Big East Media Day: X picked to finish 4th

[BMoreX]

Shannon Russell ‏@slrussell 11s11 seconds ago

#Xavier men's hoops picked fourth in preseason Big East poll.
1. Villanova
2. Georgetown
3. St. John's
4. Xavier
5. Providence
6. Seton Hall
7. Butler
7. Marquette
9. Creighton
10. DePaul


Also there should be a live stream on BigEast.com if you want to watch. I'll try and post any more updates/tweets here as well.

[BMoreX]

From Shannon: All-Big East teams
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B0jZBBMIAAAdk0N.jpg:large

[bleedXblue]

Creighton wont finish 9th...IMHO

[Muskie]

How well was St. John's predicted to do last year?

[JTG]

Creighton wont finish 9th...IMHO

Agree, I would swap Creighton and Butler.

[Milhouse]

When will people learn? St. Johns ALWAYS preseason overrated. And they will be until Lavin leaves

[BMoreX]

BIG EAST MBB ‏@BIGEASTMBB 3m3 minutes ago
Bill Raftery and Gus Johnson will be returning as Big East lead commentators. Onions!! #BEmediaday

[GoMuskies]

Creighton wont finish 9th...IMHO

10th then?

[XU-PA]

And Stain picked 1st team!
http://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102214aaa.html

[Xville]

I am expecting big things from Reynolds this year. I am hoping that by the end of the year, we see him on one of these lists.

[GoMuskies]

I am expecting big things from Reynolds this year. I'm a bit surprised to not see him at least on the honorable mention team, as he was really starting to come on at the end of last season.

All part of his plan to sneak up on people.

[bleedXblue]

10th then?

Creighton is just one of those programs that figures out a way to win. No doubt without DM, they will slide a bit........but I say they finish 6th or 7th.

[GoMuskies]

You may be right, but they lost the bulk of their team and didn't have a particularly good recruiting class. And I don't think McDermott can coach his way out of a paper bag.

[X-band '01]

Seton Hall might be the team that most exceeds expectations; they were injury-riddled but inconsistent. Good enough to beat Nova in the Big East tournament and sweep Xavier but also managed to lose a pair to Butler.

[Muskie]

I don't get the St. John's love.

[NY44]

It might be more skepticism of us. We lost Semaj and have a lot of new faces who have to prove themselves before we're gonna get conference wide respect.

[Muskie]

It might be more skepticism of us. We lost Semaj and have a lot of new faces who have to prove themselves before we're gonna get conference wide respect.

I can see that as well. There's no guarantees (as much as we hate to deny it) that any of these guys will be world-beaters as freshman. I don't believe that will be an issue, but it is possible.

[Xville]

I don't get the St. John's love.

on paper, I kind of get it..they should have great guard play...experienced guard play at that. The problem with them is that Lavin is still their coach.

[BMoreX]

I don't get the St. John's love.

I don't either.

[NY44]

The problem with them is that Lavin is still their coach.

They love him. He had a few great years of recruiting, but has really fallen off these past 2 years.

[JTG]

on paper, I kind of get it..they should have great guard play...experienced guard play at that. The problem with them is that Lavin is still their coach.

Lavin should listen to his asst coach ( Gene Keady). Keady won a hell of a lotta of BIG Ten games with sub standard talent at Purdue.

[drudy23]

They love him. He had a few great years of recruiting, but has really fallen off these past 2 years.

2 years? They haven't really been relevant for 15.

[MD Muskie]

I don't get the St. John's love.

Its PR spin for the league. The more the NYC-based team is talked about the more exposure the league will get.

[muskiefan82]

Last year - Picked 7th. Finished 3rd.
This year - Picked 4th. Finish 1st. Seems like simple math to me. Went up 4 spots last year. Go up 3 spots this year.

[Muskie]

Lavin should listen to his asst coach ( Gene Keady). Keady won a hell of a lotta of BIG Ten games with sub standard talent at Purdue.

My recollection of the game at Cintas was that every time X started to pull away, Lavin would complain to the officials and then some fouls would get called (he definitely deserved a T towards the end). If that's the extent of his coaching...

