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Post by fanblade on Oct 26, 2009 14:21:31 GMT -5
More Blue Ribbon Analysis insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insider/news/story?id=4536590BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: C+ BENCH/DEPTH: C- FRONTCOURT: B INTANGIBLES: B- With no seniors on the roster, the Lions will be young, but their sophomores and juniors are already seasoned and ready to put the memory of a three-win season behind them. Don't expect a big leap forward just yet, but this has the makings of a season when, viewed in retrospect, LMU's return to glory took its first steps. |
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Post by smc4 on Oct 26, 2009 16:06:59 GMT -5
That link had some really good analysis. "LMU's return to glory," I'll take that!
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Post by LIONS90045 on Oct 26, 2009 21:59:13 GMT -5
Nice article fanblade THANKS!  Finally, we have an article by someone who knows what he is talking about! A fair analysis and doesn't build overly optimistic expectations for the season - like ironlions, I like that position! ;D Some nice quotes from Max also. Perhaps he willl be more relaxed from the bench this year!  |
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Post by maroonzag22 on Oct 27, 2009 13:42:17 GMT -5
So to be fair...I personally wouldn't rank LMU in the top four of the WCC (yet). The reason for this is simple, everyone who makes preseason predictions needs to draw off of two things. 1) How well the team/players did last year and 2) How many of those players return and how much have they improved? Last year, LMU didn't do so well, but that is not surprising as the majority of the team (especially starters) were freshman and sophomores with little to no experience. They now have the experience, and I believe that it will help them a lot. But I still wouldn't pick LMU higher than 6 maybe even 5 in the conference because I can't really tell how much your team has improved over the summer. Would I be at all surprised if they end the season in the top 4? No. But until everyone actually has a chance to see your squad in action, it will be hard to judge. I do have to say that I will be pulling for you in all of your OOC games and hope your team has an amazing season. I think you have the talent, hopefully you also have the experience now.
MaroonZags WCC prediction:
1. Portland
2. Gonzaga
3. St. Mary's
4. USD
5/6: SCU and LMU
7: USF
8: Pepperdine
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Post by zagsfanforlife on Oct 27, 2009 16:14:20 GMT -5
While you could be correct maroon, your basis for a preseason ranking does not include the fact that LMU has two transfers coming in that are better than any other transfer in the WCC. Also, you can not predict this year based on last years ranking because for most of the year, three of the players who will get significant minutes this year, ie Teel Diedrichs and Hamilton, did not play much at all. Viney and Davis combined with the contributions of these players will surprise lots of teams in the WCC. Agree that Portland, Zags and Saint Marys will be top three, but I truely believe that LMU has the firepower to finish ahead of San Diego. All i see from San Diego is Johnson and Mafra. Other than that, when I look at their roster it looks pretty bleak to me. I would take LMUs roster over USDs every day and twice on Sunday. The depth is there, the talent is there, the only thing holding these kids back is inexperience playing together. If they can gel early, they will finish top 5 no doubt in my mind.
Any word on who will redshirt.. i heard some mention of lawson redshirting, but i dont think it was ever confirmed.
Also, we have discussed it before, but does anyone have any other information about who they believe the starting five will be
I am in Prague and Vienna and then London for the start of the season till December 20th but I am excitedly anticipating coming home and seeing the lions play. I expect some good updates on the board recapping each game... ironlions, fanblade and wrshnicke please help me out.......
p.s. where is lionspride... and i really miss the cagedlionsgirl.... can I please get a shotout from her
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Post by zagsfanforlife on Oct 27, 2009 16:18:02 GMT -5
Also, the blue ribbon analysis has got to get everyone of you pumped. LMUs return to glory mention, Watch stompin Max comparing players to Xavier McDaniel, one of the best college players of the past 20 years, and even a Scottie Pippen comparison. I mean if that does not get you excited about the future of LMU basketball, I dont know what will.
