2017-18 College Basketball Preseason Top 25 Read it and weep.
- Thread starter preacher_tom
- Start date
With our current lineup I wouldn't rank UK, but I am confident that they add two more key pieces between Diallo, Johnson, and a Bamba. If they get all three then they are top ten.
It's kind of stupid for them to rate these teams before rosters are even decided.
I guess they are desperate to get something for us basketball fans to read and get our minds off Hamidou Diallo.
#10 not bad, considering cal hasn't assembled a complete team yet.
Meanwhile, vegas money falling out of love with us too. all the way down to 12:1 from 10:1.
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/odds/futures/
Meanwhile, vegas money falling out of love with us too. all the way down to 12:1 from 10:1.
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/odds/futures/
So let me get this straight.. Duke gets the benefit of Knox, a player who is more up in the air than Bamba, a guy who isn't counted as being Kentucky's?
Straight up, NBC sports should fire this guy. He's either a Duke nerd-bomb or is incompetent. How are you going to say "Well, give Duke their projected recruits and bump them up a few spots.. but DON'T do that for Kentucky".
Not to mention, Kentucky at 10, even if the season started yesterday, is a joke. #1 class by a good-margin, still not done yet, returning two top25 guys from last year. Kentucky being #10 is basically saying they're a middling #3 seed.. lol. No.
Straight up, NBC sports should fire this guy. He's either a Duke nerd-bomb or is incompetent. How are you going to say "Well, give Duke their projected recruits and bump them up a few spots.. but DON'T do that for Kentucky".
Not to mention, Kentucky at 10, even if the season started yesterday, is a joke. #1 class by a good-margin, still not done yet, returning two top25 guys from last year. Kentucky being #10 is basically saying they're a middling #3 seed.. lol. No.
Comment Section:
Of course duke is #2, didn’t you see that their special set of rules allows them to start six guys while everyone else is stuck with starting only five?
I mean, this is junior high writing and comprehension at best.
Of course duke is #2, didn’t you see that their special set of rules allows them to start six guys while everyone else is stuck with starting only five?
I mean, this is junior high writing and comprehension at best.
Trust me.. A million bucks he has no idea about the Diallo situation.. Or else he'd have written "Diallo left for the Knicks, he doesn't count, he doesn't count.. Yesssss! Coach K!!! "..
I was wondering if anyone else noticed that this writer had Knox listed on Duke's projected roster, but no Bamba on UK's roster. Also had Knox listed as a potential UK addition. Very odd.
Oh, he had Diallo as a definite for UK.
This is garbage.
Hello Shai Alexander. Winner 3 point contest Derby festival qualified for the finals Friday won at the finals Saturday. Was 2 for 2 at the game. Then and went like 6 threes at the Iverson all star game a week later. Sounds like filling it up Baker ranked 52 4 star best 3 point shooter in the class by all accounts underrated and is still ranked higher than some of the recruits he lists as major contributor. Washington shot better from 3 than Knox at 38 percent. Green shoots high 30s as well Vanderbilt has improved his shot alot according to the people who have seen three weeks of practice at the three all star games. He is a point forward who at one time was ranked as the best player in the country an injury and lack of a three point shot is why he fell. He gets healthy and is shooting 3s now. Kid is has an elite handle is an elite passer and defender. If you want to see if Im wrong consider this his hs ranking is aroun 17 or 18 he is projected top 10 in next year's draft. Last time I saw that crap was Towns pros had him being drafted bout five spots higher than his hs ranking and we all know how that turned out. That is without adding anyonde.
Bamba is the kinda elite shot blocker he can control a game and not score a point. Johnson is a 41 percent 3 point shooter in the ACC and this clown actually feels like Knox who offers basically the same ability as Washington and not as good as Vanderbilt is what makes us. I bet money Gabriel is a better forward next year than Knox kid looks a little small to play inside and a little slow to play outside not saying he isn't a future star. But just not that much better than what we got.
Bamba is the kinda elite shot blocker he can control a game and not score a point. Johnson is a 41 percent 3 point shooter in the ACC and this clown actually feels like Knox who offers basically the same ability as Washington and not as good as Vanderbilt is what makes us. I bet money Gabriel is a better forward next year than Knox kid looks a little small to play inside and a little slow to play outside not saying he isn't a future star. But just not that much better than what we got.
He also hinted that we could jump into the top 5 if we got Knox, not Bamba.
