X picked to finish 2nd at Media Day

[Muskie]

Link (http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/xavier/2016/10/11/xavier-picked-2nd-big-east-preseason-coaches-poll/91883656/)

Xavier’s men’s basketball team on Tuesday was picked second in the Big East preseason poll, its highest rank by league coaches since joining the conference in 2013.
The Musketeers trailed only defending national champion Villanova. Jay Wright’s Wildcats were tabbed unanimously to win the Big East regular-season crown and gleaned all nine possible first-place votes in the poll, which was unveiled during media day at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Because coaches cannot vote for their own teams, it didn’t require much detective work to see who Wright picked for the No. 1 slot – Xavier, which received one first-place vote.

[sirthought]

Nice. Not too surprising. They've been coming from behind in expectations for so long, I hope they don't lose that fuel to fight and command respect when it counts…the end of the season.

Of course, the attention now helps in other ways. Go XU!

[X-band '01]

Interesting that Georgetown was picked above Seton Hall and Butler - they're arguably more talented than both teams, but they were wildly inconsistent last season.

[sirthought]

I'm guessing the conference will be pretty competitive this season (even if some teams aren't competing nationally). I'm sure it was hard to split hairs about what order to put things in.

[XMuskieFTW]

Realistically there are 7 teams that have a chance at the tourney this season. I expect the Big East to get 5 and possibly even a 6th in to the tourney this year.

[sirthought]

Is Shamorie Ponds tabbed to start this season for the Johnnies?

[MuskieCinci]

Interesting that Georgetown was picked above Seton Hall and Butler - they're arguably more talented than both teams, but they were wildly inconsistent last season.

It looks like they were tied with Seton Hall in votes, so I'm not sure why they aren't listed as tied for 4th.

I do think that Xavier is the second most talented team this season, but I would actually be a little bit surprised if we finish in second. Our depth concerns me since Eddie Ekiyor stayed in Canada and the suspension of Myles. I am expecting an extra loss in January and February where a couple of guys go cold and we don't have a ton of other options that we can try out to hopefully get hot and overcome it, or some tired legs during a road game where the other team just has way more energy.