We'll Be Back Better Than Ever

[swiclone83]

1.) KU
2.) UT
3.) OSU (Nash, Cobbins, Murphy, Williams and a couple top-100 recruits)
T4.) Baylor (if Austin returns)/ISU/WVU (return everyone and add two very good redshirts)/TCU (Fields, Shepherd, Abron, Washburn)
8.)KSU (they will be huge, a couple 7-footers to go with Gipson and DJ Johnson)
9.)OU
10.) TT

I dont see how osu is going to be better than us. They lose their best player and even with him we beat them. I see us anywhere between 2nd to 5th, depending on how many split home and homes we get. With this conference I think its a given that the top 5 teams win at home against each opponent so it comes down to who can win on the road.

I have a hard time thinking that There is 4 teams better than us when we have morris nader niang mckay and houge not to mention expierience on the bench. I would say we will be the 2nd most talented team in the confernece (record may not show it) and battle kansas for the conference tourney title. We will be better than last year. No doubt.

 

[Cydkar]

I dont see how osu is going to be better than us. They lose their best player and even with him we beat them. I see us anywhere between 2nd to 5th, depending on how many split home and homes we get. With this conference I think its a given that the top 5 teams win at home against each opponent so it comes down to who can win on the road.

I have a hard time thinking that There is 4 teams better than us when we have morris nader niang mckay and houge not to mention expierience on the bench. I would say we will be the 2nd most talented team in the confernece (record may not show it) and battle kansas for the conference tourney title. We will be better than last year. No doubt.

OSU has a great coach, dummy.

 

[rholtgraves]

They could be better but there are two many unknowns at this point.

 

[HFCS]

I dont see how osu is going to be better than us. They lose their best player and even with him we beat them. I see us anywhere between 2nd to 5th, depending on how many split home and homes we get. With this conference I think its a given that the top 5 teams win at home against each opponent so it comes down to who can win on the road.

I have a hard time thinking that There is 4 teams better than us when we have morris nader niang mckay and houge not to mention expierience on the bench. I would say we will be the 2nd most talented team in the confernece (record may not show it) and battle kansas for the conference tourney title. We will be better than last year. No doubt.

They lose their two best players…but they have gone 0-2 in the NCAA with that talent. Who knows…or maybe they're just a poorly coached team which is entirely likely.

Just as it's silly to not pick KU first, it's becoming silly to pick ISU worse than 3rd. The Smart suspension is the only thing that kept ISU from finishing tied for 2nd this year after two years in a row at 3rd, and our non conference was easily the best of any Big 12 team.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

No idea why you have Texas at number 2. Did you not learn anything from watching Iowa these past two years that returning the exact same team fields the same results? Also I'd say OSU to be about 7th and OU to be more around 5. ISU will not be competing for 4th next year. Your rankings make no sense.

WVU took a HUGE hit this off-season.

If only the post had mentioned something such as "just looking at frontcourts".
WVU took zero hits to the frontcourt, and is gaining two potential starters there. Also, Staten announced he is coming back. WVU should still be a tournament team without Harris imo.

 

[twocoach]

I still think KU will win the conference, just because they'll have talent and Self, but ISU will have the best front court next year and it's not close.Hogue, Niang, McKay, Nader + others to Alexander, Ellis + others... No.

Better than Embiid/Turner (I think we'll have one or the other), Alexander, Ellis, Traylor, Lucas and Mickelson (7 foot transfer eligible next year)? I think Hogue's last game has made you a little giddy. That won't be his season average.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

Better than Embiid/Turner (I think we'll have one or the other), Alexander, Ellis, Traylor, Lucas and Mickelson (7 foot transfer eligible next year)? I think Hogue's last game has made you a little giddy. That won't be his season average.

You've gotta give up the Embiid pipe dream.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

No idea why you have Texas at number 2. Did you not learn anything from watching Iowa these past two years that returning the exact same team fields the same results? Also I'd say OSU to be about 7th and OU to be more around 5. ISU will not be competing for 4th next year. Your rankings make no sense.

Better than Embiid/Turner (I think we'll have one or the other), Alexander, Ellis, Traylor, Lucas and Mickelson (7 foot transfer eligible next year)? I think Hogue's last game has made you a little giddy. That won't be his season average.

