1. Wichita State
2. Houston
3. Cincinnati
4. UCF
5. Memphis
6. SMU
7. Temple
8. Tulsa
9. Tulane
10. Connecticut
11. East Carolina
12. South Florida

(03-19-2018 12:54 PM)Stickboy46 Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:52 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:34 PM)ShockerFever Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:25 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  Working under the assumption that Milton, Evans, and Shamet are leaving, this is how I see the conference shaking out next year.

1. Houston
2. UCF
3. SMU
4. Cincy
5. Temple
6. Wichita State
7: Memphis
8. UCONN
9. Tulsa
10. USF
11. Tulane
12. ECU

Houston was carried a lot by Gray.

Cincy is a bit too low. Yah, they lose Clark, but they bring back a core of impact players.

Memphis should be the unanimous #1.

did you only watch the ncaa tournament??? he carried us in the tournament ...he had a scoring slump mid season while we were still beating teams by 25

Yes .. but he still changed the dynamic. It will be interesting to see who steps up. With Gray on the floor, the defense had to pay attention to him .. slump or not.

We have two top 100 guards coming in. I’m sure they’re up for the task.

(03-19-2018 12:31 PM)thespiritof1976 Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:29 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:28 PM)thespiritof1976 Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:25 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  Working under the assumption that Milton, Evans, and Shamet are leaving, this is how I see the conference shaking out next year.

1. Houston
2. UCF
3. SMU
4. Cincy
5. Temple
6. Wichita State
7: Memphis
8. UCONN
9. Tulsa
10. USF
11. Tulane
12. ECU

I don't think Tulane would be next to last. I also hate to say it but I don't see UCF as the 2nd best. Maybe 4th best if all shakes out. Middle of the pack will sure be muddled though.

I expect Melvin Frazier to go pro. I should have said that.

Oh, well, yeah. That is a huge qualifier there, lol...

Tulsa fans are a little unsure what to expect next year because we’ll be counting on some newcomers for improvement and we’re still looking to sign another player in April. Etou and Henderson will be the two important pieces to replace. We have a Nebraska transfer, Jeriah Horne, who sat out last season and has similar size and a similar game that we’re hoping can replace Etou.

I think Henderson’s contribution will be replaced by committee. Assuming normal freshman to sophomore improvement, Elijah Joiner could be a big contributor at guard and could start alongside Sterling Taplin with both players sharing the 1/2 roles. A lot of this will depend on how two other incoming guards pan out, Zeke Moore (a transfer from SLU) and Chris Barnes (a transfer from UTEP) were both freshmen for their respective teams and both went to Juco last season but sat out redshirt years and will be immediately available as sophomores.

I think the biggest hope for improvement is in the middle. We have a Juco Center coming in named Hewitt who seems to have promise. One thing Tulsa lacked last season was a rim protector after Will Magnay decided to go pro in October. Hewitt put up several double doubles as a freshman after getting starting minutes and appears to have the potential to be that rim protector. We are also looking for one more big in the spring.

One thing I’m pretty sure of is we won’t finish ninth. The question is, will the new pieces allow us to improve to the point where we are in the top three and competing for the title or are we still a year away, integrating new pieces of the puzzle, and finish fourth through sixth.

Don't worry about ECU, we got the 12th spot on lock. We are going to make some crappy hire because we are cheap and afraid to take a risk on a hire. Our hire is going to make Memphis athletic dept look like rocket scientist with there hire. Lets just get on with the hire of Bobby Lutz and get on with it. Oh by the way I got Houston taking the conference title next year.

(03-19-2018 12:45 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:42 PM)tigerjamesc Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:34 PM)ShockerFever Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:25 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  Working under the assumption that Milton, Evans, and Shamet are leaving, this is how I see the conference shaking out next year.

1. Houston
2. UCF
3. SMU
4. Cincy
5. Temple
6. Wichita State
7: Memphis
8. UCONN
9. Tulsa
10. USF
11. Tulane
12. ECU

Houston was carried a lot by Gray.

Cincy is a bit too low. Yah, they lose Clark, but they bring back a core of impact players.

Memphis should be the unanimous #1.

Even as a Memphis fan, I disagree if you are serious. Maybe eventually if Penny does actually sign some of the interested high level recruits but that remains to be seen. However, 7 is low for a team that finished 5th this year and loses no one of real consequence and returns the top scorer in conference. I’d go no lower than 5th....rn probably 3-5 for Memphis realistically

Who would you put them ahead of and why?

Keep in mind, you guys would have finished 7th if UCF and SMU were healthy.

We also had our best player out for 1/4 of the season. UCF and SMU lose more players than Memphis will. 3rd-5th is realistic right now imo allowing for a realistic recruiting haul (not a home run of 4&5 stars and not a strike out either)...could go up or down depending on transfers and recruits.

(03-19-2018 01:05 PM)liquidshade Wrote:  Don't worry about ECU, we got the 12th spot on lock. We are going to make some crappy hire because we are cheap and afraid to take a risk on a hire. Our hire is going to make Memphis athletic dept look like rocket scientist with there hire. Lets just get on with the hire of Bobby Lutz and get on with it. Oh by the way I got Houston taking the conference title next year.

