Schedule is out....

[Who Dey Time]

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/cinn/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/1011MBKSCHED.pdf

Relatively weak non-conference schedule which I think is a good thing. Chance for a 3-1 start in the league with a brutal 3 game road trip at Syracuse, at Notre Dame, and at St. John's in January.

 

[psax889906]

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/cinn/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/1011MBKSCHED.pdf

Relatively weak non-conference schedule which I think is a good thing. Chance for a 3-1 start in the league with a brutal 3 game road trip at Syracuse, at Notre Dame, and at St. John's in January.

Dayton, Xavier and Oklahoma. 3 games that are relative toss ups in the OOC... assuming they take care of business in all the others, which frankly they should, those will be very important for their positioning as they enter Big East play.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I think this is a pretty favorable schedule they have a good chance for about 14-16 wins which is what i expect.

 

[bearcat18]

I think this is a pretty favorable schedule they have a good chance for about 14-16 wins which is what i expect.

I know we lose our two top scorers from a team that struggled to score, but you are really only shooting for 14-16 wins? IMO, that would be a HUGE disappointment. This is easily the easiest nonconference schedule Mick has ever faced, and I don't think the Big East will be what it has in the past years, although it will still be tough.

I'm hoping for at least 18-20 wins, and I think it's very manageable.

 

[psax889906]

I'm hoping for at least 18-20 wins, and I think it's very manageable.

I'll one up you... if this team doesn't win 20+ games this coming year, it's a disappointment and Mick's job will be in jeopardy... with that said, I think they have all the ability to win anywhere from 20-25 games if they stay healthy and a couple breaks go their way...

 

[bearcat18]

I'll one up you... if this team doesn't win 20+ games this coming year, it's a disappointment and Mick's job will be in jeopardy... with that said, I think they have all the ability to win anywhere from 20-25 games if they stay healthy and a couple breaks go their way...

Honestly I feel like 20+ should happen, but I didn't want everyone to think I was crazy. I think we have some great talent and depth this year to make some noise. I really think we have like six or seven guys that could lead us in scoring any given night (Cash, Parker, Dixon, Bishop, Gates, Thomas, Kilpatrick?). If Biggie can give some solid minutes and Jackson can give energy like scouting reports say, that would help tremendously.

 

[psax889906]

Honestly I feel like 20+ should happen, but I didn't want everyone to think I was crazy. I think we have some great talent and depth this year to make some noise. I really think we have like six or seven guys that could lead us in scoring any given night (Cash, Parker, Dixon, Bishop, Gates, Thomas, Kilpatrick?). If Biggie can give some solid minutes and Jackson can give energy like scouting reports say, that would help tremendously.

To be honest, mine isn't as much about what the team will be like as it is about Mick staying on schedule in the rebuilding process... he's upped his win total every year since he's been here and that needs to continue, if it does, that would mean 20 wins.

 

[bearcat18]

To be honest, mine isn't as much about what the team will be like as it is about Mick staying on schedule in the rebuilding process... he's upped his win total every year since he's been here and that needs to continue, if it does, that would mean 20 wins.

Yeah you bring up a good point, hopefully that trend continues. As said before though, this schedule is wayyy easier than last year. Out of our 'big' nonconference games, only Oklahoma and Miami are on the road (technically the Oklahoma game is neutral but is played in OKC). I think we will get XU this year and UD since we owe them a big payback.

A lot of Big East teams lost a lot of talent from last year.

Villanova - Reynolds, Redding, King
Syracuse - Rautins, Johnson, Onuaku
WVU - Butler, Ebanks, Smith
Pitt - Dixon
Marquette - Acker, Cubillan, Hayward
Louisville - Sosa, Delk, Smith
Georgetown - Monroe
ND - Jackson, Peoples, Hansbrough, Harangody
USF - Jones, Mercer
Seton Hall - Harvery, Garcia
St. Johns - Mason Jr.
UCONN - Dyson, Robinson, Edwards, Majok
Rutgers - Rosario, Ndiaye
Providence - Peterson, McKenzie
DePaul - Walker

Now a lot of these schools have great recruiting classes, but they will still be freshmen, and we all know you can only lean on freshmen for so much. We have to be close to one of the most experienced teams in the league (along with Pitt, St. Johns, Seton Hall, and G'town IMO). Can't wait til the first game!

