How Does A Pre-Season 8th Place Rank in the Big East Grab You?

[xudash]

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/228143/Big-East-Basketball-Early-Projection

All I know is that the love fest for Stevens is rather rampant.

[bobbiemcgee]

Another pre-season hack who can't even look up our full roster. The only guy I will really miss is Travis. Just came into his own a bit late.

[xudash]

Another pre-season hack who can't even look up our full roster. The only guy I will really miss is Travis. Just came into his own a bit late.

Yep. I got a kick out of how the author went on and on about St. Johns, then proceeds to give most of the other teams a glib, obvious paragraph. 21st Century journalism on the world wide web.

[BMoreX]

1. Spelled Musketeers wrong
2. Named Jeff as one of our better players

[paulxu]

I like 4th better.

http://zagsblog.com/articles/sny-big-east-preseason-rankings-all-big-east-teams-top-incoming-recruits/

[xfan'17]

I like 4th better.

http://zagsblog.com/articles/sny-big-east-preseason-rankings-all-big-east-teams-top-incoming-recruits/

me too

[GoMuskies]

I like first best of all.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

1. Spelled Musketeers wrong
2. Named Jeff as one of our better players

1. He did it twice no less.
2. Good god I can't believe he did that. That is just awful reporting.

I take issue with Butler. Dunham is going to have be what Clark was for them last year. I don't know if Dunham is as much of a play maker as Clark was, add to that the fact that they have two PG on their roster. One makes Dee look tall and the other is just not really any good. They are going to have problems with guard play in the Big East and Jones taking it up the court is no the solution.

[xubrew]

Keep it in the proper context. Real GM is a bunch of guys who like basketball and write about it for fun. At least that's all it used to be. Nothing more, nothing less. All and all, they've created a cool little site. It'd be nice if their writers spelled the nicknames correctly, but....whatever. It's just a site that a bunch of superfans run.

I don't like most of the main stream sports media, but sites like Real GM don't bother me. Who cares what they think?? It's just a bunch of guys who like basketball. It carries no more weight than a poll that I would put together and post on this site. Sometimes they're no worse than the mainstream media. Sometimes they're even better.

[mistabeecee41]

1. Spelled Musketeers wrong
2. Named Jeff as one of our better players

I was seriously just talking to one of my good friends yesterday who happens to be a Seton Hall fan. He asked who graduated - I said Taylor and Redford. Felt like I was missing somebody. Sure he was a nice kid, but one word explains Jeff Robinson's tenure at Xavier. Forgettable.

[El Shaqtus]

Let them predict whatever they want.

Betting against Xavier is a bad idea. The "new" team that people should be worried about is Butler. I don't get the lovefest for them after seeing them live in the A-10 last year. I'd say 3rd or 4th for y'all.

10th in the Big East > 1st in the A-10...and I can prove that.

[xubrew]

Let them predict whatever they want.

Betting against Xavier is a bad idea. The "new" team that people should be worried about is Butler. I don't get the lovefest for them after seeing them live in the A-10 last year. I'd say 3rd or 4th for y'all.

10th in the Big East > 1st in the A-10...and I can prove that.

I think that's overstating it just a little bit. I'd take first, or second, or third, or even fourth in the Atlantic Ten over tenth in the Big East any day. I mean, we're talking about DePaul, which is bad, or finishing behind DePaul, which is unthinkable.

[A10fan]

Anyone with an ESPN insider account want to enlighten me on how Gasaway thinks the NBE will shake out next year?

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9417894/marquette-golden-eagles-favorites-new-big-east-conference-college-basketball

[PMI]

Anyone with an ESPN insider account want to enlighten me on how Gasaway thinks the NBE will shake out next year?

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9417894/marquette-golden-eagles-favorites-new-big-east-conference-college-basketball

He only gives his top 4, which is Marquette, Creighton, Georgetown and Villanova in that order. He also referred to the new teams as mid-majors. There's literally nothing of any substance. Just another guy with an asshole and an opinion.

[bobbiemcgee]

Just another guy with an asshole.
Don't pull his finger to here him scream his name.

