Dave Reynolds' preseason picks

[Old Coach]

I'm not so sure. I've seen a number of people talking about how much talent this team doesn't have, coming off a last place finish. In other words, I'm guessing those people will give all of the credit to the head coach if the team "overachieves". I'm just wondering if they would be so accepting of criticism of the new head coach if we finish last again, with or without injuries. I'm guessing not.

Count me among those who see this as a season of little relevance with regards to where the team finishes. I just don't think there is enough talent for this team to be among the top 6 or 7 in the league.

[Braves4Life]

I'm guessing those people will give all of the credit to the head coach if the team "overachieves". I'm just wondering if they would be so accepting of criticism of the new head coach if we finish last again, with or without injuries. I'm guessing not.

I will give Geno tons of credit if BU finishes top half; I think they have a shot. Likewise, if I see the team consistently exhibit poor fundamentals, run a predictable offense and defense, see poor timeouts and substitution patterns, and if Geno gets poorly timed technicals I will be all over him faster than Walt Lemon moves.

[Buesch N Chips]

Count me among those who see this as a season of little relevance with regards to where the team finishes.

Did you feel that way last year with two starters out for the season?

[Interested Observer]

Did you feel that way last year with two starters out for the season?

There's a huge difference in expectations between a coach in year 9 and a coach in year 1 regardless of injuries.

[Old Coach]

Did you feel that way last year with two starters out for the season?

Specific to last year, I didn't think the team was good enough to compete at a high level even with the full roster. I was of the mind that things had kind of run the course with Jim and it was time for a change. When neither the President nor the AD hired you, there is typically an expiration date.

[Buesch N Chips]

Specific to last year, I didn't think the team was good enough to compete at a high level even with the full roster. I was of the mind that things had kind of run the course with Jim and it was time for a change. When neither the President nor the AD hired you, there is typically an expiration date.

I don't disagree.

[Buesch N Chips]

There's a huge difference in expectations between a coach in year 9 and a coach in year 1 regardless of injuries.

Valid point, but I disagree that a new coach has a more negative impact than two starters out.

[real fan]

There are so many variables in picking what order the Valley teams will finish in this season, Creighton is the favorite but I would not say they are a shoe in, I like Bradleys first 7 players and if they stay healthy I think they can finish anywhere from 3rd to 6th, injuries will be the key in that if our top 7 stay healthy we will be better then most predict. I would like to think that better coaching will be worth a lot more home wins where we have blown so many games in the past several seasons.

[basketball nut]

There are so many variables in picking what order the Valley teams will finish in this season, Creighton is the favorite but I would not say they are a shoe in, I like Bradleys first 7 players and if they stay healthy I think they can finish anywhere from 3rd to 6th, injuries will be the key in that if our top 7 stay healthy we will be better then most predict. I would like to think that better coaching will be worth a lot more home wins where we have blown so many games in the past several seasons.

Great assessment of where the season is at before it begins. No offense to JL but watching the R/W the other night showed me a difference in playing style. I really think we will be competative in most of our games and w/ the early games we have I am sure GF will have a very good idea what this team will be able to achieve in conf. play. I see more talent then what some are giving credit for and it is really up to this coaching staff to get the players use the talent they have. I realize that the R/W is just a scrimage among themselves but I seen some very interesting things like a very relaxed AT & MK and a set of very quick guards as long as they get them to play w/i their means. Also a player that if he plays like he did the other night might be the difference maker for this team in SS. If this team gels by conf. time I could see them winning 6-10 games in the conf and that should get them somewhere between 5-7 in the conf.

[LittleBrave]

I will give Geno tons of credit if BU finishes top half; I think they have a shot. Likewise, if I see the team consistently exhibit poor fundamentals, run a predictable offense and defense, see poor timeouts and substitution patterns, and if Geno gets poorly timed technicals I will be all over him faster than Walt Lemon moves.

Once again, we are thinking alike B4L.
Now the description you mentioned above - that sounds a little too familiar.

Whether we think BU will finish 5th or 9th this season, we should all have higher expectations than 9th, especially since our new coach is among the top-salary coaches in the league, and is expected to deliver Valley Championships or at least contend in the near future. 9th is unacceptable, and would make me think that next year would be another rebuilding year. Why would we suddenly make a jump to the middle of the pack the year after?

People keep referring to the last year's Braves as a last place team, but don't set apart the final 10 games as how we were capable of playing. It was no fluke that we had a winning record over that span, and it wasn't all AW. There may be some holes in some positions, but not a lack of talent overall. We should expect Geno to work with AT, MK, JE who we know are capable of playing key roles - resulting in a deeper bench. We'll see what happens in these exhibition games.

[LittleBrave]

Did I miss something, or did DR totally diss Jake Odum, not even picking him in the Top 11 Valley players.
I know that ISU (blue) fans would NOT be happy, as most feel that Jake should be considered as the Valley POY, or at least one of the top 3 in the league.

[shaunguth]

Did I miss something, or did DR totally diss Jake Odum, not even picking him in the Top 11 Valley players.
I know that ISU (blue) fans would NOT be happy, as most feel that Jake should be considered as the Valley POY, or at least one of the top 3 in the league.

Not a big deal......one "expert" didn't have TB in the top 20 players in the conference. Gonna be a long season if that's the case!

[amckillip]

I think Dave is spot on.

...

Unless somebody steps up big time at PG and backups at the 4 and 5 emerge, BU will probably be 7th-9th. I would have picked ISU higher over the summer, but reports from practice about their freshmen haven't been very positive, so I think their weak backcourt will drive them down to 8th or 9th.

If SIU doesn't finish last, it will be a shock.

Then again, almost every single year, a preseason top 3 team plays on Friday, and a bottom-dweller is in the top 4.

PTown, I don't think we've ever agreed as much as we do on this. I agree with everything you have posted here, to the T.

[Old Coach]

We should expect Geno to work with AT, MK, JE who we know are capable of playing key roles - resulting in a deeper bench.

Here is the disconnect for me. I don't believe these guys are capable of playing "key" roles on a winning team. I don't think Milos and AT would play much at all on a good team, and Jake would likely be an average role player. My expectations of Geno are for him to recruit better players.

[Braves4Life]

Whether we think BU will finish 5th or 9th this season, we should all have higher expectations than 9th, especially since our new coach is among the top-salary coaches in the league, and is expected to deliver Valley Championships or at least contend in the near future.

Great point! And let's not forget how Geno fared at KSU with an entirely new group of players. Geno has always had a winning record (save for one year at a small school where he was one game under .500) and I expect the same thing here at BU.