2017-18 Schedule

[WuShock Reaper]

"MOST DANGEROUS SCORING THREAT FOR EACH TOP 25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM" - Sportsnaut

By Dustin Gunter
October 27, 2017

https://sportsnaut.com/2017/10/dangerous-scorer-top-25-college-basketball-teams/

"The first USA Today Coaches Poll rankings of the 2017-18 season was released recently. As expected, most of of the blue bloods are represented in the Top 25 college basketball rankings.

However, there were some unfamiliar programs that made their way into the spotlight. Teams like Northwestern and Alabama are new to the preseason hype, but that’s not a mistake. Being one of the Top 25 college basketball teams requires having multiple playmakers on both sides of the ball, and they have them. That said, there’s always that one guy that coaches put their utmost trust in. Every ranked team has one.
Here’s a look at the most dangerous scoring threat for each Top 25 college basketball team heading into the season....

8. Wichita State: Landry Shamet, sophomore guard

Shamet burst onto the scene in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. As a freshman, he led his team in scoring against one of college basketball’s biggest powerhouses, Kentucky. The Shockers fell in a 62-65 contest and were eliminated from contention, while Shamet accounted for 20 points. This year, Wichita State has moved from the Missouri Valley Conference to the American Athletic Conference. They’re taking on a bigger stage with more exposure. Expect to see a lot more of Shamet this season and what he has to offer. Many are picking his team as a legitimate title contender. The Shockers return all five starters after going 31-5 last season....

13. Cincinnati: Cane Broome, junior guard

The Bearcats’ best scorer wasn’t eligible last year. Broome, a transfer from Sacred Heart, was the 2015-16 Northeast Conference Player of the Year. He also ranked eighth in the nation with 23.1 points per game. Broome had already accumulated 1,157 career points after his sophomore season. Broome seems like a natural scorer and a piece that the Bearcats have been missing for quite some time.

14. Notre Dame: Bonzie Colson, senior forward (potential Maui Invitational Opponent)

No player in the ACC means more to his team than Colson does to the Fighting Irish. After all, he did average a double-double last year with 17.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He’s a force to be reckoned with in the paint, and Notre Dame coach Mike Brey realizes this....

24. Baylor: Manu Lecomte, senior guard (non-conference opponent)

Baylor was a team that thrived in the paint last season. With the departure of star forward Johnathan Motley, the Bears might have to find production elsewhere. Lecomte, who finished second in scoring for the Bears, averaged 12.2 points per game, while shooting 43 percent from the floor and 41 percent from three-point land. Lecomte, a transfer, shot 43 percent from three-point range in two seasons (2013-15) as a Miami Hurricane. That’s the second-highest three-point percentage in school history. Look for this talented point guard to have the ball in his hands when it comes crunch time."

[WuShock Reaper]

tackofall.jpg"Led by 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall, UCF may take a giant step by making the NCAA Tournament" - CBS Sports

by Reid Forgrave
Posted: 10/30/17, 12:00pm, CST

https://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...aa-tournament/

"...You may even think of the University of Central Florida, which has the highest enrollment of any American university at nearly 65,000 students. But even then, you almost certainly do not think of the UCF Knights basketball team.And this is for good reason. UCF has only played in four Division I NCAA Tournaments in the program's 48 years of existence, and has never won a game. The program was a Division II power for its first decade and a half, but let's be honest: Even the highest-level American sports fan couldn't tell you who won last season's NCAA Division II Tournament. (It was Northwest Missouri State. I told you so.)

But be prepared for this to be the season when that may change.

In Johnny Dawkins' second season at the helm, UCF is the dark horse of a powerful American Athletic Conference. Newcomer Wichita State projects to be a top-10 team nationally, and will be challenged at the top of the American by Mick Cronin's always-tough Cincinnati squad that's ranked 13th in the preseason USA Today coaches' poll. SMU will be a nationally relevant team, and UConn and Houston both have legit collegiate stars in Jalen Adams and Rob Gray respectively.