[More Cowbell]

This guy also had X at 8, but after some feedback from Xavier fans has gained some perspective.

http://playforthegarden.com/2013/06/25/taking-a-look-at-xaviers-2013-14-roster/

He also did an article on Brandon Randolph

http://playforthegarden.com/2013/06/26/xavier-recruit-focus-brandon-randolph/

[powerofX]

Not to lump in personality wise...but randolphs game reminds me of Mark Lyons. I'll take it.

[muskienick]

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/228143/Big-East-Basketball-Early-Projection

All I know is that the love fest for Stevens is rather rampant.

The 8th-place prediction is no more surprising (or irritating) to me than a 2nd- or 3rd-place prediction would be. They both taste about the same with that old "grain of salt"!

[Fireball]

Based on what the team did last year, and the amount of new faces coming in, I just can't drum up outrage at being ranked 8th. I think we'll be better than that, but I really don't know. We'll have a lot of talent, but a ton of that talent will be unproven.

I'm actually pretty glad that we're seen as lower instead of higher. It's something that Coach Mack can use as motivation.

[muskiefan82]

I'm actually pretty glad that we're seen as lower instead of higher. It's something that Coach Mack can use as motivation.

They can sneak up on the rest of the Big East!!

[PMI]

Based on what the team did last year, and the amount of new faces coming in, I just can't drum up outrage at being ranked 8th. I think we'll be better than that, but I really don't know. We'll have a lot of talent, but a ton of that talent will be unproven.

I'm actually pretty glad that we're seen as lower instead of higher. It's something that Coach Mack can use as motivation.

Agreed. I guarantee we will be better than 8th. Much better. But I don't care to get worked up over the opinions of outsiders who have yet to Smell the Glove for themselves. Due time, people. Due time.

[KC4X]

This guy also had X at 8, but after some feedback from Xavier fans has gained some perspective.

http://playforthegarden.com/2013/06/25/taking-a-look-at-xaviers-2013-14-roster/

He also did an article on Brandon Randolph

http://playforthegarden.com/2013/06/26/xavier-recruit-focus-brandon-randolph/

I respect the fact that he acknowledged the oversight and followed up with 2 articles highlighting individual players. Along with the article on Brandon Randolph linked above, he also wrote one on Matt Stainbrook. (http://playforthegarden.com/2013/06/26/xavier-transfer-focus-matt-stainbrook/)

[jdm2000]

I find it really interesting the way one down year (where X beat 5 top 50 teams or whatever) is apparently setting the course for how we will do in conference. The mod/admin at the Hoya talk board decreed that there were 3 "tiers" shaping up for next year, and put X in the bottom tier with DePaul and Seton Hall. (Also had a long spiel about how once you lock in as a second-tier program it's hard to get out, etc.)

Maybe they're right. Or maybe the nearly 30-year history of good basketball and sustained excellence shouldn't be overlooked so easily?

[GoMuskies]

Is that DFW Hoya? He's been kind of a d-bag about the whole Big East split/expansion. I get the sense that he thinks it's beneath Georgetown to be associated with a progam like Xavier. When Xavier starts beating them on the regular, he'll probably think it means Georgetown's program has gone downhill, too.

[xubrew]

This new league will consist of fans that are just like us, and teams that are better than what we're used to. We will quickly begin to despise all of them. It will be great!!!

[jdm2000]

Is that DFW Hoya? He's been kind of a d-bag about the whole Big East split/expansion. I get the sense that he thinks it's beneath Georgetown to be associated with a progam like Xavier. When Xavier starts beating them on the regular, he'll probably think it means Georgetown's program has gone downhill, too.

That's the one.

[Milhouse]

This new league will consist of fans that are just like us, and teams that are better than what we're used to. We will quickly begin to despise all of them. It will be great!!!

Especially playing each team home and away.

[kyxu]

Especially playing each team home and away.

Really looking forward to the release of the conference schedule.

[xudash]

Is that DFW Hoya? He's been kind of a d-bag about the whole Big East split/expansion. I get the sense that he thinks it's beneath Georgetown to be associated with a progam like Xavier. When Xavier starts beating them on the regular, he'll probably think it means Georgetown's program has gone downhill, too.

DFW Hoya - maybe he's from Dallas/Ft. Worth - lives in his own world of arrogance and ignorance. As is the case with any fan base, Georgetown has its solid, objective set, virtually all of whom have a great deal of respect for Xavier, and then they have this guy, who, when the Big East was coming apart, was as close to declaring the end of the world as possible.

