Here we go with another season and the 3rd full edition of my season "preview".
Here's my early final four picks:
Centre - armyof1 WIS #13
83 |
armyof1 |
29-4 |
8-0 |
15-3 |
6-1 |
14-2 |
4 |
3 |
11 |
A+ |
Conf Champion
CT Champion
NT (Elite 8) |
3 straight E8's follwing back to back NC games(1-1) armyof1 really is on a roll in Phelan, making a living off his balanced classes he never has a down season and consistently has some of the best teams around. Mark Kay has some elite ath/reb and should dominate on the boards. Wallace has a great offensive skillset and will look to be the offense motor of this team. An area where Centre might get hurt is their weak ball handling and passing, but should cause enough turnovers to make up for that. A weak looking schedule is also another factor, however they should be able to find their way deep into the tourney with any reasonable bracket.
Predicted Record: 25-1 (15-1) with such a weak looking schedule Anderson and Dallas look like the biggest chances for losses and I think Dallas will be able to knock Centre into the beaten category, should be a close one and wouldn't be surprised if Centre finished the season unbeaten.
Endicott - coachucla WIS #5
83 |
coachucla |
22-8 |
11-6 |
8-1 |
3-1 |
14-2 |
|
117 |
260 |
B+ |
Conf Champion
CT Champion
NT (1st Round) |
Looking to rebound from a "down" season coachucla has had a very nice preseason with blowout wins over 2 top 5 teams. Both times racking up a ton of FT's. The great ath/spd combo's of the players is really nice. Dejesus will be able to stop anyone he guards and his athletic ability combined with his elite FT rating is nervous for any coach playing Endicott.. Leading the charge to the free thrown line is PG Henry Edwards and his 44 LP and 67 Per, he has been the biggest benefitor this presason at the charity stripe. Weakness is passing, but at D3 with their ath/spd ratings in the fastbreak its not a turn-off.
Predicted record: 25-1 (16-0) I think Augustana(IL) will pull of the victory early in the season and then coachucla won't look back as they reel of 25 straight victories.
Piedmont - Swaney623 WIS #6
83 |
swany623 |
23-7 |
11-2 |
10-3 |
2-2 |
11-5 |
|
29 |
40 |
B |
NT At-large Bid
NT (1st Round) |
A surprising first round loss last season should have swaney and his squad wanting to prove themselves and they sure look capable of doing so. Backstorm is a great PG with 80+ spd,per and bh.(63 pas) While Vernon Gibb gives them a great high speed low post presense(57 spd, 63 reb, 74 lp). This team has multiple solid offensive options, and great spd/def in the press to cause problems, Swaney should be able to make a good run this coming season, and should benefit the tough conf play with one of the better seeds.
Predicted Record: 22-4 (12-4) non conf should be a cakewalk and they should improve their conf record from last season, looking like one of the teams to beat in the USA South.
Howard Payne - gohall WIS #10
83 |
gohall |
28-2 |
10-1 |
15-0 |
3-1 |
16-0 |
14 |
35 |
158 |
A+ |
Conf Champion
CT Champion
NT (1st Round) |
Yes you read that right, a zone team in the final four, some may not already remember but in the past 5 seasons gohall has 2 elite 8's and 2 Sweet 16's before last seasons early exit, which that most recent elite 8 run, being undefeated until they were knocked out. Gohall recruits very well for the flex/zone combo as he has the spd/bh/per game for the offense, without sacrificing guard defense and then he has the high reb/sb big men to anchor the 2-3. The team goes out early and will prove itself with a demanding non-conf with notable games against: #19 Chowan, aejones, mikemang23, #9 Wisconsin luthernan, and Dominican. Giving us an early indicator of how far HP will be able to go this season.
Predicted Record: 25-1 (16-0) I think Chowan will be able to blitz the 2-3 and win on their strong 3 point shooting game, however if gohall plans ahead and can shut it down, a undefeated season looks highly likely with all games looking reasonably winnable. The next toughest is probably Wisconsin Lutheran, but I'd give gohall the advantage between the two teams.
Personally I'm hoping I can qualify for the NT, with 6 sophomores and an unrelenting conference it will be hard, as I can't slip up in my expected win games. While managing to pull of a few upsets. I'm hoping I can go 9-1 in non-conf as that means I just need 5 wins in conference play to qualify as my sos should be enough. I'm in the process of switching to the press as I'm solidly around B- range so by the middle or end of the season my defensive IQ should be a respectable B+ among my teams contributors.
Another thing to watch, maybe not this season, but within the next few is the development of another superconference to rival the USA South is the SUNYAC lead by dacj501 who grabbed the interest of some elite coaches.
Enjoy the season everyone it should be great, I personally don't think their any clearcut winners yet and that it is pretty wide open, they're a few teams that look like they have the potential to clamp down and show they are those clear cut favorites soon.
7/2/2015 4:29 PM (edited)