ESPN Way Too Early Top 25 for 2015-16

[X Factor]

ESPN Way Too Early Top 25 for 2015-16 (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/tournament/2015/story/_/id/12623594/kentucky-wildcats-headline-early-top-25-ranking-2015-16-men-college-basketball-season)

20. Xavier Musketeers

The Musketeers have made a habit of Sweet 16 incursions in recent seasons. Their latest -- which ended with a hard-fought loss to Arizona -- set the table for an extended run of success. Replacing center Matt Stainbrook won't be easy, and not just because Stainbrook, a part-time Uber driver, looked less like a Division I athlete than your college dorm mate who spent way too much time on Reddit. He was also a brilliant low-post anchor on both ends of the floor. Meanwhile, senior point guard Dee Davis was a high-level distributor who quietly keyed much of the Musketeers' overall offensive success. But coach Chris Mack's returners are awfully good, too: Trevon Bluiett just completed the first of what projects to be a stellar four-year career; Myles Davis is a lethal outside-in scorer; center Jalen Reynolds looks more than capable of taking on Stainbrook's minutes; and former Indiana guard Remy Abell is in line for a major senior campaign. Xavier will miss the big fella. Heck, we all will. But Mack's well-coached bunch has a bright future ahead.


What? No Dayton? Sorry Goldie.

[Retire33]

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/06/2015-2016-college-basketball-way-too-early-preseason-top-25/

#13 on collegebasketballtalk

Also:

Villanova #7
Georgetown #18
Marquette #20
Butler #25

[GoMuskies]

From ESPN's top 25, the Orlando Classic will also include #10 Wichita State and #13 Notre Dame.

[GIMMFD]

Anyone else surprised by the level of respect we're getting from ESPN right now?

[goldiewilson]

What? No Dayton? Sorry Goldie.

That's one opinion. Jon Rothstein of CBS College Sports released his via twitter:

https://mobile.twitter.com/JonRothstein

Dayton is 25, no mention of Xavier.

As far as I can tell, those two and college basketball talk are the only ones of the "way too early" 2015-16 Top 25 that have either X or UD listed.

It will be interesting to see what the AP/Coaches polls have going into November.

I hope X, Notre Dame, Wichita St. and Iowa(doubtful) are all in the Top 25 come Orlando Tourney time.

It will be nice for UD to fly back to Ohio with a couple of top 25 wins and a championship...

[X-band '01]

If you want preseason accolades over Xavier, by all means go ahead. It's not going to end well for you if you play that card here.

[X-Fan]

That's one opinion. Jon Rothstein of CBS College Sports released his via twitter:

https://mobile.twitter.com/JonRothstein

Dayton is 25, no mention of Xavier.

As far as I can tell, those two and college basketball talk are the only ones of the "way too early" 2015-16 Top 25 that have either X or UD listed.

It will be interesting to see what the AP/Coaches polls have going into November.

I hope X, Notre Dame, Wichita St. and Iowa(doubtful) are all in the Top 25 come Orlando Tourney time.

It will be nice for UD to fly back to Ohio with a couple of top 25 wins and a championship...
I've seen this sort of thing before. It's "safe" trash talk. You know going into the next season that you might not have a good squad, so you talk AS MUCH AS YOU can well before the season starts. Since the season's so far away, there's nothing to debate now. Also, there' no way anyone will remember what you said back in April, right?


If you want preseason accolades over Xavier, by all means go ahead. It's not going to end well for you if you play that card here.
BTW, I've seen X in three "too soon" pre-season polls, one as high as 15. Not that they mean anything until all the dust (NBA departures, transfers) settles. I really don't care how high/low X is in any poll. It's certainly good publicity. X could be in ZERO polls and it wouldn't matter. You know why? Because we all know that X has a ridiculous amount of talent coming back next year. Myles, Trevon, Jalen, JP, Remy, Farr, Edmond, Larry, Gates, London, Sean. That's 11 guys I have NO issue playing however much Coach Mack thinks they should play. I see at least 3 of them having break out seasons. I just don't know which three; lol.

CANNOT wait for Team 94!

Go ahead Goldie, talk while you can.