Max has extreme confidence in this team as displayed by those quotes. Any team that is going to succeed needs a confident leader. I am glad Max is on LMUs side.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Oct 27, 2009 21:21:29 GMT -5
Zagsfan - nice comments and I will post my observations following each game next season (even if I'm observing on the radio) - have fun in Europe! ;D I think you are correct about the team needing to gel and gel early. We have a competitive opening tournament and will be tested. If we can do better than expectations here (vs Boise State, North Dakota and Montana), we will be 3-1 (or 4-0) to start the season (assuming we beat UC Irvine at Gersten) and that will boost the team's confidence.  Some later pre-WCC games will give the guys great experience even if they don't prevail - like Notre Dame in South Bend with Harangody back for his Senior season, Tulsa at Tulsa, Wyoming at Wyoming and USC at the Galen Center (we might upset them here as they are recovering from a shake up in men's BB). The key to a successful season is (1) gel early and (2) develop a confidence in winning each game. In our wins last year, we were scrambling to hang on at the end of the games, a reflection of our losing record.  Confidence, confidence, confidence - let's go Lions!  ;D |
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Post by rowdylion on Oct 28, 2009 15:04:28 GMT -5
maroonzag, I see you put Portland at #1. I am not sold on Portland's rise. I know they had 20 wins but they didn't have a particularly hard schedule and the quality of the WCC from top to bottom last year was weak. It is improved this year across all the teams. They could be number one but NO way imo a lock for the top 2 spots. I could easily see them fall to #3 even 4. This is going to be a fun season. A lot of parity and new faces.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Oct 28, 2009 21:06:15 GMT -5
maroonzag - no way Portland will beat out Gonzaga this year. Gonzaga has too much talent from redshirts and recruits - three outstanding impact freshmen from Canada - plus a strong returning core with Bouldin leading the team. Besides, we will beat out Portland for the #2 slot! (Wishful thinking.) Are you a Zag's fan with that moniker?
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Post by LIONS90045 on Oct 28, 2009 21:24:23 GMT -5
The new Gonzaga players include Arop, Olynyk (two terrors of last summers U19 FIBA tournament in New Zealand), Kong (already a whole legend in himself - maybe the best recruit who enters as a Sophomore status wise), Dower (6'11", 230 lb center from Minnesota) and Vilarino (6'0" point guard, who previously was a Kentucky commit). Red shirts are Gibbs - 6'5", 175 lb PG rated 89 and Poling - 6'10", 190 lb PF rated 87. Nice to be able to let these fellows mature on the bench. These alone are a handful. As someone said, "Gonzaga doesn't rebuilt, they just reload." Hopefully, we here in our great LA location will be up there soon also. Go Lions! |
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Post by lmumbbfan on Oct 28, 2009 22:25:47 GMT -5
I feel we have better back court players than Portland.And we are just another true big man to bag down low away from being really better than Portland.
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Post by maroonzag22 on Oct 29, 2009 23:26:37 GMT -5
First...I agree that it is possible that UP could end up at 3, 4, or 5 in the conference. But I think that they will be a very competitive team. Especially when you consider the fact that they were one of the three teams from the WCC last year that saw any post season tourney, and the other two lost very valuable players. As a result, I feel that Portland is the only team in the WCC with a roster loaded with EXPERIENCE. Yes, wrschnicke, Gonzaga did a great job of reloading and I am sure that we will have a great season and I feel that by the time we get to WCC our freshman will have the experience that will make them better players. But I also realize that our roster has seven FRESHMAN. The one thing I know about freshman is this, they make freshman mistakes, and with seven of them on the bench, those mistakes can add up quickly and cost you games that you should win. So in response to your question....I am a Zag fan, just graduated from that amazing university last year, but I am also realistic and realize that if there was ever a year for GU to lose its first place standing in the conference, this could be it. And finally, I agree that LMU probably has a great amount of talent on their roster, but if I had to choose talent or experience, I would take experience! Like my high school football coach said "Potential means nothing, it's performance that matters!"
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Post by LIONS90045 on Oct 30, 2009 12:06:27 GMT -5
maroonzag - thoughtful remarks - thanks. You make a good point about freshmen players.
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Post by lambdachi1988lion on Nov 24, 2009 1:07:20 GMT -5
My updated thoughts on the end of the year WCC Standings:
1. Gonzaga
2. Saint Mary's
3. Portland
4. LMU
5. San Diego
6. San Francisco
7. Santa Clara
8. Pepperdine
I feel pretty good about those choices.
Go Lions
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Post by dedicatedlionfan on Nov 27, 2009 12:02:06 GMT -5
I dunno after Portland demolished UCLA I think they move to number 2 and maybe even number 1?!
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