Way to early non-conf analysis
-Missouri, St. Louis
-Last season: CT Champion and elite 8 of NT
-Lose: 3
-Last meeting: Lost 86-68 @ Missouri, St. Louis
-Analysis: Look for the emergence of freshmen guards Vaughn Johnson and Vincent Luera. May be a little behind this season’s squad, but should still advance in the tourney. I still stand little to no chance.
-Emporia St
-Last season: Regular Season Conf Champion, CT Champion, and 1st round of NT
-Lose: 1
-Last meeting: Lost 92-78 @ home
-Analysis: If I had to guess this should be a sweet 16 type of team. They will be back to top tier status, but have the problem that next season will have more senior laden top teams in D2 than I can ever remember seeing. The following year when they’ll have 9 Jr’s and Sr’s they should be a final four type of team.
-Cal. St. Poly
-Last season: 1st round of PI
-Lose: 3
-Last meeting: Lost 66-52 @ Cal. St. Poly
-Analysis: This is another team that is probably another season away from hitting their stride. The fact that this game is at home makes me somewhat optimistic.
-Queens
-Last season: Regular Season Conf Champion, CT Champion, and sweet 16 of NT
-Lose: 0
-Last meeting: Lost 84-70 @ Queens
-Analysis: This team is an absolute juggernaut led by 1st team AA Center Michael Rethman (3 of the 1st team AA’s were Jr’s). If I keep the final score within 20 I’ll claim victory.
-Metropolitan St
-Last season: Regular Season Conf Champion, CT Champion, and 1st round of NT
-Lose: 2
-Last meeting: Lost 101-80 @ home
-Analysis: This is their year to shine. Sadly, it seems like most of the top tier has been gearing up for next season, so, a team that should ordinarily contend for a final four may struggle to do so. Regardless, they are unlikely to struggle with my team.
-W. Virginia St
-Last season: 1st round of NT
-Lose: 2 (1 fifth year)
-Last meeting: Lost 90-79 @ home
-Analysis: The sophomore class is very talented and eers’ team should get better as that group continues to develop.
-Cal. Davis
-Last season: No postseason
-Lose: 3
-Last meeting: I think we played a couple seasons back. I want to say I won, but not positive.
-Analysis: We play them as part of the first California Collegiate Athletic Association V. Heartland Conference challenge. This should be a good game. Cal. Davis scares me because with 6 seniors they are sure to have a big IQ advantage.
-Augustana (SD)
-Last season: 2nd round of PI
-Lose: 3
-Last meeting: 113-106 @ Augustana
-Analysis: I still think that this program (assuming sanmoss sticks around) will be a perennial NT team. That said they are still one more season away. This should be a pretty even matchup at home.
-Texas A&M University, Kingsville
-Last season: Regular Season Conf Champion and 1st round of NT
-Lose: 3
-Last meeting: Lost 97-90 @ home
-Analysis: This team should be back next season with 8 upperclassmen. On the road, I probably have a 10-15% chance of victory.
-Bemidji St
-Last season: Regular Season Conf Champion, CT Champion, and 1st round of NT
-Lose: 2
-Last meeting: Won 77-67 @ home
-Analysis: I expected to get a couple of w’s in the non-con last year, but I did not think I’d beat a team of this caliber. A similar result next season shouldn’t be expected. Bemidji is likely to be a team that will advance in the tourney.