2023-24 Media Predictions

[X-band '01]

CBS is the first site to weigh in:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/big-east-expert-picks-2023-24-predictions-projected-order-of-finish-overrated-and-underrated-teams/

Most of the panel picked Xavier to finish 6th; they were 7th overall because of an outlier list from one of the panelists who picked Providence 4th (?!?) and Seton Hall 6th and Xavier 8th.

We'll hear this week what the coaches and media pick for Big East media day.

[noteggs]

Not media, but early Kenpom. As we know, metrics don’t matter much until January-ish. Got us at 34…

https://kenpom.com/

[UCGRAD4X]

Not media, but early Kenpom. As we know, metrics don’t matter much until January-ish. Got us at 34…

https://kenpom.com/

Big East 4, 11, 12, & 23 with Xavier 5th.

[bleedXblue]

Crap shoot this early with X. I wouldn't be surprised to see us really struggle early and I wouldn't be surprised to see us win some games and knock off some good teams. I think it will be combination of both.........

[GoMuskies]

AP Poll is out.
#5 Marquette
#6 UConn
#8 Creighton
#22 Villanova
St. Johns getting 47 points and Xavier getting 8.

To put it mildly, this Xavier team has its work cut out for it.

Oh yeah, Purdue is #3, Houston is #7, San Diego State is #17, and SMC is #23 (we'll play Purdue, Houston and one of the other two).

[noteggs]

Yikes, 25% of our games will be against preseason top 10 teams!

[X-band '01]

AP Poll is out.
#5 Marquette
#6 UConn
#8 Creighton
#22 Villanova
St. Johns getting 47 points and Xavier getting 8.

To put it mildly, this Xavier team has its work cut out for it.

Oh yeah, Purdue is #3, Houston is #7, San Diego State is #17, and SMC is #23 (we'll play Purdue, Houston and one of the other two).

And that's only because one pollster (Darnell Dickson of the Provo Daily Herald) is going largely off of last year's rankings. He is blissfully unaware of Xavier's rebuilt roster.

[xukeith]

Coaches poll out also.

X 31st ahead of SJU with 13 votes.

[sirthought]

Nothing but YETIs here at XU. Mythical beasts who haven't been seen by anyone and haven't proven anything in the Big East, YET.

The potential excites me, but ZERO players have shown they are the alpha dog who can win games at this level yet. No seasoned upperclassmen. No returning ROYs. No McD's freshmen.

Claude has shown great natural instinct, but he was a role player at best last year. He's shown nothing YET about taking over.

And that's really it. We don't know anything else.

The media's reluctance is not surprising. Show me the YETI!

[noteggs]

Coaches poll out also.

X 31st ahead of SJU with 13 votes.

Speaking of coaches in this poll, Jay Young of Fairfield is out as HC.

[GoMuskies]

There must be an interesting story there!

[xukeith]

When is BE Media day?

[paulxu]

https://twitter.com/BIGEAST/status/1696205810110509087

[X-band '01]

There must be an interesting story there!

Considering there is also an assistant coach that is no longer listed on their website, there is definitely something wild that happened behind the scenes.

Let's just say it will make Steve Masiello's abrupt departure from Manhattan last year look like child's play.

[GoMuskies]

It's the women's side, but Paige Bueckers is back, so UConn is ranked #2 behind a loaded LSU. I'm sure Xavier's two matchups with UConn will go well.

[94GRAD]

It's the women's side, but Paige Bueckers is back, so UConn is ranked #2 behind a loaded LSU. I'm sure Xavier's two matchups with UConn will go well.

There is a new uneven schedule on the women's side. Only play UConn once, luckily it's at home.

[X-band '01]

When you've lost 25 league contests in a row, does where it's played really matter?

I was shocked their game at UConn was within 10 last year.

[noteggs]

Speaking of top 25, Trey Green is in Rothstein’s most impactful freshman for upcoming season!

https://x.com/jonrothstein/status/1714627397583315280?s=42&t=U5TyKr_wshJKowj_nNzfHg

[xukeith]

Speaking of top 25, Trey Green is in Rothstein’s most impactful freshman for upcoming season!

https://x.com/jonrothstein/status/1714627397583315280?s=42&t=U5TyKr_wshJKowj_nNzfHg

Most "influential" in Big East kind of.

[sirthought]

It's the women's side, but Paige Bueckers is back, so UConn is ranked #2 behind a loaded LSU. I'm sure Xavier's two matchups with UConn will go well.

Reid Ducharme's older sister Caroline is also returning for UCONN after a bad injury. All Big East second team as a freshman. That team is loaded.

[X-band '01]

Speaking of coaches in this poll, Jay Young of Fairfield is out as HC.


There must be an interesting story there!

https://www.basketballforum.com/threads/jay-young-steps-down-from-fairfield.694093/

Young is out, a Fairfield assistant is out and now a rumor is out that something happened on a foreign trip in Costa Rica that may or may not have involved a prostitute.

[xudash]

https://www.basketballforum.com/threads/jay-young-steps-down-from-fairfield.694093/

Young is out, a Fairfield assistant is out and now a rumor is out that something happened on a foreign trip in Costa Rica that may or may not have involved a prostitute.

That isn’t very Jesuit-like.

They just put up a new on campus arena. Bad timing!

[D-West & PO-Z]

BE Coaches Poll and Preseason Awards/All Conference Teams

2023-24 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Pts.
1. Marquette (7) 96
2. Creighton (4) 92
3. Connecticut 79
4. Villanova 76
5. St. John’s 59
6. Xavier 57
7. Providence 51
8. Georgetown 34
9. Seton Hall 30
10. Butler 16
11. DePaul 15


2023-24 BIG EAST Preseason Honors

BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Tyler Kolek, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-3, 190, Cumberland, R.I.

BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year
Stephon Castle, Connecticut, G, Fr., 6-6, 215, Covington, Ga.

Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Trey Alexander, Creighton, G, Jr., 6-4, 190, Oklahoma City, Okla.
*Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton, C, Sr., 7-1, 270, St. Louis, Mo.
Bryce Hopkins, Providence, F-G, Jr., 6-7, 220, Oak Park, Ill.
Joel Soriano, St. John’s, C, Sr., 6-11, 255, Yonkers, N.Y.
Justin Moore, Villanova, G, Gr., 6-4, 210, Fort Washington, Md.

Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Donovan Clingan, Connecticut, C, So., 7-2, 280, Bristol, Conn.
Baylor Scheierman, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-7, 205, Aurora, Neb.
Oso Ighodaro, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-11, 225, Chandler, Ariz.
Kam Jones, Marquette, G, Jr., 6-5, 200, Memphis, Tenn.
Eric Dixon, Villanova, F, R-Sr., 6-8, 255, Willow Grove, Pa.

Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Alex Karaban, Connecticut, F, R-So., 6-8, 220, Southborough, Mass.
Devin Carter, Providence, G, Jr., 6-3, 195, Miami, Fla.
Zach Freemantle, Xavier, F, Gr., 6-9, 227, Teaneck, N.J.
*unanimous selection

[GoMuskies]

We're picked 6th by people who think Zach Freemantle is going to be our best player? That's not ideal.

Luckily these things are pretty meaningless.

[muskiefan82]

The real question to ponder is whether or not a Sean Miller coached team can actually sneak up on people......

[xukeith]

Do the coaches/media know something we do not? Freemantle honorable mention? C'mon. Is that the sympathy vote?

[Xville]

I keep saying it every year but every year it feels like it’s truer. This may be the best top to bottom the big East has been in its second iteration. Finish in the top 5 this year and you have really done something.

[xu82]

We're picked 6th by people who think Zach Freemantle is going to be our best player? That's not ideal.

Luckily these things are pretty meaningless.

Ha! If that’s all they know about Xavier basketball, it actually makes me feel a little bit better. Although they should lose their internet card for a day, at least.

[GoMuskies]

CBS ranks Xavier the 61st best team in college basketball. That would place us #7 in the Big East.

2. Marquette
7. Creighton
13. UConn
24. Villanova
42. St. Johns
51. Providence
61. Xavier
68. Butler
88. Seton Hall

Do note that Dayton is ranked #25 here, so credibility is very, very, very low.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-rankings-cbs-sports-top-100-and-1-best-teams-heading-into-the-2023-24-season/

[GoMuskies]

Lunardi, meanwhile, has upgraded us to one of the last 4 in with his latest Bracketology. 6 Big East teams. Presumably, this is about the last one before the actual season starts in a couple of weeks.

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/bracketology/ncaa-bracketology-2024-march-madness-men-field-predictions

[noteggs]

CBS ranks Xavier the 61st best team in college basketball. That would place us #7 in the Big East.

2. Marquette
7. Creighton
13. UConn
24. Villanova
42. St. Johns
51. Providence
61. Xavier
68. Butler
88. Seton Hall

Do note that Dayton is ranked #25 here, so credibility is very, very, very low.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-rankings-cbs-sports-top-100-and-1-best-teams-heading-into-the-2023-24-season/

And SucCKS at 41 to add a few more very(s).

[X-band '01]

CBS has Butler 8th; the BE coaches picked them 10th. I'm more inclined to agree with the coaches.

[American X]

I looked at the calendar and realized that Xavier plays next Monday(!). I also realized that I have no idea what to expect.

[GoMuskies]

I have no idea what to expect.

Literally none. I'm starting to have some anxiety about it. Sean Miller's presence helps tremendously with that anxiety, though.

[X-man]

Literally none. I'm starting to have some anxiety about it. Sean Miller's presence helps tremendously with that anxiety, though.

What I expect is for a struggle early, but a competitive team by league play. And that's because I trust Sean both as a recruiter and a coach.

[paulxu]

Most seasons I have an "expectation" for the outcome; then there may be some depression if it's not met...or elation if it's exceeded.
Whether it's how far we can go in the tournament...or in some recent seasons, will we even make the tournament.

This year is playing out in a different way. With Zack and Hunter out, I really don't know any of the other players well.
So, I'm adopting a different outlook.

I'm just looking to being entertained. That's it. Will also relieve a lot of normal angst, heartburn, and cut way down on the bourbon bill.

[bobbiemcgee]

Slick Rick loses to d II Pace?

[X-band '01]

The Pace Setters - I kid you not, that's what they're called.

[xu82]

I looked at the calendar and realized that Xavier plays next Monday(!). I also realized that I have no idea what to expect.

They have one really good player I remember, and a great coach. Like a great chef, he will make something of this. Sean shopped for these groceries, he will make it work. I can’t wait to get a look because I have no idea what to expect.



.

[sirthought]

The inside scoop guys on this board must know where the game will be broadcast next week, right?

[xavierj]

The inside scoop guys on this board must know where the game will be broadcast next week, right?

FS1 will have whip around coverage of all Big East games on the 6th. To watch the full game you need to use the fox sports app.

[sirthought]

FS1 will have whip around coverage of all Big East games on the 6th. To watch the full game you need to use the fox sports app.

Thank you!