2022-23 NCAA Men's Basketball Thread

[MU82]

The Athletic's "experts" predict Houston will win the national title, with Gonzaga close behind in the voting.

Other contenders: Baylor, UNC, Arkansas, Duke, Kentucky, Texas.

Here's what those picking Houston had to say:

The Cougars won 32 games last year. They made it to the Elite Eight, pushing Villanova to the brink. And they did that with Marcus Sasser playing all of 12 games. Now imagine what Houston can do with Sasser back, plus Jamal Shead, Tramon Marks, Reggie Chaney, plus two stud freshmen in Jarace Walker and Terrance Arceneaux? Oh, and Kelvin Sampson is still the coach. Gonzaga and Houston are the only two teams to rank in Ken Pomeroy's top 10 in offense in defense the last two years. Don't be surprised to see that matchup in the final this year. — Dana O'Neil

With a roster roiled by injuries to massively important players, all Houston did last year was finish in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, while winning 32 games and reaching the Elite Eight. What happens when Sampson works with a full cupboard? Because Sasser and Mark are back, joined by five-star freshman Walker. I'm taking a risk that the injury issues won't reoccur ... but what fun is making a safe pick anyway? — Brian Hamilton

This will be the toughest team in the country to play against. They're physical at the point of attack and all of their guys play with an exceptional motor. On top of that, they have the high-upside talent now with potential first-round picks in Sasser, Walker and Arceneaux. — Sam Vecenie

The Cougars are loaded; they have everything you need to win a national championship. They have big-game experience, with three star guards, a future potential lottery pick in Walker and are hard to prepare for in the way they defend/rebound. Bringing back Sasser, Mark, and Shead is huge, as they are arguably the best backcourt in the country. Lastly, they have an advantage that many haven't considered. They battled a ton of injuries a year ago and bring back the majority of their roster, meaning their reserves have big game experience along with depth. — Tobias Bass

Sampson's team is tough as nails and has arguably the best guard in the country coming back in Sasser. — Austin Meek

[panda]

Bold prediction - Houston is going to flirt with an undefeated record this year.

[lawdog77]

Bold Prediction: Houston wins National Championship, NCAA conducts an investigation. Houston ordered to pay $43 , and lose 3 recruiting days

[tower912]

Houston wins a championship and gets caught cheating?    Deja vu all over again.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Ahem

https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=63677.0

[MU82]

Damn, Wiz, I didn't remember that thread, and I even commented within it. So sorry.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Damn, Wiz, I didn't remember that thread, and I even commented within it. So sorry.

How dare you not keep track of every single thread and post of scoop. What could possibly be more important?

[MuggsyB]

I guess Baylor covered. 

[tower912]

Surprised Creighton able to hang with St. Thomas.

[tower912]

Shouldn't have mocked.

[PGsHeroes32]

TCU survives by 1 to Arkansas Pine bluff

35.5 point favorites

[MU82]

Crazy stuff, from The Athletic ... (the last line made me laugh)

Filed under "eye-popping": Hartford basketball coach John Gallagher resigned his post yesterday, just one day before the season began, citing a consistent and dangerous lack of support from the university. The final straw, the coach told The Athletic, was the university declining to send an athletic trainer to a recent road scrimmage, in which a player hurt his knee. This is a team that's supposed to play as a Division I independent this year. Not great, and now Jeff Saturday isn't available.

[panda]

Crazy stuff, from The Athletic ... (the last line made me laugh)

Filed under "eye-popping": Hartford basketball coach John Gallagher resigned his post yesterday, just one day before the season began, citing a consistent and dangerous lack of support from the university. The final straw, the coach told The Athletic, was the university declining to send an athletic trainer to a recent road scrimmage, in which a player hurt his knee. This is a team that's supposed to play as a Division I independent this year. Not great, and now Jeff Saturday isn't available.

They're dropping to d3 and didn't inform coaches before the decision. Seems like a move to show up the university.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Crazy stuff, from The Athletic ... (the last line made me laugh)

Filed under "eye-popping": Hartford basketball coach John Gallagher resigned his post yesterday, just one day before the season began, citing a consistent and dangerous lack of support from the university. The final straw, the coach told The Athletic, was the university declining to send an athletic trainer to a recent road scrimmage, in which a player hurt his knee. This is a team that's supposed to play as a Division I independent this year. Not great, and now Jeff Saturday isn't available.

The Coach is already suing the university I believe.

Lots of write-up on this in the Hartford Courant and New Haven Register.  Basically the UHart President decided he didn't like D1 athletics, and decided to drop to D3.  He commissioned an "economic review" of doing this that is universally agreed to be crap study that shows the university will save $13.5mil a year.  (Every other independent look at it says $800K to $1mil savings only.)   Oh, and they lost like their 5 biggest donors every year as a result to boot.

