Comments on: 2007 Preseason NIT preview

By: Eastside Fan

Eastside Fan — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:21:55 +0000

We will see how it performs these two seasons with 6 rookies in the rotation….

Surprisingly though, the RPI looks decent after it lost to 3 sub-100 RPI teams (as of 15Nov2007 ET) at 149…… It is an increase of 182 position over lost season’s RPI….

It would be another battle against a sub-100 team (Vermont – the defending Amercica East Champion) when 1 day before Washington takes on Texas A&M…

I am just waiting to see how they would fare this time at home after the good exposure in the West and another 5-6 days of free-time ….

By: Hilliard is not playing

Hilliard is not playing — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:54:48 +0000

He is not playing early and I have no idea why. Martelli proved he doesn’t mind playing freshman and I just kept hearing and reading that this kid would be a difference maker.
I admit I was wrong about Washington’s 100+ points but NJIT is still bad.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:21:09 +0000

Did Idris Hilliard even play against Syracuse? And although TO’s are a major problem for the Cuse, all 5 of there starters are averaging over 14 points and Paul Harris is averaging a double double. We gonna be a favorite upset pick all year, but beware of how good this Cuse team can be.

By: Eastside Fan

Eastside Fan — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:55:31 +0000

Well, NJIT lost by 41 points against Washington, fielding 6 rookies in the rotation including starting point guard and shooting guard.

Washington scored only 88 points….despite NJIT turning over 29 times, being out-rebounded by 26 balls (probably because of Brockman’s presence) and shooting 2-13 from the FT line…

D1 teams aren’t that bad….they are not D3 teams….. sometimes…it is just the D1 college exposure that the the rookies need… Washington played mostly with experienced players….

By: Matthew Stevens

Matthew Stevens — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 06:35:28 +0000

First of all, yippee the Cuse won the game but they were down by as much as 12 and had to hit a three-pointer with 5.3 seconds to win it. Trust me, if the Orange had won by 20 and St. Joe’s not looked like a solid upset pick candidate the whole night I’d be the first to say hey, got that one wrong. However, I went out on a limb and pick an upset that was 5.3 seconds away from happening so I’d say I still have some credibility left in me. St. Joe’s was clearly worthy of a upset pick and quite frankly, if St. Joe’s wins that game, I would’ve received many ‘you got lucky’ messages. So it’s a lose-lose when you pick upsets.
Secondly, AGAIN WITH THE DEFENDING OF SYRACUSE’S SCHEDULE. Yeah, a lot of teams do put a cupcake schedule together but listen to David and everybody else when it comes to the Cuse. Boeheim was given a CLEAR SIGNAL the the schedule hurt him last year when HIS TEAM WAS LEFT OUT OF THE FIELD! I don’t know how to make this any clearer to those who defend this schedule. Look, they had plenty of chances to play quality teams away from New York. How about the Big East-SEC Challenge, why isn’t the Orange in that? I could make this argument for months and trust me it’ll hurt them come March, watch.

By: Christopher Mackinder

Christopher Mackinder — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:59:38 +0000

It might just be me but the Ohio State-Syracuse semifinal looks to be the best game in the tournament. The Buckeyes lost a lot but how many years have we heard the names Lighty Butler, Terwiliger and Hunter? Plus the Buckeyes have a lethal assissan in Kosta Koufos. Ohio State could win the preseason NIT en route to a third straight Big Ten title. I wouldn’t be shocked.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:49:32 +0000

Nice (UPSET) pick Matt – Also, many highly ranked teams each year do not leave thier home state more than a couple of times before the first of the year.

By: Matthew Stevens

Matthew Stevens — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:35:19 +0000

Just to clarify, I think Washington will SCORE 100+ not WIN BY 100+. Thought I’d make that poiint after the previous post was made. I also don’t happen to think NJIT is very good and yes, the 29-point performance against Manhattan is part of that point.

By: Eastside Fan

Eastside Fan — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:30:26 +0000

I do not think Washington is that good to win by 100+ against NJIT without their last season’s 7-ft center and with Apple out… No doubt, NJIT had their unexpected 1st big-margin loss this season (earlier on) against Manhattan which that they beat last season, but I seriously doubt the high scoring ability of the Huskies….I think the NJIT 6+ newbies had their 1st exposure few days ago and would be more ready in Washington…. we will find out in a few hours time….

By: David Mihm

David Mihm — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:26:40 +0000

This year’s PNIT indeed lacks some of the potency it’s carried in past years, but an A&M – UW semifinal is awfully enticing, and I’m looking forward to seeing Jonny Flynn & Dante Greene for the first time in MSG (unlike Matthew, I think Cuse WILL get the job done in the C-Dome).

@Jason, Matt’s point is still valid despite his hyperbole. Boeheim was sent a clear message by the Selection Committee last year to schedule up. It’s fine if he’s got Carmelo & is going to win enough Big East games to get a high seed, but another 10-6 / 9-7 league finish is going to leave the Orange on the bubble once again…