Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

[TravelingPanther]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=5060752

We're not even listed in his "on the cusp" or sleepers.

[PantherHawk]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

Well we lose about 60% of our scoring from this year. We also replacing 3 KEY players. I think our bench was good this year, now if they can step up into the starting roles and become the Prime Time Players that JE, AK, and AF were, then we will be okay!

I personally like that we will fly under the radar again and kick everyone's @ss!

I think if KA can control his game a little bit, and we can find 3 consistent scorers we will be okay! we also need to replace jordan's rebounding presence underneath! I am excited to see what coach jake has planned! We have pehl who is 6-11, but I think UNI will be able to throw several different line-ups in a game! We have the bench and the ability to go small or we can go big as well! I think having JK to play wing or down low really helps! Also McDermott will be an instant impact player! I am prediciting a top 2 finish in the valley next year, we could surprise people and win the whole d@mn thing again!

[Casey'sitsallgood]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

The biggest thing I like about our team next year is the experience all our younger guys got playing multiple games in the tournament. I think the starters will be KA, Johnny, Kerwin, Jake and Luke, with Sonnen, AJ, McD, Pehl, Rank and maybe some Morrison and Ray coming off the bench. It will be very tough to replace the five guys we're losing but playing those games against UNLV, Kansas and MSU are huge.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

I just think that we'll have depth and senior leadership, just like we did this year.

[UNI83]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

I just think that we'll have depth and senior leadership, just like we did this year.

This.


Yes we loose three major players, three of the best players we have ever had. However, it isn't like Sonnen, James, KA, Jake, et al. couldn't score more. They weren't asked too. I think we will hover around 25-35 for most of the preseason/non-conference. Then if we can attack the conference like we have again climb into the teens

[06panther10]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

This.


Yes we loose three major players, three of the best players we have ever had. However, it isn't like Sonnen, James, KA, Jake, et al. couldn't score more. They weren't asked too. I think we will hover around 25-35 for most of the preseason/non-conference. Then if we can attack the conference like we have again climb into the teens

I think people with expectations like this need to calm down a little bit. Can those guys score more next year? Sure, they could. But it is a very different thing to do it as a starter for 25 minutes than it is to do it as a reserve for 10 minutes.

I'm as big a homer as anybody, but to expect us to be a top 25 team next year is just not realistic at this point.

Our guys definitely have the potential to be a great team in the future, but there are a lot of guys that need to play much bigger roles next year, and we have yet to see how they will respond.

[Panther789]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

I think people with expectations like this need to calm down a little bit. Can those guys score more next year? Sure, they could. But it is a very different thing to do it as a starter for 25 minutes than it is to do it as a reserve for 10 minutes.

I'm as big a homer as anybody, but to expect us to be a top 25 team next year is just not realistic at this point.

Our guys definitely have the potential to be a great team in the future, but there are a lot of guys that need to play much bigger roles next year, and we have yet to see how they will respond.

I don't think we should be a Top 25 team right now either, but I think you understate the talent we have returning, especially when you say things like WSU is the clear favorite to win the MVC.

We have won 2 straight regular season titles and MVC tournament crowns. Complete domination since January of last year. Depending on who we play in that Las Vegas tournament, I don't think its unrealistic to have a 1-2 loss non-conference season. Coming off this season, that might be enough to get us near the top 25. I don't think something like 13-5 in the MVC is out of the question either.

We need Kwadzo to be a leading candidate for MVC player of the year next year, and I think he will be.

[06panther10]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

WSU is the clear favorite. They will be the favorite for the exact same reasons that we were the clear favorite this year.

Once again, I'm not saying that we can't do it again. I'm just saying that it is probably unlikely, and definitely shouldn't be an expecation at this point.

[Panther789]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

WSU is the clear favorite. They will be the favorite for the exact same reasons that we were the clear favorite this year.

The exact same reasons? That is a terrible comparison.

UNI was coming off a season in which it won both the regular season and the MVC tournament. WSU is coming off a season in which it finished 3 games out of first and lost in the final.

