The Gang previews the 2024-25 Hoyas
Hot off the WhatsApp thread the members of Section 104 have submitted their projected win totals and some of us even included some thoughts on why that total.
As a prompt for this post I (Hainesy) sent the group a WhatsApp asking for everyone to send me a projected win total and (optionally) a blurb on why they chose that number. After getting crickets for 24 hours, I resent the prompt with the added detail that KenPom projects the Hoyas to go 16-15 including 7-13 in conference. The Hoyas start the season ranked 88th by KenPom.
UNCLE DAD
(Looks up how many games are in the season...)
I'll go with 13-18.
[SEVERAL HOURS LATER]
[NAME REDACTED] and I both float 13-18. I am now less confident in my prediction.
I did look at the schedule. I think my rationale was beating all the non-con cupcakes (8), sweeping DePaul (2), beating the two non-DePaul teams near us in the projections at home (2), and winning at Butler because we'll be there (1). Flawless logic.
NIV
Last year: 9-23, 2-18 in conference.
This year I think we can find 6 wins in conference. I'll put us at 15 wins.
SMUCKER
I'm going for 18-13 bubble watch based on vibes.
PATRICK
(Footage not found)
Editor's note: There was much prompting of Patrick to give us a number, but his model is apparently still calculating. He once showed up to a baseball game in the seventh inning though so the rest of the group does not expect his picks until after the Creighton game in mid-December. Watch this space.
13-18
DAV
19-12 YABO baby. Reclaiming my position as the baselessly optimistic but woefully uninformed GAMBLER in this wrecking crew.
SCHOPP
11-20. If we have a baselessly optimistic guy I feel the need to be the baselessly pessimistic guy for balance.
Editor's Note: Uncle Dad points out this is a 2 win improvement from last year and Dav gave it a fistpound emoji.
VINCI
I'll go 8-3 non-conference + 7-13 Big East = 15-16 total.
Hope these rumors of big scrimmage wins against MD and UVA are legit and there's upside here, but seeing is believing.
NEIL
17 wins.
MATTY
16-15
HAINESY
Listen, I'm out here on a delusi-optimistic limb but I think we do the damn thing and get to 20 wins. I have made two (admittedly late-night-at-a-bar) bets with other members of this wrecking crew both of which I will stick with here in writing publicly:
1) I have a bet with Uncle Dad that the Hoyas will go over 19.5 wins (i.e. 20).
2) I have a bet with Niv that at some point this season your Georgetown Hoyas will appear as a "Lock," "Should be In," or "Work to Do" (i.e. a team actually under consideration) in a Bubble Watch column this season. It must come from ESPN, CBS, Fox Sports, or Eamonn Brennan at The Buzzer.
I'm sticking to my guns. Ed Cooley is a much better coach than he showed last season and this is a better team than last season. The players are better and they fit better together. The late-cycle center additions are going to fundamentally change their defensive upside (which was severely limited by their front court size last season).
I really believe this funk has to end soon with Cooley in charge and I think this is the season the turnaround really begins.