[MU82]

The Coach is already suing the university I believe.

Lots of write-up on this in the Hartford Courant and New Haven Register.  Basically the UHart President decided he didn't like D1 athletics, and decided to drop to D3.  He commissioned an "economic review" of doing this that is universally agreed to be crap study that shows the university will save $13.5mil a year.  (Every other independent look at it says $800K to $1mil savings only.)   Oh, and they lost like their 5 biggest donors every year as a result to boot.

Thanks for providing some context. Makes more sense now.

They're dropping to d3 and didn't inform coaches before the decision. Seems like a move to show up the university.

Thanks for providing an opinion that might have some -- or absolutely no -- basis in fact.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Thanks for providing some context. Makes more sense now.

Thanks for providing an opinion that might have some -- or absolutely no -- basis in fact.

The coach has been outspoken against this transition for awhile. I wouldn't doubt at all that he was looking for the right time to make such an announcement. How do you think the media received a copy of his resignation letter?

[Billy Hoyle]

They're dropping to d3 and didn't inform coaches before the decision. Seems like a move to show up the university.

They made the decision to drop down after the NCAA tourney game in 2021. Lawsuits to stop it were dismissed in December 2021. There was a year long process before making the formal decision in March 2022. Gallagher could have left well before yesterday.

https://www.hartford.edu/about/athletics-transition.aspx

https://www.hartford.edu/about/athletics-transition.aspx

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

They made the decision to drop down after the NCAA tourney game in 2021. Lawsuits to stop it were dismissed in December 2021. There was a year long process before making the formal decision in March 2022. Gallagher could have left well before yesterday.

https://www.hartford.edu/about/athletics-transition.aspx

https://www.hartford.edu/about/athletics-transition.aspx

He is alleging breach of contract due to the lack of a trainer at the road game and the lack of an ability to purchase meals on road trips.

[The Equalizer]

He is alleging breach of contract due to the lack of a trainer at the road game and the lack of an ability to purchase meals on road trips.

According to his own letter, the trainer incident happened about two weeks ago . . . and he knew in advance there would be no trainer available yet took the team on the trip anyway.

I'm not saying he's not justified in quitting, but waiting until the eve of the season opener makes it seem more like a PR stunt. If he were truly concerned about the lack of a trainer at the scrimmage, he should have canceled it out of player safety concerns and quit before the scheduled trip.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

According to his own letter, the trainer incident happened about two weeks ago . . . and he knew in advance there would be no trainer available yet took the team on the trip anyway.

I'm not saying he's not justified in quitting, but waiting until the eve of the season opener makes it seem more like a PR stunt. If he were truly concerned about the lack of a trainer at the scrimmage, he should have canceled it out of player safety concerns and quit before the scheduled trip.

PR stunt is a bit of a stretch, but yeah he was waiting for the right time to make his point and suggested as such above.

[MU82]

If he were truly concerned about the lack of a trainer at the scrimmage, he should have canceled it out of player safety concerns and quit before the scheduled trip.

That makes sense.

[Billy Hoyle]

Interesting times at Coppin State. The DOBO allegedly catfished then blackmailed a player and HC Juan Dixon didn't take action.

https://baltimorebrew.com/2022/11/07/former-player-sues-coppin-state-over-alleged-sexual-assault-and-blackmail-by-coach/

A Coppin State University assistant basketball coach catfished a player online into providing intimate photos and texts, then blackmailed him into videotaping a sexual encounter before publicizing the material when the player resisted further demands for sex, a lawsuit filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court alleges.

[Newsdreams]

Interesting times at Coppin State. The DOBO allegedly catfished then blackmailed a player and HC Juan Dixon didn't take action.

https://baltimorebrew.com/2022/11/07/former-player-sues-coppin-state-over-alleged-sexual-assault-and-blackmail-by-coach/

A Coppin State University assistant basketball coach catfished a player online into providing intimate photos and texts, then blackmailed him into videotaping a sexual encounter before publicizing the material when the player resisted further demands for sex, a lawsuit filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court alleges.

Coppin State to get NCAA death penalty

[Billy Hoyle]

Bellarmine is the king of Louisville, knocking off the Cards tonight. Not a good start for Kenny Payne. Only BU's third year in D1.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401485295

[JWags85]

Bellarmine is the king of Louisville, knocking off the Cards tonight. Not a good start for Kenny Payne. Only BU's third year in D1.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401485295

To be fair, Bellarmine is solid.  Top D2 program who competed in the ASun immediately. Won their conference tournament last year.  Louisville was only favored by like 7.  So that's a 4 pt spread on a neutral floor.

Fun fact, Bellarmine's home floor is Freedom Hall