[panfan01]

The Sporting News preseason predictions have picked LU to finish 9th in the conference. Check out the RU fan forum.

[ToTheLeft]

Thanks for being lazy and not copying it for us....

The Sporting News

1. Radford
2. Gardner-Webb
3. High Point
4. Winthrop
5. UNC Asheville
6. Coastal Carolina
7. Charleston Southern
8. VMI
9. Liberty
10. Prebyterian

All Conference Team
Anthony Smith - LU
Eugene Harris - High Point
Aaron Linn - GWU
Kenny George - UNCA
Joey Lynch-Flohr - RU

Top Newcomer
Seth Curry - LU

Top Player
Anthony Smith - LU

Top Coach
Brad Greenberg - RU

And this list is so old, he still thinks KG is playing, which changes the dynamic of the whole league. And I don't see how LU could have the best freshman and the best player and finish dead last... but whatever. At least we can say we beat the experts predictions if we finish 8th or higher.

[flamesbball84]

the sporting news polls are worthless and pretty much always have been when it comes to any non-major league.

[Chris Lang]

High Point at No. 3?

Did Arizona get a redshirt year? Did Cruz Daniels actually learn how to shoot from farther than 2 feet away from the basket?

[TDDance234]

I think it's fair to say that our team is a huge question mark heading in to the season. We have a basically brand new team. However, these things are never accurate...and esp. not from the Sporting News.

[Hold My Own]

Our recruiting ranking should have given us at least a LITTLE respect

[olldflame]

Ignorance is expected from these magazine predictions on mid-major conferences, but this goes beyond that to sheer stupidity. How do you pick a team to finish 9th out of 10 when they have your choices for the POY and best newcomer?!

[flamesbball84]

Ignorance is expected from these magazine predictions on mid-major conferences, but this goes beyond that to sheer stupidity. How do you pick a team to finish 9th out of 10 when they have your choices for the POY and best newcomer?!

because Brad Greenberg is picked a COY - that just shows how stupid they are.

[SumItUp]

Now Coach Greenberg has something he can frame and place on the wall of his office.

[WinthropEagleFan]

Ignorance is expected from these magazine predictions on mid-major conferences, but this goes beyond that to sheer stupidity. How do you pick a team to finish 9th out of 10 when they have your choices for the POY and best newcomer?!

Well, it's not too long ago when a Big South team finished 8th out of 9, despite having the POY and FOY (see the 04-05 Chanticleers with Pele Paelay winning POY and Jack Leasure winning FOY)...whether those choices were justified or not, it has happened.

And if you are going to pick RU to finish first, why wouldn't you have Greenberg as coach of the year?

I'm not agreeing with predictions, just showing how the author could justify them.

[Chris Lang]

I was just at the grocery store and looked at few magazines ... one picked VMI to win the Big South. The other picked VMI ninth. I think the preseason picks this year will be absolutely worthless. Wide, wide open league.

[kel varson]

I was just at the grocery store and looked at few magazines ... one picked VMI to win the Big South. The other picked VMI ninth. I think the preseason picks this year will be absolutely worthless. Wide, wide open league.

good point.

[grm]

Agreed: Good point Chris. I wouldn't worry about that poll whatsoever.

[ATrain]

IMO, Winthrop is still #1 until someone knocks them off. #2-10 is wide open.

[grm]

That's also fair and good, IMO.

[paradox]

What returning player/players of any significance would necessitate Winthrop a top rating in the conference this year?



I can see why they picked GWU & RU because they return the most starters and the most depth. However, stats can be decieving, especially with regard to RU's five returning starters, all double figure scorers, but far from proving that they can win. Also, GWU graduated their top player, Thomas Sanders. Nevertheless, GWU should be a legit contender.

It's nice to see that Smitty & Curry are getting some recognition, but the stats alone are unable grasp Omerson's 15ppg. I think that we return more experience and quality with our gaurds than the stat sheet may show.

[Fumblerooskies]

UNCA...
...dead last.

[ATrain]

What returning player/players of any significance would necessitate Winthrop a top rating in the conference this year?



I can see why they picked GWU & RU because they return the most starters and the most depth. However, stats can be decieving, especially with regard to RU's five returning starters, all double figure scorers, but far from proving that they can win. Also, GWU graduated their top player, Thomas Sanders. Nevertheless, GWU should be a legit contender.

It's nice to see that Smitty & Curry are getting some recognition, but the stats alone are unable grasp Omerson's 15ppg. I think that we return more experience and quality with our gaurds than the stat sheet may show.

It doesn't matter who they're returning...the point is, they have proven they can win over and over again and until they get knocked off, it doesn't matter who brings in this player or who returns that player, its what team can beat the team at the top and that is Winthrop.

[paradox]

Actually, it does matter who they're returning. They will need to rely heavily on newcomers for virtually all of their scoring, which would fall squarely into the category of unproven and unknown.


I agree with Chris. It's completely wide-open this year.


...

[olldflame]

If you are going by returning talent/experience, then Radford is a runaway winner, but I don't see a whole lot of people jumping on that bandwagon. History/tradition is a factor. Winning is a habit.

I basically agree that Winthrop is the team to beat, but I also feel that there are at least 2 or 3 teams that can do it. It should be fun!

[paradox]

At the moment, there really isn't a "team to beat" in the big south. A team will have to step up, emerge as a front runner, and earn that distinction based on their own merit, and not some false notion about past history.

[olldflame]

OK dox. Of course we all know you predicted the demise of Winthrop last year with the departure of Marshall/Martin/Bradshaw. How did that work out for you?

[paradox]

I actually picked Winthrop to strongly contend for the conference title last year. Also, I acurately predicted that if they made it to the NCAAs, they wouldn't be as good, and actually win in the NCAAs w/o Marshall-Martin-Bradshaw. So, it worked out pretty darn well for me....LOL



After last year, the final remnant of the Marshall era has been lost to graduation: Gaynor-Jenkins-Taj.

Right now, WU is in complete rebuilding mode. And Mr. Marshall is coaching somewhere in Kansas. So, pay attention, son!!! Sooner or later, you're gonna have to start figuring this stuff out on your own!!!






I guess, by your standard, the Patriots, w/o Mr. Brady, are the team to beat in the AFC, huh??? Let me know how that one works out for you


...