.

FlyingElvis

I think UD has bigs who can bang down low, but our athleticism among those bigs has not been good, and that hurt defensively. Two athletic forwards are coming in this year, and we need one of them to contribute right away to be really good, IMO.

__________________
"US Bank Arena can't be that bad"

Title_BU

This thread could actually be a good spot for everyone to submit their team's top 6 or 7 rotation and a couple things about them though.

I suppose I could go first....

Butler:

1. Rotnei Clarke (2nd team All-SEC- 2011, widely considered best shooter in the country, has scored more than 50 in NCAA game, Rivals #104 2008 --- Player of the Year candidate

2. Chrishawn Hopkins - One of the best athletes in the country, scored >10 11 of 14 after taking over starting job, Rivals #124 2010

3. Roosevelt Jones #2 of Jon Rothstein's "Least Appreciated" list, considered one of the elite defenders in the country, benches >350, bad shooter, Rivals #129 2011

4. Khyle Marshall - 2011 FIBA U19 Team USA, Lead 2011 NCAA Tournament in rebounding, multiple ESPN Top Plays, Rivals #118 2010

5. Andrew Smith - Started 68/70 including 6 NCAA games, played in 2 Final Fours, leading scorer in 11, SI's most important returning seniors, Rivals N/R 3-star 2009

6th Kellen Dunham - Lead Indiana in scoring 11/12 (30ppg), considered best shooter in 2012 class, Final Four 3pt-shooting competition, Rivals #93 2011

7th Kameron Woods - Lead Butler in block shots - Top 10 in br% for freshmen (Pomeroy), part-time starter, raw/upside, Rivals N/R 3-star 2011

Coach - Brad Stevens - Winningest coach in the history of college basketball over their first 5 years, two final fours, 11 NCAA Tournament wins, consider Top 10 coach nationally, signed through 22 at >1 per/year

-----------------
Summary --- 2nd weekend caliber.

SpiderDave19

16-0 ^^

sheg

I predict that there will be a lot of outrage and incredulity expressed in this thread.

DukesDan

I'm so happy the season starts soon. Cant wait to talk BS with all of you.

Duquesne wont finish last.

__________________
Duquesne Dukes: 2012 A10 tournament qualifier!!

2012-2013 Locks of the Day TBA
2011-2012 Locks of the Day NIT participant 29-26-0...... .527
2010-2011 Locks of the Day Regular Season Champion 31-20-4 ..... .600

#15 Cooper #11 Green #10 Nixon #12 Ricketts #24 Somerset

Fastchuck

The Explorers return all but one starter from a team that beat the "clear favorite" twice last year. Once could be fluke. Twice is a disturbing trend.

SpiderDave19

Lasalle should definitely be the favorite if they play Umass 16 times and nobody else.

JHG722

hahahahahahahahahahhaah

__________________
Temple Owls football and basketball

BU Terriers hockey

Steve81

Just about 50 days to first practice and 80 days to the first game. There will be a lot of outrages things said between then and now and of course during he regular season.

For LaSalle, they did a good job beating us twice, however we beat every NCAA team from our league at least once. Then as a 5th seed, won three NIT games on the road. How did LaSalle do in their post season?

__________________
Collection of Sports links

vaNtR

This guy is the worst.