[BMoreX]

My recollection of the game at Cintas was that every time X started to pull away, Lavin would complain to the officials and then some fouls would get called (he definitely deserved a T towards the end). If that's the extent of his coaching...

He also called a timeout less than a minute into the second half.

[xubrew]

10th then?

I was thinking the same thing.



Creighton is just one of those programs that figures out a way to win. No doubt without DM, they will slide a bit........but I say they finish 6th or 7th.

That may have been true when Dana Altman was the coach. Greg McDermott is just one of those coaches that cannot figure out a way to win. In fact, if he reverts back to his Northern Iowa and Iowa State days, there will be some games early on where they look pretty good, and give you every indication that they have a lot of potential. They will then proceed to fall far short of said potential.

[xu82]

That may have been true when Dana Altman was the coach. Greg McDermott is just one of those coaches that cannot figure out a way to win. In fact, if he reverts back to his Northern Iowa and Iowa State days, there will be some games early on where they look pretty good, and give you every indication that they have a lot of potential. They will then proceed to fall far short of said potential.

Does he have any more sons?

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Agree, I would swap Creighton and Butler.

Not so sure about that, Butler has some guys who can play and they get Jones back which to a small extent solves their PG issues. Jones is a very good player and can bring the ball up the court. He changes that whole team. They also have Holtman from Gardner-Webb. That guy knows his stuff and is a wild card for them. He could be over his head or he could succeed.

[paulxu]

I know everyone says, as they did at media day, that we'll keep up with the big boys:


As the Power 5 wins autonomy and heads toward cost of attendance, the Big East schools have no intention of falling behind. The presidents have all agreed that, going forward, their response will be simple.

As Providence coach Ed Cooley said simply, "Whatever the football five do, the Big East will be right there with them."

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/100455/five-observations-big-east-media-day

But this will take a lot of "keeping up."


Texas athletic director: With new rules, Longhorns would pay each player $10,000

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/headlines/20141021-texas-athletic-director-with-new-rules-longhorns-will-pay-each-player-10000.ece

[bleedXblue]

I was thinking the same thing.




That may have been true when Dana Altman was the coach. Greg McDermott is just one of those coaches that cannot figure out a way to win. In fact, if he reverts back to his Northern Iowa and Iowa State days, there will be some games early on where they look pretty good, and give you every indication that they have a lot of potential. They will then proceed to fall far short of said potential.

Care to place a small wager (cold beer )? I'm 2-0 on this board, working my way up to a 6 pack.

[NY44]

2 years? They haven't really been relevant for 15.

I mean that Lavin's recruiting has fallen off these past 2 years.

[xubrew]

Care to place a small wager (cold beer )? I'm 2-0 on this board, working my way up to a 6 pack.

I never bet on sports, not even for beer.

I am curious to know what it is about Creighton that makes you think they're any good at all. I don't think McDermott is in quite the same category as Frank Haith or Paul Hewitt. Those guys can digress a program like no other. I've just always felt that his teams are almost never as good as they should be or could be.

[bleedXblue]

I never bet on sports, not even for beer.

I am curious to know what it is about Creighton that makes you think they're any good at all. I don't think McDermott is in quite the same category as Frank Haith or Paul Hewitt. Those guys can digress a program like no other. I've just always felt that his teams are almost never as good as they should be or could be.

I didn't say they would be any good. I said they wouldn't finish 9th. Creighton's style of play and home court advantage will get them at least 7-8 wins this year. There isn't another program in the Big East that plays like them. That alone makes them a tough matchup even if they are lacking a lot of talent. Over the last 20 years they've managed one guy in the NBA with any success. They simply just get it done and have proven over the years to do so without a lot of talent or big stars. That's my take.

[BandAid]

I think it was Jay Wright who said Creighton is the hardest team to prepare for. Now that obviously has a ton to do with the cast of characters playing last year, but some of that, at least a little, has to do with their style of play and coaching. I doubt they'll ever be top dogs in the big east, but they'll be competitive and probably make the tournament on a semi-regular basis.