[Xville]

I know its still way too early but just from who is probably coming back and who is coming in, I think it is going to be Nova, X and Butler fighting for the conference championship next year.Maybe Marquete sneaks in there if their recruiting class is as good as advertised.

[X-Fan]

I know its still way too early but just from who is probably coming back and who is coming in, I think it is going to be Nova, X and Butler fighting for the conference championship next year.Maybe Marquete sneaks in there if their recruiting class is as good as advertised.

Ya, there are a number of people that feel Marquette will make the Tourney next year. St. Johns will be very interesting. From what I've seen Mullin is recruiting his tail off, and getting Obekpa to return is a good sign for him/them. Anyone have a good feel for how good the rest of the Big East will be next year?

[Xville]

St. Johns is going to be in a transition year unless Mullin can sign some recruits...they don't have much right now. Providence could still be good if Dunn stays but I would be pretty surprised if he does...Georgetown should be good in the top half of the league, if they can find some shooters they could compete for the conference crown as well. The thing I like is that I think the league is getting stronger and stronger....I think Mullin is going to do some good things but t my take a year or two, and Wojo is going to have Marquette back very soon.

[GoMuskies]

Villanova will still be tough, but I think next year is an excellent opportunity for Xavier to step on this league's throat and never look back.

[Xville]

X has had two pretty average conference years in a row...I would like to see us in the top 3 next year...there aren't anymore excuses for it not to happen.

[Xavier]

Didn't x finish third in the first year?

[Juice]

Ya, there are a number of people that feel Marquette will make the Tourney next year. St. Johns will be very interesting. From what I've seen Mullin is recruiting his tail off, and getting Obekpa to return is a good sign for him/them. Anyone have a good feel for how good the rest of the Big East will be next year?

No way. They lose Harrison, Pointer, Greene, and Branch. That's a lot of scoring and minutes for a team that had a horribly thin bench and margin of error in their games.

[Xville]

Didn't x finish third in the first year?

You are right they did....that's my bad..i knew their record was 10-8 but didn't think that was enough for third..let me change my stance a little bit...I'd like us to finish 12-6 or better :)

[xubrew]

A month into the season, the polls still don't have it right. So, yeah, it's definitely way too soon. But, it's still interesting to look at, so why not?

[Milhouse]

They finished tied for 3rd that year. But in 13-14 it was Truly villanova/Creighton and then everyone else. Much like this year I'd say it was Villanova and then Everybody else.

[paulxu]

I'm surprised some ESPN editor didn't choke on his bagel as this came floating across his desk.


But still: Nova was a buzz saw in 2014-15, a team that spent two-plus months relentlessly shredding one of the nation's deepest conferences (the Big East)

[X-Fan]

Not sure this should have it's own thread, but here's an entirely too early Bracketology: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Not surprised that he has X as a 7 seed. I expect X to be good next year, but have no idea if they'll gel enough early to get a really high seed.

He has 5 BE teams in. Most in the 7-10 range, but Nova as a 1 seed.

Is it November yet?

[X-man]

I've seen this sort of thing before. It's "safe" trash talk. You know going into the next season that you might not have a good squad, so you talk AS MUCH AS YOU can well before the season starts. Since the season's so far away, there's nothing to debate now. Also, there' no way anyone will remember what you said back in April, right?


BTW, I've seen X in three "too soon" pre-season polls, one as high as 15. Not that they mean anything until all the dust (NBA departures, transfers) settles. I really don't care how high/low X is in any poll. It's certainly good publicity. X could be in ZERO polls and it wouldn't matter. You know why? Because we all know that X has a ridiculous amount of talent coming back next year. Myles, Trevon, Jalen, JP, Remy, Farr, Edmond, Larry, Gates, London, Sean. That's 11 guys I have NO issue playing however much Coach Mack thinks they should play. I see at least 3 of them having break out seasons. I just don't know which three; lol.

CANNOT wait for Team 94!

Go ahead Goldie, talk while you can.

I seem to recall that winning the "preseason" was the Cryers' MO every season. It was convenient because they always lost the "season".

