KeaneyBlue - The URI Basketball Forum

Lunardi has his 1st Bracketology for next season

A10 with only 1 Bid with Dayton as the AQ with a 12-Seed

CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
Conference - Number of Teams
Big 12 - 8
Big Ten - 8
SEC - 8
ACC - 5
Big East - 5
Pac-12 - 5
American - 2
Mountain West - 2
WCC - 2


https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story ... redictions

Rothstein Early Top 45 for 2023-24.
No A10 Team is among the Top 45

https://collegehoopstoday.com/index.php ... edition-2/

With the portal these preseason rankings in April are worth even less than they would be in October. Pretty much clickbait.

ramster wrote: ↑1 year ago Rothstein Early Top 45 for 2023-24.
No A10 Team is among the Top 45

https://collegehoopstoday.com/index.php ... edition-2/

With most rosters still far from being filled out, this is extremely premature.
But I guess it is food for thought based on what teams currently have.
As certain programs continue to add they can still lose players to being recruited over.
1st time transfers still have till May 1 to enter the portal in order to qualify for the no-sit.
Also, official signing period runs through May 17.

Jersey77 wrote: ↑1 year ago

ramster wrote: ↑1 year ago Rothstein Early Top 45 for 2023-24.
No A10 Team is among the Top 45

https://collegehoopstoday.com/index.php ... edition-2/

With most rosters still far from being filled out, this is extremely premature.
But I guess it is food for thought based on what teams currently have.
As certain programs continue to add they can still lose players to being recruited over.
1st time transfers still have till May 1 to enter the portal in order to qualify for the no-sit.
Also, official signing period runs through May 17.

That's way they call them way too early polls.

Some teams are killing it in the transfer portal, some are average and some have not made any progress as yet
The finishing of the teams 1-353 next March will be significantly impacted by what happens in the Portal from March to May. We are approaching the finish line.

Agree this is dumb to post now @ least wait until the portal closes

He’s probably closer to the number than the A10 having 3-4 in play for a NCAAT birth. Other than that, I think Lunardi isn’t any more accurate than most on KB.

It's probably safer to bet toward the "1 or 2 team" side of the equation, vs. "3 or more." St. Louis lost Yuri Collins but kept Jimerson, so they'll probably be good, and I think Dayton is keeping most of its core too. Obviously, VCU and George Mason are in varying adjustment periods, and you'd expect them to be more toward the middle of the pack. Fordham notched 25 wins, but lose two of top three in minutes played. Everyone else has big question marks, given how mediocre the league was last year.

SGreenwell wrote: ↑1 year ago It's probably safer to bet toward the "1 or 2 team" side of the equation, vs. "3 or more." St. Louis lost Yuri Collins but kept Jimerson, so they'll probably be good, and I think Dayton is keeping most of its core too. Obviously, VCU and George Mason are in varying adjustment periods, and you'd expect them to be more toward the middle of the pack. Fordham notched 25 wins, but lose two of top three in minutes played. Everyone else has big question marks, given how mediocre the league was last year.

Other than AQ potential, was Fordham ever really a bid threat?

NYGFan_Section208 wrote: ↑1 year ago

SGreenwell wrote: ↑1 year ago It's probably safer to bet toward the "1 or 2 team" side of the equation, vs. "3 or more." St. Louis lost Yuri Collins but kept Jimerson, so they'll probably be good, and I think Dayton is keeping most of its core too. Obviously, VCU and George Mason are in varying adjustment periods, and you'd expect them to be more toward the middle of the pack. Fordham notched 25 wins, but lose two of top three in minutes played. Everyone else has big question marks, given how mediocre the league was last year.

Other than AQ potential, was Fordham ever really a bid threat?

No, they played a very weak non conference schedule and there were no good opportunities to get quality wins in the A10.

Ramfan22 wrote: ↑1 year ago

NYGFan_Section208 wrote: ↑1 year ago

SGreenwell wrote: ↑1 year ago It's probably safer to bet toward the "1 or 2 team" side of the equation, vs. "3 or more." St. Louis lost Yuri Collins but kept Jimerson, so they'll probably be good, and I think Dayton is keeping most of its core too. Obviously, VCU and George Mason are in varying adjustment periods, and you'd expect them to be more toward the middle of the pack. Fordham notched 25 wins, but lose two of top three in minutes played. Everyone else has big question marks, given how mediocre the league was last year.

Other than AQ potential, was Fordham ever really a bid threat?

