|
|
Post by a10champion15 on May 16, 2013 8:16:15 GMT -5
So I was taking a look at what La Salle schedule is looking like. I have to say so far it is looking pretty strong if you were to use Joe Lunardi's Backetology and my own thoughts.
Our Conference Schedule I believe will most likely be 16 games where we play 4 teams twice and have at least 4 to 5 teams that have a legitimate shot to make the tournament.
Strongest teams I believe are NCAA worthy at this point are
St Louis
VCU
UMass
Saint Joe's
Dayton - which no one is talking about.
Non Conference schedule
Temple
Nova
Manhattan
Morgan State - P/T
Vandy/Providence - P/T if we beat Morgan which we should
Maryland - P/T maybe......
Penn State
Penn
Miami
(2) MAAC teams - due to the A10 deal
It looks as though our schedule may be schedule may be stronger than last year with the chance to play about 8 NCAA contenders.
This leave about 5 other games unknown I heard butler and xavier are two teams we may still play. Anyone hear anything?
|
|
|
|
Post by cpico on May 16, 2013 9:23:09 GMT -5
One question: Why would you think St. Joe's would be in the "strongest teams I believe are NCAA worthy at this point"? I don't want to say St. Joe's has no shot at the NCAA Tourney, but at this point they are a real, real, real long shot to have any chance to make the NCAA tournament this upcoming season. They just don't have enough at the guard position. They have Chris Wilson, an average A-10 guard, Galloway - who is a shooter but one dimensional in that regards, and Kyle Molock-a redshirt freshman who will be coming off his third knee surgery in 3 1/2 years.
I'm sorry, but it would be a shock if St. Joe's is even in the discussion to be a tournament team this year. Probably a middle of the pack A-10 team.
|
|
|
|
Post by explorer88 on May 16, 2013 9:31:19 GMT -5
I agree cpico. Until the get quality guard depth they don't have enough. In fact they need another top flight starter.The freshman they got is the real deal but is another forward. They still need better guards than they have.
|
|
|
|
Post by a10champion15 on May 16, 2013 9:36:59 GMT -5
The thing is I thought they played really well sometimes and other times crumbled. I thought they needed a little bit more experience and versatility for the team to gel and play like a team. Galloway is real good shooter and I dont necessarily believe he only one dimensional, he really developed over the course of the season. In that mind they shouldnt complete focus on his shooting as they did last year. I think they thought he was going to be an outstanding player but never got there. He good nonetheless though.
I think this year there going to focus on thier forwards. Ndao and Miles I believe could really contribute to this team. They also have other talent on the team and they were the favorite last year. They also did beat notre dame last year which was a good win and barely lost to saint johns in the NIT. I think they may be better than what you expect but you do make some valid points.
|
|
|
|
Post by jellybean on May 16, 2013 13:45:40 GMT -5
(2) MAAC teams - due to the A10 deal
What is this so called deal?
|
|
|
|
Post by ltrain38 on May 16, 2013 13:51:25 GMT -5
I don't know about this deal, but we do have two MAAC teams on the schedule again this year. You left out the home game against Siena. The other is the opener with Manhattan that's listed. No idea about an arrangement with the MAAC. I think we also play Hartford again, right? Not a MAAC team, but it's another game committed for the schedule. There were rumors about other games, but we had a posting on the scheduling board for two home/home series up as of last week. I assume that means at least one more of the remaining three games is already booked.
|
|
|
|
Post by casey44 on May 16, 2013 14:56:01 GMT -5
Manhattan had a very strong recruiting class and if Molock is 100%, SJU is a tough out. SJU has also got a top 150 wing in a kid by the name of Bembry. I think our OOC is much better than last year.
|
|
|
|
Post by cpico on May 16, 2013 15:36:12 GMT -5
Manhattan had a very strong recruiting class and if Molock is 100%, SJU is a tough out. SJU has also got a top 150 wing in a kid by the name of Bembry. I think our OOC is much better than last year. I'll continue to disagree about St. Joe's. Even if Molock is healthy, you're talking about a red shirt freshman with no Division 1 experience. Bembry is a true freshman with no Division 1 experience. SJU should not be a threat to be an NCAA tournament team this upcoming season. They don't have the pieces they need. |
|
|
|
Post by durenduren on May 16, 2013 15:59:29 GMT -5
Not convinced the new look A-10 gets more than 3 teams dancing, I think. No way we see 5, and four is a big stretch. Lost a lot in Temple and Butler.
|
|
|
|
Post by durenduren on May 16, 2013 16:12:19 GMT -5
All this Molock talk.. That's a lot depending on a kid with no true experience who's excelled at ACL injuries. Is it three times now? Talk about a liability.
|
|
|
|
Post by coqui900 on May 16, 2013 16:58:43 GMT -5
Lunardi has us as an 8 seed with only 10 months to go before Selection Sunday!
