Rossox
Nov 30 2005, 09:58 PM
QUOTE
Cuse (not surprising to me) appears way overrated.
Based on what? Most pre-season publications had them ranked in the high teens. Heck, SI had them #29. They squeeked out a comeback win tonight over the Jaspers but, other than the loss at home to a solid Bucknell team, they're right where I thought they would be right now.
HoyaSoxa
Nov 30 2005, 10:21 PM
Cuse is a strange team to me. GMac is incredibly streaky and no one else on the team is a proven player in my mind. I know there are a bunch of guys who have been biding their time, but to me it does not seem like a Top 25 team unless Devendorf and Roberts are very good on a regular basis. I spoke a bit too soon because I thought they had lost to Manhattan, but I stand by my statement that they seemed overrated in the preseason.
At the same time, I have tons of doubts about my Hoyas, and there were times that I had convinced myself they were the third best team in the conference this fall. Homerism clouds your vision. Guard play matters a lot in college basketball, and Georgetown does not have great guards on either side of the ball. Their attempt at defense against Vanderbilt the other day was shocking, and I am very worried about what they will do at Oregon and at Illinois. Two losses in those two will mean they need a great conference season.
Otto
Dec 2 2005, 04:37 PM
Unfortunately, I think I agree that Syracuse isn't a high-teens quality team, and was probably overrated.
Then again, I think the term "overrated" is overrated. I really don't care if a bunch of people were wrong in what they expected.
Clears Cleaver
Dec 3 2005, 09:05 AM
BIG game for Nova today versus Oklahoma. MUST win. 5:00 on ESPN
HoyaSoxa
Dec 3 2005, 11:48 AM
QUOTE (Clears Cleaver @ Dec 3 2005, 09:05 AM)
BIG game for Nova today versus Oklahoma. MUST win. 5:00 on ESPN
There are no must wins in December, and certainly not for undefeated (though obviously untested) teams. A Nova win would be great for them and nice for the conference, but they are matched up with a wildly different style of team, and who knows who wins that match.
Georgetown at Oregon this afternoon, 3 pm EST. Fox Sports regional networks are carrying the game, including FSN New England if anyone wants to check out the Hoyas as Texas and Navy start to run away in the second half. Then again, maybe you shouldn't watch- I do not expect much out of this game, nor Thurs at Illinois (ESPN, 9 PM) for that matter.
Clears Cleaver
Dec 5 2005, 11:56 PM
Three teams ranked in the top five this week. Of course, would be nice if the second tier teams stepped it up a bit...
Otto
Dec 7 2005, 06:21 PM
More crappy news for St. John's:
"December 7, 2005 -- St. John's star guard Daryll Hill has a bone spur in his left knee that is likely to be problematic all season and will probably require arthroscopic surgery at some point, a source close to the situation told The Post."
Clears Cleaver
Dec 7 2005, 06:27 PM
That makes a bad team jsut a horrible team. When they play USF and Seton Hall, their games may draw less than 1,000 people
Butch Hobsons elbo chips
Dec 13 2005, 11:38 PM
DePaul stuns #16 Wake Forest 84-81 which is a nice boot for the Big East.
In a game that was close all night, DePaul hung on for the win to run their record to 5-3 this season.
After losses to Bradley, N.Illinois & Bucknell, maybe DePaul can build off this win and rise above some of the Big East mediocrity so far. It would be nice if someone else stepped up to join #2UConn, #3Nova & #4Louisville in the Top 25.
QUOTE
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- Sammy Mejia scored a season-high 24 points -- including a basket to answer a late Wake Forest run in the final seconds -- and DePaul beat the 16th-ranked Demon Deacons 84-81 on Tuesday night to snap their 21-game home winning streak.
Draelon Burns added a career-high 22 points in his first start of the season for the Blue Demons (5-3), who beat an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent for the first time in five years.
Eric Williams scored 24 points for the Demon Deacons (7-2), who looked rusty after an extended layoff en route to the rare home loss. Wake Forest was tied with Utah for the nation's fifth-longest home winning streak and had won 28 straight home nonconference games.
