bauman Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 While the main question in my mind regarding Billiken basketball right now is the hoped for word that Jacobs is on campus and taking courses, it is fun being able to anticipate an A-10 championship and NCAA bid this year. Other than that, real Billiken news is limited to player sightings on campus or a hoped for 2019 commitment. For some reason I decided to check the Top 144 listing last year both for us (#58) and for known 2018-19 opponents. When doing so I noticed that they started their countdown on 6/19/17. While we can debate the actual knowledge of the Top 144 writers it does provide an off-season source of information to generate discussion about college basketball. I remember last year some disagreement as it became apparent that either SLU or Richmond would get the last available A-10 slot. Since they are ready to start their Top 144 countdown I thought some of us might want to make an on-the-record prediction. If you are in St. Louis and attend Billiken games, I WILL BUY the closest predictor one of AB's finest at one of the games. No Price is Right rules here-just be the numerical closest. Tie breaker is the higher predictor, e.g.; if the Top 144 # is 43 and the two closest predictions are #42 and #44, then #42 wins. If there is still a tie after the previous example then the final tie breaker is whose number was locked in first. (limit is 2 winners after all tiebreakers with a coin flip the final determination of winner(s).) Predictions must be made NLT 9/1/18 or until the Bills appear in the ranking (whichever comes first) and only Board members as of today's date are eligible. I think the web site will notice our roster makeup and the predictions of people like Jon Rothstein. Side point, I think they will predict us to finish 2nd in the league. I'll start the bidding at #48. Predicted number may be changed up until 8/15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billikenfan05 Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Majerus Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 51...nobody predicts SLU in the top 50 unless we were there the year before. I no longer drink AB products but there are some fond memories there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bauman Posted June 16, 2018 Author Share Posted June 16, 2018 3 minutes ago, Major Majerus said: 51...nobody predicts SLU in the top 50 unless we were there the year before. I no longer drink AB products but there are some fond memories there. If you win, I'll be glad to substitute a soda and a dog! We'll see about your top 50 comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLUMedBilliken15 Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 122? Billiken Rich likes this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoSluBills Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 67 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlarry Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 61 They'll be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseman Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 It is always fun to see if or where we fall in this ranking. The only problem I have with it is that those doing the ranking rely too heavily on your previous finish and often down play your incoming players unless they are big names so they can be way off at times That being said it is still fun to watch the count down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMM28 Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 This is my least favorite thread of every offseason. crymdg2, majerus mojo, Box and Won and 1 other like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majerus mojo Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Worst thread of the year (76) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan Alum Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 89 I think SLU will have to prove it to the "experts"...plus, this is a pretty huge jump from where we finished last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianstl Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGB91 Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Gronks's predicting we are #69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Pelican Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 64 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moytoy12 Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsBeliever!!! Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 I’ll be an optimist and say we will be 34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bauman Posted June 16, 2018 Author Share Posted June 16, 2018 33 minutes ago, moytoy12 said: 48 Smart prediction. It seems I've seen that number before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillIkenFan_Dan Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 57 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbj14 Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 38 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIP HUMPS Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 82 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NextYearBill Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drkelsey55 Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 32 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Billiken Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 46 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slu72 Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 At a minimum, I think these guys do look at preseason conference analyses. Doubtful they go thru every team's roster of returnees and additions. Instead they rely on reports/blogs from conferences. It's usually easy for them to come up with the top 25-30 teams, hell, even us MBM'ers could do it. We know UK, KU, Duke, UNC, MSU, et al will be there come the end of the season. They can get this info from team websites as to who their top recruits are and ESPN's way too early top 25. As for the rest of the field here's what I figure they do, for purely hypothetical lets say Wofford comes in at 144. Yes, they may look at their record from last year and peruse who's returning and who's been added for about 25 minutes. But my guess is they've ranked the conferences based on last year's results or other rankings and deemed the SOCON, or whatever conference the Fighting Terriers play in, and deem it's somewhere near rock bottom. Wofford's picked to come in 2nd, again just hypothetical on my part, so they're the first team announced on the countdown clock. I do think the A10 is still a top 7-10 conference, so now they pay a little more attention to conference blogs and maybe analyze some of the transfers and incoming FR. For this reason, I've got them ranking us somewhere between 50-40. Split the middle and we come in at 45. If I win, Bauman, send me a Billikens window decal since I don't think I'm making it to STL this year. I'll have Broy give you the address. Or, if we make the dance and play in Louisville, Columbia, or Columbus you can buy me that A&B product, since Taj Mahal 79 will be covering all my single malts. Ice Billiken likes this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juniorbill76 Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 50 - nice even number Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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