What Palestra games do we have this year?
|
|
|
|
Post by jellybean on May 16, 2013 19:50:12 GMT -5
Lunardi has us as an 8 seed with only 10 months to go before Selection Sunday! What Palestra games do we have this year? As of today, we would play Penn and St. Joe (PA) at the Palestra this upcoming season. |
|
|
|
Post by durenduren on May 16, 2013 21:00:42 GMT -5
What's with that big team rematch G hinted toward? I think speculation pointed toward either K State, Witchita State, or Ole Miss (due to the the Andy Kennedy connection).
|
|
|
|
Post by a10champion15 on May 16, 2013 22:32:08 GMT -5
I just have to disagree about SJU. I understand the issues with Molock but they have some depth on their team expessially their forwards. Also Molock has ACL injuries I get that but he also 19 years old. I dont see Molock being their star player though but they have talent on that team.
If Temple was in the A10 this year they wouldn't make the tourney that team ran off Wyatt and Wyatt alone. There going to be mediocre next year and I cant wait to spank them at home next year. I hate Temple so much. POS school!
Durenduren - I think 3 a conservative number but I do think 4 more likely and yea 5 a stretch but you never know who could emerge out of no where.
UMass is going to be even better than last year sorry but Chaz William a beast and they picked up some good recruits as well.
Also no one talks about Dayton but Dayton was good last year. Us and Temple barely managed to beat them and they lost three bad games Weber, Murray and GW by one point. They lost a couple seniors but overall the team was young and they picked up probably the best recruits in the A10 this year.
|
|
|
|
Post by a10champion15 on May 16, 2013 22:44:45 GMT -5
I thought a number of schools from the A10 had a deal from a while back with the MAAC or at least some agreement from around 3/4 years ago. Why so many teams from the A10 plays about 2 teams from the MAAC. I may be wrong though!
|
|
|
|
Post by durenduren on May 17, 2013 3:02:30 GMT -5
I just have to disagree about SJU. I understand the issues with Molock but they have some depth on their team expessially their forwards I don't think it's fair to say SJU has depth after they basically played just 6 men all season. And of that, they're losing CJ Aiken and Carl Jones. And what good is the bench of forwards if they don't play. Okay, Bembry's coming in, but I still expect the trend of extremely lopsided minutes to continue and I'm a believer that it led to their inconsistent play from game to game (ie. Beat Notre Dame, loss to Iona, beat Temple, last possession win against Fordham). Here's the average time for their forwards last season: CJ Aiken 31.7 mins (Not Returning)
Ronald Roberts 30.7
Halil Kanacevic 28.9
-------------------------------------------------
Daryus Quarles 10.0
Papa Ndao 6.9
Isiah Miles 5.1
Eric Kindler 1.2
Colin Kelly 1.3
-------------------------------------------------
Bembry ?? 2013
A. Brown (RS) 2013It seemed like when things went bad for this team, they really spiraled. No bench alternatives will do that you. Bembry will obviously contribute, but Martelli avoided the bench like the plague. Thank god they were great at avoiding foul trouble, but I can't imagine anyone designing to play such a limited lineup, kinda just happened. Underachieving 2010 class hurts, Bembry and eventually Aaron Brown are bumps, but there's going to be growing pains. |
|
|
|
Post by ltrain38 on May 17, 2013 7:58:28 GMT -5
I think they beat Iona. They lost to them the year before on the road. They lost at home to St. Bonas this year and I think Fairfield beat them.
|
|
|
|
Post by durenduren on May 17, 2013 16:56:40 GMT -5
Thanks LTrain, getting them confused. The blowout from Fairfield was like us and CCSU. Rough going from Notre Dame in OT to that. Point remains the same though.
|
|
|
|
Post by jellybean on May 18, 2013 6:34:47 GMT -5
Any thoughts on how recent transfers and NBA early entrees could hurt our schedule. MD, Vandy(both potential STV opponents), PSU and Miami FL all have suffered player defections to some degree. Scheduling is a tough even tougher than recruiting in some ways.
|
|
|
|
Post by durenduren on May 18, 2013 18:00:23 GMT -5
I think Miami is a leading candidate for the largest fall compared to last season. They're returning just 18% of minutes played last year, and a whopping 14% of all points scored.
Even if Angel Rodriguez gets cleared for the last year, they're in a challenging ACC. .500 is the best I see their conference schedule.
Miami and Indiana are in the same boat, except one is getting top level recruits flooding through the doors. Miami only has one top 100 coming in, I believe. Won't be as huge of an RPI boost as they kept helping us as the season progressed, but I still like them on the schedule.
In the Big 5, Temple's loss of last class compounded with the conference switch and losing the Rasheed Jordon battle to St John's hurts. Will be respectable, but I wouldn't be shocked if they need the conference tourney to get it.