All that being said - I fully expect them to suck this year

[PMI]

I think Creighton is going to suck this year. They will have a few games where they're hot, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that they finish 9th. Their "style" of play is vastly overvalued. They don't have the best player in college basketball anymore and they are basically a team full of new faces, but not the new faces who were big time recruits, just MVC type new faces. I also agree that there is nothing special about McDermott as a coach. They do have a home court advantage and they have a couple decent guys returning, but life after Dougie is going to be very rocky for awhile I think. What I worry about regarding Creighton is that I really don't think Gregg McDermott is a good coach or recruiter (outside his own family), but I see him having a much longer leash to sustain mediocrity or even being bad, due to the history there with his son being their best player ever. Creighton could be a sleeping giant in this league with its resources, facilities, and now bigger conference affiliation, IF they had a great coach. I fear that they will be stuck in limbo for a long time with McDermott winning 16 or 17 games a year and recruiting mediocrity, when they could be one of the conference powers.

[xubrew]

I didn't say they wouldn't be any good. I said they wouldn't finish 9th. Creighton's style of play and home court advantage will get them at least 7-8 wins this year. There isn't another program in the Big East that plays like them. That alone makes them a tough matchup even if they are lacking a lot of talent. Over the last 20 years they've managed one guy in the NBA with any success. They simply just get it done and have proven over the years to do so without a lot of talent or big stars. That's my take.

Four years ago I would have agreed. I just don't think the Creighton you know is the Creighton that exists now. Keep in mind that McDermott coached at Northern Iowa, who was in the same league as Creighton, and those teams didn't always seem to exhibit the resilience of being able to find a way to win the way the old Creighton teams did. Neither did Iowa State.

Greg McDermott = Brian Gregory. If that. By no means is he the worst coach, but they aren't the best at scouting the opposition or at playing to their strengths. His teams show signs of being good, but only on occasion and they don't play up to their ceiling very often. I know they've been good the last two years, but I don't think it was a direct result of his ability to develop players and manage games. That's just my take. We shall see.

[Juice]

I think Creighton is going to suck this year. They will have a few games where they're hot, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that they finish 9th. Their "style" of play is vastly overvalued. They don't have the best player in college basketball anymore and they are basically a team full of new faces, but not the new faces who were big time recruits, just MVC type new faces. I also agree that there is nothing special about McDermott as a coach. They do have a home court advantage and they have a couple decent guys returning, but life after Dougie is going to be very rocky for awhile I think. What I worry about regarding Creighton is that I really don't think Gregg McDermott is a good coach or recruiter (outside his own family), but I see him having a much longer leash to sustain mediocrity or even being bad, due to the history there with his son being their best player ever. Creighton could be a sleeping giant in this league with its resources, facilities, and now bigger conference affiliation, IF they had a great coach. I fear that they will be stuck in limbo for a long time with McDermott winning 16 or 17 games a year and recruiting mediocrity, when they could be one of the conference powers.

They will suck. Besides losing Dougie, they lost Wragge, Manigat, and Gibbs. That is a ton of production without any huge recruits stepping in to fill the void. And correct me if I'm wrong, they don't really have any players like McDermott and Wragge who can create the mismatch problems like they did last year.

[xubrew]

I'm REAALLLLY curious to see what Chris Holtmann can do at Butler.

I think he's a good coach, and that he did a complete 180 at Gardner Webb. They went from five div1 wins to 20+ and were one of the best teams in the Big South within three years. The issue is that developing players in the Big South sets you apart. Developing players in the Big East only catches you up....if that. I'm not saying player development isn't crucial. I'm just saying that in a lot of cases teams are getting players that are already very good.

That being said, the guy can really coach. I was disappointed when he went to Butler to be an assistant when he was on so many radars to be a head coach. It's a great opportunity for him. He's in a very high risk, high reward situation. If he's good enough to be a big time coach, this is his chance. I'm curious to see what he does.

I'm not saying I think Butler will be good. I'm just saying that I'm not writing them off. It was my belief that he was more qualified than Brandon Miller to be the head guy last year.

[XU-XHI]

Last year - Picked 7th. Finished 3rd.
This year - Picked 4th. Finish 1st. Seems like simple math to me. Went up 4 spots last year. Go up 3 spots this year.

