-
2011/12 Observation Deck
That time of year.
Start it off with 3 of St. John's 2nd in the nation ranked recruiting class being [URL="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Three-ineligible-recruits-leave-St-John-s-under?urn=ncaab-wp4840"]ruled academically ineligible[/URL]. Jakarr Sampson, Amir Garrett, and Norvel Pelle will all miss at least the first 10 games of the year.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Meh, like the article says, they probably were going to be a long-shot NCAA Tournament team anyway. They would have had a pretty good collection of talent, but it was going to be VERY young and inexperienced talent. And it's not like all of their recruits coming in were top 10-15 five-stars ala Kentucky.
They should be there next year, and Lavin should have more depth and experience.
On a different note, this is the most excited I've been about a college basketball season in three years. Not just because UNC entered the season three years ago as national title favorites as they do this year but, for the first time in four years, there is a group of three or four teams that have the potential to be VERY good. And another group just behind them with the potential to be better than the last couple of national champions (UConn and Duke).
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Sampson and Garrett both spent their senior years at "prep schools." This isn't anything 99% of the posters here don't know (diploma mills), but it's just kinda gross. Indiana's got their own with La Lumiere, Bowman, Culver, etc.
The US has their own Euro-style training academies, they just keep disguising them as actual schools.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
ESPN says Pittsburgh and Syracuse have applied to join the ACC
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Long time Providence coach and founding father of the Big East Dave Gavitt passed away today.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
[QUOTE=InspiredLebowski]ESPN says Pittsburgh and Syracuse have applied to join the ACC[/QUOTE]
Wow, this just hit me from a completely different perspective. All along I have been seeing all of these conference re-alignment rumors and thinking of their impact on college football, only. Seeing you post this in the basketball college basketball forum, though, makes this particular change hit me a lot harder.
You're talking about adding two premiere basketball programs to mix it up with UNC and Duke. I like it from a basketball view-point and I'm pretty indifferent about it when it comes to football. Neither brings much to the table football wise (Pitt does on occasion) except two new big markets. I've heard UConn and Rutgers to the ACC if they expand to a 16 team super-conference, which would easily make the ACC the SEC of college basketball.
I figure the ACC will eventually add two more teams, too. The SEC has already essentially added Texas A&M and word has it West Virginia would be team #14 in the SEC. After that it seems like the two teams I'm hearing the most about joining the SEC as teams #15 and #16 are Missouri and Florida State.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Right, the ACC just became in effect unquestionably the best basketball conference in the nation. I know football's driving all this and for obvious reasons, but my first thought every time a move happens is about hoops because I really don't care all that much about NCAA football. I watch, it's enjoyable, but don't really care.
I'm sure Pitt and Cuse will and are catching a lot of flak for this, and I understand it from the lesser (meant in the most polite way possible) BE members, but I salute them for being proactive. You can't be left out in the cold. Well done by the ACC too. Remember how AWESOME the Big East tournament at the Garden is (was?)? The ACC just opened up that venue to their tourney, complete with UNC and Duke.
I don't want to predict who goes where now, but it really does seem inevitable to me that there's going to be 4 16 team super leagues sooner or later. I just know I want the Big Ten to add Kansas, Mizzou, Maryland, and Virginia. Virginia doesn't want to leave the ACC (and why would they) then I guess Rutgers would be OK. UVA'd give the B1G a monopoly on every major research institution in the Eastern half of the US, Ivy's not withstanding. That means nothing to most, but I'd be proud of it.
Weirdest part about all this? Villanova and Georgetown basketball are probably "mid-majors" by 2014.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Nova, Marquette, Georgetown, St Johns, Depaul, Seton Hall and Providence are certainly in quite the pickle. Perhaps they could pick some from the A-10 to keep it a viable (and actually pretty decent) basketball conference. Something like:
Nova
Marquette
Georgetown
St Johns
Depaul
Seton Hall
Providence
Xavier
Temple
Dayton
UMass
St Josephs
That would be pretty solid. I've also read that basically the leftovers of the Big 12 and Big East would merge, but that makes little sense geographically.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Y'know that hypothetical A10 is a REALLY good hoops conference, and makes a lot of sense on the surface to me, without knowing what each school wants and all that in terms of sports besides hoops and football.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Yeah, I have no idea if it's practical at all, but logically it makes a lot of sense.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Ohio State's heralded freshman wing LaQuinton Ross ruled an academic non-qualifier. There's questions about his transcripts, grades being inflated.
Non-qualifiers, if they stay at the school, lose a year of eligibility, can't get a scholarship for a year, and can't practice/play for a year. Apparently Ross plans to leave OSU for prep school and try and get his grades and scores in order. If he does he could be eligible for the second semester.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Why are they just getting that figured out? It's nearly October. Is he going to have time to find a prep school and get his grades sorted out by second semester?
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
[QUOTE=KG215]Why are they just getting that figured out? It's nearly October. Is he going to have time to find a prep school and get his grades sorted out by second semester?[/QUOTE]
I'm not sure why so late, but my stepbro just left for Ohio State as a freshman and freshmen there didn't even move in until Sept. 21st. Really late to start the year. Maybe that played a part.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Rick Pitino wants Temple in the Big East:
[QUOTE]
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
With the Big East tourney leaving the Garden, the A10 tourney's moving to the new Barclay's Center in Brooklyn.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Among the tallest players on CSUN is a walk-on from the volleyball program who never played :facepalm
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
[QUOTE=InspiredLebowski]With the Big East tourney leaving the Garden, the A10 tourney's moving to the new Barclay's Center in Brooklyn.[/QUOTE]
Big East is leaving the garden?
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
[quote=StateProperty]Big East is leaving the garden?[/quote]Thought it was? :confusedshrug:
In other news, Michigan St senior forward Delvon Roe's playing career's over due to a degenerative knee condition.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Big East to vote on Temple full membership on Sunday.
