UCBcat83 Wrote:I know Louisville has a great class coming in. But losing Garcia, Myles and O'bannon will make it a little tougher. Us new Guys coming in arent gonna have it that easy. We are used to CUSA. It will take time to adjust. This isnt a mickey mouse league like CUSA

Um, we are just coming off a final four and will have a sick front line with Padgett, Tello and Johnson, dean at SG and Jenkins at point. I think we are top 3 in the league.

Bambu Wrote:I predict Cincy will lose their toughest OOC home game this year against my Tigers.


I love ya Cats ,...but this is a special Memphis team 

Wasn't last year supposed to be special too? :rolleyes:

Huggin's owns Memphis and with a good team returning this year there is no reason to think that will change anytime soon.

UCBcat83 Wrote:They have still played in the Big East before, We havent yet. I'm just saying it is not going to be easy at all. We are used to playing conference games against Tulane, So Miss, houston, and TCU. I just made predictions partly based on expierence. Congrats on making the Final four last year, I rooted for you guys all the way, Please put this into perspective. WVU was 8TH in the Big East last year, and had a 8-8 conference record They went to the Elite 8. TCU was 8th in CUSA last year. Do you think they could sniff an elite 8 if they were in the field of 65?? NO. Everybody was talking about how happy they were to get out of CUSA. It was a Mickey Mouse Conference. 5 Top Heavy teams, and the rest were bottom dwellers. I know you U of L made the final four last year, But dont get a big head and think you are a top 3 BEAST team yet. your not and neither is UC yet.

Don't forget WVU played in the BE tournament championship game and beat Wake Forest and Texas Tech among others in the NCAAs before falling to Louisville. Point is they WERE one of the top teams in the Big East by March even though they finished 8th in league play. It isn't a hard concept to understand.

top 3 in the league? I hope you are right for your sake. I just don't see it. Your expectations are to high. you gotta remember its a new league, with different teams and those teams have different styles of play. you havent faced alot of these teams in the BEAST recently. UC has won 20 games a year like 12 out of the last 13 years. I dont expect 20 wins this year. I would expect that against, SO Miss, houston, tulane, TCU, and ECU. Replace that with Seton Hall, St.johns,Providence, Rutgers, and Gtown. The second group of teams is much tougher than the first. This is no shot at U of L, but Top 3 is gonna be tough. I pick UC 9th and that hurts me, I hope we make the NCAA's. But, if we dont it's ok. We got our feet wet and got MUCH NEEDED EXPIERENCE in a new league. if I was putting down U of L, I would have Put UC in the top 3, but I know this is reality

Where are everybody elses predictions?

Quote:Quote "I am sticking to my word that louisville will finish no better than 7th. take it to the bank."

Sorry but I see that as a bit of smack towards UofL

How? So, someone's not allowed to post their honest feelings of where you're team will end up in the standings? Did you want him to lie to you, and pretend he thinks you're a top 3 team, when he clearly doesn't feel that way? Not everyone is going to tell you what you want to hear. Such is life. Sorry, but from where I come from, that's not smack at all. He didn't insult UL in any way, just felt there are some better teams this year. He might be wrong in his prediction. It's just what he thinks. Big freaking deal. Get over it, Pitinoville, and move on. No need to throw a hissy fit. You took that the wrong way.

UCBcat83 Wrote:top 3 in the league? I hope you are right for your sake. I just don't see it. Your expectations are to high. you gotta remember its a new league, with different teams and those teams have different styles of play. you havent faced alot of these teams in the BEAST recently. UC has won 20 games a year like 12 out of the last 13 years. I dont expect 20 wins this year. I would expect that against, SO Miss, houston, tulane, TCU, and ECU. Replace that with Seton Hall, St.johns,Providence, Rutgers, and Gtown. The second group of teams is much tougher than the first. This is no shot at U of L, but Top 3 is gonna be tough. I pick UC 9th and that hurts me, I hope we make the NCAA's. But, if we dont it's ok. We got our feet wet and got MUCH NEEDED EXPIERENCE in a new league. if I was putting down U of L, I would have Put UC in the top 3, but I know this is reality

Beware CUSA fans now coming over here with that statement. Although I agree with you that we are tougher than those teams primarily because of the Big East style of play. I think you forget that CUSA was likely the 4 or 5th best league in the country with the Big East, the ACC, the Big Ten, and the Big 12. After that there was a drop to the SEC, Pac 10, and A-10. Then everyone else.

Bearcatfan4life Wrote:

Quote:Quote "I am sticking to my word that louisville will finish no better than 7th. take it to the bank."

