Predictions?

• Mulva

  

  Hard to believe the season starts Monday. Let's get some opinions heading into the season.
  
  National Champ?
  POY?
  Sleeper team?
  Surprise disappointment?
  Mid-major to watch?
  Any other thoughts/predictions?
  
  Just trying to get some discussion going. This forum could use a boost.
• Trueblue23

  

  Kyrie Irving will remind a lot of people of Jay Williams and Duke will repeat.
• CinciX12

  

  Xavier won't make the NCAA Tournament unless they win the A10 Tournament.
  
  3 straight sweet 16's to..not making the Tournament. Thank you for sucking my senior year dicks.
• Laley23

  

  National Champion: Nova (because Duke is too easy)
  POY: Singler
  Sleeper Team: Missouri
  Surprise Disappointment: Kansas State
  Mid Major(s) to watch (outside the usual suspects): Wichita State, San Diego State, Wofford, Murray State
  Other Thoughts/Bold Predictions:
  -Indiana will finish 8th in the Big Ten, ahead of Iowa, PSU and a surprise team (Michigan maybe)
  -Kyrie Irving will be the PG/freshman that everyone talks about this year. Not Barnes or Knight
  -The Big East will not get over half their teams in, Big Ten will
  -Florida will live up to expectations this year
• GOONx19

  

  Kyrie Irving wouldn't surprise me at all. I think he's got the best tools of the three big PGs and he'll be surrounded by experience more so than Selby and Knight. He's in a position to thrive.
• Mulva

  

  I agree that Duke is too easy. I'm taking Michigan State to win it all. I can't go against Singler as POY though.
  
  My sleeper team last year was Richmond, and they worked out pretty well. I'm sticking in the A-10 this year but switching teams and going with St. Louis (although I might be a year early with this pick).
  
  I think Syracuse is going to disappoint this season, and I also like Wichita State as far as mid-majors go.
• CinciX12

  

  St. Louis will finish fighting for a spot no higher than 5th in the A10.
  
  They had 2 guys who decided hitting on girls wasn't worth the effort anymore and decided to just rape her. Not even enrolled at the University anymore.
• Mulva

  

  CinciX12;548765 wrote:St. Louis will finish fighting for a spot no higher than 5th in the A10.
  
  They had 2 guys who decided hitting on girls wasn't worth the effort anymore and decided to just rape her. Not even enrolled at the University anymore.

  
  Mitchell is supposed to be reinstated in January, and only miss 1 or 2 conference games. Charges weren't even filed and suspension was reduced to 1 semester. If he doesn't return then obviously it will be a huge blow.
• CinciX12

  

  Everything that I have heard on the situation from a buddy of mine that goes to SLU is that the situation is STILL up in the air which is pretty ridiculous if you ask me. The guys weren't criminally prosecuted but were brought up before University discipline. Where they are hitting a snag is that the victim's father is a huge donor to the University and is raising holy hell about it, as he should if it is true of course.
  
  But as far as reality goes, without these guys they just don't have the team to probably even make the NCAA Tourney. They have a very weak OOC schedule minus 2 teams. Duke they never had a shot in beating and now Georgia will probably end up being a loss. Then getting into conference it is going to be extremely difficult for them to pace with Temple and Richmond.
• Azubuike24

  

  Brandon Knight will be the best Freshman in the country. Lots of talk about Barnes, Selby, Sullinger, Irving, etc...Knight is the best of the bunch on the college level.
  
  Villanova will win the National Championship. Scottie Reynolds was a cancer to that team, not in the typical sense, but they really went through him because he was the supposed "leader" and "best player." Truth is, most Big East followers could have told you Reynolds wasn't even one of the top 3 players on that Villanova team. Addition by subtraction.
  
  The best mid-major in the country will be a tie between Murray State and Old Dominion. This includes any of the non-BCS teams. They are right there with the best from the MWC, MVC, A-10, C-USA, WCC.
  
  I do agree with Laley about Florida, but the SEC won't be easy. I could see them not winning it. However, they have senior leadership, balance and a coach who is really due. I also think the SEC is in-line for a very strong 2-3 years. They are dominating recruiting in 2011, and 10 of their 12 teams have signed a top 100 recruit, including about 20 of the 60 commits from the top 100 are heading to SEC schools.
  
  Memphis will dominate Conference USA. Last year, Memphis was down, and many other teams (UTEP, Tulsa, Houston, Marshall) were "up" relatively speaking. It won't be the case this year. Memphis will return to the Calipari-type years where they are almost impossible to beat in league play, especially after they go through a very tough pre-season schedule.
  
  Louisville may not finish above .500 overall. Talk about a swan song year for Rick Pitino after building a new arena. This will be Louisville's worst team ever under Pitino, and that says a lot considering he's made 4 NIT trips in a decade.
  
  Can the Miami Hurricanes go from last to first in the ACC? It will be tough to win it, but they might finally have a legit ACC team under Frank Haith.
  
  Alabama will be a surprise team. Anthony Grant is a fantastic recruiter, but also a very good coach. They showed flashes last year, but this year they can make an impact in a very down SEC West.
  
  The University of Connecticut is due for a major fall. A top 5 program over the last decade, the writing is on the wall at UConn. I think a lot of others around the sport kind of agree.
  
  More to come. Can't wait for another season!