But here's my prediction: UCF, ranked No. 29 in CBS Sports' preseason rankings of all 351 teams in the nation, is a team that will push Wichita State and Cincinnati at the top of the American, will be ranked in the Top 25 at some point during the season, and will make the NCAA Tournament – comfortably...."

[WuShock Reaper]

"The 10 Most Important Games for Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball" - SB*Nation

Every game matters. These ones just matter a little more.

by Phil Neuffer
Oct 30, 2017, 2:25pm EDT

https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/10/30/16563786/the-10-most-important-games-for-cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-preview

Last season, the Cincinnati Bearcats won a bunch of games. Thirty to be exact. And you can’t get to that kind of win total with out some wins against stiff competition or without a few dramatic finishes. There were plenty of those. There was the overtime grinder against Iowa State. The surprisingly thrilling finish against Marshall. Difficult clashes against Temple. The two-point win over SMU. And the biggest one of all, the return of the Crosstown Shootout title belt.

The Bearcats have a rather tough schedule this season, so more epic contests will abound. Here are the ones that will provide the most drama.

10. Jan. 4 at Temple
9. Feb. 3 at UConn.
8. Dec. 31 vs. Memphis
7. Jan. 16 at UCF
6. Feb 11. at SMU
5. Feb. 18 vs. Wichita State
SMU and UConn are the chief rivals for UC basketball but the Shockers are next in line. Wichita State is a mid-major program that is stepping into the #Power6 after years of dominating against competition at all levels. Currently No. 4 according to KenPom, the Shockers boast a roster of talented guys like Landry Shamet and a track record of five-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. This will be UC’s introduction and chance to greet its new league mates with a home victory.
4. Dec. 9 vs. Florida
3. Dec. 16 at UCLA
2. Dec. 2 at Xavier
1. March 4 at Wichita State
Luckily, we don’t have to worry about UC winning just one game. The Bearcats should win a whole bunch. That’s why Xavier only comes in second on this list. While a win in the Crosstown Shootout is necessary for a successful season, the Bearcats have their eyes set higher. Considered the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the league (with the order depending on who you ask), this finale could decide who wins the regular season title and provide momentum heading into the postseason."

[Cdizzle]

It sounds small-time to complain, but that's like the 4th place I've seen note the 5-straight tourneys. Changing that to 6 seems like a small thing. But it is important to blowing holes in the "well you only had such and such player" crap that people like to use. IMO, I would put that 2012 team as the 2nd most likely WSU team (behind 2014) to make the F4.

[shocks02]

UCF just lost Aubrey Dawkins for the year with a shoulder injury. Tough loss for the Knights. Probably would've been a starter or key reserve.

[Play Angry]

For those inclined to guess and hope, tickets are available for the NCAA First/Second Round in Dallas via presale on the NCAA Site - presale code is ZONE (this was tweeted by NCAA March Madness so I am guessing no issues posting it here).

[Stickboy46]

For those inclined to guess and hope, tickets are available for the NCAA First/Second Round in Dallas via presale on the NCAA Site - presale code is ZONE (this was tweeted by NCAA March Madness so I am guessing no issues posting it here).

Actually when trying to purchase ... no seats are available ...

[Play Angry]

Actually when trying to purchase ... no seats are available ...

That is odd - worked for me and I have 6 tickets in Section 330.

[Play Angry]

Still working and you can select your seats from the grid - there are a ton available in the lower bowl if you are willing to pay $300 a pop, also the middle deck for $270 is a nice view.

[Stickboy46]

That is odd - worked for me and I have 6 tickets in Section 330.

330? Are you sitting on the roof?

Edit: I'm an idiot .. didn't see the DALLAS part of that. IBA appears to be sold out.

[Play Angry]

330? Are you sitting on the roof?

Ummmm?