No, they played a very weak non conference schedule and there were no good opportunities to get quality wins in the A10.

No A10 Team posed a bid threat. Worst A10 Rankings I have ever seen. Only 3 Teams under 100 NET and VCU only 54 as the Best Team. If VCU had lost in the Championship Game their 54 NET would have been lower because of losing. VCU would not have been high enough for an At-Large if they had lost the Championship. 7 Teams 200 and up - almost half the conference.

Last year the A10 had 2 NCAA Teams and 4 NIT Teams for 6 Total
This year was the worst ever for the A10 in Post Season play with only 1 NCAA Team and Zero NIT Teams (although Dayton turned down any possible invitation for the NIT before they began selecting teams)

NET-Team-A10 Tourney Seed
54-VCU - 1
77-Dayton - 2
97-St Louis - 4
132-Fordham - 3
137-Duquesne - 6
139-George Mason - 5
145-Davidson - 8
160-Richmond - 12
200-St Bonaventure - 9
201-St Joseph's - 10
203-UMASS - 13
211-George Washington - 7
223-LaSalle - 11
263-URI - 14
269-Loyola Chicago - 15

Awful Ramster just awful

Gut check time for the league starting now !

NYGFan_Section208 wrote: ↑1 year ago

SGreenwell wrote: ↑1 year ago It's probably safer to bet toward the "1 or 2 team" side of the equation, vs. "3 or more." St. Louis lost Yuri Collins but kept Jimerson, so they'll probably be good, and I think Dayton is keeping most of its core too. Obviously, VCU and George Mason are in varying adjustment periods, and you'd expect them to be more toward the middle of the pack. Fordham notched 25 wins, but lose two of top three in minutes played. Everyone else has big question marks, given how mediocre the league was last year.

Other than AQ potential, was Fordham ever really a bid threat?

They were not even an NIT at large bid threat.

Their NET rank of #132 was some 80-90 spots outside serious NCAA consideration and 40-50 spots outside NIT consideration.

Yeah Fordham didn't play any actual basketball teams in the conference except for Tulane and Arkansas

PeterRamTime wrote: ↑1 year ago Yeah Fordham didn't play any actual basketball teams in the conference except for Tulane and Arkansas

True but the win against Tulane in New Orleans was still pretty good.

I only mentioned Fordham because they put up a gaudy win total, to be clear. I'm quite aware they weren't an at-large threat, as someone who was crapping on them early for their OOC schedule, haha.

SLU picks up a commitment from (G) C J Noland (Oklahoma).
2022 All B12 Freshman Team.
Was a 4* top 100 recruit.

bigappleram wrote: ↑1 year ago With the portal these preseason rankings in April are worth even less than they would be in October. Pretty much clickbait.

We know Lunardi is average at best when it comes to bracketology. That people still cite him when there are far better is truly stunning, and that's even before we get to your accurate point

RhowdyRam02 wrote: ↑1 year ago

bigappleram wrote: ↑1 year ago With the portal these preseason rankings in April are worth even less than they would be in October. Pretty much clickbait.

We know Lunardi is average at best when it comes to bracketology. That people still cite him when there are far better is truly stunning, and that's even before we get to your accurate point

I look at his accuracy the same way I do my GPS. The closer I get to my destination, the more accurate Joyce the Voice is with the prediction of when I'll get there...

VCU is rebuilding quickly following Mike Rhoades departure

Jason Nelson is a good pick up from rival Richmond

PortalUpdates
@portal_updates
Richmond transfer Jason Nelson is staying in Richmond and transferring to VCU.
The 5’10” freshman averaged 8.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. Ryan Odom’s 2nd pickup of the day, joins Louisville transfer Roosevelt Wheeler.

ramster wrote: ↑1 year ago VCU is rebuilding quickly following Mike Rhoades departure

Jason Nelson is a good pick up from rival Richmond

PortalUpdates
@portal_updates
Richmond transfer Jason Nelson is staying in Richmond and transferring to VCU.
The 5’10” freshman averaged 8.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. Ryan Odom’s 2nd pickup of the day, joins Louisville transfer Roosevelt Wheeler.

Richmond picks up a pretty good PG replacement.

Nice pick-up for new coach Skinn.
Maddox averaged 8.5 pts and 88% FT as a starter for Virginia Tech before getting injured.
In 2022 he was named All-ACCT 2nd team.