HoyaSoxa
Dec 13 2005, 11:44 PM
DePaul plays a heck of a tough schedule OOC, but I don't think too many people are expecting them to make a serious run in the Big East this year. Wake may be overrated (they had not beaten anyone other than Texas Tech) or they may have just played a very bad game on the road during finals.
UCon and Nova thus far are on another level compared to the rest of the Big East. L'Ville might be there too, but they need to beat someone first. They play Kentucky this weekend, that might tell us a bit more about where they are.
Butch Hobsons elbo chips
Dec 14 2005, 01:39 AM
Well Louisville hosts Nova on 1/05 in Big East opener so that will be a big conference game that could break up the Top 5 grouping.
I won't care if no one othe than those 3 make a run at the BE Title. I just hope that a few more middle teams get into Top 25 rankings instead of beating up on each other this season whicj may cost them at the end.
Clears Cleaver
Dec 14 2005, 06:24 AM
The DePaul game last night was never really close until the final seconds, thanks largely to a little home cooking from the refs. Fouls - 25-15 in Wake's favor and foul shots 32-13. Pretty impressive win for a team that was losing at home to low-majors, but these late December games can always have upsets as the kids are typically in the midst of exams and play a sporadic schedule. Still, Wake is perceived as the third or fourth best team in the ACC, so it will be a good win for DePaul. Wake is probably not that good come March and may not make the tourney. Duke, BC, UNC, MD and NCS may all be better
Otto
Dec 14 2005, 10:19 AM
>>>>>
Wake may be overrated (they had not beaten anyone other than Texas Tech) or they may have just played a very bad game on the road during finals.
>>>>>
Last night's game was at Wake.
HoyaSoxa
Dec 14 2005, 10:27 AM
QUOTE (Otto @ Dec 14 2005, 10:19 AM)
Last night's game was at Wake.
Yeah, I realized that when I read my post this morning. Should have corrected it. That makes it a better win for the Big East, so it makes me happier.
djcohen
Jan 2 2006, 01:32 AM
Seton Hall beat a pretty good Iona team yesterday (#22 in the early RPI, which may not be entirely misleading given how tough the Gaels hung against Kentucky). I'm hoping the Hall puts together a few more games like this one; it's pretty hard to root against Louis Orr.
Rod Becks Mullet
Jan 2 2006, 11:31 AM
QUOTE
Seton Hall beat a pretty good Iona team yesterday (#22 in the early RPI, which may not be entirely misleading given how tough the Gaels hung against Kentucky).
Same Iona team that won at Iowa State as well. Good W for the Hall. Definitely a game Orr couldn't afford to lose if he wants to keep his job.
Butch Hobsons elbo chips
Jan 8 2006, 02:19 PM
West Virginia starts with 2 wins on the Road in the BE League play.
Pittsnogle & gang are sending notice to the League.
Rossox
Jan 8 2006, 02:39 PM
QUOTE
West Virginia starts with 2 wins on the Road in the BE League play.
Pittsnogle & gang are sending notice to the League.
Indeed they are. They had Texas on the ropes too. They are one solid middle man away from being a Top 5 team IMO.
Butch Hobsons elbo chips
Jan 9 2006, 07:17 PM
Well some of the early season questions are starting to be answered about the depth in the BE. WV & Marquette with BE upsets this week.
Latest rankings have 6 BE Teams in Top 25 including 4 of the Top 11 teams.
Rod Becks Mullet
Jan 9 2006, 07:49 PM
WV was never a question, especially the way they played early. I'm not sure Marquette has answered any questions, as they played very well against UConn but have a couple of bad losses (Winthrop and Nebraska) to offset that.
I think its going to be on Georgetown and Syracuse in the next few weeks to prove themselves worthy of being mentioned in the top tier with UConn, WVU, Villanova and Louisville. Pressure mounting on Louisville also, as many are coming down on them for a soft non-conference slate. There are plenty of chances to win a quality conference game to quiet people.
Saying they have 6 of the top 25 shouldn't be a surprise though, as there are 16 teams in the league. The Big 10 has 5 in an 11 team conference. The ACC has 5 in a 12 team conference. But I'm not one to put much stock into polls.