Additionally, UNI lost very little from the 08-09 team. WSU loses its leading score and assist man in Hannah.

I won't be shocked if WSU is the pre-season favorite, and they do return plenty. That said, I think UNI gets its share of first place votes, and I don't think the gap between the 2 (either actual or perceived) is as great as you imply.

[BCPanther]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

WSU is the clear favorite. They will be the favorite for the exact same reasons that we were the clear favorite this year.

Once again, I'm not saying that we can't do it again. I'm just saying that it is probably unlikely, and definitely shouldn't be an expecation at this point.

I also don't understand why WSU is a CLEAR favorite.

Clevin Hannah made that team go and he is gone. He is 100x the loss that Travis Brown was for us (no disrespect to Travis). Williams is a nice player, but he hasn't had to be the man. Murry and Durley are great players, but again they haven't had to carry the load and Murry has the tendancy to disappear at times. The X-factor for them is how much better does Stutz get, or has he tapped out his potential?

I agree they will probably be voted preseason favorites in a highly split vote. I see something like...

WSU
UNI
CU
BU
MSU
InSU
IlSU
DU
UE
SIU

[achrist70]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

What needs to happen for us to be a top 25 next year:
1. Kwadzo needs to be an all-around leader (14-15 points a game, limit the turnovers, take over the game when needed, but at the same time don't try to do too much)
2. Johnny and Kerwin need to be less passive, they were both great high school scorers, and both have shown the ability to score, they just need to look to do so.
3. Jake needs to be Adam, Jake has shown flashes, he just needs to be consistent with it.
4. Lucas needs to be here and be big, we all know that there is a possibility that Lucas could leave for baseball, hope he doesn't, if he is here he needs to do the things he already does, along with maybe scoring 8 or so points a game. He has good post moves, and post scoring could be key with us.
5. Marc and AJ: These two just need to continue to improve, play smart ball, and make a few shots for us.
6. Pehl: Anything that he gives us could be huge, he needs to hit the weight room hard.
7. Freshman: Morrison I see as someone who could be very useful for us. McDermott could see significant time, I don't know if Buss or Rank will redshirt, and I don't know much about Lange, same with BJ Ray with him playing football.

[06panther10]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

Brett, why do you have MSU so low? They should be a very good team next year.

Bradley is a wild card to me. They have the returning talent to contend for the title, but Les has been a terrible coach at times, and they have been having a lot of off season problems in within the BU program.

I don't know about CU that high either. Who is going to score for them?

As far as WSU, losing Hannah will be big, but they did sign a decent JUCO PG. And they have a ton of talent returning with a very experienced Durly and Murry. I don't think they are a lock to win the league, but I think they are a lock to be the preseason favorite.

[BCPanther]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

MSU, BU, CU were a toss up for me.

I always give Dana the benefit of the doubt, P is gone (I would assume) and he can go back to his hard working blue collar teams without the distractions. I think Lawson will step up big time.

I just like BU's talent a little better than MSU's. I really think the coaches are a tossup, but a veteran guard like Maniscalco can make a ton of difference.

In the end, I think UNI and WSU will separate themselves, we will have a logjam from 3-8 and 9-10 will be well, well off the pack. Its the perfect storm to get 6 bids to a super new and super terrible NCAA tournament.

[BCPanther]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

6. Pehl: Anything that he gives us could be huge, he needs to hit the weight room hard.

Agree with the first part, but no one works harder in the weight room than Austin Pehl. The difference in his body in two years is night and day. He has the body to be effective.

I just hope that there are some minutes for a guy that has done nothing but work his a** off for two years. Remember, he hurt his wrist diving into the scorer's table......IN PRACTICE.

[achrist70]

Re: Andy Katz's Preseason Top 25

Agree with the first part, but no one works harder in the weight room than Austin Pehl. The difference in his body in two years is night and day. He has the body to be effective.

I just hope that there are some minutes for a guy that has done nothing but work his a** off for two years. Remember, he hurt his wrist diving into the scorer's table......IN PRACTICE.

Good to know, I didn't know about his work ethic, he could be big for us.