I'm looking to get some preseason conversation going here on the various conferences to get a feel for the general consensus of the teams to take note of early in the season & potential sleepers for when we get into conference play in January so please chime in.
This conference moves from an 8 team league to a 9 team league this year. TCU is gone. Nevada & Fresno St. come in. For all intensive purposes Nevada is the only one of the two who will shake things up a bit here in the first season in conference. Fresno couldn't win in the WAC last year and they won't be able to do much in the new conference against stiffer competition.
So as contenders here, I see UNLV, San Diego St. and Colorado St. all of which I anticipate having spots in the NCAA tourney field at season’s end. I think the conference ends with 3 bids this year. New Mexico doesn’t appear, to me, to have enough left to compensate for the loss of Drew Gordon and stay in contention. Also, I'm a bit hesitant to add Nevada into the conversation for a shot at the title and a bid due to the loss of Olek Czyz & Dario Hunt there two starting forwards from a season ago who accounted for about 16 boards per game. There are some ?s left by the departures. Nevada, however, will have an impact on the race with Deonte Burton & Malik Story on the court and still remains a dangerous team.Of the other teams in the league Boise St. looks like a potential up and coming team.I think Leon Rice has this team in position for a move up in the conference standings (not contend just yet) over the next couple years.Sophs Anthony Drmic & Derrick Marks could lead an upset or two this season for them.
I'm looking to get some preseason conversation going here on the various conferences to get a feel for the general consensus of the teams to take note of early in the season & potential sleepers for when we get into conference play in January so please chime in.
This conference moves from an 8 team league to a 9 team league this year. TCU is gone. Nevada & Fresno St. come in. For all intensive purposes Nevada is the only one of the two who will shake things up a bit here in the first season in conference. Fresno couldn't win in the WAC last year and they won't be able to do much in the new conference against stiffer competition.
So as contenders here, I see UNLV, San Diego St. and Colorado St. all of which I anticipate having spots in the NCAA tourney field at season’s end. I think the conference ends with 3 bids this year. New Mexico doesn’t appear, to me, to have enough left to compensate for the loss of Drew Gordon and stay in contention. Also, I'm a bit hesitant to add Nevada into the conversation for a shot at the title and a bid due to the loss of Olek Czyz & Dario Hunt there two starting forwards from a season ago who accounted for about 16 boards per game. There are some ?s left by the departures. Nevada, however, will have an impact on the race with Deonte Burton & Malik Story on the court and still remains a dangerous team.Of the other teams in the league Boise St. looks like a potential up and coming team.I think Leon Rice has this team in position for a move up in the conference standings (not contend just yet) over the next couple years.Sophs Anthony Drmic & Derrick Marks could lead an upset or two this season for them.
Returners: (top 4 scorers from a season ago)Note: only listing players I view as impact players not all returners, departures, additions. If I missed anyone please feel free to comment.
Jamaal Franklin jr G 17.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, - 1st team all MWC, MWC POY
Chase Tapley sr G 15.8 ppg, 1.8 stpg, 43.3% 3pt% - 2nd team all MWC
Xavier Thames jr G 10.1 ppg, 4.1 apg, - MWC honorable mention
James Rahon sr G 8.9 ppg
Deshawn Stephens sr F reserve 4.9 rpg, 60.8% fg%
Losses:
Garrett Green F 4.6 rpg, 57.9% fg%
Tim Shelton F 4.6 rpg – All MWC defensive team, MWC honorable mention
Newcomers to watch:
JJ O’Brien (Utah transfer) so F 5.5 rpg in freshman yr (practiced with team last year)
Winston Shepard fr F ranked no. 6 at position by rivals.com 21st overall
Returners: (top 4 scorers from a season ago)Note: only listing players I view as impact players not all returners, departures, additions. If I missed anyone please feel free to comment.