Butch Hobsons elbo chips
Jan 9 2006, 08:19 PM
QUOTE
..in the top tier with UConn, WVU, Villanova and Louisville.
And #11 Pittsburgh remains one of the few undefeated Division I teams. They face Depaul at home and then travel to Louisville this Saturday which should challenge their unblemished standing. PITT also had a soft schedule up til their win over #22 Wisconsin on New Years Eve.
{ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll}
HoyaSoxa
Jan 9 2006, 08:34 PM
From what I have seen, Villanova, UCon, and WVU are the top 3. L'Ville needs to beat someone to round out the top 4. Pit is probably better than I expected, but not #11 in the country. Cincy is also better than expected. GU and Cuse have plenty to prove, and GU has a very tough stretch coming up with @WVU, @UCon, v. USF, v. Duke. If they can go .500 there they are in pretty good shape, but if they only beat USF they will not have many more opportunities for a real quality win (Top 25 RPI).
Marquette, DePaul, Rutgers, and ND will be tough outs every night, but probably not good enough for the Big Dance. Seton Hall, St. John's, USF, and PC should consider it an accomplishment to make the Big East tournament- I would bet against it for each.
HoyaSoxa
Jan 9 2006, 08:57 PM
Who let Karl Hess back into the Big East?
Rod Becks Mullet
Jan 10 2006, 08:51 AM
Hoya, I agree with what you said about Georgetown. Beating USF + winning 1 other among that group will be enough to give the Hoyas a lift they need towards the tournament. They're a team people want to acknowledge, but haven't given anybody a reason to yet. A win at WVU or UConn, or at home against Duke, would definitely be a good enough reason.
Rod Becks Mullet
Jan 10 2006, 12:24 PM
Press release from Cincinnati - torn ACL for Kirkland. Out for the season.
HoyaSoxa
Jan 10 2006, 01:51 PM
Per Andy Katz on ESPN.com
QUOTE
From espn.com
Pittsburgh and Villanova won't play this season under the Big East's unbalanced schedule format for the newly created 16-team, 16-game conference schedule. But that apparently won't happen once the Big East's new television contract starts in 2007-08. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese confirmed that the conference is looking into going up from 16 to 18 regular-season games, with each school playing every conference member at least once (and retained three home-and-homes, like the current schedule). If it remains at 16 games, then the schedule would likely include single games against every other conference team and one home-and-home against a comparable team (with top teams playing each other for TV). Tranghese said he is in discussion with other commissioners, including the Big Ten, to see if there could be uniformity among the conferences to go to a set number (18) of conference games. The thought about moving toward 18 games came about after the NCAA management council recently endorsed a package that calls for a universal season start date -- the second Friday in November -- in 2006-07.
Yes! Great news, especially the part about expanding to 18 conference games. Then my dream of 4 distinct 4 team divisions will work perfectly: you play your other 3 division partners home and home and everyone else alternates from year to year. You set up the divisions to preserve rivalries, you give a first round bye to the division winner in the BET, and the last place team in each division stays home. My ideal divisions (from a purely selfish Hoya fan POV):
GU, St. John's, Syracuse, Villanova
UCon, PC, Rutgers, Seton Hall
Pitt, WVU, L'Ville, Cincy
ND, Marquette, DePaul, USF
I am sure it would not work out that perfectly, because Cuse wants UCon twice, nobody wants USF and there are competitive balance issues currently, but this could be so much fun.
Rod Becks Mullet
Jan 10 2006, 02:02 PM
Interesting thought. I would flip Georgetown & Villanova with Rutgers and Seton Hall. This way the 2 NYC area schools are together...you keep the 2 NJ schools together, as well as the 2 in NY state (as well as keeping Syracuse and UConn, 2 power players, in different divisions)
Clears Cleaver
Jan 10 2006, 03:33 PM
QUOTE (HoyaSoxa @ Jan 10 2006, 01:51 PM)
GU, St. John's, Syracuse, Villanova
UCon, PC, Rutgers, Seton Hall
Pitt, WVU, L'Ville, Cincy
ND, Marquette, DePaul, USF
I highly doubt they go to four divisions, but two conferences might make sense:
Big - Syracuse, UConn, Rutgers, Pitt, WVU, Louisville, Cincy, ND, USF
Little - GU, STJ, PC, SHU, Marquette, DePaul, Villanova
OK, that's 9-7, but that is what it will likely look like come 2008...LOL
HoyaSoxa
Jan 10 2006, 03:46 PM
I am sure TV will dictate the home and homes as always, but I would like to see some attention given to traditional rivalries too- the original Big East schools should play each other more often, L'Ville and Cincy should play twice, the ND-DePaul-Marquette midwest Catholics are natural rivals, Pit-WVU is a longstanding football rivalry, etc.
