Does St Johns finish......?

Come March, is St Johns in the top 5 in the new Big East standings? How about top 25 overall?

I will say yes to top 5 and right on the cusp of top 25. Maybe somewhere in the 20s

Come March, is St Johns in the top 5 in the new Big East standings? How about top 25 overall?

I will say yes to top 5 and right on the cusp of top 25. Maybe somewhere in the 20s

If they are not one of the top 5 teams in the Big East next year then it is a HUGE disappointment.  There is only 10 teams next year.  NO WAY IN HELL THIS IS A BOTTOM HALF TEAM in the new Big East.

Quite frankly if they are not in the top 3 in the conference then it is disappointment as well.

The only way this team finishes out of the BE's top is if the team that takes the court is different than the one we expect to.

I agree need to be in the Top 3 of the Big East and I think top 20.

For me I would be disappointed if we are not playing the 2nd week of the NCAA tournament.

A legitimate argument can be made for 8 teams in this conference to have a chance at the tournament.  I think we will be in the 4-6 range in conference and on the right side of the bubble.  I think Providence is underrated, Villanova is overrated, and that the three new teams will struggle a little more than anticipated.  At worst we are in the middle of the league.

I understand there is a reluctance to buy into the hype.  But let's remember a few facts.

This is the not the 16 team monster league we have had for several years.  This is a 10 team league.

Also no doubt some good teams in the new League but no Louisville, no UCONN, no Syracuse, no Pitt, no ND, no Cincy and so on.

It was one thing to talk about finishing in the top half of the OLD BIG EAST when it was stacked and had 16 teams. 

But with SJU easily having its most talented team since the Barkley/Artest days and with the new BE not being as top heavy or with as many teams, no way our expectations should be less then top 3.  Especially with Georgetown losing Porter and Blue leaving Marquette.  Granted both teams should be good again but those are huge losses for them.

A legitimate argument can be made for 8 teams in this conference to have a chance at the tournament.  I think we will be in the 4-6 range in conference and on the right side of the bubble.  I think Providence is underrated, Villanova is overrated, and that the three new teams will struggle a little more than anticipated.  At worst we are in the middle of the league.

Which 3 teams do you believe will finish ahead of them?

Marquette & GT should. Nova could. You can never tell. Talent level is close.

With Porter and Blue I would say Georgetown and Marquette would be clear favorites and top 15 teams.  They are still good but no way are they elite at this point and SJU can match up with them in talent.  Quite frankly I think SJU is actually more talented. 

If the league gets 5 teams in the Tourney that is a good year.  6 would be terrific.

We have top 2 talent but not intangibles. I say top 4 finish and would really like having a chance at the title going into the last few games of the season.

Is Todd Mayo still at Marquette?

Come March, is St Johns in the top 5 in the new Big East standings? How about top 25 overall?

I will say yes to top 5 and right on the cusp of top 25. Maybe somewhere in the 20s

Yes to both.  The 13/14 version would beat the 12/13 team by 20 points. 

Is Todd Mayo still at Marquette?

Yes, but considering Iona.

This should be a top 25 team nationally without question.  We finally have guards, forwards, a shotblocker and depth.  Would I like a smoot shooting wing?  Sure, but we have the pieces.  Time to start putting it down on the court. 

I think it will be pretty close to be honest. Gtown, Marquette, Butler, Nova, and Creighton have been mentioned as potential top 25 teams on some sites next year. I could see us being ranked preseason possibly as 6th behind those 5 teams. I still think we could make a nice run in the tourney though. This should be a really deep league this year, but it's anyone's to win right now. My opinion on what the preseason rankings could look like:

1. Georgetown
2. Creighton
3. Marquette
4. Butler
5. Nova
6. STJ
7. PC
8. Xavier
9. Seton Hall
10. Depaul

I think it will be pretty close to be honest. Gtown, Marquette, Butler, Nova, and Creighton have been mentioned as potential top 25 teams on some sites next year. I could see us being ranked preseason possibly as 6th behind those 5 teams. I still think we could make a nice run in the tourney though. This should be a really deep league this year, but it's anyone's to win right now. My opinion on what the preseason rankings could look like:

1. Georgetown
2. Creighton
3. Marquette
4. Butler
5. Nova
6. STJ
7. PC
8. Xavier
9. Seton Hall
10. Depaul

Butler?  They are not that good next year.

I've seen some people have them in their preseason top 25. They are losing Rontei Clarke and Andrew Smith, but they return Roosevelt Jones, and the rest of the team. I'm not saying we are not as good as they are, but they certainly will be in contention especially with Brad Stevens as their coach.

4th in the BE. Top 25. We loose 2nd round NCAAs.

And people are giving a bit too much respect to teams like Creighton.

Again good teams but remember SJU was 8-10 in the Big East not the MVC or the A-10.

Don't think for a second SJU would have went 8-10 in those conferences.  And that is discounting no Jordan or Sanchez and losing Harrison late.

I am not suggesting SJU was as good as Illinois last year but IL beat Gonzaga and Butler and then proceeded to go 8-10 including a 2-7 start in the BIG 10.

You cannot compare the 18 game grind in the old Big East and Big 10 to these other conferences.  Not the same.

This is a legitimate Elite-8 caliber roster.

Anything less than top 20 ranking & Sweet-16 in tourney is a failure.