Jamaal Franklin jr G 17.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, - 1st team all MWC, MWC POY
Chase Tapley sr G 15.8 ppg, 1.8 stpg, 43.3% 3pt% - 2nd team all MWC
Xavier Thames jr G 10.1 ppg, 4.1 apg, - MWC honorable mention
James Rahon sr G 8.9 ppg
Deshawn Stephens sr F reserve 4.9 rpg, 60.8% fg%
Losses:
Garrett Green F 4.6 rpg, 57.9% fg%
Tim Shelton F 4.6 rpg – All MWC defensive team, MWC honorable mention
Newcomers to watch:
JJ O’Brien (Utah transfer) so F 5.5 rpg in freshman yr (practiced with team last year)
Winston Shepard fr F ranked no. 6 at position by rivals.com 21st overall
I think colorado state is the biggest group of frauds that imo had no business being in the NCAA tournament. LY everyone in the media got a hard-on for crapping on the pac-12 thats why them.west got 4 teams in Perogi keep your eye on Wyoming this year. I think they make the NCAA tournament
I think colorado state is the biggest group of frauds that imo had no business being in the NCAA tournament. LY everyone in the media got a hard-on for crapping on the pac-12 thats why them.west got 4 teams in Perogi keep your eye on Wyoming this year. I think they make the NCAA tournament
Colorado st will be better than last year IMO. Losing bell is no biggie so now both smith kids can play at same time. Getting Ustachy for a coach is a huge upgrade. Look for them to be more uptempo which plays to eikmeier and greens liking. Should score in 80's most games
Colorado st will be better than last year IMO. Losing bell is no biggie so now both smith kids can play at same time. Getting Ustachy for a coach is a huge upgrade. Look for them to be more uptempo which plays to eikmeier and greens liking. Should score in 80's most games
I think the PAC 12 will be back this year. With the recruiting class UCLA brings in & Zona's class + addition of Mark Lyons (thug life) who in exhibition play has shown he's gonna fit right in.
Last year maybe Colo St. didn't belong, but I'm not buying with this senior laden squad come season's end they won't belong this year.
Wyoming - think the losses of Cruz & Luster may limit this teams upside although they do have a couple jucos coming in in Cooke & Sobey that may make me change my mind.
I think the PAC 12 will be back this year. With the recruiting class UCLA brings in & Zona's class + addition of Mark Lyons (thug life) who in exhibition play has shown he's gonna fit right in.
Last year maybe Colo St. didn't belong, but I'm not buying with this senior laden squad come season's end they won't belong this year.
Wyoming - think the losses of Cruz & Luster may limit this teams upside although they do have a couple jucos coming in in Cooke & Sobey that may make me change my mind.
Thanks thekid, hadn't forgot about him...just didn't add him because he's going to be redshirting this year for them...probably a good thing for him cause this team has loads of depth this year even before his addition and his action likely would've been much more limited this year as opposed to next year.
Thanks thekid, hadn't forgot about him...just didn't add him because he's going to be redshirting this year for them...probably a good thing for him cause this team has loads of depth this year even before his addition and his action likely would've been much more limited this year as opposed to next year.
Returners: (top 4 scorers from a season ago)Note: only listing players I view as impact players not all returners, departures, additions. If I missed anyone please feel free to comment.
Jamaal Franklin jr G 17.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, - 1st team all MWC, MWC POY
Chase Tapley sr G 15.8 ppg, 1.8 stpg, 43.3% 3pt% - 2nd team all MWC
Xavier Thames jr G 10.1 ppg, 4.1 apg, - MWC honorable mention
James Rahon sr G 8.9 ppg
Deshawn Stephens sr F reserve 4.9 rpg, 60.8% fg%
Losses:
Garrett Green F 4.6 rpg, 57.9% fg%
Tim Shelton F 4.6 rpg – All MWC defensive team, MWC honorable mention
Newcomers to watch:
JJ O’Brien (Utah transfer) so F 5.5 rpg in freshman yr (practiced with team last year)
Winston Shepard fr F ranked no. 6 at position by rivals.com 21st overall
Skylar Spencer fr C ranked no. 22 at position
Thanks for the write up. The Aztecs home tickets sold out over a month ago. There is some big time hype for this team this year, as they are the biggest show in San Diego!
Returners: (top 4 scorers from a season ago)Note: only listing players I view as impact players not all returners, departures, additions. If I missed anyone please feel free to comment.
Jamaal Franklin jr G 17.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, - 1st team all MWC, MWC POY
Chase Tapley sr G 15.8 ppg, 1.8 stpg, 43.3% 3pt% - 2nd team all MWC
Xavier Thames jr G 10.1 ppg, 4.1 apg, - MWC honorable mention
James Rahon sr G 8.9 ppg
Deshawn Stephens sr F reserve 4.9 rpg, 60.8% fg%
Losses:
Garrett Green F 4.6 rpg, 57.9% fg%
Tim Shelton F 4.6 rpg – All MWC defensive team, MWC honorable mention
Newcomers to watch:
JJ O’Brien (Utah transfer) so F 5.5 rpg in freshman yr (practiced with team last year)
Winston Shepard fr F ranked no. 6 at position by rivals.com 21st overall
Skylar Spencer fr C ranked no. 22 at position
Thanks for the write up. The Aztecs home tickets sold out over a month ago. There is some big time hype for this team this year, as they are the biggest show in San Diego!
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