[goldiewilson]

I've seen this sort of thing before. It's "safe" trash talk. You know going into the next season that you might not have a good squad, so you talk AS MUCH AS YOU can well before the season starts. Since the season's so far away, there's nothing to debate now. Also, there' no way anyone will remember what you said back in April,

Go ahead Goldie, talk while you can.

Trash talk?

Xfactor pointed out Dayton was not in the ESPN top 25 and said "sorry Goldie." I responded. Guess we were both a little guilty of "trash talk," eh?

As far as me thinking Dayton might not be good, nothing could be further from the truth. I would be shocked if a team that made it to the round of 32 and returns 4 starters along with a decent transfer and several talented freshmen isn't very good. Shocked. Mark my words, this should be one of the best UD teams in a long while.(Assuming no major injuries)

This is a new era of UD basketball, boys and girls. Many on here predicted Archie would be gone as soon as the season ended last year. Several said the same thing after this season, and again they are wrong.
If UD and Xavier meet in Orlando, I would love to make some money off some of the UD haters on here. We will see if any of you are willing to take me up on that. What's that saying, A fool and their money....

[blueblood]

What's that saying, A fool and their money....

. . . buy Dayton season tickets and expect to see their team actually win a conference title?

[markchal]

All it took for UD to become good was for their masters to leave the A-10. It's nice to see another Miller-led A-10 team making waves in March, but I'm not putting too much stock into their success. Dayton is a coach, not a program. Let's see what happens when they have to replace Archie.

[Masterofreality]

Trash talk?

Xfactor pointed out Dayton was not in the ESPN top 25 and said "sorry Goldie." I responded. Guess we were both a little guilty of "trash talk," eh?

As far as me thinking Dayton might not be good, nothing could be further from the truth. I would be shocked if a team that made it to the round of 32 and returns 4 starters along with a decent transfer and several talented freshmen isn't very good. Shocked. Mark my words, this should be one of the best UD teams in a long while.(Assuming no major injuries)

This is a new era of UD basketball, boys and girls. Many on here predicted Archie would be gone as soon as the season ended last year. Several said the same thing after this season, and again they are wrong.
If UD and Xavier meet in Orlando, I would love to make some money off some of the UD haters on here. We will see if any of you are willing to take me up on that. What's that saying, A fool and their money....

Anybody who has SucKS in their Top 25 cannot be credible. vdump loses their go to Savior, has question marks all over the place and Rothstein ranks them? Again not credible. I guess he felt like he HAD to throw an A10 in there somewhere .

[xubrew]

Dayton is still a hot topic for Xavier, and vice versa. The two should play. It would be an interesting game in what is becoming more and more of a college basketball wasteland of uninteresting games throughout November and December, minus the exempt tourneys.

As great as the tournament is, things need to be done to make the season better. Having teams schedule more interesting games would be a good start.

[goldiewilson]

Anybody who has SucKS in their Top 25 cannot be credible. vdump loses their go to Savior, has question marks all over the place and Rothstein ranks them? Again not credible. I guess he felt like he HAD to throw an A10 in there somewhere .

Question marks all over the place?
Can you expand on that? Follow my team pretty closely, and don't know all these question marks you are referring to.

Now UK, that's a team that will have question marks. They don't even have half their roster set and they are ranked anywhere from 1 to 5 in these polls

[xufan2434]

UD will be good next year no doubt, but they still didn't even win their sorry conference this year. Oh, and how convenient for UD that Shaka is gone now. I don't expect VCU to fall apart (Their replacement from Chatt is good), but if UD doesn't win the conference next year then that's ridiculous

[Masterofreality]

Question marks all over the place?
Can you expand on that? Follow my team pretty closely, and don't know all these question marks you are referring to.

Now UK, that's a team that will have question marks. They don't even have half their roster set and they are ranked anywhere from 1 to 5 in these polls

vd is going to win an abjectly terrible conference next year by default. I guess that may get then ranked but not respected. If they don't win the A10 by 5 games they should be embarrassed. Doesn't mean they're any good however.

