Top 144 Countdown

[tya1]

The website collegesportsmadness.com has started their annual preseason rankings countdown. ETSU is the first of four SoCon teams to be ranked. They make the list at #127. A few others so far - Georgia Southern is #144,St. Louis is#143, Georgia Tech #132, Loyola (IL) #130, Virginia Tech #123.

A safe bet would be Furman, UNCG, and Wofford for the other three, although someone else could slip in instead of Wofford. They had more losses to the roster than the other teams. Samford returns most of their guys.

[furpop16]

The website collegesportsmadness.com has started their annual preseason rankings countdown. ETSU is the first of four SoCon teams to be ranked. They make the list at #127. A few others so far - Georgia Southern is #144,St. Louis is#143, Georgia Tech #132, Loyola (IL) #130, Virginia Tech #123.

A safe bet would be Furman, UNCG, and Wofford for the other three, although someone else could slip in instead of Wofford. They had more losses to the roster than the other teams. Samford returns most of their guys.

Here's the ETSU preview page: https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/17600 Note the Conference Rank is #4, confirming tya1's assertion there will be three SoCon additions. Apparently collegesportsmadness.com is sweet on the SoCon top-4 overall, as the ETSU projection includes a reference to the elusive "A-word":

ETSU has had nothing but success under Steve Forbes, and an experienced roster like this gives the Buccaneers a chance at earning an auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2020.

[apaladin]

Every team has a chance for an auto bid. Gardner-Webb at #136. I assume we have to go there to return the home game from last year?

[apaladin]

#110 is next and still no FU. Think we make the top 100?

[soconjohn]

Four starters returning...What do you think?

[PaladinPower]

UNCG at 108

[apaladin]

Four starters returning...What do you think?

Think it will be close. That one starter loss was a biggie. Will we come in above WC?

[PaladinPower]

Realistically speaking, any preseason list that has WC above the other three is made by someone not watching the socon. WC loses their 2 best players, 2 other big men and their head coach. They may win some games, but should be on the outside looking in of the top 3. just my 2 cents.

[DungeonRealm]

Yep 2 more SoCon teams left that will be placed in top 106, should be FU and either Wofford or Samford, will be interesting to see how this poll shakes out

Samford will have a pretty good starting 5 next year with Sharkey, Gordon, Austin, Allen, Dupree
They might be a threat

[tya1]

They missed on ETSU's rating - they should have been higher. Jeromey Rodriquez, who averaged about 11 ppg and 11 rpg ( a top 10 rebounder in D1,) was going to leave a year early for a pro contract but changed his mind and will return. The Top 144 folks missed that return.

[raleigh fan]

Up to 100 and we still haven't been mentioned and only 2 SoCon teams left.

[DungeonRealm]

Paladins enter at #91
https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/17684

https://www.collegesportsmadness.com/me ... 4-previews

[DungeonRealm]

So guessing this thing has Wofford in top 90 ahead of us, they are way off on that if so, not only did Woff lose leading scorer, plus entire frontcourt and head coach/coaches, but they also lost their top 2 recruits. I am thinking Woff should be more in the 150 range next season, the SoCon will be prime for the Paladins to step up and take control

[soconjohn]

I am a little surprised they didn’t do more research...The only team I would have ahead of Furman is ETSU

[apaladin]

Interesting they are predicting a CBI/CIT bid for the 'dins.