HoyaSoxa
Jan 10 2006, 03:47 PM
QUOTE (Clears Cleaver @ Jan 10 2006, 03:33 PM)
I highly doubt they go to four divisions, but two conferences might make sense:
Big - Syracuse, UConn, Rutgers, Pitt, WVU, Louisville, Cincy, ND, USF
Little - GU, STJ, PC, SHU, Marquette, DePaul, Villanova
OK, that's 9-7, but that is what it will likely look like come 2008...LOL
Have fun playing your tournament in the new Hartford Civic Center as you lose your BCS bid. No way ND goes with that motley crew.
Rod Becks Mullet
Jan 10 2006, 04:47 PM
please. Didn't we have enough talk of conference shifts in the last couple of years?
Clears Cleaver
Jan 10 2006, 04:49 PM
Honestly, even thought the football will break off, they will still be part of the Big East in hoops I bet, but in separate division. TV will like that. ND will be with the catholics in hoops and play three+ football teams every year. For an 18-game schedule, you would play each team in your division twice and then four games against the other side, so that every four years you play at and host each other division team.
Butch Hobsons elbo chips
Jan 10 2006, 07:19 PM
More conference games might hurt chances of NOVA playing out the Big 5. This year they got all 4 of the teams on their schedule (although I think only 3 count as Big 5 games) plus playing non-conference Texas & Oklahoma.
I wonder if they can go to some sort of tournament format for the Big 5 around Christmas. Doesn't the NCAA count Holiday Tournaments as 1 Game in scheduling??
Rossox
Jan 18 2006, 10:16 AM
How overrated was Louisville? They are being exposed by the BE big time. I'm sure they'll still be ranked next week though by the idiot writers.
I know Dean didn't play but St. John's?
St. John's Beats Louisville
Clears Cleaver
Jan 18 2006, 10:37 AM
And just ahead of them hosting the first "ESPN GameDay" of the year Saturday versus Uconn. Awful performance. StJ is bad but ahs some quickness and UL could no defend them. Dean would have helped as no one wanted to take over when it got tough. MSG was about 50% full for the game it seemed on TV
Dan Murfman
Jan 18 2006, 10:58 AM
Looking at Louisville remaining schedule they better start worrying about making The Big East Tournament nevermind NCAA Tourney.
The Napkin
Jan 18 2006, 11:12 AM
QUOTE (Clears Cleaver @ Jan 10 2006, 03:33 PM)
I highly doubt they go to four divisions, but two conferences might make sense:
Big - Syracuse, UConn, Rutgers, Pitt, WVU, Louisville, Cincy, ND, USF
Little - GU, STJ, PC, SHU, Marquette, DePaul, Villanova
OK, that's 9-7, but that is what it will likely look like come 2008...LOL
Which is why the football schools should have bolted 2 years ago
Syracuse, UConn, Rutgers, Pitt, WVU, Louisville, Cincy, USF, Miami, BC, and VT is 11. Tell ND to shit or get off the pot. If they come great. If not, look to Army/Navy/ECU/etc for #12. That would have been a great conference. Oh well.
Rossox
Jan 18 2006, 11:37 AM
QUOTE
StJ is bad but has some quickness and UL could not defend them.
If Louisville had trouble guarding St. John's because of their "quickness" then Saturday vs. UConn should be a real treat.
QUOTE
Looking at Louisville remaining schedule they better start worrying about making The Big East Tournament nevermind NCAA Tourney.
Agreed. Louisville is very close to being 0-4 in the BE so they absolutely better get their shit together or they are in deep, deep trouble. They still have to play UConn twice plus: @ Nova, @ Syracuse and @ W. VA. Heck, I can easily see them getting blown out at the RAC next week.
