October has arrived which means basketball season has arrived. Thought I’d get a jump on the upcoming season predictions. The transfer portal has made this task almost impossible, but it’s something fun to do nonetheless. As in past years I will tier the teams that I think have the best chances in upcoming season.
Tier 1. Teams with legit shot to win conference
1. Mankato. Lost a lot, but returning national champions get number 1 seed regardless. Loads of talent on this year’s roster as well.
2. Moorhead. Starting 5 should be able to complete with anyone in country. What will the Msum bench look like? How will transfers mesh with returning players. If Msum is able to knock down some 3s they will win a lot of games.
3. Duluth. Weick has built a legitimate program in UMD. Duluth has plenty of veterans on roster to threaten top of conference again this season.
Tier 2. Teams with enough talent to win a lot of games.
4. SMSU. Bigler has plenty of returning talent with nice mix of size and backcourt talent. As with most teams in modern basketball eara, can SMSU hit 3s to balance out their offense?
5. Augie. The new coaching staff appears to have done a good job of assembling talent in short order. Will all the new pieces come together in short order? Wouldn’t be surprised if they do.
Tier 3. Need everything to come together to threaten a regional bid.
6. Bemidji. Sutherland will likely be an all American candidate. Does he have enough help around him?
7. Northern. All kinds of new faces on this team. As usual Nsu has a lot of length. Seems like this team may need a year of two before they get back to their winning ways.
8. CSP. May have one of the better scoring back courts in the league. Can they defend and rebound?
Tier 4. Rebuilding process in motion
9. Wayne. Some solid returning veterans may make this selection too low.
10. Minot. Same as Wayne above.
11. Winona. Lost too much from last year’s team to pick much higher at this point.
12. USF. They have struggled to score in past. Did they find some scorers in the off season?
13. St. Cloud. Essentially no upperclassmen so expect more growing pains this season.
14. Umary. Almost an entire new team. No clue what that means here.
Tier 5.
15. Crookston. Until they win a bit they will be stuck here.
Tier 1. Teams with legit shot to win conference
1. Mankato. Lost a lot, but returning national champions get number 1 seed regardless. Loads of talent on this year’s roster as well.
2. Moorhead. Starting 5 should be able to complete with anyone in country. What will the Msum bench look like? How will transfers mesh with returning players. If Msum is able to knock down some 3s they will win a lot of games.
3. Duluth. Weick has built a legitimate program in UMD. Duluth has plenty of veterans on roster to threaten top of conference again this season.
Tier 2. Teams with enough talent to win a lot of games.
4. SMSU. Bigler has plenty of returning talent with nice mix of size and backcourt talent. As with most teams in modern basketball eara, can SMSU hit 3s to balance out their offense?
5. Augie. The new coaching staff appears to have done a good job of assembling talent in short order. Will all the new pieces come together in short order? Wouldn’t be surprised if they do.
Tier 3. Need everything to come together to threaten a regional bid.
6. Bemidji. Sutherland will likely be an all American candidate. Does he have enough help around him?
7. Northern. All kinds of new faces on this team. As usual Nsu has a lot of length. Seems like this team may need a year of two before they get back to their winning ways.
8. CSP. May have one of the better scoring back courts in the league. Can they defend and rebound?
Tier 4. Rebuilding process in motion
9. Wayne. Some solid returning veterans may make this selection too low.
10. Minot. Same as Wayne above.
11. Winona. Lost too much from last year’s team to pick much higher at this point.
12. USF. They have struggled to score in past. Did they find some scorers in the off season?
13. St. Cloud. Essentially no upperclassmen so expect more growing pains this season.
14. Umary. Almost an entire new team. No clue what that means here.
Tier 5.
15. Crookston. Until they win a bit they will be stuck here.
Comment