Pretext, I did have this finished and attempted to post yesterday afternoon, but it would not let me post so I had to send a support ticket in, there was something wrong with the "formatting" of characters I used even though I typed with word like I normally do.  So sorry it wasn't posted yesterday when I had finished it.  As well as not having any formatting right now
 

Here we are, right before season 87. Let's see how things are looking going into the season. The WIS pre-season rankings have been released and I think they are fairly decent as usually you get some head scratchers in the top 10 who really aren't that good (no offense). 

Here's a quick analysis of the rankings:

1. Webster
Not a stretch coming off a season where their only loss was the final 4, and some insane level of perimeter talent, this is a very accurate ranking they are easily in the 1-5 ranking discussion.

2. Manchester
Another ranking that is 100% plausible, mattster returns a very strong group of seniors. I do not know what mattster runs zone wise or if he changes a lot, but there is the flexibility to run both the 2-3/3-2 based on having a strong Center and a SF with rebounding skills. Will benefit and probably receive a 1 seed due to tough sos and likely contending for a top rpi as well.

3. US Coast Guard
cmoli is back after 2 down seasons with many underclassen the Coast Guard is ready to make a splash(I though that was quite funny). Great depth and multiple 80+ scorers both in the lp and per categories. They are a little weaker on the ath side, so I may say they would fit better in the 6-10 range, but thats before looking at how the rest of the world stacks up as possible that 3 ranking does indeed make a lot of sense depending on the outlook of Knight.

4. Wartburg
This is where I start to see some teams that don't belong. tcole recruited a solid class, but not the #4 team, and I don't think anyone is expecting irishdomer to make a deep run, or last that long there. Team at best is probably a 2nd round exit. Maybe a fringe top 25 pre-season ranking, but little or small chance of finishing ranked, or eve staying ranked for long with a tough non-conf.

5. La Verne
Nice to see Chew having La Verne rebuilt. Super class is strong and while the "key indicators" aren't exactly there(ath/def) the other ratings are superb such as rebounding and above average in both lp and per. I think again like US Coast guard they maybe fit more 6-10 or 11-15 range at the moment with out seeing the rest of Knight.

6. Drew
Sad to see dtm leave Drew, but a growing lack of interest in the game caused dtm to drop some teams. He left behind a talented team, but the future is a bit uncertain. D_noonan is a very unproven coach but does have a S16 early in his career. I would def put the potential higher than some of the other coaches we could've seen here. Again another team I think is more 6-10 or 11-15 range on talent. But could easily see them being a top team in Knight based on the talent and unproven but hints of solid coaching by d_noonan.

7. NYU
Would've been surprised without TJ here. Yet again TJ is a major competitor for the NC. This time I think he has a very high chance, I think he recruited very close to perfect for this offense with McKee and his 99 LP for sure to tear up Knight as well as Reed's deep threat ability, to go along with TJ's always strong defense. Could've made a case for a top 5 pre-season ranking

8. Ramapo
Another school just finishing rebuild mode, shelmen is new to Knight as well, and while not having the illustrious recognition of Chew, a very solid record outside Knight. This could be a surprise team, they have multiple key areas that you need for an elite team in the rebounding, LP, and Per scoring area's. As well as solid ath/spd/def. They are a little light bh/pas but it's a D3 FB/Press team. They might be a dark horse team depending on how good shlemen can be, I might have even given them a top 5 pre-season ranking.

9. Upper Iowa
An odd team, a solid coach, great players, and yet they always disappoint. I don't know if it's the weird FB/Man combo or what but it is an interesting case. Again some great talent, a few stud athletic players. Should be another solid season. I agree with the 9th spot here, maybe drop to the 11-15 range based on the "disappointment" factor.

10. Waynesburg
Some nice talent however I don't think they put it all together. They have 2 elite per threats, one is exceptional with the other areas, but one isn't much else besides the per. A few LP threats, but no rebounding. I think they will have a solid season but it looks like more of a 1st/2nd round team. Would've ranked around 16-20 or 21-25.

I think some under ranked teams I will just give shout-outs too are:
• Curry(lost piman, but ksukerwin is a great replacement) ~6-10, 11-15 range
• Mississippi College, duece is back albiet a bit of a depth issue, but would've given 11-15 range
• Cal Tech a bunch of juniors but they are talented and a great coach, another 11-15 range
• Menlo(lost mikemang) pkit is unproven and never really stayed put, but the talent is there 16-20 range

Screwed:
• Becker, seriously do they not know Becker? 11-15 range
• New England, some depth issues, but enough Sr's to make a solid season out of it, 16-20 range
• CMHMS, aejones could coach a squad of 12 walk-on's to a S16. never leave him out, 16-20 range
• Colorado, seriously does WIS not know anything(I mean yes theres an algorithm I assume that makes these rankings), but you can leave out Colorado, 11-15 range
• La Grange, kyle has the superclass hitting upperclassmen status, they won't be out before the S16. 11-15 range
• Greensboro, superclass back up to hitting upperclassmen status as well, maybe not as dominant as past noah teams, but 21-25 range
• Ferrum, enough seniors to combat the high freshmen count. Talented and will get S16. 16-20 range

Probably some others I missed but you get the point.

Well I guess you came here to read my final four predictions(I mean I hope, otherwise I'm not sure why you came here)

Final Four teams(no order)

Webster
86 funngun10 33-1 8-0 18-0 7-1 16-0 4 6 29 A+ Conf Champion
CT Champion
NT (Final Four)

Makes it back to F4, with elite play from Hamilton and just too many Per threats.

Weaknesses? High ath high tempo teams could cause problems, but only the upper echelon of those teams could.

NYU
86 Trentonjoe 29-3 11-0 13-2 5-1 16-0 10 7 23 A+ Conf Champion
CT Champion
NT (Sweet 16)

TJ gets there with the elite offensive production from McKee and Reed.

Weaknesses? Elite press teams will always hurt TJ(maybe wrong on this statement), but those triangle/man teams are just at a disadvantage to elite press teams and Knight is just full of FB/Press teams ready to knock of NYU

Becker
86 carlbuzz 35-0 14-0 12-0 9-0 16-0 1 2 11 A+ Conf Champion
CT Champion
National Champion

Yes the team with 1 PG on the roster and that same PG is the only upperclassmen guard on the team. Then why did I pick them you ask? Insane defense throughout the zone which kills the FB offense D3 Knight loves. As well as Carpenter being an insane offensive and defensive big man.

Weaknesses? Well the obvious lack of guards is concerning. As well as the lack of spd coming from the guards that are on this team.

Manchester
86 mattster24 20-8 6-3 14-3 0-2 12-4 14 8 A+ NT At-large Bid
NT (1st Round)

Just like Becker this zone will run hurt those FB teams as well as Manchester having that elite offense from multiple areas.

Weaknesses? No real true PG right now.



And a tidbit to talk about myself. McMurray is probably in for a rough non-conf I scheduled very tough to combat my weak conf, but my team probably cannot take the pounding. Going to stack up a bunch of losses earlier on, until my freshmen can hit B- IQ and my juniors near the end of their development. Paulson, Parker, and Selby are a solid core for a nice season 88 however.

Enjoy and good luck everyone, hope you enjoyed this, I tried to put a bit more effort into it, since my quality has been lacking recently! Any comments and suggestions are welcome!!