X better finish better than 1st or else half of this board will think the program is moving in the wrong direction by moving up only 3 spots compared to 4 the previous season.

[paulxu]

This guy needs an editor.


What is noticing is the lack (?) of upperclassmen on Xavier’s two Elite Eight teams in school history. The 2004 team had five upperclassmen; four seniors and one junior. The 2008 team also had five upperclassmen; three seniors and two juniors.

http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/big-east-basketball/2014/10/22/7034747/best-case-worst-case-scenario-xavier

[Muskie]

I like how he managed go work in "turn of the century". Though correct, I think of the early 1900's when I think "turn of the century". Thanks for making me feel old.

[X-Fan]

I don't get the St. John's love.


on paper, I kind of get it..they should have great guard play...experienced guard play at that. The problem with them is that Lavin is still their coach.


I don't either.


They love him. He had a few great years of recruiting, but has really fallen off these past 2 years.

And so it begins...St. John's declares potential starting forward academically ineligible (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/st--john-s-declares-potential-starting-forward-academically-ineligible-194617776.html)

Article starts "With only shot-blocking center Chris Obekpa returning from last season's frontcourt rotation, St. John's is counting on incoming players to help make up for the departure of forwards JaKarr Sampson and Orlando Sanchez.

That strategy took a hit Wednesday, however, when the Johnnies learned they won't have the services of one of those newcomers..."

[BMoreX]

@ECoastBias: St. John’s losing to Humboldt State 45-44 at the half. Obekpa looks great offensively. #sjubb defense looks…

well…

[casualfan]

Wasn't sure where to put this, but...

Shannon Russell @slrussell · 5m 5 minutes ago
Asked if anyone will be red-shirted this season, @CoachChrisMack said this: "That remains to be seen..." #Xavier 1/2

Shannon Russell @slrussell · 4m 4 minutes ago
"There’s a very good possibility but we don’t have to make that decision for a while." #Xavier 2/2

Shannon Russell @slrussell · 3m 3 minutes ago
That decision would have to be made before someone plays one minute in a regular-season game. #Xavier's opener is Nov. 14.

[xu82]

Wasn't sure where to put this, but...

Shannon Russell @slrussell · 5m 5 minutes ago
Asked if anyone will be red-shirted this season, @CoachChrisMack said this: "That remains to be seen..." #Xavier 1/2

Shannon Russell @slrussell · 4m 4 minutes ago
"There’s a very good possibility but we don’t have to make that decision for a while." #Xavier 2/2

Shannon Russell @slrussell · 3m 3 minutes ago
That decision would have to be made before someone plays one minute in a regular-season game. #Xavier's opener is Nov. 14.

Interesting. How are Sumner's knees? Is he playing yet? Would he be the leading candidate?

[Masterofreality]

Interesting. How are Sumner's knees? Is he playing yet? Would he be the leading candidate?

Judging by what I heard CMack say on his show on Monday night, I believe that Makinde will be the Red-Shirter. He needs to get his body stronger.

It's kind of like the Jeff Robinson situation. They would have liked to red-shirt Jeff but they were a bit short on bodies that year. Not so this year.

[xu82]

Judging by what I heard CMack say on his show on Monday night, I believe that Makinde will be the Red-Shirter. He needs to get his body stronger.

It's kind of like the Jeff Robinson situation. They would have liked to red-shirt Jeff but they were a bit short on bodies that year. Not so this year.

Yeah, good point. I can see him getting bounced around out there unless he hits the gym and the buffet line. Often.

[PMI]

Judging by what I heard CMack say on his show on Monday night, I believe that Makinde will be the Red-Shirter. He needs to get his body stronger.

It's kind of like the Jeff Robinson situation. They would have liked to red-shirt Jeff but they were a bit short on bodies that year. Not so this year.

I think it will be Makinde too. His potential is so high but he is not physically ready yet. Kind of like Derrick Brown years ago. I am SOOOO glad we didn't redshirt Jeff Robinson, because if we had had to endure another year of him last year, I may not have made it. I hear he's the main advisor to Andy Dalton before primetime games these days.