Sorry but I see that as a bit of smack towards UofL

How? So, someone's not allowed to post their honest feelings of where you're team will end up in the standings? Did you want him to lie to you, and pretend he thinks you're a top 3 team, when he clearly doesn't feel that way? Not everyone is going to tell you what you want to hear. Such is life. Sorry, but from where I come from, that's not smack at all. He didn't insult UL in any way, just felt there are some better teams this year. He might be wrong in his prediction. It's just what he thinks. Big freaking deal. Get over it, Pitinoville, and move on. No need to throw a hissy fit. You took that the wrong way.

You're the one throwing the hissy fit over us telling you you're wrong. How can you see it any other way?

The top half of CUSA would have been a very good conference by itself, Cincy, Louisville, Memphis, Charlotte, Marquette, St. Louis and UAB. We just had alot of bottom dwellers that brought the conferences reputation down.

add depaul to the top half as well

UCBcat83 Wrote:top 3 in the league? I hope you are right for your sake. I just don't see it. Your expectations are to high. you gotta remember its a new league, with different teams and those teams have different styles of play. you havent faced alot of these teams in the BEAST recently. UC has won 20 games a year like 12 out of the last 13 years. I dont expect 20 wins this year. I would expect that against, SO Miss, houston, tulane, TCU, and ECU. Replace that with Seton Hall, St.johns,Providence, Rutgers, and Gtown. The second group of teams is much tougher than the first. This is no shot at U of L, but Top 3 is gonna be tough. I pick UC 9th and that hurts me, I hope we make the NCAA's. But, if we dont it's ok. We got our feet wet and got MUCH NEEDED EXPIERENCE in a new league. if I was putting down U of L, I would have Put UC in the top 3, but I know this is reality

Its been a long time since we lost to a Big East team. We beat Syracuse the last time we played, obviously West Virgnia and Seton Hall as well just off the top of my head.

Quote:You're the one throwing the hissy fit over us telling you you're wrong. How can you see it any other way

Huh? I'm not the one that took a shot at UC for no reason. I have said nothing bad about UL, and don't intend to. I'm not the one that followed that up by saying what BCat said constituted "smack". But I'm throwing the hissy fit. Hmmm. Back up Cardinal fan. I have no ill will toward your program. Just want their to be some sort of tolerance level on this board for a Bearcat fan not thinking you'll have a great season. No need to get bent out of shape.

He is defending me because honestly you cant handle someone telling you that you proably wolnt finish top 3 or even top 5 for that matter. you guys are on a high right now, and I understand that. a great football program that could play for a NC this year and a bball team coming off a final four. Im just saying dont expect that type of finish in bball this year. you are stting yourself up for dissapointment.

Bearcatfan4life Wrote:

Quote:You're the one throwing the hissy fit over us telling you you're wrong. How can you see it any other way

Huh? I'm not the one that took a shot at UC for no reason. I have said nothing bad about UL, and don't intend to. I'm not the one that followed that up by saying what BCat said constituted "smack". But I'm throwing the hissy fit. Hmmm. Back up Cardinal fan. I have no ill will toward your program. Just want their to be some sort of tolerance level on this board for a Bearcat fan not thinking you'll have a great season. No need to get bent out of shape.

No one is bent out of shape as far as I can tell.

Quote:No one is bent out of shape as far as I can tell.

As far as I can tell, you and your UL friends did just that in this thread.

Bearcatfan4life Wrote:

Quote:No one is bent out of shape as far as I can tell.

As far as I can tell, you and your UL friends did just that in this thread.

This is funny, CBS and Vitale has Louisville in the Top 7 in the Nation and he has UofL Top 7 in the Big East.

Look we did lose Garcia, Myles and O'Bannon but we still return Palacios, Dean and we get probably our two most talented frontcourt players in the country back in Padgett and Brian Johnson.

This is Greg Doyel of CBS Sportsline Top 10. Notice were he put the Cards and the others schools in the Big East:

How they stack up now that draft deadline is over
June 24, 2005
By Gregg Doyel
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Gregg your opinion!

We've got a flip-flop at the top of CBS SportsLine.com's preseason Top 25.

In early April, our Pre-Preseason Top 25 had Oklahoma at No. 1, followed by Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina. In the 2½ months since, those schools have lost nine key underclassmen -- seven to the NBA, two to transfer.

Hence, SportsLine.com's new ... and improved ... Post-NBA Draft Deadline, Pre-Preseason Top 25.

