Are you ready for this season!!! It should be another good one. Last season the championship game included two 3 seeds in Wisconsin Stevens Point and Utica. Ricosuave21 and his Wisky team winning his third title there.
Looking at this season, we already have a big surprise in CSU Eastbay as the WIS #2. Surprising, no it’s a talented squad and WIS rankings are never super accurate, but it is a sim team, a bit disappointing for matt58vt as if he had stuck around he would def be one of the better teams this season
And here we go with the annual final four predictions:
Oglethorpe – GuerillaZen1
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84
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22-9
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6-2
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12-6
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4-1
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12-4
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22
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20
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A+
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CT Champion
NT (2nd Round)
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2 seasons removed from a dominant NC run, GZ loads up again with his heavy sr/so class, and this one looks like another NC team. 2 big time rebounders in the fb/press will give GZ a huge rebounding advantage in most games. The guards are no slack either with 1 elite perimeter threat which will be tough to stop and another solid spd/per/bh guard. GZ finally got over the slight underachievement in the postseason(granted S16’s are very nice), but GZ showed his full ability and potential to compete for NC every other season.
Predicted record 24-2 (14-2) Non conf is a breeze and it doesn’t look like anyone in conf will be able to put up a huge fight against GZ.
Cal Tech – piman314
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84
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25-5
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8-0
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14-4
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3-1
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15-1
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16
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11
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29
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A+
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Conf Champion
CT Champion
NT (1st Round)
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The talent is clearly there, last season the depth wasn’t, a huge reason for their early exit. They will still be sporting 5(technically 6) sophomores, but by NT time with B+ IQ’s they should be dangerous for the ratings their players have, just some amazing elite ath, spd, and defense. Piman314 will win a NC in phelan, however this will be another season just short of the golden prize. The depth again much better than before will eventually become a problem against a press team with elite depth ala Oglethorpe.
Predicted record 25-1 (15-1) an easy schedule (however an inflated rpi/sos due to piman’s scheduling ability) means the team standing in the way of an undefeated season is Colorado a potential final four team as well.
Dallas – duece_duece
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84
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31-2
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9-0
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17-0
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5-2
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16-0
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4
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4
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17
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A+
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Conf Champion
NT At-large Bid
NT (Elite 8)
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Always a great pick to make a run year in and out. Duece always has a top team in the nation. Marcum will be a scoring machine in the triangle. 3 big rebounders to collect any misses. Developing a PG is key and if they can’t show one developing they might be the first go be exchanged out at the midseason update.
Predicted Record 23-3 (14-2) Colorado gets the early non-conf win and then Centre and Southwestern grab wins.
Colorado – pknock1215
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84
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30-3
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10-1
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15-0
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5-2
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16-0
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6
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8
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22
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A+
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Conf Champion
NT At-large Bid
NT (Elite 8)
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Yes the team that has been mentioned already in the past teams non-conference slates will not disappoint and make a final four run. They get a few early tests in Menlo, Yeshiva, and Dallas. A very talented team great ath/spd/def combo and some really talented big men, I like the high spd PF and elite ath C combo. Pknock is looking to be back on track for title contention after a few seasons of early exits has now gotten back to the S16 and E8. If they can develop a per game it makes them that much more deadly and Fischer looks like he has the potential to be that guy.
Predicted record 25-2 (15-1) I’ve already stated they would be Yeshiva and Dallas, I think Menlo gets the game 1 win, and I will go with a surprise “upset” of CSU Eastbay sim coach bothering Colorado. Still 25-2 and really only 3-4 games a loss is remotely considerable.
If i was to pick my NC game it would be Oglethorpe verse Cal Tech in a rematch from 2 seasons ago, results are the same with GZ adding another NC to his resume.
Personally I had some expectations going in, then my Cal Tech exhibition shattered that, I guess I’d aim for another S16, but would be happy with a 2nd round appearance. I think it might depend on my low WE players Ladabie is a max per and hopefully he reaches that come CT and NT time. I think I’m looking at 9-1 in non-conf and 8-8 in conference play putting me around 17-9 which isn’t too shabby, and that’s a low guesstimate for conf play.
P.S. Never too early for a shameless plug to the USA South with 1 opening in Ferrum we could really use that last spot filled!
Should be a great season, enjoy!