Assuming everything breaks our way I think 31-0 with an 18-0 Big Ten record is a accurate prediction.
2016-17 Preseason Predictions
- Status
They're going to be really good IMO, but they're young and it's probably going to take them a while to reach their potential. I've seen them ranked anywhere from 7th to 3rd in ACC predictions. I like our chances since we're playing them pretty early in the season.
Dennis Smith, Jr is expected to be a top-5 pick in next year's NBA draft. He's regarded by some draftniks as the best PG prospect since DRose. Fellow 5-star freshman Omer Yurtseven is a possible first round talent. He's a 7-footer who can run the floor and shoot. Had 91 points and 28 rebounds in one game at Basketball Without Borders apparently. Two other freshmen, Ted Kapita and Markell Johnson, are borderline top-50 recruits. Johnson reclassified late or he probably would have ended up ranked even higher - he's almost as athletic as Smith, Jr.
Transfer Torin Dorn was the C-USA freshman of the year after averaging 12 pts, 4 reb, and shooting 51% at Charlotte (he sat last year). Another transfer, Terry Henderson from WVA, was supposed to start last year, but hurt his ankle and took a medical redshirt. He averaged 11.7 pts and shot 38% from beyond the arc as a sophomore at WVA.
They've also got their own Maverick: Mav Rowan averaged 12.9 pts and 3.1 reb as a freshman last year. He was ranked #40 composite in 2015. 6'7 wing who was known as a big time scorer in high school. Originally a 2016 recruit, but reclassified and ended up starting last year.
Beyond all that, they've got a couple of serviceable veteran bigs. The main problem for us is that they've got a ton of size, athleticism, and scoring in the backcourt. Smith, Jr, Markell Johnson, Henderson, Rowan, and Dorn will be one of the top 10 backcourt rotations in the country. Also, the Pack have at least 4 guys who would be unequivocally our best athlete.
They've also got the ACC 2015 sixth man of the year in BeeJay Anya:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeeJay_Anya
Regular Season = 21-10 (11-7)
BTT = 1 win, 1 loss
NCAA = 7 seed, 2 wins, 1 loss (sweet 16)
Total = 24-12
SE Missouri State - W
N. Ky. - W
McKendree - W
Detroit - W
Winthrop - W
West Virginia @ Barclays - L
FSU or Temple @ Barclays - W
NC State - L
VCU @ Miami - W
IUPUI - W
Central Mich - W
BYU @ United Center - L
Mizzou @ STL - W
@Maryland - L
OSU - L
@IU - L
Michigan - W
Maryland - W
@Purdue - L
@Michigan - W
Iowa - W
@PSU - W
Wisconsin - L
Minny - W
@NW - W
PSU - W
@Iowa - L
NW - W
@Neb - W
MSU - L
@Rutgers – W
BTT = 1 win, 1 loss
NCAA = 7 seed, 2 wins, 1 loss (sweet 16)
Total = 24-12
SE Missouri State - W
N. Ky. - W
McKendree - W
Detroit - W
Winthrop - W
West Virginia @ Barclays - L
FSU or Temple @ Barclays - W
NC State - L
VCU @ Miami - W
IUPUI - W
Central Mich - W
BYU @ United Center - L
Mizzou @ STL - W
@Maryland - L
OSU - L
@IU - L
Michigan - W
Maryland - W
@Purdue - L
@Michigan - W
Iowa - W
@PSU - W
Wisconsin - L
Minny - W
@NW - W
PSU - W
@Iowa - L
NW - W
@Neb - W
MSU - L
@Rutgers – W
Good call! BeeJay Anya is 6'9, 290 pounds (actually listed at 344 on ESPN) with a 7'9 (!) wingspan and good quickness despite his huge build. All-ACC Defensive Team last year mostly coming off the bench. Averaged 2.2 blocks per game in 23 minutes. NC State's all-time leading shot blocker.
Their frontcourt rotation will be Yurtseven, Anya, Kapita, and Abdul-Malik Abu (JR - returning starter - 6'8, 240 - averaged 12.9 pts, 8.8 reb, 0.7 blk as a Soph - #44 composite ranking in c/o 2014, two spots beneath Leron Black). Pretty loaded. We should match up reasonably well, though.
