The official Section 104 BIG EAST roundtable preview
Back in November, we previewed the Hoyas season and now that we're on the verge of conference play and the Hoyas just knocked off Syracuse, we're revisiting our predictions and making a few new ones for conference play, roundtable (WhatsApp thread) style. As is his style, Uncle Dad kicked us off in style.
UNCLE DAD
Random prediction that will be an "of course" either way - DePaul does not finish in last place this year.
SMUCKER
Hoyas finish above Villanova this year.
HAINESY
Oh baby now we're cooking.
UNCLE DAD
The Delusion Train is running with a 55 mph governor right now.
HAINESY
We find a way to beat Creighton on Wednesday, that shit is coming OFF.
MILLER LITE MIKE
20 wins
Quick interlude here: At this point in the chat, Hainesy, Niv, and Uncle Dad were together watching the two wretched Monday Night Football games and Uncle Dad was increasingly losing his mind at how truly awful his Bears are all over the field. After Miller Lite Mike predicted 20 wins, we had a serious conversation about the possibility of the Hoyas reaching 12 conference wins until Niv correctly pointed out that to reach 20 wins, the Hoyas only need to win 11 conference games since they still have Coppin State on the schedule. The point remains that this team has played well enough to this point in the season that the premise of 11 or 12 conference wins, however unlikely, isn't wholesale dismissed right away.
UNCLE DAD (after re-reading the original preview post at midnight after getting home from the bar)
That was such a great post. We are one win ahead of my pessimistic prediction. There was talk of 12 wins at an in-person gathering tonight. Whoa.
HAINESY (also at midnight after getting home from the bar)
That win against Syracuse should not count for as much as we (I) are feeling right now but also it validated some of the good shit we saw in the cupcake portion of the schedule, so we ride.
DAV
Standing on business with my 19 win prediction.
NIV
I feel fine on my number (15 wins) as well.
I also predict Smucker doesn't come to Indy. PROVE ME WRONG.
ED NOTE: We're doing our yearly in person road trip to see the Hoyas play Butler in Indianapolis this year.
SMUCKER
I mean as my parents are coming to Singapore and then we are going to New Zealand around then...probably correct.
HAINESY
NIV
Ok my prediction turned out correct where's my prize?
PATRICK
VINCI
I'm gonna increase my win total from 15 to 17. I had the 'Cuse game as a loss pre-season so picked up 1 there. Still think the Big East is going to be a bit of a slog, but think they can find 8 wins. Need to handle our business against SH and DePaul. Positively, feels like the middle of the conference may be more balanced this year (or at least Georgetown will be more competitive against the middle).
Georgetown will finish ahead of Providence in the Big East standings.
HAINESY
Niv, start the pool already.
ED NOTE: Each year, Niv runs a Big East picks pool for the thread. Everyone puts in $50 and we pick each Hoya game against the spread and Niv generally throws in a few more lines each week to give us more action (and more chance for separation). Hainesy and Dav split the pot last season.
NIV
I'm leaning against doing it. I liked when Uncle Dad tried to call a competition a "socialist collective." Uncle Dad, you're working off 3 keywords from 1982 and we gotta clean it up buddy.
ED NOTE: I inserted this section merely to call out that we did successfully bully Niv into running the pool again. Look out for updates and shaming to come.
PATRICK
16 wins for me. (This is up 3 wins from his original prediction of 13.)
"...so the rest of the group does not expect his picks until after the Creighton game in mid-December. Watch this space."
ED NOTE: I did write this. I own it, but I did it for the bit and I regret nothing.
Let it be known this occurred BEFORE the Creighton mid-December game.
SCHOPP
If I stick with 11-20 (lol) they have to go 3-12 the rest of the way.
DAV
Fun
SCHOPP
I will die on that hill. Give the newsletter a classic "sad ol' dumb guy" character.
PATRICK
Schopp is the governor on the delusion train.
SCHOPP
I can show you my current Ottoneu record if you need more dumb guy evidence.
MATTY
I'm sticking with my 16-15 prediction. They'll win 7 Big East games and beat Coppin State.
HAINESY
As I've previously mentioned in this space, I have a bet with Uncle Dad that the Hoyas will win 20 games. Now that they've won 8, I can't rightly back off of that position now. I'm sticking to 20 wins (11 Big East wins plus Coppin State) and I'm going a step further.
There are currently three GOOD Big East teams: Marquette (KenPom #9), St. John's (#12), and UConn (#13). From there, it's a big drop-off to Creighton (#41) and Villanova (#49) and beyond. Outside of those big three, I think the Hoyas can compete with any other of the messy middle of the conference and I think the Hoyas will:
a) finish #4 in the conference and;
b) ultimately be in contention to be one of the last 4 teams into the NCAA Tournament all the way up to Selection Sunday.
I realize this is a bold stance and nothing about the Hoyas non-conference resume screams "tournament team," but this team has shown fairly steady improvement to this point. They play a little more connected each game, the offensive sets get tighter and more varied, and the young guys continue to get more comfortable with the college game. The vibes are outstanding, the coaching staff seems to be gaining trust in the squad, and I think the Hoyas are absolutely going to shoot it better than they have to this point. They can compete with just about anyone in this league and they're more talented than they have been in years. Let's do this.