 

[bearcat jeff]

My expectation is the NCAA Tournament. If that comes with 16 wins or 23 I don't care. I do think if the thin front line holds up they have a shot at 20 wins or better.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I think the below asessment validates what many of us believe. The BEast is going to be down this season from the past few. Though there is no mention of the Bearcats I still hold the belief this team will be better than many think. One thing to consider about our league. There are never any get me's especially on the road. Every night will be a battle. This team will be improved fundamentally and have a much better on court chemistry resulting in more wins. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

BIG EAST

NCAA tournament teams: Villanova, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, West Virginia, Marquette

On the bubble: Georgetown, Connecticut, St. John’s, Louisville, Notre Dame, Seton Hall

Outlook: Three different Big East teams (Villanova, Connecticut and West Virginia) have advanced to the Final Four the past two seasons. But no one would be surprised if the conference didn’t have a representative there in 2011. Too many programs were hit hard by graduation and early NBA draft defections. Villanova, Pittsburgh and Syracuse will likely be included in the Preseason Top 15 of most publications, but plenty of question marks surround each school. Villanova has a promising player in the frontcourt in Mouphtaou Yarou but, otherwise, the Wildcats don’t have much depth down low. Syracuse lost three starters, meaning the Orange will have to depend heavily on freshmen. And Jamie Dixon’s Pittsburgh squad continues to be an NCAA tournament disappointment (although there are many close to the Panthers program who believe that trend will end this March). West Virginia has a lot of nice parts but no star power thanks to the loss of Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks. Same thing goes for Georgetown, where Greg Monroe has played his last college game. Louisville should be good a year from now once it gets all of its standout recruits into school but, as of now, the 2010-11 Cardinals don’t appear to be much of a threat. Marquette’s Buzz Williams is one of the top coaches in the country, so expect the Golden Eagles to be back in the NCAA tournament. St. John’s and Seton Hall should be in the mix, too, thanks to the energy provided by the arrival of new coaches Steve Lavin and Kevin Willard. Both coaches inherited talented and experienced teams.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-hooppower092110

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I know we lose our two top scorers from a team that struggled to score, but you are really only shooting for 14-16 wins? IMO, that would be a HUGE disappointment. This is easily the easiest nonconference schedule Mick has ever faced, and I don't think the Big East will be what it has in the past years, although it will still be tough.

I'm hoping for at least 18-20 wins, and I think it's very manageable.

I think the non conference is what is really a variable here. I could see UC winning anywhere between 8 to 10 non conference games. I'm pretty certain that they will probably win between 5 to 7 league games. Thats why I could see us winning, I guess to revise what I initially said, between 13 to 17 wins. Anything less I will be shocked and anything more I'll be pleasantly surprised. That is not the number I'm shooting for, but it is a realistic number based on what I've seen the past few years and the recruiting class coming in.

 

[Lobot]

The BEast is going to be down this season from the past few. ..... Every night will be a battle. This team will be improved fundamentally and have a much better on court chemistry resulting in more wins. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

So in your opinion if the league is down and our win total goes up, have we made any progress?

 

[Thegreatone]

Good question. I still say yes. More wins helps build back up the fanbase and helps us get to the tourny.

 

[bearcat jeff]

The league will still be top 3-4 in the country. You can't control graduations or early entries. All you can do is win. Yes a 20 win season and NCAA appearance is progress. They don't make the tourny I say no.

 

[JasonS]

So in your opinion if the league is down and our win total goes up, have we made any progress?

I don't think the league will be down, actually. I still think it will be better than the Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10 and SEC. I think the ACC will be better this year but I still put it at number 2. I think the Bearcats will be seasoned enough and have enough talent to win 21-23 games and solidly make the NCAA tourney this year.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Jason I have to disagee. The league will have talent but it will be young. It will be more balanced and better overall but the top will not be as good. That doesn't mean it won't be very good. I think the ACC and Big 10 will be better at the top.

 

[JasonS]

Jason I have to disagee. The league will have talent but it will be young. It will be more balanced and better overall but the top will not be as good. That doesn't mean it won't be very good. I think the ACC and Big 10 will be better at the top.

The Big 10 may be better at the top but it is garbage after about 2 or 3 teams and it is awful once you get down around 7-11. Adding Nebraska next year will just make the basketball league that much worse. I do think the ACC will be very good this year.

Just because the Big East is young doesn't mean there aren't going to be very good teams. I don't know that we will see 2 teams in the top 5 or 3 in the top 10 like has been the case in years past. That said, I think you will see as many as 7 or 8 different teams in the top 25 at some point this year.

 

[Thegreatone]

The Big 10 may be better at the top but it is garbage after about 2 or 3 teams and it is awful once you get down around 7-11. Adding Nebraska next year will just make the basketball league that much worse. I do think the ACC will be very good this year.

Just because the Big East is young doesn't mean there aren't going to be very good teams. I don't know that we will see 2 teams in the top 5 or 3 in the top 10 like has been the case in years past. That said, I think you will see as many as 7 or 8 different teams in the top 25 at some point this year.

Big East is always going to be a top 2 conference. 90 percent of the time it is the best. Not always the best team or top 2 or 3 but almost always the best top to bottom.

 

[bearcat jeff]

We will have to agree to disagree. Once league play starts they are gonna beat up on each other. I do think there is a shot at 7 NCAA teams. It may be the deepest league top to bottom and like I said maybe 3rd at the top.