G Shizz Alston (SR)
G Nate Pierre-Louis (SO)
F Q Rose (JR)
F JP Moorman (SO)
C Damion Moore (JR)

Bench:

F Dre Perry (SO)
C Ernest Aflakpui (SR)
C Justyn Hamilton (SO)
PF Arashma Parks (FR)

We need another guard or two badly.

(03-19-2018 01:08 PM)tigerjamesc Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:45 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:42 PM)tigerjamesc Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:34 PM)ShockerFever Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 12:25 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  Working under the assumption that Milton, Evans, and Shamet are leaving, this is how I see the conference shaking out next year.

1. Houston
2. UCF
3. SMU
4. Cincy
5. Temple
6. Wichita State
7: Memphis
8. UCONN
9. Tulsa
10. USF
11. Tulane
12. ECU

Houston was carried a lot by Gray.

Cincy is a bit too low. Yah, they lose Clark, but they bring back a core of impact players.

Memphis should be the unanimous #1.

Even as a Memphis fan, I disagree if you are serious. Maybe eventually if Penny does actually sign some of the interested high level recruits but that remains to be seen. However, 7 is low for a team that finished 5th this year and loses no one of real consequence and returns the top scorer in conference. I’d go no lower than 5th....rn probably 3-5 for Memphis realistically

Who would you put them ahead of and why?

Keep in mind, you guys would have finished 7th if UCF and SMU were healthy.

We also had our best player out for 1/4 of the season. UCF and SMU lose more players than Memphis will. 3rd-5th is realistic right now imo allowing for a realistic recruiting haul (not a home run of 4&5 stars and not a strike out either)...could go up or down depending on transfers and recruits.

UCF brings back BJ Taylor, Tacko Fall, and get a healthy Aubrey Dawkins. They’re going to be good. SMU brings back Foster, McMurray, Whitt, Chargois, and bring in the transfer Mike. Hell, SMU might win this conference without Milton. They’re going to be good.

I could see you guys jumping Temple and Wichita. Get to 5 again, but I really like Temple next season. Rose, Alston, and the two freshman that were awesome last year is a hell of a start.

People are underestimating Tulsa...again. I say we finish between 3rd and 6th.

I need to look at the rosters a little more before I make my first set of predictions but here are the groups I have...

AAC Championship Contenders
SMU
Houston
UCF

Teams that MAY contend for a championship but are waiting on moving pieces
Cincinnati
Wichita State
Memphis


Teams that return enough to have legit postseason aspirations
Temple
Tulsa


Teams in turmoil/rebuilding mode
UConn
Tulane
USF
ECU

(03-19-2018 01:24 PM)Hurricane Drummer Wrote:  People are underestimating Tulsa...again. I say we finish between 3rd and 6th.

Third? You're going to have to school me on some Tulsa basketball. Who do you think you can legitimately finish ahead of next season?

(03-19-2018 01:12 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  UCF brings back BJ Taylor, Tacko Fall, and get a healthy Aubrey Dawkins. They’re going to be good. SMU brings back Foster, McMurray, Whitt, Chargois, and bring in the transfer Mike. Hell, SMU might win this conference without Milton. They’re going to be good.

I could see you guys jumping Temple and Wichita. Get to 5 again, but I really like Temple next season. Rose, Alston, and the two freshman that were awesome last year is a hell of a start.

i don't get your smu hype at all...they finished 2-9 without shake
getting back Jarrey Foster and adding Isiaha Mike alone isn't going to magically make them top of the league

Isiaha Mike is a good player, but expecting a 2star recruit doing 10pt per at a bad team to magically make smu conference champs is much

if smu lands Wendell Mitchell (#1 juco in the nation/former 4star in HS) or Courtney Ramey (top 50 recruit), which seem to b the main targets of smu, i will be ready to jump on the smu band wngon...but not right now

(03-19-2018 01:24 PM)Hurricane Drummer Wrote:  People are underestimating Tulsa...again. I say we finish between 3rd and 6th.

3rd was supposed to happen this year.

G Sterling Taplin (SR)
G Curran Scott (JR)
G/F Zeke Moore (SO Transfer from SLU; .391 3PT% and 5 ppg in 20 mpg with the Bilikens)
F Daquan Jeffries (SR)
F Martins Igbanu (JR)

Bench:
G Elijah Joiner (So)
G Darien Jackson (So)
G Lawson Korita (JR)
F Jerriah Horne (SO Transfer from Nebraska. Rivals #122 out of High School)
F Geno Artison (SR)
C Peter Hewitt (SO Transfer from UC Davis)
G Chris Barnes (SO Transfer from UTEP)

(03-19-2018 01:33 PM)ShockerFever Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 01:24 PM)Hurricane Drummer Wrote:  People are underestimating Tulsa...again. I say we finish between 3rd and 6th.

3rd was supposed to happen this year.

1st was supposed to happen for WSU. "Best returning team ever"

(03-19-2018 01:34 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 01:33 PM)ShockerFever Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 01:24 PM)Hurricane Drummer Wrote:  People are underestimating Tulsa...again. I say we finish between 3rd and 6th.