Edit: now sources say temple on the backburner and Navy/Army will b the schools discussed tomorrow. wtf.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
I don't see how Louisville doesn't leave. That's just an awful conference.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
[quote=StateProperty]Big East to vote on Temple full membership on Sunday.
Edit: now sources say temple on the backburner and Navy/Army will b the schools discussed tomorrow. wtf.[/quote]bigger built in fanbases with the service academies?
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Navy and Army in for football only could give the Big East a big boost, they aren't national powerhouse schools, but well respected, and pretty competitive schools with the big service academy fan bases.
Anyhow, might be hitting up the Las Vegas Classic Basketball Tournament in Vegas on December 23rd (probably seeing Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl in football the day before), hope to see some good tourney action then.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
woops, I meant AIR FORCE...not Army. navy and air force being discussed.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
[URL="http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2011/10/tcu_bypasses_big_east_to_join.html"]TCU to the Big 12[/URL], not the Big East
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
I'm so sick of this realignemnt now it isn't even funny. Now I'm just waiting for it to fire back up again with the Big East to die. Time for these conferences to make very excessive exit fees in the future.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
[QUOTE=InspiredLebowski][URL="http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2011/10/tcu_bypasses_big_east_to_join.html"]TCU to the Big 12[/URL], not the Big East[/QUOTE]
And this is one that makes almost no impact in basketball but a pretty decent one in football. If the Big 12 stays together it'll be interesting to see how TCU competes on a yearly basis with Texas and OU, but they'll be a cellar dweller in basketball.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
[quote=KG215]And this is one that makes almost no impact in basketball but a pretty decent one in football. If the Big 12 stays together it'll be interesting to see how TCU competes on a yearly basis with Texas and OU, but they'll be a cellar dweller in basketball.[/quote]The Big East is also dead as a football conference now. That gives them 6 football members, you need at least 7 to remain a BCS automatic qualifier. Who's going to join that league now?
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
The Big East is dead. Im interested to see what Nova and Georgetown do for bball.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
[QUOTE=InspiredLebowski]The Big East is also dead as a football conference now. That gives them 6 football members, you need at least 7 to remain a BCS automatic qualifier. Who's going to join that league now?[/QUOTE]
Army and Navy (and UCF is a top tier C-USA team in the past if you include them too, and a rival to USF), and while they aren't BCS powerhouses, they are still very well known, whether it keeps their BCS auto bid? Remains to be seen (doubt it though).
Big East should add Army, Navy, UCF, and have Villanova (Temple, Memphis, and ECU are options as well) move up and they are still somewhat relevant. There is some decent options, but the Big East needs to step up to the big boy table and put some BIG exit fees that will not allow teams to leave at will.
I just hope the SEC ****ing invites Missouri, and the Big 12 invites BYU so we can have the minimal amount of this ****ing crap, I honestly like the Big East and hopes it stays. I've never been a big fan of ACC football for whatever reason.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Indiana's Maurice Creek tore his right achilles, out for the year. That's an achilles and two broken kneecaps in about 18 months, gotta start questioning his longterm viability. I hate everything IU, but I feel awful for the kid.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
I am so pumped for college ball. Mainly because there is no other sports/leagues to be pumped for.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
I posted on here before I grew up with Josh Thompson, one of my boys.
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va7vbm311cU[/url]
they just showed it on sportsnation too :applause:
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Vandy suspends Festus Ezili the first 6 games, improper benefits. That includes games against Xavier and NC State, also Oregon. Could hurt a preseason top 10 team a good bit.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
[QUOTE=InspiredLebowski]Vandy suspends Festus Ezili the first 6 games, improper benefits. That includes games against Xavier and NC State, also Oregon. Could hurt a preseason top 10 team a good bit.[/QUOTE]
Especially one that might be in the discussion for a 2-4 seed in the tournament and every quality win will help.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Bob Knight committed an NCAA violation by calling up two Indiana kids his son Pat was recruiting to Lamar.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
DeWayne Dedmon and Jio Fontan out for USC means CSUN has a chance at the season opener!
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Coach's Poll
[LIST=1][*]UNC (30)[*]Kentucky (1)[*]Ohio State[*]UConn[*]Syracuse[*]Duke[*]Vanderbilt[*]Louisville[*]Memphis[*]Florida[*]Pitt[*]Baylor[*]Kansas[*]Wisconsin[*]Xavier[*]Arizona[*]Alabama[*]Michigan[*]Texas A&M[*]UCLA[*]Marquette[*]Cincinnati[*]Gonzaga[*]California[*]Missouri[/LIST]Others receiving votes: Florida State 108, Texas 107, Michigan State 73, Temple 59, Washington 29, Butler 25, New Mexico 22, Creighton 19, Villanova 18, Purdue 17, UNLV 16, West Virginia 13, George Mason 12, Mississippi State 11, St. John's 11, Saint Mary's 5, Virginia 5, Virginia Commonwealth 4, Drexel 2, Kansas State 2, Long Beach State 2, Notre Dame 1, Brigham Young 1
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
There was some charity game thing in Lexington last night. Christian Laettner was there. He got paid to be there.
Christian Laettner. Got paid to be at Rupp. There's hope for the Israelis and Palestinians yet.
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Observe my deck,
I'm gonna be glad when some basketball is on; I'm getting sick of hearing about the NBA.
-Smak
-
Re: 2011/12 Observation Deck
Remember that Mountain West/Conference USA super-conference (well, big-conference)?
[URL="http://www.lvrj.com/sports/mountain-west-conference-usa-officials-to-talk-to-big-east-chief-about-joining-forces-132528493.html"]The Zombies of the Big East want in too?[/URL]