Just too heavily dependent on freshmen. In past seasons, in November especially, upperclassmen came through and did most of the work in several games. Hawkins was crucial last year along with Briscoe and Willis. Take those three off the team then UK would have been a top twenty team rather than top five.
I know that is stupid, they have Knox and Duval in the lineup. They don't even mention Bamba or Johnson..lol
Yet every season we have been elite 8 or better which is all but 2 seasons we have had injuries or a match up problems that got us beat not youth. We are young but we got a mature for his age pg and we can act like Gabriel won't be a star if we want but we forget there was a stretch there he played like a lottery pick including a double double vs LSU where he scored 25 and blocked 3 shots. Duke really really wanted him his problem was confidence if he comes in with more confidence I am not sure Knox is better. Jones is way better than we give him credit for as well go watch early games including the exhibitions and Blue White game. Willis was quoted as saying he has the most potential. On the team he has seen a few really good players figure he has seen some players to compare him too. Green is a steady calm pg this team may look ugly at first offensively but defensively may be world beaters so I disagree we are a ranked team whether we add another player or not and if they hit their maturity stride just like most of Cal's teams they will not have the weaknesses of no interior play or rim protection the last 2 have had. So hopefully your wrong and I am right
Against Carolina it was Willis a senior who did not stay with his man when he went out and hit the shot that beat us. He was standing underneath looking. Briscoe was as prone to make as bad of a decision as any freshman love his game but I didnt see the characteristics in him as a seasoned player as u did Ulis. Not sure the 2011 final four team had anymore real experience only had 2 guards and polson with Liggins backing up. Harrelson came out of nowhere so you can say him but he scored less his jr year than Jones did half of last season.
I found it more obvious that they listed every player we were losing such as Hawkins, Willis, and Mulder, but only listed Duke losing 3 players, but never mind them losing 2 starting seniors that played major roles in Jefferson and Matt jones and the 2 transfers including Jeter who was highly rated albeit overrated.
I may have missed it but didn't Johnson leave The Cards already? Most rumors have Mitchell and Deng staying in the draft.
As for Duke pretty sure Frank Jackson wants to be a PG on the next level he might as well go and take a chance at the d league then back up Duval. Figure he is gone and if he does come back Knox wants to play the wing not the 4
jackson comes back probably no knox. No way Bolden came back to not start and if he thinks Carter is a five he hasn't seen him play he is a four and wants to be a stretch 4. So my guess no Knox or no Jackson if jackson comes back he will start the 2 over the over rated Trent. Duval starts the point Gracie the 3 carter the 4 and Bolden the 5 Trent comes off the bench and they have zero inside depth and will struggle defensively.
As for Duke pretty sure Frank Jackson wants to be a PG on the next level he might as well go and take a chance at the d league then back up Duval. Figure he is gone and if he does come back Knox wants to play the wing not the 4
jackson comes back probably no knox. No way Bolden came back to not start and if he thinks Carter is a five he hasn't seen him play he is a four and wants to be a stretch 4. So my guess no Knox or no Jackson if jackson comes back he will start the 2 over the over rated Trent. Duval starts the point Gracie the 3 carter the 4 and Bolden the 5 Trent comes off the bench and they have zero inside depth and will struggle defensively.
This.
The 17/18 team is going to resemble the 13/14 team more than any other Cal team. That team lost a bunch of games and ended up as an 8 seed. Yup, they made the title game, but how often do we think rolling those dice is going to work out that way?
Now, if we get Diallo and Bamba, well, that's a pretty stacked team, but I'm not so sure our PG spot is going to be good or deep enough to pull off a deep run with such a young team.
I believe that we are a Top 10 team with what we have seen in this Recruiting Class coming in next year. I believe that both PJ Washington and Vanderbilt are outstanding players that can score from the outside and inside. Both players Washington and Vanderbilt have shown they can hit from 3 point too next year. Then Quade Green, Alexander, Baker, if we get Cam Johnson or Diallo returns will be an outstanding backcourt and could see the 3 guard lineup with Green Alexander, and Johnson or Diallo. Then underneath with Richards, Gabriel, SKJ, and PJ Washington and Vanderbilt and if we pickup Bamba we are going to be outstanding underneath and our first 8 or 9 are going to be an outstanding team next year. We are going to have a good outside shooting team and our 3 point shooting could be near 40% next year. Both backcourt and frontcourt are going to be outstanding next year and if we add Bamba and Cam Johnson or Diallo returns this team will be exciting in March next year.