3rd was supposed to happen this year.

1st was supposed to happen for WSU. "Best returning team ever"

1st? Did I say 1st? Show me where I said 1st.

I agreed with the 2nd, which is where the coaches slotted them.

Nice try though skippy.

(03-19-2018 01:31 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 01:12 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  UCF brings back BJ Taylor, Tacko Fall, and get a healthy Aubrey Dawkins. They’re going to be good. SMU brings back Foster, McMurray, Whitt, Chargois, and bring in the transfer Mike. Hell, SMU might win this conference without Milton. They’re going to be good.

I could see you guys jumping Temple and Wichita. Get to 5 again, but I really like Temple next season. Rose, Alston, and the two freshman that were awesome last year is a hell of a start.

i don't get your smu hype at all...they finished 2-9 without shake
getting back Jarrey Foster and adding Isiaha Mike alone isn't going to magically make them top of the league

Isiaha Mike is a good player, but expecting a 2star recruit doing 10pt per at a bad team to magically make smu conference champs is much

if smu lands Wendell Mitchell (#1 juco in the nation/former 4star in HS) or Courtney Ramey (top 50 recruit), which seem to b the main targets of smu, i will be ready to jump on the smu band wngon...but not right now

You're downplaying the Foster injury. The kid was averaging 13-15 PPG and shooting 47% from the field. Just getting him back makes a world of difference. Jahmal McMurray is a very good guard in this league. He often times got worn down because he had to do so much with Foster and Milton out. Whitt is solid. And Ethan Chargois will no longer be a Freshman. The jump we expect in Fabian White between his Freshman and Sophomore seasons is the kind of jump I'm expecting from Chargois.

McMurray, Foster, Whitt, Chargois, and Mike in a starting lineup is nothing to sneeze at. Mike was averaging 11 and 6 in a solid A10. You're downplaying him because he went to Duquense.

(03-19-2018 01:24 PM)Hurricane Drummer Wrote:  People are underestimating Tulsa...again. I say we finish between 3rd and 6th.

i dont think anyone s underestimating tulsa...even last year, tulsa was as good as i expected them to be..you finished a whole lot higher than i expected but that's because everyone in front of you wasnt as good as expected

same with next year...i dont see tulsa finishing 3 through 6..but thats because im hoping the teams with higher potential live up to it...

i don't see tulsa as a tourney team next year..tulsa finishing 4th is very much in the realm of possibility, but imo tulsa at 4 means we likely dont have 4 in the tourney

(03-19-2018 11:38 AM)MemTigers1998 Wrote:  TBD after Coach Hardaway (man, I love typing that) does his thing on the recruiting trail

Do you promise to not be so dang annoying, now that Tubby is gone?

(03-19-2018 01:35 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 01:31 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 01:12 PM)Joprior23 Wrote:  UCF brings back BJ Taylor, Tacko Fall, and get a healthy Aubrey Dawkins. They’re going to be good. SMU brings back Foster, McMurray, Whitt, Chargois, and bring in the transfer Mike. Hell, SMU might win this conference without Milton. They’re going to be good.

I could see you guys jumping Temple and Wichita. Get to 5 again, but I really like Temple next season. Rose, Alston, and the two freshman that were awesome last year is a hell of a start.

i don't get your smu hype at all...they finished 2-9 without shake
getting back Jarrey Foster and adding Isiaha Mike alone isn't going to magically make them top of the league

Isiaha Mike is a good player, but expecting a 2star recruit doing 10pt per at a bad team to magically make smu conference champs is much

if smu lands Wendell Mitchell (#1 juco in the nation/former 4star in HS) or Courtney Ramey (top 50 recruit), which seem to b the main targets of smu, i will be ready to jump on the smu band wngon...but not right now

You're downplaying the Foster injury. The kid was averaging 13-15 PPG and shooting 47% from the field. Just getting him back makes a world of difference. Jahmal McMurray is a very good guard in this league. He often times got worn down because he had to do so much with Foster and Milton out. Whitt is solid. And Ethan Chargois will no longer be a Freshman. The jump we expect in Fabian White between his Freshman and Sophomore seasons is the kind of jump I'm expecting from Chargois.

McMurray, Foster, Whitt, Chargois, and Mike in a starting lineup is nothing to sneeze at. Mike was averaging 11 and 6 in a solid A10. You're downplaying him because he went to Duquense.

again no one is denying that foster is a great player
note that foster was injured early in the wichita game but smu was still good enough to win with shake.
.. you missed my point
smu looked reallly horrible without shake....yes they will improve alot with foster back and adding isiaha
but with how bad they looked, those 2 alone arent going to carry them from horrible to top of the league

"averaging 11 and 6 in a solid A10" on a horrible team, who wasnt touted in his prep days...

answer this, who at smu is going to take over when the game is on the line or in a slump?? who at smu is finishing all league next year???? i cant answer that
get Wendell Mitchell or Courtney Ramey and im on the smu band wagon..not as is