Top 25 talk

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Usually in mid/late October. Shortly after practices begin if memory serves.

Usually it's when voters get around to sending a ballot back.  I feel like Nov 1st is a pretty typical time to expect something.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I've always voted in October - twice been on a vacation when I did it. LOL

[Greek Tragedy]

Gordon Mann posted in the WIAC page that it lloked like 1st thing next week (not this comong week).

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I voted today, so it should be soon.

This year I decided not to kill myself trying to get every last placement right.  Without results on the floor, you can really only guess.  My top two were easy - after that, there's a whole lot of who knows.  I'm much more comfortable once we get to January.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I voted today, so it should be soon.

This year I decided not to kill myself trying to get every last placement right.  Without results on the floor, you can really only guess.  My top two were easy - after that, there's a whole lot of who knows.  I'm much more comfortable once we get to January.

Sadly, you will have to vote five or more times before January, though. LOL

[Greek Tragedy]

I voted today, so it should be soon.

This year I decided not to kill myself trying to get every last placement right.  Without results on the floor, you can really only guess.  My top two were easy - after that, there's a whole lot of who knows.  I'm much more comfortable once we get to January.

1st two were easy? Let the speculation begin!

[nescac1]

My guess: Christopher Newport and Amherst will be the overwhelming favorites in many posters' polls.  Babson, Wooster, Whitman, St. Thomas (lose a ton but then again they always seem just to reload), and St. Norbert also warrant some consideration ...

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm very impressed with CNU.  I am skeptical of Amhert - not the talent on the roster, but their ability to put it together on the floor.  The dominant force on that team graduated and I want to see a few games before I give them top 5 credit.

[nescac1]

Especially as an Eph fan, I don't entirely disagree with you about Amherst.  The talent is undeniable, the leadership and chemistry (despite a ton of experience) is uncertain.  But the Former Jeffs are the only returning Final Four team that returns most of its key pieces, in fact only graduating one senior who ever played.  The other three squads from Salem all look to be substantially diminished.  So on paper, Amherst almost has to be one of the top 2-3 favorites.  I don't think this Amherst team is nearly as strong as the 2007-08 or 2013-14 juggernauts, but then again, there aren't a lot of teams -- CNU excepted -- that were super impressive last season and still return the bulk of their talent.  Hence, I think Amherst has to be a top 3-4 team, at least, just by default. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Especially as an Eph fan, I don't entirely disagree with you about Amherst.  The talent is undeniable, the leadership and chemistry (despite a ton of experience) is uncertain.  But the Former Jeffs are the only returning Final Four team that returns most of its key pieces, in fact only graduating one senior who ever played.  The other three squads from Salem all look to be substantially diminished.  So on paper, Amherst almost has to be one of the top 2-3 favorites.  I don't think this Amherst team is nearly as strong as the 2007-08 or 2013-14 juggernauts, but then again, there aren't a lot of teams -- CNU excepted -- that were super impressive last season and still return the bulk of their talent.  Hence, I think Amherst has to be a top 3-4 team, at least, just by default.

I don't disagree with the logic, I just didn't have Amherst as highly rated, even last year.  I didn't think their path to Salem was as difficult as others and the team really did little to impress me on the court.  I've got them a few places above where they were in my final poll last year.  I'm fully ready to give credit when they prove it on the floor.  I tried to just tweak my final rankings from last year to reflect graduation, transfer, etc.  There are just too many variables to try and properly evaluate 50+ teams before the season even starts.

[Greek Tragedy]

I'm putting Babson #2. They return everyone and had it not been for Flannery's injury and not playing 100%, Babson may have been in the Final last year.

[nescac1]

Agreed -- I would actually put Babson (barely) over Amherst to start the year, as well -- they look loaded and Flannery has to be the pre-season national POY favorite.  They are big, strong, and tough up front.  Both look like clear top-5 and maybe even top-3 teams ... and New England as a whole looks fairly shallow this year (I see NESCAC as 4, at most 5, deep in high-quality teams, the Little East has 1-2 good-but-not-elite squads, and I think Babson is going to dominate NEWMAC this year, although MIT could be interesting).  So both could put up very gaudy records. 

[AndOne]

While certainly not the #1 pre-season team, North Central should be highly placed to begin the season. They return 4 starters from last year's team which ranked #25 in the final poll. They sustained 8 losses on the season while playing what was generally regarded to be the nation's toughest schedule.
They lost to:
#2 Benedictine by 2
#3 Augustana by 8 (plus another loss to Augie)
#6 Alma by 1
#18 Elmhurst by 2
#24 St. Olaf by 2
Their other 2 losses were to teams that won 17 and 20 games.

Among the returnees is 6'8" junior post Alex Sorenson (15.3 ppg,  7.7 rpg), a D3Hoops 2nd team All-Region player who led the CCIW in 3 point shooting percentage (50%), and blocked shots. In a head to head confrontation with national POY, Luke Johnson, Sorenson won the rebound battle 8-6, and outscored Johnson 20-8. Also returning is 6'6" soph wing Connor Raridon (13.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 109'assists), the Regional Freshman of The Year. Other returning starters are junior Erwin Henry (9.0 ppg), and senior Jagger Anderson (8.9 ppg, 101 assists).
The Cardinals are the conference Coaches Poll pick to win the CCIW.

[Mr. Ypsi]

And don't sleep on WashU - they only lost to Big 10 U of Illinois by 7 today.  Hard to gauge an exhibition game, but even if the UI coach was more interested in seeing everyone than winning, impressive nonetheless.  WashU actually out-rebounded Illinois.

[jaybird44]

Especially when Illinois can roll out 6'10" Maverick Morgan and Michael Finke, and 6'11" Mike Thorne Jr.