Only 3 teams are allowed to join the Boilers in Houston next AprilOur basketball coverage will shift to other things in the coming weeks...but we'll have a few more features in the near future that you won't want to miss. Specifically- what can JJ learn from Boilerdowd in the off-season? Stay plugged-in to find out.
One thing that seems extremely-evident to me as I look ahead to next season is just how strong the Big Ten is going to be. Three familiar teams will once-again be in the national top-10 from Purdue's conference, in my opinion and three-more will be in the top-25.
While it's not real fair to already be looking forward to next season...I'm going to go ahead and do it. Lots will change with defections, transfers and mystery late signees...but my poll is no more or less-stupid than those that'll be coming out from the big media outlets in the coming weeks. So kick back and enjoy the frivolity of a stupidly-early poll.
And away we go...
10. Georgetown
As long as Ohio's not on the schedule too many times, Georgetown could win quite a few games before the new year.
9. Kansas State
The loss of Clemente will hurt, but KSU athleticism will still be immense next season.
8. North Carolina
While UNC did a fine job keeping themselves out of the rankings last season, I just can't. I think Williams is a great coach...and a couple more 5-star players might finally make the Tarheels a respectable team.
7. Syracuse
Onuaku's injury might have cut salesman Boeheim's season short, but a 5-star 7-footer is good for what ails ya. This ranking might be a bit high if a few guys decide it's time to leave the warmth of upstate NY.
6. aOSU
National POY leaves? No problem when you've got Thad Matta and an unobtrusive AD behind him. Diebler, Bufford, Lauderdale will be bolstered by some of the most-skilled and physically-developed Freshman in the land. This team might be better than the '09/'10 team...but a true point guard must emerge for that to happen. I'll miss Mark Titus.
5. Kentucky
Teflon John is currently quietly hooking a boat full of "undecided" Freshman as the majority of this year's class of student athletes makes their final decision to not return.
4. Purdue
If JJ's back, Purdue will once-again enjoy a spot in the top-5 for most of the season. Look for T. Johnson to possibly start right away. As a fan, am I being too greedy to ask for a healthy Ostrich for the last third of the season? Be ready for an angry Smooge to make an early and loud statement to the nation.
stay put, JJ 3. Butler
Brad Stevens went through three coaching legends to end the season...and was about six inches from being undefeated in those contests. No hotter young coach in the nation right now. Plus, 4 of 5 starters back on the National runner-up squad if Heyward returns...perhaps more than 7,000 Butler fans will show up on opening night?
2. Duke
5-Star Irving replaces Scheyer and each of the Plumlee clones will take Goonbek and Thomas' spots
1. Michigan State
Morgan's the only significant loss...and if your name doesn't rhyme with Dom Bizzo, you might not think it's a significant loss at all. So, with a monster 6'10" 5-star center in the pipeline, Chubby McGreen might still not earn a role in the starting line-up. But regardless of whom is starting, they'll be great.
Did I miss any? Un-possible. If you think so, sound off.
15 comments:
I enjoyed this for the sole purpose of "Chubby McGreen."
Oh, and this is totally unrealistic. Three Big Ten teams, while only two Big East teams in the Top 10? Probably ought to replace aOSU with Rutgers or Notre Dame. You know, one of those powerhouses with national credibility.
Butler... #3. This was a great year for them and they caught lots of breaks in a weak NCAA field. Butler will be a legit Top 25 team next year, but not Top 10 and certainly not Top 5.
I think Butler will get the preseason ranking if nothing else as a reward for last night. Also I think they deserve it and will stay top 10 the whole season
Here we go again with the Butler hate. To all those who were glad to see Heyward’s shot miss and got to see Zoubek celebrate; I hope you slept well last night.
Will they make another magical run to the title game? Probably not, but if you don’t think they’re a top 10 team, you’re crazy. They just recently beat 3 of the other teams on Dowd’s list and their talent level improves next year.
Overall, I think it’s a good list. If Purdue is the hungriest team on the list, and with the big three being seniors I don’t see why they wouldn’t, they’ll be in a great position to win it all.
ChicagoBoiler -- the runner-up in the national title games returns pretty much everybody and they don't deserve top ten consideration? Come now... they're legit.
Also, I GUARANTEE MSU will not be #1 next year. Boilerdowd and I argued about this already but I maintain he's wrong. MSU will be good, as per usual, but there's no way they'll get the preseason #1. NO WAY.
Not only are they "only" in the Big Ten, but they just aren't the sexy, exciting pick. Thus voters won't put them there. I'm not saying they aren't somewhat qualified, but, well, you get what I'm saying.
Juan, there is a big difference between "HATE" and an "OPINION". Nobody hates Butler... there isn't anything to hate about them. It's my impression that this "Brain Dump" section is for people to express their opinion, not for people to be abused for expressing their opinion. That said, I'll state mine again... Butler won't be a Top 10 team next year... if I'm wrong, good for them.
Butler is too high.
Baylor, WVU, and BYU return a lot of key players next year.
ChicagoBoiler, you're right. The 'hate' that I was referring to was coming from the dozen or so Brain Dumps on yesterday's Butler post. I mistakenly thought you were carrying it over here.
Butler's a darling already...and Hayward will be a POY candidate...sounds like a formula for high-ranking to me.
MSU is coached by Tom Izzo...you're right J, no one likes him in the media.
Baylor and BYU will be very good, but I don't think the beloved Cougars are a top-10 team...Baylor's another story though...just ran out of spots. Losing Butler will be VERY tough for them to overcome...and I'd be shocked if another guy isn't leaving early. You probably know who I'm talking about.
If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Butler preseason top 10 THIS year!? if not they were very close. So why do you think after finishing runner up and returning mostly everyone, that they wouldn't be preseason top 10 this year?
Your judgement is clouded my friend. They will DEFINITELY be top ten pre season. Maybe 10 but they will be in there.
Juan- Is this ButtDawgsports.com or boiledsports.com? Get over the fact that not all Purdue fans are fawning all over "Dawgs". I don't like them and never will- most of their fans are just IU fans with nothing to cheer for and need another wagon to board. My loyalty is to Purdue- the main focus of this site! I am sure there is a "Dawg" site out there will you won't have to read anything bad about the wonderful, lovable, fantastic, perfect "Dawgs"! How boring would life be if everyone had the same opinion??
If the polls were released today Butler would fall in the top 5, but by the time the real ones come out the lovefest will have ended. The general consensus will be that this year was a down year for the big programs and Butlers run was the result of an unusually level playing field and a number of key injuries. I look for Butler to land at 7-8 and don't expect them to make the top 5 unless they run the non conference schedule.
Purdue is going to land around 5, with a lovefest for the buckeyes recruiting class declaring it a repeat of Odens class and landing them in 2nd.
MSU fans will be angered when they are ranked one slot behind Butler.
Purdue Matt - are you Mormon? You are way to high on BYU. They most likely will have one good playering coming back and a bunch of decent players, but they aren't very athletic and the Mountain West conference is NOT known for its defense. Look for New Mexico to make a little noise. BYU will be Top 25 most of the year, but not Top 10 to start.
@boilerdowd -- I know the media likes Izzo.
MSU still won't be number 1, despite how big a fan you are. I'd say we could discuss this on the Handsome Hour but you probably won't show up.
Burnface.
ChiBoiler- I've now seen 4 polls...Butler's in the top-3 in each.
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