[PMI]

Trust me guys, the Georgetown arrogance will get under your skin in due time. They think very, very highly of themselves. As for DFW Hoya, I'm not sure why a David Freaking West fan would have such a pessimistic view of Xavier, but like all the Georgetown fans I've worked on bringing up to speed, he will smell the glove soon enough.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

If you look at the league this year from an objective point of view, it is hard to get really aggravated over any prediction. I think the team is in the Top 5 when the dust settles, but I wouldn't bet the house on it. Nor am I sure it is a 5 bid league this year...I think it is, but who knows. If you made me guess today I'd have Marquette, Georgetown, St. John's and Creighton above Xavier, with Villanova right there too. Hard to think Xavier is not in the Top 6 unless something catastrophic happens. Could they win it? Sure. Could they be 6th? Sure. They are better than 7-10 this year though, period. Providence, Butler, Seton Hall, and DePaul are all going to have a hard time winning any road conference games.

[PMI]

If you look at the league this year from an objective point of view, it is hard to get really aggravated over any prediction. I think the team is in the Top 5 when the dust settles, but I wouldn't bet the house on it. Nor am I sure it is a 5 bid league this year...I think it is, but who knows. If you made me guess today I'd have Marquette, Georgetown, St. John's and Creighton above Xavier, with Villanova right there too. Hard to think Xavier is not in the Top 6 unless something catastrophic happens. Could they win it? Sure. Could they be 6th? Sure. They are better than 7-10 this year though, period. Providence, Butler, Seton Hall, and DePaul are all going to have a hard time winning any road conference games.

Providence should actually be pretty solid. I'd clearly put them ahead of Seton Hall, Butler and DePaul. I think St. John's needs to prove it can win rather than just assemble talent before I put them up there.

[XUFan09]

Providence should actually be pretty solid. I'd clearly put them ahead of Seton Hall, Butler and DePaul. I think St. John's needs to prove it can win rather than just assemble talent before I put them up there.

Yeah, with St. John's I question the coaching. I think that will keep them from winning the league, but I think their talent will get them a top 5 slot, maybe even ahead of us.

If ESPN was still the network for the Big East, though, could you imagine how much they would be drooling all over the Johnnies?

[BigMoeMusketeer]

Providence should actually be pretty solid. I'd clearly put them ahead of Seton Hall, Butler and DePaul. I think St. John's needs to prove it can win rather than just assemble talent before I put them up there.

I think Providence is squarely in that 7th spot, sorry, I wasn't clear I listed the last 4 in order. I think there is a gap between 1-6 and 7-10 that is fairly wide. My opinion.

[paulxu]

More 8th noise.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/7231

[xudash]

More 8th noise.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/7231

"Noise" is right.

[XUFan09]

More 8th noise.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/7231

After Butler lost both Brad Stevens and their top returning player? Laughable.

[hoyahooligan]

After Butler lost both Brad Stevens and their top returning player? Laughable.

Well to be fair when they started writing their 144 rankings back on 6/18/13 Brad Stevens and Jones were both still with the team so it's understandable to have them higher than what they're going to end up being now that both are gone. 7th does not sound too unreasonable to me.

[GoMuskies]

I will be surprised if Xavier does not finish in the top half of the league. 4th or 5th would be my guess. I don't expect many home Xavier losses, but road wins will likely be tough to come by.

[mistabeecee41]

I agree that we'll most likely fall anywhere from 3rd-6th in the BE this year, but it's hard to get mad at these writers who are pegging up 7th-8th. There are a lot of What If's. Can Myles/Jalen be impact frosh? Can Stain gives us a post presence after surgery and a year off? Does Philmore step up after a somewhat disappointing first season?

[GoMuskies]

I agree that we'll most likely fall anywhere from 3rd-6th in the BE this year, but it's hard to get mad at these writers who are pegging up 7th-8th. There are a lot of What If's. Can Myles/Jalen be impact frosh? Can Stain gives us a post presence after surgery and a year off? Does Philmore step up after a somewhat disappointing first season?

What those writers don't understand is that this is Xavier. We win here.

[waggy]

Joel Welser also has X at #8 in BE (and #76 nationally).


http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/7231