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http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-basketball/2014/07/03/smu-basketball-5-early-predictions-for-the-2014-15-season/

sorry if already posted - article from July 3, 2014.

Thanks for sharing. The first and last predictions are terrible together though... They think SMU will win 30 games but can only manage to predict SMU makes it at least to the Round of 32? A 30 win season would have to include at least a Sweet 16 appearance and I think would require Elite 8 type results. We aren't going to just waltz through those AAC road games with Cinci, UConn and Memphis, plus the harder OOC games.

PonyFan32 wrote:Thanks for sharing. The first and last predictions are terrible together though... They think SMU will win 30 games but can only manage to predict SMU makes it at least to the Round of 32? A 30 win season would have to include at least a Sweet 16 appearance and I think would require Elite 8 type results. We aren't going to just waltz through those AAC road games with Cinci, UConn and Memphis, plus the harder OOC games.

Memphis will not be that good this year. You got conference tourney as well. The in conference schedule is not very tough this year so I don't think 30 wins is out of the question. It's the three big OOC away games that will get the Ponies to 30 or not imo.

OhioBrownFan wrote:

PonyFan32 wrote:Thanks for sharing. The first and last predictions are terrible together though... They think SMU will win 30 games but can only manage to predict SMU makes it at least to the Round of 32? A 30 win season would have to include at least a Sweet 16 appearance and I think would require Elite 8 type results. We aren't going to just waltz through those AAC road games with Cinci, UConn and Memphis, plus the harder OOC games.

Memphis will not be that good this year. You got conference tourney as well. The in conference schedule is not very tough this year so I don't think 30 wins is out of the question. It's the three big OOC away games that will get the Ponies to 30 or not imo.

Perhaps I was not very clear. I don't think 30 wins is out of the question either. I was merely pointing out that most 30 win teams don't just make it to the Round of 32. I think the predictor could have had a little more courage to match the NCAA Tourney prediction to the "30 win" prediction by predicting Sweet 16 or Elite 8. That fits more in line with a 30 win team to me.

OhioBrownFan wrote:Memphis will not be that good this year.

Not sure about that- they will be solid in the frontcourt with Goodwin and Nichols. Guards may be unproven but they had some studs in that 2013 class, not to mention Magee coming in this year. I think they'll be back in tourney this year without question

As always Memphis, Cinncinatti and UCONN will be tough and I wouldn't be surprised if Temple is much better this year. Also i wouldn't sleep on teams like Tulsa, Houston, and USF who could be surprising this year. With that said with the talent this team has if they are motivated, avoid decimation by injuries, and just aren't horribly off for a night while the other team is on fire I just don't see them losing a game at Moody this year that alone will get them close to 30 wins if we can just beat the second tier teams of the AAC on the road (we have 8 non-conference home games against relative cupcakes).

East Coast Mustang wrote:

OhioBrownFan wrote:Memphis will not be that good this year.

Not sure about that- they will be solid in the frontcourt with Goodwin and Nichols. Guards may be unproven but they had some studs in that 2013 class, not to mention Magee coming in this year. I think they'll be back in tourney this year without question

Not disagreeing, but they aren't top 20 team which is what I consider good. There not going to be near the same class as SMU or even Memphis teams of past years.

East Coast Mustang wrote:

OhioBrownFan wrote:Memphis will not be that good this year.

Not sure about that- they will be solid in the frontcourt with Goodwin and Nichols. Guards may be unproven but they had some studs in that 2013 class, not to mention Magee coming in this year. I think they'll be back in tourney this year without question

Goodwin and Nichols are solid, but there is no depth inside. Dominic Woodson, is the only other true Center/PF on the squad. He had 2.5 pts and 1.9 rebs in 6.8 min and was suspended twice during last season. He is about to be disciplined again for getting into a fight yesterday with a D-back half his size during study hall. Don't think they can count on him for a lot.

Deep teams like SMU will be able to throw bodies at Goodwin and Nichols until they wear out or foul out, then it's party time under the basket.

I think his predicition #4 is more stupid..."The redshirt junior has a great coach to continue to grow under and plenty of potential, so it isn't too far-fetched to believe that he'll fins himself on the AAC All-Conference team at the end of the season". No [deleted]. And considering the fact that he was All AAC last year would probably make you think there is a pretty good chance he makes it on it this season

It's pretty poorly done by someone pretty ignorant of SMU basketball. The thing that stands out is not the prediction that we'll be third in the AAC next year, which is a possibility, but the statement that we "nearly made the NCAA Tourney." We made the Dance but were screwed out of a seat. No mention either of the #18 ranking.

max the wonder dog wrote:

East Coast Mustang wrote:

OhioBrownFan wrote:Memphis will not be that good this year.

Not sure about that- they will be solid in the frontcourt with Goodwin and Nichols. Guards may be unproven but they had some studs in that 2013 class, not to mention Magee coming in this year. I think they'll be back in tourney this year without question

Goodwin and Nichols are solid, but there is no depth inside. Dominic Woodson, is the only other true Center/PF on the squad. He had 2.5 pts and 1.9 rebs in 6.8 min and was suspended twice during last season. He is about to be disciplined again for getting into a fight yesterday with a D-back half his size during study hall. Don't think they can count on him for a lot.

Deep teams like SMU will be able to throw bodies at Goodwin and Nichols until they wear out or foul out, then it's party time under the basket.

UPDATE: Latest news is that Woodson was not the aggressor in the fight. The 6'10" 290 pounder was reportedly taken down by 5'8" 170 pounder.