Tough OOC games for A10

Good news for VCU, 2 quality additions and starters from Utah State.
Max Shulga averaged 12 pts, Sean Bairstow averaged 10 pts.
Utah State won 26 games and was 13-5 in the very strong MWC.

Rhoades has players leave VCU when he moves to Penn State
Odom has players leave Utah State when he moves to VCU

In todays CBb world Teams tend to lose players when their HC leaves for a better job. And then the ripple effect.

Yup not surprising @ all coach leaves and players follow especially in this new age

reef wrote: ↑1 year ago Yup not surprising @ all coach leaves and players follow especially in this new age

It's not surprise at all.
It's good for the coaches, it's good for the players who get the new positions.

Fans? Ticket Buyers?
To be determined

Duquesne with a nice addition, 1-year loaner (F) Andrei Savrasov
He was 2nd Team All-Sun Belt, averaged over 14 pts (50% FG, 36% 3PT). and 7 rebs.

Even if we get Buru, I wouldn't mind another wing/4 who can maybe stretch it with a decent NCAA resume.
I like his talent and upside, but it still takes most bigs time to adjust to Mid-Major Div.1.
Between him, Brown, Foumena, and Rory (still very raw), that is only 1-year total Div.1 experience.

Unless of course, we can get an immediate impact player equivalent to Pride.

Holmes would be a big loss for Dayton, although FTW notes that he can withdraw his name up until May 31. I don't know if he'll get drafted, but he's the type of live body that could easily make an NBA roster.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2023/04/nba-dr ... ers-dayton

SGreenwell wrote: ↑1 year ago Holmes would be a big loss for Dayton, although FTW notes that he can withdraw his name up until May 31. I don't know if he'll get drafted, but he's the type of live body that could easily make an NBA roster.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2023/04/nba-dr ... ers-dayton

Don’t like seeing this news. Although, it does make competing in the A10 next season a bit easier for us - at least on paper, anyway.

In my perfect cbb world, the A10 would be strong and we would rise to the top of the conf through some historic type battles versus some NCAAT level teams.

SmartyBarrett wrote: ↑1 year ago

Surprised he’s that low. I would project him to be a serviceable pro player.

I could see him having a Rob Williams type role on an NBA team eventually IF he continues to work and develop. That said, compared to when I first saw him play his freshman year, I thought he would have developed to be better than/more dominant than he is right now.

Nice pick up for UMASS

Jaylen Curry

https://umassathletics.com/news/2023/5/ ... -to-roster

https://247sports.com/Article/Available ... 199633190/

VCU WAT HAPPENEDD

I still want the A10 to get better but I swear their fans were saying they had him in the bag

Reggie Luis Jr.
@RjLuis21
8m
Sunday
By ADAM ZAGORIA
UMass transfer R.J. Luis is down to three finalists and will announce his college choice on Sunday, he tells ZAGSBLOG.
Luis is considering St. John’s, Louisville and Texas A&M — and took visits to all three schools.



Tafara Gapare transferred from UMASS to Georgia Tech

https://georgiatech.rivals.com/news/geo ... ara-gapare

UMASS transfer TJ Weeks transferring to Rider and will play with his brother. A nice feature of the new transfer rule - no sit out penalty as the two brothers get to play together.
TJ Weeks was red hot the night he scored 30 points vs URI in the Ryan Center.

https://www.providencejournal.com/story ... 155973007/

I believe he is visiting VCU after Dayton.
He would be a huge late addition to either team and the A10.

Aside from the usual contenders, that will be reloading, decisions on players returning, and finishing their rosters, I see these 3 teams making a big jump from last season who had losing conference records in 22-23: Loyola, St. Joe's, Bonnies.

I expect Valentine and the Ramblers to have a much-improved season and making some noise in 23-24 after finishing last in their inaugural A10 season.
They return all their top players and added several immediate impact pieces from the portal.
(PG) Norris- 11 pts/ 4 4 assists
(F) Schweiger - 9 pts/ 4 rebs
(F) Alston- 14.6 pts/ 5.6 rebs
(G) Watson- 9.4 pts (Davidson)
(G) Dolan - 13.3 pts (42.5% 3PT), Cornell
(F/C) Adelekun - 14 pts (41% 3 PT/ 7 rebs, Dartmouth
Plus good depth with (F) Welch, (G) Edwards, (G) Quinn

St. Joes returning a lot of firepower, plus the top-rated recruiting class in the A10:
(G)Reynolds- 19.6 pts
(PG) Greer- 12.5 pts/ 4 assists
? (G) Brown- 13 pts
(F) Flemming - Freshman season 6 pts/ 5 rebs, good size at 6'9"/220
(C) Essanko- Top recruit (RS) joined the team late, 7-footer with strength.
Depth with (F) Klaczek, (G) Winborne.