We are in the front row of the top deck. Are you mistakenly thinking of tickets at IBA in Wichita? My post this morning referenced these are for Dallas.

[Stickboy46]

Yup see my post above yours. IBA is sold out (pre-sale at least)

[WuShock Reaper]

"Power Ranking Every College Basketball Conference Ahead of the 2017-18 Season" - Bleacher Report

BY KERRY MILLER
OCTOBER 31, 2017

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2741495-power-ranking-every-college-basketball-conference-ahead-of-the-2017-18-season

"It should come as no surprise that the ACC is expected to be the best conference in college basketball this season, but the SEC at No. 2?

Now that's a new one.

While we didn't use any sort of mathematical formula to sort these conferences, the ranking process boiled down to a combination of projected NCAA tournament bids, potential NCAA tournament champions and a guess at which conference would win if one were to rank the teams from top to bottom and pit leagues against one other. You'll see a specific example of that last point during the justification for ranking the Big East ahead of the Big 12.

Generally speaking, the decision is based on the teams in the middle of the projected standings, as deeper conferences are considered better than those that probably should have just one or two teams dominating everyone else. Looking specifically at the best conferences, the top seven all have one serious threat to win the national championship and at least one other team that could conceivably take the title. As a result, those top two teams in each league kind of cancel each other out, making the size and strength of each league's middle tier the pivotal factor.

This applies to the minor conferences, too. Leagues with just one good team in what is otherwise a sea of struggles didn't fare anywhere near as well as those with multiple teams with top-100 potential.

"...13. Missouri Valley: The Missouri Valley has consistently been a top-12 league for more than a decade, but losing Wichita State to the AAC is going to be a problem. The good news is there aren't any truly awful teams dragging the conference down. The bad news is that means 80 percent of the league may finish the year within two games of .500 in conference play, because there aren't any great teams up top, either.
7. American Athletic -

Serious National Championship Contenders: Wichita State

Fringe National Championship Contenders: Cincinnati

NCAA Tournament Candidates: UCF, SMU, Houston, Temple, Connecticut, Tulsa

Dead Weight: Memphis, East Carolina, Tulane, South Florida

Like the West Coast Conference, the American Athletic Conference has sort of been in its own tier for the past few years. This league has definitely been better than, say, the Mountain West Conference, but save for that first season when it had Louisville, the AAC hasn't been nearly good enough to be considered one of the major conferences.

After pilfering the best team from the Missouri Valley Conference, though, that might be a different story.

Wichita State gives the AAC a serious threat to win it all this year—provided Landry Shamet and Markis McDuffie are able to make full recoveries from offseason foot injuries. The Shockers were arguably one of the 10 best teams in the country at the end of last season, and they bring back everyone of note from that roster. They don't get quite the same national respect of a Kansas or Kentucky, but that doesn't make them any less of a candidate.

Cincinnati is another darn fine team that doesn't get the attention it deserves. The Bearcats get back four of last year's five leading scorers while also adding Cane Broome—who could be the most important transfer in the entire country. If Broome is even half the scorer he was at Sacred Heart (23.1 points per game) and if Jarron Cumberland makes any strides of improvement as a sophomore, this is another team that could win it all.

Beyond those two teams, though, there's not a whole lot to see here—and that's coming from someone who likes UCF as a top-40 team and thinks Connecticut is one of the biggest sleepers in the country. There are just too many bad teams and too many borderline teams (Tulsa, SMU and Houston) that could easily slip into that "bad" category.

This league should get at least three teams into the NCAA tournament, but it's going to take a little more than that to really stack up with the big boys...."

[UCONN_Husky]

"Power Ranking Every College Basketball Conference Ahead of the 2017-18 Season" - Bleacher Report

BY KERRY MILLER
OCTOBER 31, 2017

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2741495-power-ranking-every-college-basketball-conference-ahead-of-the-2017-18-season

"It should come as no surprise that the ACC is expected to be the best conference in college basketball this season, but the SEC at No. 2?