1. Duke: The Blue Devils lost only junior Shavlik Randolph to the NBA Draft, which is like throwing a deck chair -- or an underachieving, 6-foot-10 forward -- off the Titanic: It doesn't matter. April rank: Second.

2. Oklahoma: After being anointed No. 1 in April, Oklahoma saw two guards transfer: Drew Lavender to Xavier, and Lawrence McKenzie to Minnesota. Whether they add draft-jilting Brandon Rush, the Sooners still will be loaded. April rank: First.

3. Louisville: We knew they'd lose Francisco Garcia to the NBA. We thought they'd lose Amir Johnson, to the NBA or academics. We had no idea 7-foot recruit Clarence Holloway wouldn't qualify. Still, the Cardinals rise because, frankly, everyone around them is falling. April rank: Fifth.

4. Gonzaga: Adam Morrison didn't even flirt with the NBA. April rank: Seventh.

5. Connecticut: Charlie Villanueva (NBA) and Antonio Kellogg (naughtiness) were thought to be gone in April, but we had no idea that recruit DeSagana Diop, er, Andrew Bynum would become an NBA pick. Then again, Bynum wasn't going to contribute much as a freshman. No -- he wasn't. Before they can be great, though, the Huskies still must clear one last hurdle: the legal situations of Marcus Williams and A.J. Price, who are reportedly being investigated for theft. We're just jolly enough to assume that'll all work out. April rank: Sixth.

6. Arizona: Hassan Adams stayed, and Chris Rodgers is coming back (whew). April rank: Eighth.

7. Nevada: Nick Fazekas was true to his word -- you should try it, Randolph Morris and Shavlik Randolph -- and put off the NBA. April rank: 10th.

8. Memphis: Memphis lost nobody to the NBA Draft. Sophomore Sean Banks and recruit Ricky Sanchez don't count; Banks was gone in February, and Sanchez wasn't going to be eligible. April rank: 15th.

9. Texas Tech: The only news out of Lubbock was an offseason knee injury to reserve Damir Suljagic, but he'll be ready by December. April rank: 14th.

10. Villanova: None of the juniors turned pro, but the health issues of Curtis Sumpter and Jason Fraser scare us. April rank: Ninth.

15. West Virginia: The June transfer of freshman reserve Luke Bonner to Massachusetts will hurt the Mountaineers' depth, but Kevin Pittsnogle smartly withdrew from the NBA Draft. April rank: 13th.

21. Syracuse: Losing Billy Edelin is addition by subtraction of distraction. April rank: 25th

<a href='http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/8593178' target='_blank'>CBS Sportsline Top 10 and Big East Schools that are ranked in the Top 25</a>

If you would have said UConn, Syracuse, WVU and Villanova are ahead of us that is fine. But to throw in Georgetown and others in front is just showing a lack of basketball knowledge.

Now my Big East Basketball Predictions for 2005-2006:

1. UConn
2. Villanova
3. Louisville
4. West Virginia
5. Syracuse
6. Cincinnati
7. Georgetown
8. Notre Dame
9. Pittsburgh
10. DePaul
11. Saint John's
12. Rutgers
13. Providence
14. Marquette
15. Seton Hall
16. USF

My early predictions -

Villanova (if they remain healthy)
UConn
Syracuse
Georgetown
West Virginia
Louisville (probably will prove to be a better team than some above them, but they have a brutal schedule)

After the Top 6, it truly is a crapshoot.

Pitt will be down from previous years. ND, with an easier schedule than they have been given in the past will probably threaten for a Top 6 spot, but I don't think they will be a good tourney team.

Roberts will have St. John's scrapping for wins, so they could surprise. And you know the Bearcats and Huggins invented 'toughness'. They'll threaten for Top 6 as well if they can get beyond the off-the-court distractions.

DePaul and Marquette will have a rough first year in the league, but eke out enough wins to make it MSG.

Rutgers and Providence will probably be better than most conference's mid-tier teams, but they will likely not even make the BE tournament in MSG.

And Seton Hall and USF will definitely be the bottom-feeders this year.

Cheers,
Neil

I don't know about the GT over WVU and UofL. The schedule could play a part in it that is why I really can't see us winning the league this year. I hope to go 10-6 and lose no more than 1 OOC game. If we do that we will be a solid 3 seed in the NCAAs.

Doyle and Vitale have their opinions and I have mine....Louisville # 7 in Big East

I would go with them since they probably follow it more plus Vitale was a coach and just might know a little more about Basketball then you. Again just my opinion.

BTW it is Doyel not Doyle.