Conference Predictions

[ace]

Inspired by this article,

http://www.providencejournal.com/sports ... ou-ask.ece

here is where Rhode Island is predicted to finish-

Athlon: 6/13
USA Today: 6/13
Lindy's: 5/13
Sporting News: 10/13


That's mostly a lot of optimism, and an apparent head injury for one of the writers at the Sporting News.

[twisted3829]

College sports madness has us 9/13

[ace]

Some of the "analysis" that goes into many of these magazines is just great. In Lindy's, the overall profile of the A10 has URI at 5 and wonders if they could possibly make the tournament. The write-up on the team, just a few pages later but from a different writer, says the team has a chance of a .500 season if everything goes well.

But do I buy these things anyway? Yep. I'm also still watching the Eagles game, so clearly my decision making ability is questionable.

[rodfromcranston]

It doesn't matter what these "experts" have to say.
Even when CFL was around, we saw how wrong they usually were.
The only publication worth a damn is Blue Ribbon.
Everything depends on how fast this team can gel.
Enough of a soft home schedule to regroup from any road losses.
That will prevent any long losing streaks that might be demoralizing.
I'm thinking it will be in January, before we see what we want to see,
and a beast, come A-10 tourney time..
Hopefully sooner, but too many variables to not be a bit cautious in
predicting anything.

[reef]

I will say we finish 6th

[seanmc94]

I agree with Rod. There may be some uneven performances early; but this will be a train picking up steam at the end of the season.

[neil]

I'm in with Rod also. It did say that coach was concerned that he might have scheduled too many tough road games along with PC and Southern Miss. Maybe an early barometer game might be at SMU. Last year, the team played a perfect game and defeated them quite easily. Different year, different teams - a win there might give the team some early confidence for other road games. Go Rhody!

[ace]

Yeah, that's why I like the November-heavy schedule. The coaches are going to learn a lot about this team from those early games; there will be some growing pains, but it will be fun to see what combinations of players start to come together. Then, even with finals and some days off in December, there's a lot of practice time to correct and teach. Looking way ahead here, but the conference tournament has a chance to be a lot of fun this year.

[ramfan85]

I'll be interested to see how we look on the road. To really be a good team, road toughness is essential. Our good teams always liked the challenges that come with playing away from home.

[Blue Man]

I'm calling my first real birthday present in a decade....we're taking the A-10 title.

I'm not calling where we finish in conference or record-wise. But I have a feeling (be it blind optimism, or a sheer unwillingness to see anything else), but I think this team gels and rallies around their senior captain and wins the A10 title in brooklyn...whether we enter as the 1, 3, 5 or 10 seed.

I'm feeling desperately optimistic this morning.

[Seawrightspostgame]

I am gettting too old for this. A10 title !!! Go Rhody!!! 25-7? Sweeet Sixteeeeen!!

[bigappleram]

5-6 seems like where we "should" be, i would like to think where we "could" be is even higher. no way PC is the 8th best team in that league, no way. X and Butler will take their lumps IMO.

[SmartyBarrett]

The Duquesne site We Wear the Ring reached out to me and a few others (Chris from Around the Horns, Ian Nolan from College Chalktalk, etc.) and asked us to submit preseason ranking for the 13 A-10 teams. 8-13 was posted today, 1-7 is coming up tomorrow. I do not know where Rhody will land (I know where I put them, obviously). Here's Part 1:

http://wewearthering.com/2013/09/26/201 ... edictions/

[ATPTourFan]

Entertaining... I won't post any major spoilers. Some teams, like Dayton, have very wide ranges between highest voted position and lowest (5 and 11).

[twisted3829]

Don't post that on the a10 board, a certain poster will write a novel how everyone is wrong and dayton is finishing 3rd lol

[ATPTourFan]

Dayton always finishes 3rd before the games begin.

[Justns11]

http://wewearthering.com/2013/09/27/201 ... ons-1-7/2/

[SmartyBarrett]

Welp, I had the Rams at 5.

[Essam]

Looking forward to the season! You are going to be surprised by Hare's improvement. Last year hJuRI had one player who could make his own shot. Mnow there are 8 to 10 who can make there oWn shots.the offend is set lto go. The season success depends on how fast the defense comes around..I am highly optimistic of what I saw in Italy. My hopes are first or secOnd in A 10 and sweet 16 in NCAA

[ace]

Hi Essam!


As for the rankings, I do not see 8 teams in the A10 that are better than Rhode Island. But with every conference summary I read, I'm reminded of how much I wish they would have gotten Gordon.

[rodfromcranston]

Hmmm, I wasn't that thrilled on Gordon, because I figured they'd be able to
bring in a freshman SG this year, of similar talent, and we were in danger of
looking like Transfer Tech.
Obviously, Terrell would have been that guy.
Nobody in the "offers" close to either. Bird in the hand and all that.....