Clears Cleaver
Jan 18 2006, 12:44 PM
Louisville is just a football factory anyways. They are the Big East's new VaTech without the criminal intent. LOL
Pitino is probably two years away from having a crazy good team
Rod Becks Mullet
Jan 18 2006, 01:15 PM
QUOTE
I can easily see them getting blown out at the RAC next week.
Rutgers is a team to keep an eye on. They have a quality win against Temple and played well against Villanova. The schedule is promising, as they avoid UConn and West Virginia. They have a nice home stretch coming up - Pitt, at Cinci, Providence and Louisville. They could easily go 3-1 there and get some national attention. Douby's playing well and has to be considered for 1st team all-conference thus far.
NYCSox
Jan 21 2006, 03:45 PM
The Johnnies are on the way back - Pitt is the latest victim!
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=260212599Edit: And the Hoyas just took out Duke. Wow.
Rossox
Jan 21 2006, 03:48 PM
Down goes Pitt today to St. Johns (
Pitt Goes Down) & Duke to G-Town.
HUGE win for the Hoyas! The Big East is ridiculous this year. Duke had a chance to tie it at the end but Paulus turned it over. Congrats on the big win, Hoya.
Hoyas Beat Duke!
Nuf Ced
Jan 21 2006, 03:50 PM
That is certainly a win that the Georgetown program can build on. I was very impressed by their passing and ball movement today.
templeUsox
Jan 21 2006, 03:55 PM
All non-Big East teams suck. They aren't even worth the cost of the jerseys they wear. I hope those Greg Paulus-Bob Cousy comparisons start getting retracted. He's just a mini-Troy Murphy minus the game.
8slim
Jan 21 2006, 04:50 PM
The BE is crazy deep. Probably will only get 8 teams into the tourney, but that's because they're beating up on each other and there will be a large pack around .500 in conference play. Might deserve 10.
By 2010 I think the safe bet is the league "splits" into 2 distinct divisions (football 8, non-football 7+ND) and plays 2 or 4 cross-division games each year. There's more TV value to each side in staying together. For the football side they keep the major markets that STJ, GTown and Nova hold, and for the hoops side they keep the marquee programs (SU, UConn, Pitt, Louisville).
Rossox
Jan 21 2006, 05:08 PM
W. Va is up 17 right now on UCLA midway through the second half. They are so damn fun to watch.
And we got Nova-Cuse in less than an hour. Giddy Up!!
EdJurak85
Jan 21 2006, 06:15 PM
QUOTE (templeUsox @ Jan 21 2006, 04:55 PM)
All non-Big East teams suck. They aren't even worth the cost of the jerseys they wear. I hope those Greg Paulus-Bob Cousy comparisons start getting retracted. He's just a mini-Troy Murphy minus the game.
You're officially a moron. Watch some ACC, Big 12, Big 10, SEC and Pac-10 games and get back to us, douchenozzle. Is the Big East the top conference this year? Probably, but making asinine statements like your first sentence show what an immature dink you are.
templeUsox
Jan 21 2006, 07:03 PM
QUOTE (EdJurak85 @ Jan 21 2006, 06:15 PM)
You're officially a moron. Watch some ACC, Big 12, Big 10, SEC and Pac-10 games and get back to us, douchenozzle. Is the Big East the top conference this year? Probably, but making asinine statements like your first sentence show what an immature dink you are.
What put you in such a bad mood? Oh wait, yea, I know.
If you aren't a Big East team, don't speak unless you are spoken to.
EdJurak85
Jan 21 2006, 07:16 PM
QUOTE (templeUsox @ Jan 21 2006, 08:03 PM)
What put you in such a bad mood? Oh wait, yea, I know.
If you aren't a Big East team, don't speak unless you are spoken to.
Ha ha. Go back to gazing upon your worthless diploma.
templeUsox
Jan 21 2006, 07:41 PM
QUOTE (EdJurak85 @ Jan 21 2006, 07:16 PM)
Ha ha. Go back to gazing upon your worthless diploma.
It may be worthless, but it makes damn good scrap paper.
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