Preseason #1 if everyone returns.

Azubuike24;1126043 wrote:Preseason #1 if everyone returns.

We are oversigned by 1. So someone has to leave, or a recruit (Jurkin) has to go to prep school. But, yeah, I know what you mean and I tend to agree. I said top 3 cause I haven looked at other teams yet. But I dont see any core player leaving, and the class coming in is in positions of need (true PF and PG) and gives a ton of wing depth.

Zeller for sure coming back?

Obviously it depends on early defections and the remaining commitments, but at this point teams I think could start top 5 next year are UK, UNC, Louisville, IU, Baylor, Arizona, Florida, Michigan State, Ohio State, Syracuse, Memphis.

SportsAndLady;1126025 wrote:I've never seen a team play so bad in the tournament and make it to the elite 8 lol but somehow (and by somehow I mean playing the 15, 10, and 13 seeds) they've pulled it off. I really don't think they stand a chance against unc. And that's not just reverse psychology...but damn I hope so. Roy Williams looks like he needs to cry again.

LOL don't stand a chance vs UNC? Did you happen to watch them vs OU? Without Marshall, they looked horrid. I agree, KU hasn't looked good at all. But again, they were just more talented vs who they played and were able to survive. If Marshall were playing, I'd take UNC. With him, KU is favored and SHOULD win this game.

Kentucky is going to lose multiple players.
North Carolina is going to lose multiple players.
Baylor is going to lose multiple players.

Florida will be there. If somehow Bradley Beal returns, they lose nothing except Walker, who at this point, would probably be a blessing. Just from the SEC I also think Arkansas will be a top 15 team with Powell back. 3rd most talented team in the league next year and they really got serious experience this year.

I can see Louisville, but I still don't think their talent will be top end (at least as good as IU's) so even if they only lose their 2 Seniors (Kuric and Chris Smith), they won't be in the top 3. Tennessee should also be there as well only losing Cameron Tatum.

A team not to sleep on is N.C. State. They return everyone except C.J. Williams. If Michigan State doesn't lose Payne, I think they are even better (if Dawson is back 100%, Trice/Kearney are upgrades eventually over Thornton/Wood).

Mulva;1126107 wrote:Obviously it depends on early defections and the remaining commitments, but at this point teams I think could start top 5 next year are UK, UNC, Louisville, IU, Baylor, Arizona, Florida, Michigan State, Ohio State, Syracuse, Memphis.

Since the Heels are still playing, we have yet to hear anything about early entrants. But I suspect that we could see three of them and perhaps as many as four if James Michael McAdoo believes the hype (even though he's obviously still growing as a player and has kind of been in wait behind Zeller and Henson, McAdoo has been listed as high as 7 on Chad Ford's Draft board). If there is any legitimacy to McAdoo going in the top ten, he's gone. That probably won't end up being the case, however.

But if the expected ones leave -- Barnes, Henson and Marshall -- the Heels are out of the Top Ten.

Azubuike24;1126237 wrote:Kentucky is going to lose multiple players.
North Carolina is going to lose multiple players.
Baylor is going to lose multiple players.

Florida will be there. If somehow Bradley Beal returns, they lose nothing except Walker, who at this point, would probably be a blessing. Just from the SEC I also think Arkansas will be a top 15 team with Powell back. 3rd most talented team in the league next year and they really got serious experience this year.

I can see Louisville, but I still don't think their talent will be top end (at least as good as IU's) so even if they only lose their 2 Seniors (Kuric and Chris Smith), they won't be in the top 3. Tennessee should also be there as well only losing Cameron Tatum.

A team not to sleep on is N.C. State. They return everyone except C.J. Williams. If Michigan State doesn't lose Payne, I think they are even better (if Dawson is back 100%, Trice/Kearney are upgrades eventually over Thornton/Wood).

I agree. But I think C.J. Leslie leaves and that would set the Pack back a bit. Leslie is forecasted early second round right now, but, from what I've read, to Leslie, that might as well read No. 1 overall pick.

I hope he returns, though, because N.C. State has a chance to be the favorite in the ACC and do major damage nationally. The Pack being relevant again is a massive positive for the conference.

Of the 8 teams left in the Tournament, I can honestly see 15+ guys going pro.

Barnes
Marshall
McAdoo
Sullinger
Thomas
Beal
Young
Kidd-Gilchrist
Lamb
Jones
Davis
Teague
Dieng
Robinson
Jones III
Miller
Waiters
Melo

Enjoy it while you can folks. This was a great year for talent in CBB. A lot of good players will be moving on very soon.

Azubuike24;1126237 wrote:.
. If Michigan State doesn't lose Payne, I think they are even better (if Dawson is back 100%, Trice/Kearney are upgrades eventually over Thornton/Wood).

MSU being better is VERY questionable IMO. They are losing their all everything in Green. Payne isn't yet developed enough to lean on offensively. Very raw. Will get better, but still not ready to carry the load. Very guard heavy with inexperience as far as front line consistant offensive playeres.

Payne + Nix is much better suited if Izzo is coaching how he is right now.

Azubuike24;1126237 wrote:Kentucky is going to lose multiple players.
North Carolina is going to lose multiple players.
Baylor is going to lose multiple players.

