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Post by ironlions on Mar 17, 2009 11:27:22 GMT -5
LMU2008- Have you seen Viney, Davis and Garibay play? If we have a full health roster next year and end up 5th or 6th next year I will flog myself.
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Post by zagsfanforlife on Mar 17, 2009 12:39:47 GMT -5
I dont know about 5th or 6th either. I think 3rd or 4th is definitely reasonable though.
Gonzaga and Portland will both vie for the top spot next year. Portland finished third this year and returns its full squad. Gonzaga returns Daye, Bouldin, Gray, Goodson, Sacre, Foster, Gibbs, and has a solid recruiting class coming in.
Santa Clara will also be tough. Yes they do lose Big John but Rahon, Foster, and Trassolini are all back. Mix that with a supposedly stellar recruiting class, and that team has options to work with.
Finally, do not discount St Mary's. If Mills does return a Mills/ Samham combo will be one of the best in the nation. A few others return from their tough team this year along with a new group of Australians being imported to Moraga.
I can see LMU finishing anywhere between 3-5 depending on how well they gel together over the summer and whether or not Patty Mills returns. Regardless, things are definitely looking up in Westchester. P.S. Viney will be an absolute stud.
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Post by ADG'99 on Mar 17, 2009 17:22:50 GMT -5
With the way the WCC Tournament is set up, you don't play consistently to the level of Gonzaga, you just have to beat them 1/3 of the time you play them, given that the one comes in the Tournament. Finishing 4th rather than 5th in conference play is HUGE and finishing 2nd rather than 3rd is even HUGER. We don't have to be-- and possibly can't be-- Boston College, Marquette, Gonzaga, or St. Joseph's, but we can, VERY REALISTICALLY, be San Diego, Pepperdine, Santa Clara, or St. Mary.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Mar 17, 2009 20:27:03 GMT -5
Hi LMU2008 wrschenshizzle - hmmm, I like that name, easier to pronounce than my real one! Drunk you say - hey I resemble that remark. You make some good points. Gonzaga's bench players were outstanding recruits and the stats don't tell the whole story. In 2008, four of their 2007 and 2008 recruits rated in the 90s on scouting reports - Daye was a 97 - and the other two were 87 and 89. So a strong starting team prevented them from getting minutes to score - unlike our situation with our three freshman. On better teams, stats for DuBois, Young, and Armstead wouldn't look as good due to their extended playing time. I still think we'll be in the top 4 teams in WCC, maybe higher, and have a shot at NCAA with a good WCC tournament outcome. I won't be disappointed if we don't place near the top but will enjoy rooting for the team while they try. And so long as we are showing progress as the season goes along, I will be happy. Zags fan - maybe I am setting records but it will taper off. I am new to this. ALso, I admit that I am bummed when I visit my sports sites (including LMU Mens Basketball) and find absolutely nothing new. I will have to go into reverse hibernations during the summer and await news in the fall!
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Post by fanblade on Mar 17, 2009 20:37:04 GMT -5
for posting! Posts makes LMU athletics' online community active and grow. If no one would post then you all will be subjected to me posting non-stop about women's soccer or club badminton. to all contributing members.
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Post by LIONS90045 on Mar 17, 2009 20:41:19 GMT -5
Ok, Ok, will rethink the hibernation thing!
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Post by zagsfanforlife on Mar 17, 2009 21:22:15 GMT -5
No, i have nothing against you posting. This is fun. I enjoy posting too. Just making an observation. Just like you were questioning my fanhood
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Post by LIONS90045 on Mar 18, 2009 21:22:29 GMT -5
No problem Zags! Keep up the dialogue. I am now adicted!
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Post by slblions08 on Mar 19, 2009 21:25:50 GMT -5
The Lions need to establish a clear rotation before they can think about tourney.
So use this hypothetical
PG Dubois/Kalipinde SG Teel/Armstead SF Young/Davis PF Viney/Hamilton C Garibay/Deidrichs
thats a rotation that is literally 10 deep. That bench would be better than most of our starting 5 line ups that we threw out this year. the starting 5 should be able to put it down offensively, while the bench could bring the defense with Davis and Kapilinde being the X factor..we dont know how good he can be. we would still be weak in the paint, but better on the midrange.
In terms of the rest of the WCC you got Gonzaga first who will lose some key players like pargo, heyvelt, maybe austin daye if he wants to go the draft but WCC has downs, boldin, goodman the frosh, so the 'Zags will be top of the conference.
After that its all up in the air. Diamon Simpson is a senior, patty mills probably goes to the draft so SMC might be a little weak. San Diego gets Johnson back but they're having issues. Portland is a sleeper pick I think, they might be the next SMC. San Fran is getting good talent. Santa Clara is also good but John Bryant is leaving..here is how i see it
1. Gonzaga 13-3 2. Portland 11-5 3. St. Mary's ( If Mills comes back they are up to 2) 9-7 4. Santa Clara 8-8 5. LMU 7-9 6. San Diego 7-9 7. San Francisco 5-11 8. Pepperdine 2-14
two years ago WCC had a great RPI which is how the WCC got 3 teams in because of key victories in non conference.
in two years tho, St. Mary's loses their players, Santa Clara also loses some players, Portland cant hang forever, LMU can make a move
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