[xukeith]

I think not this 2015-16 season but a super exprienced 2016-17 season will be great(Reynolds, Myles seniors, Bluiett, Macura, Sean, Larry will be juniors, solid sophomores and complimentary frosh will solidify X)

Top 40 next year.
Top 10 2017

[Xville]

I think not this 2015-16 season but a super exprienced 2016-17 season will be great(Reynolds, Myles seniors, Bluiett, Macura, Sean, Larry will be juniors, solid sophomores and complimentary frosh will solidify X)

Top 40 next year.
Top 10 2017

if reynolds stays and improves his game (i think both is asking a lot) then you can go ahead and pencil us in for the final four in the 16-17 season.

[BandAid]

if reynolds stays and improves his game (i think both is asking a lot) then you can go ahead and pencil us in for the final four in the 16-17 season.

He did promise us a Final Four...

[Xavier]

I honestly don't care one bit about Dayton. Even when we were rivals I didn't care much about the game. I don't hate Dayton I just never really was that strong about the rivalry. Winning the game was fine, we were supposed to. I care much more about UC and Butler. (Butler mainly because its a conference game).

[TUclutch]

Dayton is still a hot topic for Xavier, and vice versa. The two should play. It would be an interesting game in what is becoming more and more of a college basketball wasteland of uninteresting games throughout November and December, minus the exempt tourneys.

As great as the tournament is, things need to be done to make the season better. Having teams schedule more interesting games would be a good start.

You keep saying this. I have a ton of interest in every Xavier game. Why? Because Xavier is in the game and Im a xavier fan. Not every game is going to have the intensity level of a shootout or big big east game, but ever game involving Xavier should be interesting to a Xavier fan. Xavier has enough interesting games on their schedule. Only way Xavier should schedule Dayton is if it is a buy game. Im fine with "boring opponents" as long as it benefits the schedule.

[Xville]

You keep saying this. I have a ton of interest in every Xavier game. Why? Because Xavier is in the game and Im a xavier fan. Not every game is going to have the intensity level of a shootout or big big east game, but ever game involving Xavier should be interesting to a Xavier fan. Xavier has enough interesting games on their schedule. Only way Xavier should schedule Dayton is if it is a buy game. Im fine with "boring opponents" as long as it benefits the schedule.

I agree that we have enough interesting games in conference. However, we could use one or two games out of conference that are interesting besides the Crosstown Shootout. Although the schedule helped us play the rpi game well, the non-conference in my opinion was a complete snooze fest. SFA and Murray State don't really do anything for me.

[GoMuskies]

SFA and Murray State don't really do anything for me.

See, here's a stance I just don't understand. You're talking about two teams that finished the year 58-11. 58-9 against teams not named Xavier. And they don't do anything for you as opponents? What exactly are you looking for?

I will grant you that as the highlights of the non-conference schedule (which they turned out to be), those games do kind of suck. But as "buy" games? Those are fantastic. Those may literally be the best pair of buy games played by any team in the country last year.

[xubrew]

You keep saying this. I have a ton of interest in every Xavier game. Why? Because Xavier is in the game and Im a xavier fan. Not every game is going to have the intensity level of a shootout or big big east game, but ever game involving Xavier should be interesting to a Xavier fan. Xavier has enough interesting games on their schedule. Only way Xavier should schedule Dayton is if it is a buy game. Im fine with "boring opponents" as long as it benefits the schedule.

You're doing what most die hard fans and administrators do. You're using yourself as a reference point. The vast majority of fans are not like you. They're not diehards, and they don't have a ton of interest in "boring opponents." Earlier this season there were threads about lower attendance and TV ratings. 90 percent of sports fans are casual fans, and Dayton is a game they'd be interested in.

If someone were to start a thread and just title it "DAYTON" and then the first post is simply "Should we play this team or not??" It'd probably have a hundred replies by the end of the day. There is no other team that would generate that kind of a response rate. Not one. To say Dayton isn't a live wire topic is to intentionally have your eyes closed. It would interest more fans than any other OOC game we could reasonably schedule.

[xubrew]

See, here's a stance I just don't understand. You're talking about two teams that finished the year 58-11. 58-9 against teams not named Xavier. And they don't do anything for you as opponents? What exactly are you looking for?