[X-Fan]

Interesting. How are Sumner's knees? Is he playing yet? Would he be the leading candidate?

Per Shannon's article this morning, Sumner's knees have responded well to rest/treatment and is going to resume practicing.
XU's Edmond Sumner closer to return (http://www.cincinnati.com/story/xaviersports/2014/11/07/xus-edmond-sumner-closer-to-return/18637775/)

[boozehound]

I think it will be Makinde too. His potential is so high but he is not physically ready yet. Kind of like Derrick Brown years ago. I am SOOOO glad we didn't redshirt Jeff Robinson, because if we had had to endure another year of him last year, I may not have made it. I hear he's the main advisor to Andy Dalton before primetime games these days.

Zing! Well played, Sir!

[xu82]

Per Shannon's article this morning, Sumner's knees have responded well to rest/treatment and is going to resume practicing.
XU's Edmond Sumner closer to return (http://www.cincinnati.com/story/xaviersports/2014/11/07/xus-edmond-sumner-closer-to-return/18637775/)
Sounds like good news.... I'll take it! I knew he was long, is he really 6'5"?
(I guess you could ask of any/all of them are they really FILL IN THE BLANK.)

[PMI]

Sounds like good news.... I'll take it! I knew he was long, is he really 6'5"?
(I guess you could ask of any/all of them are they really FILL IN THE BLANK.)

Sounds like he's every bit of 6'4 or 6'5. He has apparently grown since high school. I think his upside is very high and am excited to see him along with the rest of the newcomers.

[xu82]

Sounds like he's every bit of 6'4 or 6'5. He has apparently grown since high school. I think his upside is very high and am excited to see him along with the rest of the newcomers.
Ain't that the truth! I have a mental image of these guys based on what I've read and Youtube highlights. How different is that image from what it's all going to look like mixing together on the same floor? Very different I'm sure. One thing i do know is I love watching Stainbrook play the game. Can't come soon enough - it's been a long off-season!

[XUMIOH12]

Sounds like good news.... I'll take it! I knew he was long, is he really 6'5"?
(I guess you could ask of any/all of them are they really FILL IN THE BLANK.)

I walked past Sumner in the hallway after musketeer madness, he is definitely a good 6-5. I am around 6-3 and he was easily 2-3 inches taller than me.

[xu82]

I walked past Sumner in the hallway after musketeer madness, he is definitely a good 6-5. I am around 6-3 and he was easily 2-3 inches taller than me.
WOW! Thanks. This makes me wonder what his best position is though. I can't wait to see this new and improved (and certainly deeper) team.

[bleedXblue]

Just refreshing this for all who predicted doom and gloom for Creighton. Yes, just one win. But it just proves how tough it is to win there.

[PMI]

Just refreshing this for all who predicted doom and gloom for Creighton. Yes, just one win. But it just proves how tough it is to win there.

No doubt it's tough to win there. I hope you're right about Creighton... at least in the OOC. Great win for the league tonight. Best thus far for the Big East.

[Titanxman04]

No doubt it's tough to win there. I hope you're right about Creighton... at least in the OOC. Great win for the league tonight. Best thus far for the Big East.

I saw they were down midway through the game by double digits (I may have read the score wrong though). I just figured Creighton wasn't going to be able to keep up. Great win for them and the conference though!

[X-band '01]

They were down 18 at the beginning of the 2nd half. I went to bed thinking that game was over. Oops.

[Cheesehead]

They were down 18 at the beginning of the 2nd half. I went to bed thinking that game was over. Oops.

I watched the last 8 minutes of the second half. OK crapped down their leg a bit but still had chance to win at the buzzer (due to Creighton player missing 2 FT's that would have put them up four) but the shot was not really close as the guy went the length of the court and took an off balanced three on the wing. That arena was going nuts. Looks like a fantastic facility. Atmosphere was great.

[GoMuskies]

Just refreshing this for all who predicted doom and gloom for Creighton. Yes, just one win. But it just proves how tough it is to win there.

Just refreshing this for those of us who still think Creighton is going to generally be shitty this year.