Top 25 talk

[Gregory Sager]

I am going to retreat quietly to the ghost town otherwise known as the UAA thread...

[WUPHF]

That is how it looks most of the time.

Then I pop online and it is:

[Gregory Sager]

LOL!

(but in a poignant way)

[Titan Q]

Who are the legitimate candidates for the Preseason Top 25 that are not on this list?  Would be great to start identifying those.

For example, Wash U - I think they belong.

Wabash should be. Finished 21-6 last year with a young roster.

Returning starters:
G: Jack Davidson, JR., 25.1 PPG - 26 GS
G: Connor Rotterman, JR. 7.3 PPG - 15 GS (stopped starting at midyear)
G: Tyler Watson, So. 9.4 PPG - 11 GS (started to start at midyear)
F: Alex Eberhard, Sr. 6.7 PPG - 27 GS
F: Harry Hallstrom, Sr. 12.6 PPG - 26 GS
W: Kellen Schrieber, So. 8.9 PPG - 5 GS (started in place of injuries)

Wabash averaged 86.2 points a game last year and only lose 8.7 PPG to graduation/transfers.
Senior wing Ben Stachowski started 24 games and scored 3.8 points a game
Senior post Logan White played in 26 games scoring 2.1 a game
Sophomore Conner Brens played in 25 games scoring 1.9 a game (not playing)
Freshman Niah Williamson played in 4 games scoring 0.8 a game (transfer, I believe for football)

The starting 5 will likely be

PG: Jack Davidson - JR
SG: Tyler Watson - SO
SF: Kellen Schreiber - SO
PF: Alex Eberhard - SR
C: Harry Hallstrom - SR

First couple guys off the bench will likely be: Connor Rotterman - JR, Jayden Edwards - SO, Colten Garland - SR
Players who can easily come off the bench but not likely in the top 8 are: Matt Chinn - JR, Parker Manges - SR

All of the above is based off of last year.

HOWEVER

Wabash has a very, very good freshman class and I would not be surprised in the least to see these two/three freshmen play huge minutes. They all were highly sought after (all had D1 interest).

Justin Hensley - 6'4 G
Ahmoni Jones - 6'4 G/W
Reis Thomas - 6'3 W/F (football player so he'll be working his way in)
Cam Chadd - 6'2 G (transfer in, sophomore)

They also have as incoming freshmen:

Jeremy Norvell - 5'10 G
Ty Bever - 5'11 G
Nate Butts - 5'9 G
Tristan Bufkin - 6'5 F
Trey Waddups - 6'1 G (I believe is a sophomore who didn't play last season)

This is going to be a team that plays very fast as they only have one true post player. They have a ton of guys who can slide down and play the five, however. Going to be a great year in Crawfordsville.

This is very helpful, thank you!

[dunkin3117]

Just 1 ARC team on your radar, Titan?  As deep and talented as this league has been the last few years, that is a tad surprising. 

[Greek Tragedy]

Just 1 ARC team on your radar, Titan?  As deep and talented as this league has been the last few years, that is a tad surprising.

Loras loses Ruffles and DiCanio while Wartburg loses Sabus along with a couple of others. They'll have to prove they can win without their big guns. Simpson has to out up some wins too.

[Titan Q]

Just 1 ARC team on your radar, Titan?  As deep and talented as this league has been the last few years, that is a tad surprising.

It's possible I will vote for a 2nd ARC team...but whoever that is, it would be a bit of a flyer I think (which is usually what spots 20-25 in the preseason poll are).

Loras lost a ton.  I think they'll be good this year, but have they done enough yet consistently to just assume a reload? (Like with Wooster, I just always assume a reload - they are almost an automatic preseason Top 25 team for me each year.)

Maybe Simpson is the team?

[Greek Tragedy]

Augsburg could be a dark horse. They do lose two starters, but one averaged just 3.5 ppg and 2.4 rpg. Their top two players off the bench return and they got some guy named Booker Coplin who people say is pretty decent. They made it to the MIAC final knocking off St. Thomas and losing to St. John's by just 3.

[Titan Q]

Augsburg could be a dark horse. They do lose two starters, but one averaged just 3.5 ppg and 2.4 rpg. Their top two players off the bench return and they got some guy named Booker Coplin who people say is pretty decent. They made it to the MIAC final knocking off St. Thomas and losing to St. John's by just 3.

Very good call, Greek. Thanks.

[Smitty Oom]

Nice, Greek! Yes, I was going to add Augsburg to the mix.

One of the two starters you mention, Mark Delle Vedova, was used very minimally towards the end of the year. He would play the opening minutes of the game and then basically sit for the rest of the game.

I thought that the second best overall player for the Augies last year was Sophomore Matt Carik. He is a great ball handler, shooter and distributor. Average 11 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 ast while shooting 40% from 3. Long, athletic guard that definitely would get more publicity if Booker Coplin wasn't taking the spotlight. Excited to see him take another step in his game this year.

I know I am biased as the MIAC guy around here, but I think Augsburg should be ranked ahead of the second WIAC team at this point with how little returns to UWLAX, UWPLAT, UWSP combined with how incredible Booker Coplin is and how much they return.

Unfortunately, the MIAC is pretty top heavy and I am not expecting any teams after those top 3 are worth consideration of top 25 talk this season.

[Greek Tragedy]

Looking more into Simpson...

According to a post in the ARC room, Simpson is picked 2nd in the preseason poll.

They lose four of their top eight players, but their top 3 scorers return.

*Riordan 18.2 ppg/3.8 rpg
*Wagner 14.3/4.3
*Reiter 13.6/7.5
*Barbee 8.5/3.8
Stumbo 8.5/3.4
*Rajewski 7.0/1.0
Fibert 6.9/4.2
Janssen 4.8/0.8

[Greek Tragedy]

Augsburg does travel to La Crosse and hosts River Falls Thanksgiving week, so that may tell us something.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Simpson should be pretty good.  Definitely worth considering.

[Titan Q]

Looking more into Simpson...

According to a post in the ARC room, Simpson is picked 2nd in the preseason poll.

They lose four of their top right players, but their top 3 scorers return.

*Riordan 18.2 ppg/3.8 rpg
*Wagner 14.3/4.3
*Reiter 13.6/7.5
*Barbee 8.5/3.8
Stumbo 8.5/3.4
*Rajewski 7.0/1.0
Fibert 6.9/4.2
Janssen 4.8/0.8

Simpson was 16-10 last year (9-7 ARC).  They beat UW-Platteville, which was an impressive win.  They went 0-5 vs Loras and Nebraska Wesleyan in ARC play.

They return their top 3 scorers and are picked 2nd in a strong league -- Simpson is very much a team in Top 25 consideration.  I think I will have them in, somewhere between 23 and 25. If I end up having to pick between UW-Platteville and Simpson, ties goes to the Storm via the 2018-19 head-to-head result.

As usual, spots 15-25 in the preseason poll are kind of a crap shoot.

Honestly, the whole preseason poll is kind of a crap shoot...but a fun one!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm impressed you do this much work before the data sheet comes along.