I will grant you that as the highlights of the non-conference schedule (which they turned out to be), those games do kind of suck. But as "buy" games? Those are fantastic. Those may literally be the best pair of buy games played by any team in the country last year.

....and I agree with every word of this.

[Xville]

See, here's a stance I just don't understand. You're talking about two teams that finished the year 58-11. 58-9 against teams not named Xavier. And they don't do anything for you as opponents? What exactly are you looking for?

I will grant you that as the highlights of the non-conference schedule (which they turned out to be), those games do kind of suck. But as "buy" games? Those are fantastic. Those may literally be the best pair of buy games played by any team in the country last year.

let me rephrase a bit here..i know they are great rpi wise, and they are good teams. The problem I have is that these were basically the highlighted games, outside of the shootout, for the non-conference. If we could supplement these games with 1-2 good opponents from a big 6 conference, I'd take it. I understand the rpi game and that they were good from that standpoint, I just don't care about them from a fan perspective.

[GoMuskies]

I just don't care about them from a fan perspective.

That's the part I don't get. You don't like seeing Xavier play good teams? You'll be more interested in seeing Xavier play a horrible Mizzou team?

[Xville]

That's the part I don't get. You don't like seeing Xavier play good teams? You'll be more interested in seeing Xavier play a horrible Mizzou team?

I'd like to see them play teams like North Carolina, Kansas, Indiana etc.....1-2 times a year. Providence, Butler, Georgetown, St. Johns all played 1-2 really good non-conference big name teams this year, we can do the same. Not really asking for anything crazy, and the Big-10/Big East will help that.

[xubrew]

That's the part I don't get. You don't like seeing Xavier play good teams? You'll be more interested in seeing Xavier play a horrible Mizzou team?

You now officially live in Kansas.

[LadyMuskie]

You're doing what most die hard fans and administrators do. You're using yourself as a reference point. The vast majority of fans are not like you. They're not diehards, and they don't have a ton of interest in "boring opponents." Earlier this season there were threads about lower attendance and TV ratings. 90 percent of sports fans are casual fans, and Dayton is a game they'd be interested in.

If someone were to start a thread and just title it "DAYTON" and then the first post is simply "Should we play this team or not??" It'd probably have a hundred replies by the end of the day. There is no other team that would generate that kind of a response rate. Not one. To say Dayton isn't a live wire topic is to intentionally have your eyes closed. It would interest more fans than any other OOC game we could reasonably schedule.

I don't think anyone on Xhoops is a casual fan. But, I'd be willing to be that Xavier scheduling UK would garner a hell of lot more interest from casual fans than Dayton ever would. Most casual college basketball fans aren't that aware of Dayton. Xavier fans are aware because we were in a conference with them and having endured that period in our history, when we kicked their asses each and every year, we know that they're a bunch of mouth-breathing, backwater inbreds who make up one of the worst fanbases in the country.

If college basketball is so boring in the non-conference, then having a semi-marquee team like Xavier play a completely non-marquee team like Dayton is not going to do anything to fix the "boring" part of the season for most fans. That game wouldn't even make it on national television, and the only people tuning in would be Xavier fans and VD fans who can afford cable in their trailers. Now, if you could get Duke to play UK each non-con, and Arizona to play UConn, Syracuse to play Kansas, etc. you might make some noise, but you'll still be competing with football until January, and spring training in late February.

Basketball as a sport is never going to be as popular as that traditional All-American apple pie sport of baseball or the rough and tumble take no prisoners, watch people get knocked to the ground feel of football. Most people don't care about the NBA until the finals either. It is what it is. I don't think having Xavier start scheduling teams close by is going to fix any of that - for X or any other team.

[XUFan09]

Why the dichotomy between Dayton and UK, especially when UK wouldn't even schedule us? Also, I don't know why you would claim that the game wouldn't be on national television when it was every year that they played before, usually ESPN or ESPN2.

[xubrew]

I said....


It would interest more fans than any other OOC game we could reasonably schedule.