My listing Baylor is contingent on Miller coming back for another year. They'll still have Pierre, Heslip, Walton. Throw in Miller and Isaiah Austin to replace Acy and PJ3 in the starting lineup and that's a great starting 5. They have 2 other 4* recruits coming in, Deuce Bello, etc.

Same with McAdoo returning for UNC. I don't think the Tarheels will be top 5, but I don't think it's completely out of the question for them to be ranked there.

UK depends on landing a couple more of the big name recruits that are still out there.

A ton of it depends on who goes pro (example if Sullinger and Thomas both leave I don't know if OSU is even top 25).

I think Arizona will be the big riser in the country next year. UCLA could be back too, if they land Shabazz.

chicago510;1126084 wrote:Zeller for sure coming back?

No, but I just don't see him going for a few reasons. 1. None of the Zellers left early. Cody will, but I don't think after just 1 year. 2. He would likely get drafted ahead of his brother. That's just cruel. 3. He is extremely close with Yogi Ferrell and Jeremy Hollowell. But mostly Yogi. Not quite best friends since they are in different cities... But real close. Cody talked about getting Yogi to IU when he committed, and said the fact Yogi was considered Indiana so strongly made his decision to go to Indiana an easy one.

I think watford will test the waters and I'm thinking he will stay in, but I' wouldn't be
Surprised either way on That.

If we're predicting rankings based on possible additions over the off-season, then Duke is right there in the discussion as a Top Ten team. Duke still has the potential to sign Shabazz (perhaps an outside shot at this point, but still as a good a shot as UCLA IMO; I think he signs with Vegas), Tony Parker or Amile Jefferson. Or, if Mason Plumlee leaves, the Blue Devils could also bring in UConn transfer Alex Oriakhi. (Alex is believed to have Duke as one of his finalist destinations. His decision is likely conditional with regard to Mason Plumlee's Draft decision.) There's also a very good possibility that Duke adds another high-powered slasher to its arsenal in CMU transfer Trey Zeigler.

An addition of any combination of those players would be enough to propel Duke to a Top Ten pre-season standing with a Blue Devil lineup that will already include Quinn Cook at the point; Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins and newcomer Rasheed Sulaimon at the shooting guard spots; Ryan Kelly, Alex Murphy and Michael Gbinije playing as wing forwards; and seven-footer Marshall Plumlee in the low post.

Now, if Duke doesn't get any of the above players and Mason goes pro, the Blue Devils could be in a serious situation.

Azubuike24;1126268 wrote:Payne + Nix is much better suited if Izzo is coaching how he is right now.

Couldn't disagree more. Green could post up and shoot the 3. His versitality will be missed. His leadership and toughness even more.

I guess we'll disagree. This is contingent on those guys improving, but I got the feeling this year MSU "went through Green" because he was a Senior and brought so many intangibles to the table. Overall talent and fit for that system, they have better guys. Will they be as successful? We'll see.

centralbucksfan;1126226 wrote:LOL don't stand a chance vs UNC? Did you happen to watch them vs OU? Without Marshall, they looked horrid. I agree, KU hasn't looked good at all. But again, they were just more talented vs who they played and were able to survive. If Marshall were playing, I'd take UNC. With him, KU is favored and SHOULD win this game.

I obviously posted that a little inebriated and pissed off because they're playing so poorly after apparently peaking a little too early. But the Elite 8 is the Elite 8 I guess!

I just don't think they're playing well and certainly wouldn't bet on them. No way they're favored tomorrow, though.

SportsAndLady;1126371 wrote:I obviously posted that a little inebriated and pissed off because they're playing so poorly after apparently peaking a little too early. But the Elite 8 is the Elite 8 I guess!

I just don't think they're playing well and certainly wouldn't bet on them. No way they're favored tomorrow, though.

Kansas is a 2.5 point favorite.

wildcats20;1126372 wrote:Kansas is a 2.5 point favorite.

Sandbagger!

Whaaaat?! Are they really?

**trollishly puts $250 on UNC to cover without telling anybody**

reclegend22;1126288 wrote:There's also a very good possibility that Duke adds another high-powered slasher to its arsenal in CMU transfer Trey Zeigler.

The MAC West is horrendous. He'd never be more than a waterboy at Duke.

ts1227;1126443 wrote:The MAC West is horrendous. He'd never be more than a waterboy at Duke.

I kind of just added his name in there since he was on campus a couple of days ago visiting Duke. From what I understand of the kid, he's a very skilled ball handler at 6'5 with the ability to get to the hoop and defend on the perimeter. He scored 22 on Temple and looked to have a fairly solid year overall regardless of his conference strength. A coach's son with a savvy feel for the game. I'd welcome him if there was room and see what he can do.

Duke had zero ability to defend the perimeter this year outside of Tyler Thornton, and he's completely undersized. Zeigler might be able to help. That's good enough for me.

Ziegler can play, he was a 4 star in high school I believe.

robj55;1126622 wrote:Ziegler can play, he was a 4 star in high school I believe.

As you can see, I am kind of changing my tune lately. Ha.

He scored over 17 PPG in D-1. Whether or not he's going to be an impact player at Duke is meaningless. You always welcome those type of players if you have room.