SE Missouri St. W
N. Ky W
McKendree W
Detroit W
Winthrop W
West Virginia @Barclays L
FSU/Temple @Barclays W
NC State W
VCU @Miami W
IUPUI W
Central Michigan W
BYU @United Center W
Mizzou @Scottrade W
@ Maryland L
Ohio State W
@IU L
Michigan W
Maryland W
@ Purdue L
@Michigan L
Iowa W
@ Penn St. W
Wisconsin W
Minnesota W
@ Northwestern W
Penn St W
@ Iowa W
Northwestern W
@ Nebraska W
Michigan State L
@ Rutgers W
25-6 (13-5)
N. Ky W
McKendree W
Detroit W
Winthrop W
West Virginia @Barclays L
FSU/Temple @Barclays W
NC State W
VCU @Miami W
IUPUI W
Central Michigan W
BYU @United Center W
Mizzou @Scottrade W
@ Maryland L
Ohio State W
@IU L
Michigan W
Maryland W
@ Purdue L
@Michigan L
Iowa W
@ Penn St. W
Wisconsin W
Minnesota W
@ Northwestern W
Penn St W
@ Iowa W
Northwestern W
@ Nebraska W
Michigan State L
@ Rutgers W
25-6 (13-5)
Holy crap, am I reading my internet right? He sat his entire senior year with a torn ACL?!
Amazing young man.
Yikes, that is the best mixtape I've ever seen I think.
SE Missouri St. W
N. Ky W
McKendree W
Detroit W
Winthrop W
West Virginia @Barclays L
FSU/Temple @Barclays W
NC State L
VCU @Miami L
IUPUI W
Central Michigan W
BYU @United Center L
Mizzou @Scottrade W
@ Maryland L
Ohio State W
@IU L
Michigan L
Maryland L
@ Purdue L
@Michigan L
Iowa W
@ Penn St. W
Wisconsin W
Minnesota W
@ Northwestern W
Penn St W
@ Iowa W
Northwestern W
@ Nebraska W
Michigan State L
@ Rutgers W
20-11 (11-7) Although I tend to be a bit of a pessimist.
N. Ky W
McKendree W
Detroit W
Winthrop W
West Virginia @Barclays L
FSU/Temple @Barclays W
NC State L
VCU @Miami L
IUPUI W
Central Michigan W
BYU @United Center L
Mizzou @Scottrade W
@ Maryland L
Ohio State W
@IU L
Michigan L
Maryland L
@ Purdue L
@Michigan L
Iowa W
@ Penn St. W
Wisconsin W
Minnesota W
@ Northwestern W
Penn St W
@ Iowa W
Northwestern W
@ Nebraska W
Michigan State L
@ Rutgers W
20-11 (11-7) Although I tend to be a bit of a pessimist.
Seventh Woods freshman year mixtape.
BananaShampoo
Captain 'Paign
- Phoenix, AZ
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
25 wins...don't how many losses, depends on how far they get in each tourney. That used to be my benchmark back in the day. It is time for those days to come back. 
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
25 wins...don't how many losses, depends on how far they get in each tourney. That used to be my benchmark back in the day. It is time for those days to come back.
Sadly the yearly debates about what seed we'd get are long past. Yet, I am hopeful.
ray:
Kwe Parker is another fun one :thumb: Obnoxious bounce & body control
That guy has some nasty hops.
Obnoxious is a good way to describe it.
I think the West Virginia game is the statement game of the year that will put us on the national radar as a legitimate power in the B1G and threat to any team in the country due to our veteran savvy mixed with our talent and depth.
After that game I predict a top-20 ranking and elevated expectations.
After that game I predict a top-20 ranking and elevated expectations.
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
Yeah baby!!! :thumb:
No sure what best means, but as far as spectacular, Derrick Jones' HS mixtape was better
[YOUTUBE]hrG8SiuA6U4[/YOUTUBE]
In other words, out experience them at our place. Get a win. Then watch that win become bigger and bigger as the season goes on and then at NCAA selection time. I like it. :thumb:
the national
- the Front Range
This is also the case for the WV game. They play alot of ranked teams in the big 12 and have the potential to make us look good at the end of the season. Just win. :rock:
I'd be legitimately shocked if we beat wvu. Tough game for Tracy so early in the comeback. Tjl or Tate need to play well above expectations, JCL's handles and decision making need to be decidedly improved. Malcolm should be fine. But other wings off the bench, DJW, AJ? Tough task to get spot minutes here and there vs that kind of pressure.
- Status