Turner should really go to Ohio State and send Lee packing to ISU.

 

[twocoach]

I will always take experience over talent, especially when the experience is talented. Ellis is the only experienced member of that group, unless you count Traylor, which I don't. I count Oubre and Selden as guards. They have a better back court, but our front court is better. They're very good, just not better than us.

Niang a junior, Hogue a senior JUCO transfer so only one year college experience. McKay is a JUCO transfer with zero major college experience. He's OLDER but not more experienced. Nader is a redshirt junior. Ellis is a junior. Traylor and Mickelson are redshirt juniors, Lucas is a soph. Embiid is a soph if he returns. Add in one or possibly two of the top 4 HS recruits in the country and Kansas' front court actually has more experience than what ISU will out there in addition to more talent. I agree that ISU's will be very good, just not #1 in the conference. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[twocoach]

You've gotta give up the Embiid pipe dream.

I am just going with present tense. He is presently still a member of the Jayhawks until I hear otherwise. If he leaves, we hope to sign Turner and I reflected that in my analysis.

 

[twocoach]

No idea why you have Texas at number 2. Did you not learn anything from watching Iowa these past two years that returning the exact same team fields the same results? Also I'd say OSU to be about 7th and OU to be more around 5. ISU will not be competing for 4th next year. Your rankings make no sense.

So in one post you proclaim experience to be more important than anything else and then the next you claim that returning all your players will yield no better results? Which is it?

 

[rholtgraves]

if Embiid returns then KU has the best frontcourt but if he leaves it isn't so clear cut.

Niang
Hogue
Nader
McKay

Might be just as good as
Ellis
Alexander
Traylor
Oubre

Counting Lucas and Mickelson is like counting Gibson and Edozie.

Texas has a really good frontcourt.

 

[GWad]

Lol! Nit next year? Yea right.

Confused with the ui hok weak gingers

 

[twocoach]

if Embiid returns then KU has the best frontcourt but if he leaves it isn't so clear cut.Niang HogueNaderMcKay Might be just as good as EllisAlexander TraylorOubreCounting Lucas and Mickelson is like counting Gibson and Edozie. Texas has a really good frontcourt.

Except both Lucas and Mickelson are a legit 6-10 and are both taller and better rim protectors than any player on ISU. And they are at the back end of the KU bigs rotation. You also forgot that we'll likley have either Embiid or Myles Turner. Doubtful we have neither of them next year.

 

[bigdaddykane]

Except both Lucas and Mickelson are a legit 6-10 and are both taller and better rim protectors than any player on ISU. And they are at the back end of the KU bigs rotation. You also forgot that we'll likley have either Embiid or Myles Turner. Doubtful we have neither of them next year.

have a question who is kansas losing

 

[Dingus]

This is a silly argument.

And Cliff Alexander and Ridley will both be very tough for ISU to guard next year.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

Except both Lucas and Mickelson are a legit 6-10 and are both taller and better rim protectors than any player on ISU. And they are at the back end of the KU bigs rotation. You also forgot that we'll likley have either Embiid or Myles Turner. Doubtful we have neither of them next year.

Except there are only a max of 120 minutes available. I am sure KU has better walk-on big men too, but being better guy 9th-12th means very little.

 

[twocoach]

Except there are only a max of 120 minutes available. I am sure KU has better walk-on big men too, but being better guy 9th-12th means very little.

If the guys at the end of the bench aren't costing you points when they have to play then that's a net positive. Points are points. They are art of the rotation just as the ISU players are that were being assessed. That's all.

 

[twocoach]

have a question who is kansas losing

Bigs? As of now just Tarik Black but Alexander should easily replace/increase his production. Potentially losing Embiid as well but may replace him with Myles Turner. We'll see soon enough.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Disagree about having the best front court. Top 3, sure, but not No.1 when your tallest player is 6'9'' and hasn't ever played a game at this level yet, not to mention most likely can't play til January. Otherwise they are all very good, but undersized. Most likely going to get pushed around again next year unless they sign someone of Anthony Lee's caliber.