And UMass. Thank god they didn't lose Chaz Williams. If he declared, that team wouldn't be much. They'd have gone from the writers' A10 dream team to zeroes. We all know what he means to that squad. They'll get some nice OOC wins, me thinks.
|
|
|
|
Post by vasalos on May 22, 2013 10:11:19 GMT -5
For anyone who is interested here's my updated bracketology. Can't wait for schedules to be released as that will really shake things up. Antonio Barton announcement on Sunday will be interesting and could impact La Salle since Maryland will play them: www.explorertownbracketologist.com |
|
|
|
Post by a10champion15 on May 22, 2013 11:09:43 GMT -5
It is not a guarentee we play maryland. We could very well lose to providence/vandy in that tournament.
I like your bracketology though, good field of teams dont neccessary agree with the seeds but that impoosible as of now.Glad you didnt put temple up there I say Jon Rothstein thinks they still go but I doubt it who possibly would step up on that team to replace wyatt.
Also, do NOT write off UMass they are going to be very good. The value of Hinds who I have heard will play immediately off waivers will completely off set the lose of Morgan. Also like Dayton they signed some of the best recruits in the A10. I am really worried about this team and I think its for good reason. A lot of talent on that team.
|
|
big5vet
Utility Bench Player
Posts: 176
Likes: 38
|
Post by big5vet on May 22, 2013 11:10:55 GMT -5
Vasalos. Did the Explorers drop one seed in the update? Don't want to start a conflict. Could you elaborate on Villanova being a 5 seed?
|
|
|
|
Post by luhoopsfan on May 22, 2013 11:16:32 GMT -5
as much fun as it was to have a college hoops team play the equivalent of Pennant-chase baseball this year, I'd rather avoid all the drama and be squarely in the tourney by March 1 this season, if that means we're a 10 seed, so be it.
|
|
|
|
Post by a10champion15 on May 22, 2013 11:19:29 GMT -5
Yea i agree. I wouldnt be too concerned with the seeding yet. Lets be grateful we still have a shot at the tourney. I really hope someone steps up big next year to fill the gap without Galloway.
|
|
big5vet
Utility Bench Player
Posts: 176
Likes: 38
|
Post by big5vet on May 22, 2013 11:53:36 GMT -5
Agree. No need to focus on seeding, as long as it's not the play-in variety. I've been looking over last year's line-up and projecting this year's for scoring possibilities. Last season we had four players average double digit points - Ramon 17, Tyreek 14, Tyronne 13 & Jerrell 11. This year it could project to be Tyronne, Tyreek & Jerrell again each with a bump. From there I'm hoping among Sam 8, Steve 6 & DJ 4, we could look for 8-10 more. The missing piece to the puzzle IMO is newly found bench scoring. It might be there among Rohan, Khalid & Jermaine.
|
|
|
|
Post by vasalos on May 22, 2013 12:33:05 GMT -5
Big5vet, La Salle moved up in my rankings. I had them in April as a 12 seed. Some bracketologists moved La Salle up to an 8 or 9 seed. I can't do that right now. La Salle's RPI won't be as strong as it was last year because of the weakened A10. Additionally, Villanova is going to be in a very tough conference. Butler, Georgetown, Marquette, St. John's and even Creighton will be in the tournament discussion. Villanova was a young team last year and they overachieved. I think they will finish 3rd in their conference, hence the high seeding.
|
|
|
|
Post by a10champion15 on May 22, 2013 13:02:43 GMT -5
I agree about Nova. They were impressive last season and we were lucky enough to play them at the beginning of the season.
I think Wright going to have some big numbers this year. He improvied tremendously thoughout the season. Also I will love to see what khalid can do, i think he could be impressive but I am not going to get my hopes to high. I also would like Zack to take more shots when he has the oppurtunity and he is a great free throw shooter was key in the vcu game.
|
|
|
|
Post by cpico on May 22, 2013 15:23:37 GMT -5
I agree about Nova. They were impressive last season and we were lucky enough to play them at the beginning of the season. I think Wright going to have some big numbers this year. He improvied tremendously thoughout the season. Also I will love to see what khalid can do, i think he could be impressive but I am not going to get my hopes to high. I also would like Zack to take more shots when he has the oppurtunity and he is a great free throw shooter was key in the vcu game. Yea, and I guess we were lucky enough to play Nova when we didn't have Tyrone Garland eligible as well. We played Nova last year playing shorthanded without Garland and still won. |
|
|
|
Post by ltrain38 on May 22, 2013 15:35:33 GMT -5
Everyone is really high on Nova for next year, and I'm just not convinced yet. They could be very good, but they need to rely on a totally unproven frontcourt. Not ruling out big things for them, but I could see them taking a step back as well.
|
|
