Zagsblog on MU - Future is Bright

[Goose85]

As expected, Zagsblog is all over the Big East. Here is an article on MU


http://zagsblog.com/articles/despite...s/#more-130660

[IrwinFletcher]

As excited as I am about next year's squad, I have tempered my enthusiasm about the team's success after watching the BE tourney and looking to see what other teams lose and who is coming back.

STJ loses everything and DePaul is just bad. Creighton will likely struggle too. But just about everyone else has key players coming back and/or top recruits coming in.

Villanova, Georgetown, Butler and Providence should lead the pack. MU, X and Seton Hall (assuming they get their act cleaned up) will battle it out for the middle of the pack.

Its going to be another tough conference next year with the likelihood of getting 6 invites to the Dance.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

As excited as I am about next year's squad, I have tempered my enthusiasm about the team's success after watching the BE tourney and looking to see what other teams lose and who is coming back.

STJ loses everything and DePaul is just bad. Creighton will likely struggle too. But just about everyone else has key players coming back and/or top recruits coming in.

Villanova, Georgetown, Butler and Providence should lead the pack. MU, X and Seton Hall (assuming they get their act cleaned up) will battle it out for the middle of the pack.

Its going to be another tough conference next year with the likelihood of getting 6 invites to the Dance.

I think Villanova and Georgetown are the two at the top. Nova adds 5-star Brunson and returns most of their team while the Hoyas have a star in DSR and lots of young talent that should blossom next year.

After that I think it's a bit more open. Butler and Xavier lose significant pieces, but bring back enough to make the Dance. Providence will lose Henton and could also lose Dunn, they have young talent, but I see them in the middle of the pack unless Dunn stays. I'd put Marquette in this group, the 3-6 teams that are scrapping for bids.

St. John's and Creighton both lose a ton, I don't trust the powder keg Willard has put together at SHU at all, and DePaul, despite their 5-2 start, is apparently still DePaul. They may bring everyone back, but if Melvin & Young couldn't get to the NIT why will Garrett & Hamilton be any different?

[IrwinFletcher]

I think Henton should have been voted the Conference Player of the Year. Kid is a stud who works so hard. That will prove to be a big loss for Providence.

[warriorfan4life]

I think Villanova and Georgetown are the two at the top. Nova adds 5-star Brunson and returns most of their team while the Hoyas have a star in DSR and lots of young talent that should blossom next year.

After that I think it's a bit more open. Butler and Xavier lose significant pieces, but bring back enough to make the Dance. Providence will lose Henton and could also lose Dunn, they have young talent, but I see them in the middle of the pack unless Dunn stays. I'd put Marquette in this group, the 3-6 teams that are scrapping for bids.

St. John's and Creighton both lose a ton, I don't trust the powder keg Willard has put together at SHU at all, and DePaul, despite their 5-2 start, is apparently still DePaul. They may bring everyone back, but if Melvin & Young couldn't get to the NIT why will Garrett & Hamilton be any different?

I think Creighton is in that second tier of teams. Their two best players on the roster (Maurice Watson and Cole Huff) were sitting out this year as transfers, and they return some other nice pieces with Milliken, Hegner, Zierden (if he can just stay healthy), and a couple of serviceable type bigs (Groselle, Hanson). If 1-2 of their freshmen (RS frosh Ronnie Harrell, Justin Patton, Marlon Stewart, Khyri Thomas, or Martin Krampelj) can be a consistent part of their rotation, they should gave a solid, deep group. Do not believe that they will be a top 25 team, but it would not surprise me if they return to the NCAA's.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

I totally forgot about Watson. He should be a stud for them.

[Phantom Warrior]

I thought I read a couple of days ago that viewership on FS 1 was up 20% over a year ago. Don't remember if that was overall viewership or viewership for BE basketball.

[TheSultan]

I thought I read a couple of days ago that viewership on FS 1 was up 20% over a year ago. Don't remember if that was overall viewership or viewership for BE basketball.

It was the NYT article. 20% more of something very small is still something small. Just pray that Fox gets more rights to add to its stable in the future, and be grateful it is a long term contract.

[AlexJesswein]

**NOTE: Rankings based on Scout.com Only. Players 4* or higher are listed.**

Butler
OUT-Kameron Woods, Alex Barlow
IN: Tyler Lewis (Tr)

Creighton
OUT-Austin Chapman, Devin Brooks, Will Artino, Ricky Kreklow, Avery Dingman
IN: Maurice Watson (Tr), Cole Huff (Tr), Justin Patton (4*)

DePaul
OUT-Jamee Crockett, Greg Sequele, Forrest Robinson
IN: No Top 100 or Transfers

Georgetown
OUT: Josh Smith, Mikael Hopkins, Jabril Trawick, Aaron Bowen
IN: Akoy Agau (Tr), Jessie Govan (4*), Marcus Derrickson (4*)

Marquette
OUT: Derrick Wilson, Juan Anderson, Matt Carlino
IN: Wally Ellenson (Tr), Traci Carter (4*), Haanif Cheatham (4*), Henry Ellenson (5*), Matt Heldt (4*)

Providence
OUT: Carson Desrosiers, LaDonte Henton, Tyler Harris (Europe), Kris Dunn (NBA)
IN: No Transfer/Top 100

Seton Hall:
OUT: Haralds Karlis, Stephane Manga, Brandon Mobley, Isaiah Whitehead (NBA/Europe)
IN: No Transfer/Top 100

St John's
OUT: Jamal Branch, D'Angelo Harrison, Phil Greene, Dom Pointer, Rysheed Jordan (NBA), Chris Obekpa (NBA/Europe)
IN: Brandon Sampson (4*)

Villanova
OUT: Darrun Hilliard, JayVaughn Pinkston
IN: Jalen Brunson (5*), Donte Divincenzeo (4*)

Xavier
OUT: Dee Davis, Matt Stainbrook
IN: No Transfer/Top 100

[AlexJesswein]

Based on the above--As of today, I would rank the teams as follows:

1. Villanova
2. Georgetown
3. Butler
4. Xavier
5. Marquette
6. Creighton
7. Providence
8. DePaul
9. Seton Hall
10. St. John's