I believe Kentucky to be in the category of teams that we could not reasonably schedule. If it came down to UD or UK, then yes, UK is the better choice, although even if we did schedule UK, UD is still a better than most of the rest of our OOC. But, as far as teams that would be the most intriguing to the most fans that would readily schedule us home and home, Dayton probably tops the list.

[X-band '01]

In defense of Kentucky, they do play an ambitious OOC schedule year in and year out, even if many of those are made-for-TV matchups. We're not talking about a team like Syracuse who won't leave the state of New York unless TV is involved. (At least we see Syracuse-Georgetown back for a couple of seasons, though)

[blobfan]

...we know that they're a bunch of mouth-breathing, backwater inbreds who make up one of the worst fanbases in the country. ...

So you are saying it doesn't matter if we play UD or KY?

[paulxu]

Does Kentucky stay at #1 now that their top 7 scorers are headed to the NBA?

[Backyard Champ]

Does Kentucky stay at #1 now that their top 7 scorers are headed to the NBA?

Probably.

[Xville]

Does Kentucky stay at #1 now that their top 7 scorers are headed to the NBA?

Just depends if they get some of the remaining uncommitted players or not. I'm sure they probably will, which is really annoying

[smileyy]

Just depends if they get some of the remaining uncommitted players or not. I'm sure they probably will, which is really annoying

That's why those guys are uncommitted.

[waggy]

That's why those guys are uncommitted.

Exactly.

[paulxu]

Updated NBC rankings:

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/15/updated-2015-2016-college-basketball-way-too-early-preseason-top-25/

We slide to 15th, with Duke and Cal moving up.
But the BE has 5 teams, half the conference.
ACC has 6, P12 4, Big 12 and SEC 3, Big Ten 2 (?); Wichita St and Gonzaga round out the 25 teams.

So much for sneaking up...

[Xville]

I actually think Kentucky is in a bit of trouble for next year which makes me happy. Even if they get 1-2 of the remaining guys, i think they are looking at a double digit loss type season again especially with doubts that SKAL whatever his last name is going to have a lot of trouble ever seeing the college basketball court. I wonder if this may prompt douche Cal to head to the NBA if a decent job opens up.

[muskiefan82]

I actually think Kentucky is in a bit of trouble for next year which makes me happy. Even if they get 1-2 of the remaining guys, i think they are looking at a double digit loss type season again especially with doubts that SKAL whatever his last name is going to have a lot of trouble ever seeing the college basketball court. I wonder if this may prompt douche Cal to head to the NBA if a decent job opens up.

It is still the SEC.

[Xville]

It is still the SEC.

True, but the SEC is not going to be the doormat it was this year....it probably won't be a top 4 conference, but its still going to be much improved.

[X-man]

Updated NBC rankings:

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/15/updated-2015-2016-college-basketball-way-too-early-preseason-top-25/

We slide to 15th, with Duke and Cal moving up.
But the BE has 5 teams, half the conference.
ACC has 6, P12 4, Big 12 and SEC 3, Big Ten 2 (?); Wichita St and Gonzaga round out the 25 teams.

So much for sneaking up...
Wonder where we'd be if they also included London among our new players besides Sumner and Gates, whom they list.

[JTG]

Wonder where we'd be if they also included London among our new players besides Sumner and Gates, whom they list.

Wasn't he the highest rated of those 3 ?

[paulxu]

Wasn't he the highest rated of those 3 ?

Bluiett.

[xu82]

Bluiett.

I think the question was of the 3 - London, Sumner and Gates. Isn't it great having so much talent??!!

[paulxu]

I think the question was of the 3 - London, Sumner and Gates. Isn't it great having so much talent??!!

Sorry. London and Sumner 3.7 average, Gates 3.3 average.

[XUFan09]

I think London will be s big time player long-term, but this next year I don't think he'll have a big impact.

[xavierj]

Wonder where we'd be if they also included London among our new players besides Sumner and Gates, whom they list.

This isn't recruiting rankings, this is top 25 for next year. I don't think Xavier is rated in recruiting due to only having one guy coming in.

[paulxu]

DSR's return gets Georgetown back in preseason ranking.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12788000/kentucky-wildcats-stay-atop-revised-way-too-early-top-25