Preseason Top 25

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Too early to be right, but never too early to be fun. Here are 2 recent stories:

http://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...teady-in-post-draft-decisions-top-25-and-one/

http://collegebasketball.nbcsports....ports-2016-17-way-too-early-preseason-top-25/

 

[dukedevilz]

NBC has Maryland ranked 22nd - I just don't see it. They lose a lot, and they're not bringing in any super-talented players. I also think MSU is a bit overranked. They return one player from last year that averaged more than 4 ppg. Izzo's as good as they get in the business, but he's either going to need huge production from his incoming freshman - or major developments from his returning players. I think I like most of the other picks.

 

[imajericho]

Kentucky is overranked again. They lost their by far 2 best players and I don't see anyone in the caliber of Ulis or Murray incoming.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Team________CBS_NBC
Duke_________1___1
UK___________2___2
Nova_________3___4
Kansas_______4___3
Xavier_______5__13
Oregon_______6___5
UNC__________7___8
MSU__________8___6
Zona_________9___9
Virginia____10___7
Indiana_____11__14
UCLA________12__15
Wisconsin___13__11
St Marys____14__24
R.I.________15__19
Gonzaga_____16__12
FSU_____________16
UConn_______17____
Purdue______18__17
Dayton__________18
WVa_________19____
Louisville__20__10
Va Tech_________20
Cal_________21____
Cincin__________21
Creighton___22__23
Maryland________22
Miami_______23____
Butler______24____
Wichita St__25__25
NC State____26____
.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Kentucky is overranked again. They lost their by far 2 best players and I don't see anyone in the caliber of Ulis or Murray incoming.

I agree that those are big losses, but who do you move ahead of them?

 

[DSouthr]

Both those said Blackmon was coming back and I thought he ended up staying in the draft???

 

[UNC '92]

Maryland gets a boost with Melo coming back.

 

[imajericho]

I agree that those are big losses, but who do you move ahead of them?

MSU, UNC, Maybe UVA.

Blackmon came back. Williams left.

 

[jchammock]

Kentucky is overranked again. They lost their by far 2 best players and I don't see anyone in the caliber of Ulis or Murray incoming.

overranked? I agree 100% I believe rankings shouldn't even start until a month or more into the season.

Ulis and Murray? I agree, both great players. I'll especially miss Ulis. But I think Fox and Monk will be very good. And I know Lee and Skal are leaving but I like our front court players coming in a lot more than this past season.

I'd say around 15 would be correct for now but I'd say we'll be very good come tourney time.

 

[Sk1310]

Kentucky is overranked again. They lost their by far 2 best players and I don't see anyone in the caliber of Ulis or Murray incoming.

Fox and Monk will hold their own.

 

[aah555]

Fox and Monk will hold their own.

Agreed. I don't think there will be much of a drop-off there at all when you factor in their defense. IMO, while I think UK will be better than last year, I think the real question is whether they've improved enough to win at the level they want in a year where I think there will be a lot of strong college b-ball teams. While I'm sure some will disagree here, I think Duke is going to by dynamite, KU returns a lot + adds a real difference maker in Jackson, Nova returns a large share of its rotation players from a championship team (including its 2 leading scorers), Oregon is returning most of its key pieces, and UNC, UVA, IU and Zona field rosters that could have easily earned them top 5 billing last season.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I added a column reflecting how "loaded" the teams are, based on this Bleacher Report article:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...sketball-rosters-of-the-2016-17-season/page/1

Team________CBS_NBC_Loaded
Duke_________1___1____1
UK___________2___2____2
Nova_________3___4____5
Kansas_______4___3____7
Xavier_______5__13___14
Oregon_______6___5____6
UNC__________7___8____9
MSU__________8___6
Zona_________9___9____3
Virginia____10___7
Indiana_____11__14
UCLA________12__15____8
Wisconsin___13__11____4
St Marys____14__24___15
R.I.________15__19___13
Gonzaga_____16__12___10
FSU_____________16___16
UConn_______17_______17
Purdue______18__17
Dayton__________18
WVa_________19_______20
Louisville__20__10___19
Va Tech_________20___18
Cal_________21____
Cincin__________21
Creighton___22__23___11
Maryland________22
Miami_______23____
Butler______24____
Wichita St__25__25
NC State____26____
Marquette____________12
.

 

[gary-7]

I agree that those are big losses, but who do you move ahead of them?

All I can say is with what we have coming back and we're ranked outside the top 5? YGTBFKM.