If we consider all the ranking service and basically everyone saying Alexander is rising rapidly already as high as 15 by scout we have 2 5star talented players at PG. If green was 3 inches taller he would probably be considered the best pg in the country. Let's see though on paper going into these seasons 2009/2010 we had Wall and a ranked lower than Alexander bledsoe Miller was our next option at pg. 2010/2011 knight only pg signed 2guard lamb had to back him up. 2011/2012 Teague only pg signed and lamb backed him up. 2012/2013 harrow only pg and Mayes and polson backed him up 2013/2014 only pg signed Andrew Harrison his 2guard bro backed him up. 2014/2015 Andrew Harrison and Tyler Ulis not ranked much higher than Alexander backed him up. Last year 2016 we had 3 capable of playing pg ulis Murray and Briscoe went out second round. This season we had 3 fox Briscoe and Hawkins so I am not seeing your concern especially considering Vanderbilt handles the ball and passes the ball better than every back up pg we have had except for 2 seasons.
LOL, you need to start giving shorter versions in your responses. I keep falling asleep while reading your long, drawn out posts.
I knew you were going to post this though, that's your style, you are definitely a glass half full poster, kudos for that, but we are looking at an 8-10 loss regular season in 17/18. They're just too young.
Translation you don't have a counter argument the only thing I am not sure about is how well green and Alexander will perform but I am basing my opinion on seeing them play and experts opinions and since you can count on one finger the number of Cal pgs who underperformed I would say my speculation is closer to accurate than your we are all doomed glass is dumped out opinion based on the outstandingly thought out "young"
I hope you're right. Cal is the right guy for the job, but, IMO, getting Diallo, Johnson and Bamba is key, without them… .all of them, I just don't see it.
Cal's great teams (3 losses or less) all had players capable of playing both ends. His worst teams (teams that lost 7 or more) had at least 2 players not able to play both ends. Last year he had 1 player not able to play both ends, and ended with 6 losses. So the question becomes, does he have 5 players that can play both ends?? We shall see. I think there are at least 3 in Green, Vanderbilt, and Washington. If you keep Diallo, and add Bamba, there is 5. Losing Bamba might be OK, as Richards might be able to do that. Losing Diallo might be OK, if you add Johnson and he can defend. The safe bet right now is 7 or more. If Bamba signs and Diallo returns, the safe bet would be 3. When the roster is set we will have an idea, but we will have a better idea about 5-6 games in. And by the way, youth is not a factor. Being able to play is though.
Duke at 2 isn't the crazy one. Carolina at 5 is the crazy one.
Berry is a good, not great PG. Williams is an unproven, thus far under-performing player. Pinson is a defender with not much offense. Maye is a nice role player, but is not a guy you want to play 30mpg. They are on target with Bradley, he could be a beast next year. Although I don't think he returns. But assuming he does return Carolina probably belongs somewhere near where we should if Diallo plays (around 15th).
Berry is a good, not great PG. Williams is an unproven, thus far under-performing player. Pinson is a defender with not much offense. Maye is a nice role player, but is not a guy you want to play 30mpg. They are on target with Bradley, he could be a beast next year. Although I don't think he returns. But assuming he does return Carolina probably belongs somewhere near where we should if Diallo plays (around 15th).
If you want to compare guard depth for 14 vs. next season
Green, Diallo, Alexander, Baker, and possibly Johnson
vs.
Harrison, Harrison, Young, Hawkins, and Polson
I think our guard depth will be plenty sufficient.
A team with a front line of Anus Mahmoud and Ray Spalding is not sniffing a title.
No offense to you or your post and I understand fans have diverse opinions.. but I think this way of thinking sucks. Like, badly.
#1 recruiting classes put us in the hunt every year and we're entitled to more?
I'd love to hear someone's magic formula and recruiting pitch that lands us more final fours.
Hmm, all I'm saying is a team full of Freshmen is going to struggle mightily during the regular season, especially on the road in conference play where it's 5 on 8. That team is destined for a really low seed, based on performances from teams that were equally as young. How often do you think a young team is going to go in a tournament run like 14 had? Getting a 1 seed in round 2 is a loss 7 times out of 10. What did I say that was so wrong?
