Every year MichaelsPappy over on the UALR board does his predictions for each division of men's basketball for the upcoming year.

As I said last year, keep in mind that Pappy is not a professional sports writer so don't be to harsh on him, it makes for good offseason discussion.

I have been reading Pappy's predictions for years now (at least 5 or 6 years) and they are always enjoyable reading for me.

Up today:

#6 East

(06-24-2010 05:39 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  Every year MichaelsPappy over on the UALR board does his predictions for each division of men's basketball for the upcoming year.

As I said last year, keep in mind that Pappy is not a professional sports writer so don't be to harsh on him, it makes for good offseason discussion.

I have been reading Pappy's predictions for years now (at least 5 or 6 years) and they are always enjoyable reading for me.

Up today:

#6 East

Thanks for the heads up. I always enjoy what Pappy has to say.

#5 East.

Pappy took a brief break for personal reasons, but is back up going today.

#4 East.

I've given up the practice of having any sort of expectations or predictions for Middle Tennessee men's basketball.

You want a prediction? We'll win between 15 and 19 games, finish somewhere between 2-4 in the division and the lower we finish, the better we'll do in the tournament.

(07-02-2010 11:37 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  I've given up the practice of having any sort of expectations or predictions for Middle Tennessee men's basketball.

You want a prediction? We'll win between 15 and 19 games, finish somewhere between 2-4 in the division and the lower we finish, the better we'll do in the tournament.

spot on...

He has released #3.

1.
2.
3. FAU
4. MTSU
5. FIU
6. Troy

He has released #2.

1.
2. WKU
3. FAU
4. MTSU
5. FIU
6. Troy

Looks like he predictes USA to finish atop the east. I actually like his predictions. I think FAU could give WKU a run for the #2 spot though. As we all know, several teams are expected to be a lot better next year. Will be interesting.

After his writeup on USA he will begin on the West.

(07-08-2010 04:29 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  Looks like he predictes USA to finish atop the east.

I actually like his predictions.

Oh, yes. I like them too.

The east looks very unpredictable to me on paper.

BUT.

How can you pick USA ahead of FAU when FAU finished ahead of USA last year, and FAU returns all five starters?

True USA has some very nice incoming players, but so does FAU, so does WKU, so does MTSU, so does FIU. At the end of the day you don't know what you are getting for sure with incoming players. I could be wrong and USA finishes first. They will definately have a nice team. But I don't think they finish first in the east. We'll see.

(07-08-2010 06:40 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  The east looks very unpredictable to me on paper.

BUT.

How can you pick USA ahead of FAU when FAU finished ahead of USA last year, and FAU returns all five starters?

True USA has some very nice incoming players, but so does FAU, so does WKU, so does MTSU, so does FIU. At the end of the day you don't know what you are getting for sure with incoming players. I could be wrong and USA finishes first. They will definately have a nice team. But I don't think they finish first in the east. We'll see.

USA beat FAU two out of three last year and beat Arkansas and Florida on the road before injuries and suspensions killed them. Add a lot of frontcourt talent to a a loaded backcourt and there's your answer. I don't expect this to be easy, but USA has as good a chance as any of winning the East.

1. USA
2. WKU
3. FAU
4. MTSU
5. FIU
6. Troy

MT could finish anywhere from 1st to 6th. I honestly have no clue.

WEST
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. ULL

EAST
1. USA
2. WKU
3. FAU
4. MTSU
5. FIU
6. Troy

WEST
1.
2.
3.
4. ULM
5. UALR
6. ULL

EAST
1. USA
2. WKU
3. FAU
4. MTSU
5. FIU
6. Troy

(07-13-2010 04:20 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  WEST
1.
2.
3.
4. ULM
5. UALR
6. ULL

EAST
1. USA
2. WKU
3. FAU
4. MTSU
5. FIU
6. Troy

Denver at 3
ASU at 2


Guess he's a believer in us to take the West.

(07-13-2010 04:20 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  WEST
1.
2.
3.
4. ULM
5. UALR
6. ULL

EAST
1. USA
2. WKU
3. FAU
4. MTSU
5. FIU
6. Troy

I'm gonna have to come back and eat crow on this one, but the Cajuns will win the West by 2 games. Bob Marlin is the best coach the Cajuns have hired since Bobby Pascal.

(07-15-2010 12:00 PM)cajun4life Wrote:  

(07-13-2010 04:20 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  WEST
1.
2.
3.
4. ULM
5. UALR
6. ULL

EAST
1. USA
2. WKU
3. FAU
4. MTSU
5. FIU
6. Troy

I'm gonna have to come back and eat crow on this one, but the Cajuns will win the West by 2 games. Bob Marlin is the best coach the Cajuns have hired since Bobby Pascal.

I sure don't see anybody beating out UNT in the west or the conference for that matter. UNT played without 2 of its top 6 players last season due to injury and still won the conference. Now they get both those guys back and only lost one senior. UNT will win the west with ease....

(07-15-2010 02:12 PM)glick Wrote:  I sure don't see anybody beating out UNT in the west or the conference for that matter. UNT played without 2 of its top 6 players last season due to injury and still won the conference. Now they get both those guys back and only lost one senior. UNT will win the west with ease....

Love the confidence in the prospects for North Texas, but nobody wins anything worth having "with ease".

I'm confident in the Mean Green and I think they can and should win if the team plays up to potential, but ASU will be dangerous and nothing is guaranteed.

(07-15-2010 02:12 PM)glick Wrote:  

(07-15-2010 12:00 PM)cajun4life Wrote:  

(07-13-2010 04:20 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  WEST
1.
2.
3.
4. ULM
5. UALR
6. ULL

EAST
1. USA
2. WKU
3. FAU
4. MTSU
5. FIU
6. Troy

I'm gonna have to come back and eat crow on this one, but the Cajuns will win the West by 2 games. Bob Marlin is the best coach the Cajuns have hired since Bobby Pascal.

I sure don't see anybody beating out UNT in the west or the conference for that matter. UNT played without 2 of its top 6 players last season due to injury and still won the conference. Now they get both those guys back and only lost one senior. UNT will win the west with ease....

USA was also severely hurt last year in the depth department due to injuries (and academic casualty). USA will certainly challenge everyone in the league, including UNT. At one time last season USA was 11-4 and 3-0 in the Sun Belt with a victory over a top 20 team. Then the injuries took effect and we limped our way through the rest of the season. BTW, USA only lost one senior last year and Tim Williams returns.

None of that matters because you can't look at one season to adequately project the next. What ifs are only that. I contend that the Sun Belt might be poised for another 2-bid year if we can make some noise out of conference. Many programs should be contenders to win the Belt this year and I think we will have a shot at multiple bids again.