 

[HeelFan58]

All I can say is with what we have coming back and we're ranked outside the top 5? YGTBFKM.

Some times it's good to just fly under the "radar".

 

[gary-7]

Some times it's good to just fly under the "radar".

Yeah, but I kinda liked last season's lofty ranking, and then proving the haters wrong and living up to it at the end....

Seriously though, let's think about this: Our most likely starting lineup would have five (5) McD All-Americans who are all Jrs and Srs, with some experienced depth and a nice freshman class, none of whom will hafta start --- as compared to teams starting several freshmen. Plus we're coming off the national title game. YET, the poll voters are saying we're not even a Top-5 team??... Allrighty then...

 

[Sk1310]

Yeah, but I kinda liked last season's lofty ranking, and then proving the haters wrong and living up to it at the end....

Seriously though, let's think about this: Our most likely starting lineup would have five (5) McD All-Americans who are all Jrs and Srs, with some experienced depth and a nice freshman class, none of whom will hafta start --- as compared to teams starting several freshmen. Plus we're coming off the national title game. YET, the poll voters are saying we're not even a Top-5 team??... Allrighty then...

Come on Gary, its because we have a roster full of "veterans" and not 17, 18 year old one and doners. Thats the name of the game now.

 

[gary-7]

Come on Gary, its because we have a roster full of "veterans" and not 17, 18 year old one and doners. Thats the name of the game now.

Yeah, guess our ol' geezers just can't keep up with them younguns...

And y'know what's funny is that by that logic an NBA team full of rookies should be better than the Spurs, Cavs or Warriors

 

[UNC Blue Hup]

If we're outside the top 5 I'll be shocked--I'll take Berry over any PG in the country next year..Hicks JJ Wooooooeee!

 

[RoseHeel]

All I can say is with what we have coming back and we're ranked outside the top 5? YGTBFKM.

I agree. Kansas should not be in the top 5. And I'd put us over Virginia and Oregon.

You could even argue that Kentucky has hype on their side once again.

JMO.

 

[ChapelHeeled]

I agree. Kansas should not be in the top 5. And I'd put us over Virginia and Oregon.

You could even argue that Kentucky has hype on their side once again.

JMO.

Heels will be a Top 5 team this fall (jmho). Roy Williams is doing a heck of a job rather quietly to many nationally. Hope that all of our guys do great things this summer as far as working hard. Can not wait for Oct. 15 to roll around this fall...

 

[imajericho]

overranked? I agree 100% I believe rankings shouldn't even start until a month or more into the season.

Ulis and Murray? I agree, both great players. I'll especially miss Ulis. But I think Fox and Monk will be very good. And I know Lee and Skal are leaving but I like our front court players coming in a lot more than this past season.

I'd say around 15 would be correct for now but I'd say we'll be very good come tourney time.

You probabl6 upgrade in the front court but are worse in the back court.

 

[DSouthr]

I'd say around 15 would be correct for now but I'd say we'll be very good come tourney time.

IDK JC, not me taking a shot at ya but I don't see it. I like Bam a ton as a player but I think he needs to play beside a true center and I would not expect a ton from SJK, my opinion. I don't know how Gabriel will fit in to that mix but looks like he is going to be at the 4 and I think he is out of position there. Bolden or even Lee would have made a huge difference for your team, not that I see him as a one & done guy but more he would allow Bam to play the 4 more so than I see SJK allowing for that. Understand, Bam is a loves to defend, rebounding, big time motor guy, he is not a polished scorer. He will rock the stick backs and the occasional slam for sure but he needs so real work before he is seen as a go to scorer with solid go to moves deep in the paint.

No offense toward Fox or Monk but IMO it is a pretty strong step back from Ullis & Murry, Briscoe is going to have to shoot much better than I have seen from him so far.

Just my opinion but I see this Ky team about on par if not just slightly below last season's version. Due to the SEC schedule they will win some games and that should keep them in or close to the top 20 all season but I don't see this as a top 10 team, way way way over ranked at 2. I would put them in the 13-15 range and see what they do.

IMHO this is not a Ky team that is going to out talent a lot of teams outside of the weakish SEC. If you can not out talent teams then the only other solution is player develoment and coaching and kalipari is a recruiter and not the coach on the floor that adds another 8-10pts to the final score. As much as a hate K, UNC fans know, K being on the side lines is worth 8-10pts a game for the dukies.

 

[HeelFan58]

KenPom UNC #4