Bonnies also return quite a bit:
(PG) Luc - 11 pts/ 4 assists
(G) Banks - 15.4 pts
(G) Flowers - 9.3 pts
(G) Pride - 14.6 pts (Bryant)
(F) Farell - 9 pts/ 6 rebs
(F/C) Venning - 12.7 pts/ 6 rebs

Unfortunately for us with another new roster, lots of question marks and very few or no "Alpha" players, I don't see us getting out of the bottom tier.
Unless our staff really coaches our players up, build immediate team chemistry, and we see a huge growth in their development.

Bonnies def team to beat this upcoming season. VCU should remain high floor with the Utah State transfers. Duquesne returns a lot. After that who knows but agree with you on Loy-Chi and SJU fielding talented rosters.

bigappleram wrote: ↑1 year ago Bonnies def team to beat this upcoming season. VCU should remain high floor with the Utah State transfers. Duquesne returns a lot. After that who knows but agree with you on Loy-Chi and SJU fielding talented rosters.

I agree BAR, I picked those 3 because they finished 9th or worse with losing records that will probably make the biggest jump.
Yes about VCU and Duquesne, much have yet to be determined about the rest.

And Busting Brackets just released their way too early preseason predictions....I don't put a ton of stock in anything at this time of year but fwiw they had us picked LAST. And had this zinger, to paraphrase, "on paper Rhody will have the least talented roster heading into the season." If you scan other rosters it's sorta hard to argue against that point.

I don't care if Archie is John Wooden you aren't winning without dudes. We won zero recruiting battles this offseason.

The trend lines aren't great thus far.

How come I get blasted for being negative about our roster and recruiting and you two guys get a free pass?

Billyboy78 wrote: ↑1 year ago How come I get blasted for being negative about our roster and recruiting and you two guys get a free pass?

Join the club of getting put on blast for being negative about the current roster, party of 1 (me).

Billyboy78 wrote: ↑1 year ago How come I get blasted for being negative about our roster and recruiting and you two guys get a free pass?

Haha 78, I was blasted all last summer as Debbie downer when more than a few people felt the mere arrival of Archie would immediately catapult us to the top of the standings. And based on the roster I just didn't see that.

Rhody15 wrote: ↑1 year ago

Billyboy78 wrote: ↑1 year ago How come I get blasted for being negative about our roster and recruiting and you two guys get a free pass?

Join the club of getting put on blast for being negative about the current roster, party of 1 (me).

Dude let's be honest you get put on blast (mostly) for being a d-bag not for your takes on basketball.

Billyboy78 wrote: ↑1 year ago How come I get blasted for being negative about our roster and recruiting and you two guys get a free pass?

Being negative is fine. Having an early morning hissy fit because we didn't get Duane "Da Man" Thompson instead of St. Bonaventure because we won 9 games last year, and they are reloading to make a run for the autobid is slightly different.

You and 15 complain for completely different reasons.

bigappleram wrote: ↑1 year ago

Billyboy78 wrote: ↑1 year ago How come I get blasted for being negative about our roster and recruiting and you two guys get a free pass?

Haha 78, I was blasted all last summer as Debbie downer when more than a few people felt the mere arrival of Archie would immediately catapult us to the top of the standings. And based on the roster I just didn't see that.

And now we're next to the bottom of the standings and have a roster that has little chance of competing for being close to the top of the standings for at least the next 2 years. Archie was brought in to get us there. He even said that himself. How many years before we get talent to get us to dance? He has a 5 year contract. Better get moving.

bigappleram wrote: ↑1 year ago And Busting Brackets just released their way too early preseason predictions....I don't put a ton of stock in anything at this time of year but fwiw they had us picked LAST. And had this zinger, to paraphrase, "on paper Rhody will have the least talented roster heading into the season." If you scan other rosters it's sorta hard to argue against that point.

I don't care if Archie is John Wooden you aren't winning without dudes. We won zero recruiting battles this offseason.

The trend lines aren't great thus far.

Oh, yeah, I don't think we did enough to get out of the bottom half the conference this off season. We started off fairly good, but then just fizzled on the recruiting trail.