Season 80 is set to begin exhibition games today so here is my write up for the coming season where I will predict my final four teams, top conf, and periodically update the thread, as well as including a midseason report after the conclusion of non-conf and a pre-tourney post.
Final Four Predictions:
Centenary dgravs WIS #1 Skyline
Last Season: 22-10 (10-6) Rank 20 RPI 14 SOS 4 NT Elite 8
dgravs has dominated Smith D3 the past few seasons and returns a top notch team, with talent at every position, the team has elite ath/def with great ratings in spd/reb/bh/pas and offense that will do well in the motion. Defensively the press will be hard to beat with such physically gifted players, a lot of tournovers will be caused. RS Jr PG
John Montano looks to be a top D3 scorer this season after scoring 17.2 ppg last season.
Any weakness: not really, elite speed guards could be bothersome, but very minor worry.
Predicted Record 22-4 (13-3) Final Four
Concordia Moorehead chichisteve WIS #5 Minn IAC
Last season: 17-15 (8-8) Unranked RPI 28 SOS 3 NT Sweet 16
Coming off a season where they finished the season strong to get to the Sweet 16. This team will have one of the strongest athletic starters. Sr PG
Carl Ringler looks to be one of the top PG in the nation this season, looking to build upon a season where he had 16.3 ppg.
Any weakness: Weak in the rebounding department. Teams with multiple 80+ rebounders should be able to have a big rebounding differential.
Predicted Record 20-6 (12-4) Final Four
Carleton shoe3 WIS #11 Minn IAC
Last season 29-5 (14-2) Rank 4 RPI 6 SOS 5 NT Final Four
The stacked Minn IAC will send two teams to the final four this season as Carleton has a roster built to return to the final four for the second straight season. The reason why, look at their upper classmen they are extremely talented. You have your elite spd/per/bh in Sr PG
Jacob Dial, your elite big man in
James Sam with 99 reb, 86 lp, and amazing bh+pas for a C. Finally you have your shut down post defender in
Darryl Haight. Another factor to look at is the great FT ratings, this team will be very good from the line and hacking their big man will not be an option.
Weakness: Kind of hard to pick if anything only 1 great rebounder, a big time PF could cause problems, but the team would need to have elite players at all other positions too.
Predicted record 24-2 (14-2)
Colorado gohall WIS #4 S. Cal
gohall finally gets his team past the early parts of the NT, with this squad that will be a top offensive team. Flush with great ball handlers and passers this team will be fully capable of finding the open man and is stout and defense to limit the opposition. The key players will be the 3 seniors on this team, you have your top shelf PG, your matchup ruining high spd rebounder, and your offensive powerhouse SF.
Potential Weakness: No bigtime ath players, a team with elite level ath running a uptempo motion or FB could get Colorado in foul trouble.
Predicted record 21-5 (13-3) Final Four
Top Conference will be won by the Minn IAC, with multiple elite programs, represented by 2 teams in my final four predictions.