ESPNs Way too early top-25

[Naturalhoosier 15,436]

Discuss

[Flash3 77]

That's pretty good really. I could see UofL being in there as well. I could see a reason to start Michigan State higher. I could see a reason to start Maryland and North Carolina both #1.

[HoosierD 504]

I think it's crazy to only have 4 B1G teams in there and to be fair Purdue got the shaft not being on the list.

[Josh 12,723]

Way too much Big 12 love.  They were massively overrated last year, and will be again this year.

[IndyHutch 1,718]

I like Eamonn Brennan and since he went to IU and I knew him when he was a student it has been fun to follow his career. 

 

And yes, it is too early but it's getting closer.

 

I think that's probably a fair spot for IU to be in and if the Hoosiers want to move up they will certainly have the kind of competition that could give them that jump with facing teams like Duke, Notre Dame, Creighton and whomever comes up in Maui, all in non-conference play.

 

My beef with the list is just something I've come to learn over the years and that's that you just can't count out Bo Ryan and Wisconsin. I don't care who they lost (and they did lose a lot). Give him his due. He's a great coach and he always has a team in contention. I feel the same way about Tom Izzo. And because of that any time I see a preseason poll that has them either toward the end or not in at all, it just makes me stop and take pause.

[Bobman1 2,909]

Way too much Big 12 love. They were massively overrated last year, and will be again this year.

Overrated every year. Kansas, Iowa State, and Oklahoma are the only three I actually consider top 25. I also think MSU should be a little higher.

[Flash3 77]

Way too much Big 12 love. They were massively overrated last year, and will be again this year.

I don't think they were overrated. The Big 12 was very good last year. But Kansas lost Alexander. Texas had Barnes as a coach. But I'm not going to judge them by what happened in a single elimination tournament. Matchups mean just too much. Iowa State ran into a big UAB team that hit the offensive glass and Iowa State didn't have answer to that. And things like that happen often and there's nothing that can be done.

[Banksyrules 4,908]

The only teams I fear are Wichita State and Virginia. They have great fundies.

[Flash3 77]

The only teams I fear are Wichita State and Virginia. They have great fundies.

it'll be interesting to see how they replace Cotton and Carter in the starting 5 but they bring back Van Vleet and Baker which is arguably the best starting back court in the nation.

[WilJos3390 284]

I think IU is in a good spot.  With the lofty expectations that will be set forth by the fan base, I think the middle of the top 25 is a good place to start.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,781]

I'm actually happy that we're not ranked higher.  Just seems to put too much pressure on the team too early in the season.  Prefer to perform well on the court and slowly move up as those above us falter.  If we start out highly ranked and stumble early then we plummet in the rankings and we all just start grumbling that much earlier in the season.

[Baltimore Hoosier 986]

I don't think the gap between MD and IU is that big.. Yogi dominated Tremble last season and should be able to do the same this season. MD also lost Dez Wells, who was by far the biggest playmaker on the team. Diamond Stone is a huge win but really, their roster doesn't really scare me. 

[HoosierTrav 7,900]

Way too much Big 12 love.  They were massively overrated last year, and will be again this year.

PREACH!!!!! I cant stand all of the B1G love. they've fallen flat on their face the last two years in the tournament. The B1G is the best conference.

[mdn82 25,546]

I don't think the gap between MD and IU is that big.. Yogi dominated Tremble last season and should be able to do the same this season. MD also lost Dez Wells, who was by far the biggest playmaker on the team. Diamond Stone is a huge win but really, their roster doesn't really scare me.

I think matchup wise they don't scare me as much as say Purdue. That said I think they win the B1G by 2 or 3 games

[Flash3 77]

I think matchup wise they don't scare me as much as say Purdue. That said I think they win the B1G by 2 or 3 games

Yea. And don't sleep on Trimble just because a Junior got him his freshman year. Trimble greatly reminds me of Trey Burke. And let's face it... Trey Burke his Sophomore was better than Yogi's Junior year.

[Banksyrules 4,908]

If UNC wins it all the NCAA is a farce organization.

[Brass Cannon 24,913]

If UNC wins it all the NCAA is a farce organization.

Well they are anyway but yes this would help the case.

[HoosierTrav 7,900]

  Although I believe its fair to favor Maryland in the B1G, I think this is going to end up a year where 3 teams share the title. The 2013 IU team was a much better team than this Maryland team IMO and they were 1 game better than Michigan. No way Maryland wins the league by 2-3 games. No chance. If that happens, I will cancel all of my social media accounts and disappear from the digital world forever. Thats a promise. Maryland is going to get exposed this year. I dont buy Melo Trimble as player of the year. He's not even the best PG in his league.  I dont buy Maryland as the best team in the nation. Purdue was snubbed.

[KB0 827]

I don't think the gap between MD and IU is that big.. Yogi dominated Tremble last season and should be able to do the same this season. MD also lost Dez Wells, who was by far the biggest playmaker on the team. Diamond Stone is a huge win but really, their roster doesn't really scare me. 

 

Wells was surely an important player; a veteran presence on and off the court, but he wasn't "by far their biggest playmaker." They bring back nearly everyone and add Stone, Sulaimon, and Robert Carter. That's a scary roster no matter who you are. 

[Flash3 77]

Wells was surely an important player; a veteran presence on and off the court, but he wasn't "by far their biggest playmaker." They bring back nearly everyone and add Stone, Sulaimon, and Robert Carter. That's a scary roster no matter who you are.

Trimble(6-2 SO), Nickens(6-2 SO), Layman (6-8 SR), Stone(6-10 FR). We can't just count them out. Trimble is already there with Yogi. He's just really good. Nickens is a good 3 point shooter with good height. Layman is a good SF. Carter is a big boy and Stone is a big boy and Top 10 recruit. Then they bring Sulaimon who is a very good defender and will step in and immediately be one of the best defenders in the B1G. They're going to be good.