Now that's a new one.

While we didn't use any sort of mathematical formula to sort these conferences, the ranking process boiled down to a combination of projected NCAA tournament bids, potential NCAA tournament champions and a guess at which conference would win if one were to rank the teams from top to bottom and pit leagues against one other. You'll see a specific example of that last point during the justification for ranking the Big East ahead of the Big 12.

Generally speaking, the decision is based on the teams in the middle of the projected standings, as deeper conferences are considered better than those that probably should have just one or two teams dominating everyone else. Looking specifically at the best conferences, the top seven all have one serious threat to win the national championship and at least one other team that could conceivably take the title. As a result, those top two teams in each league kind of cancel each other out, making the size and strength of each league's middle tier the pivotal factor.

This applies to the minor conferences, too. Leagues with just one good team in what is otherwise a sea of struggles didn't fare anywhere near as well as those with multiple teams with top-100 potential.

"...13. Missouri Valley: The Missouri Valley has consistently been a top-12 league for more than a decade, but losing Wichita State to the AAC is going to be a problem. The good news is there aren't any truly awful teams dragging the conference down. The bad news is that means 80 percent of the league may finish the year within two games of .500 in conference play, because there aren't any great teams up top, either.
7. American Athletic -

Serious National Championship Contenders: Wichita State

Fringe National Championship Contenders: Cincinnati

NCAA Tournament Candidates: UCF, SMU, Houston, Temple, Connecticut, Tulsa

Dead Weight: Memphis, East Carolina, Tulane, South Florida

Like the West Coast Conference, the American Athletic Conference has sort of been in its own tier for the past few years. This league has definitely been better than, say, the Mountain West Conference, but save for that first season when it had Louisville, the AAC hasn't been nearly good enough to be considered one of the major conferences.

After pilfering the best team from the Missouri Valley Conference, though, that might be a different story.

Wichita State gives the AAC a serious threat to win it all this year—provided Landry Shamet and Markis McDuffie are able to make full recoveries from offseason foot injuries. The Shockers were arguably one of the 10 best teams in the country at the end of last season, and they bring back everyone of note from that roster. They don't get quite the same national respect of a Kansas or Kentucky, but that doesn't make them any less of a candidate.

Cincinnati is another darn fine team that doesn't get the attention it deserves. The Bearcats get back four of last year's five leading scorers while also adding Cane Broome—who could be the most important transfer in the entire country. If Broome is even half the scorer he was at Sacred Heart (23.1 points per game) and if Jarron Cumberland makes any strides of improvement as a sophomore, this is another team that could win it all.

Beyond those two teams, though, there's not a whole lot to see here—and that's coming from someone who likes UCF as a top-40 team and thinks Connecticut is one of the biggest sleepers in the country. There are just too many bad teams and too many borderline teams (Tulsa, SMU and Houston) that could easily slip into that "bad" category.

This league should get at least three teams into the NCAA tournament, but it's going to take a little more than that to really stack up with the big boys...."

Um... You mean that first year when UCONN won the National Championship. Better luck next time, Kerry.

[ShockdaWorld]

Has anyone ever been to an OSU game a Gallagher Iba arena? I have a line on a couple of tickets (we are going, just not sure where we will sit yet), but they are in the OSU student section with my nephew and niece that go to school down there. I'm trying to decide if that would be a good idea or not. I'm never a jerk to opposing fans, but I am a pretty vocal WSU supporter. Thoughts?

[Walker]

Has anyone ever been to an OSU game a Gallagher Iba arena? I have a line on a couple of tickets (we are going, just not sure where we will sit yet), but they are in the OSU student section with my nephew and niece that go to school down there. I'm trying to decide if that would be a good idea or not. I'm never a jerk to opposing fans, but I am a pretty vocal WSU supporter. Thoughts?

I would totally get shitfaced and give them the UNLV treatment. Okay, not really but that'd be pretty tough sitting within an opposing team's student section.