2024-2025 Season Prediction Thread

[TheA_Bomb]

Are you guzzling blue Kool-Aid or suffering from Post #TeamBlue Stress Disorder? What's your prediction on the season? 

[OkieBilliken]

20 wins = successful season is what I have been told.   But seriously I just want a team that is fun to watch again.   The last few seasons even when we won, we were hard to watch.  A creative, cohesive offense with skilled shooters should be a blast.

Anyone else a bit disappointed in the crowd size for the exhibitions?   I cant blame the media at all.  This team has received a tremendous amount of well-deserved hype.  From the pictures and videos, it looks like they were playing at a mostly empty arena.   I cant point fingers because I live out of state, but man it would be nice to fill that barn up.  

 

 

 

[gobillsgo]

An at large is obviously the goal, but with our schedule limitations, that may be tough to accomplish barring a near-perfect non-con slate or great improvement from the rest of the conference (I never count on that).  I do think potential wise, this team’s is higher than almost any team I can remember.  With our Big 3, if even 2 of Anya, Dotzler, Kobe, Brockhoff, Casey, Thames can prove to be above average A10 players, we could really be cooking with fire. 
 

As far as an official prediction, I have us at 9-2 OOC (D1 games only) and 14-4 in conference for 23-6 overall.  Two wins in DC and a loss in the final puts us at 25-7, and probably sweating on selection Sunday, depending on the strength of the A10.  

[gobillsgo]

23 minutes ago, OkieBilliken said:

20 wins = successful season is what I have been told.   But seriously I just want a team that is fun to watch again.   The last few seasons even when we won, we were hard to watch.  A creative, cohesive offense with skilled shooters should be a blast.

Anyone else a bit disappointed in the crowd size for the exhibitions?   I cant blame the media at all.  This team has received a tremendous amount of well-deserved hype.  From the pictures and videos, it looks like they were playing at a mostly empty arena.   I cant point fingers because I live out of state, but man it would be nice to fill that barn up.  

 

 

 

Re: crowd size, was discussing this at the game the other day.  We have no good grace built up with the casual St Louis sports fan based on the last few seasons.  And unfortunately no big OOC games that move the needle for casual fans. It’ll probably take starting at least 4-0 for some buzz to turn into ticket sales. If we can somehow sneak into the top 25 (unlikely considering our current votes are from one guy) that’s usually good for pulling in bigger crowds as well. 

[Old guy]

I have no Crystal ball, but I have high expectations for Schertz. All I really want for  this season is to see the Bills win.

[ACE]

47 minutes ago, gobillsgo said:

An at large is obviously the goal, but with our schedule limitations, that may be tough to accomplish barring a near-perfect non-con slate or great improvement from the rest of the conference (I never count on that).  I do think potential wise, this team’s is higher than almost any team I can remember.  With our Big 3, if even 2 of Anya, Dotzler, Kobe, Brockhoff, Casey, Thames can prove to be above average A10 players, we could really be cooking with fire. 
 

As far as an official prediction, I have us at 9-2 OOC (D1 games only) and 14-4 in conference for 23-6 overall.  Two wins in DC and a loss in the final puts us at 25-7, and probably sweating on selection Sunday, depending on the strength of the A10.  

Which games do you have us in losing in the OOC? 9-2 seems realistic. It's a weak non-conference schedule, but there are some tricky games. These are the games that figure to be a challenge; 1) Santa Clara (neutral) 2) Wichita State (neutral)  3) San Francisco (road)  4) Illinois State (road)  5)  Grand Canyon (road)

If I were to pick the two we would be most likely to lose, I would go with USF and Grand Canyon.

[gobillsgo]

1 hour ago, ACE said:

Which games do you have us in losing in the OOC? 9-2 seems realistic. It's a weak non-conference schedule, but there are some tricky games. These are the games that figure to be a challenge; 1) Santa Clara (neutral) 2) Wichita State (neutral)  3) San Francisco (road)  4) Illinois State (road)  5)  Grand Canyon (road)

If I were to pick the two we would be most likely to lose, I would go with USF and Grand Canyon.

San Fran and GCU are also the ones I have us losing.  Pulling off a win at either would be big. 

[TheA_Bomb]

Taking a page from Josh Pate's (College Football Show Podcast) prediction method of stating  ceiling, floor and his prediction here's my prediction:

Ceiling: 

Non-Conference 12-1

Conference 16-2 (1st place)

Regular Season 28-3

A10 Tournament 3-0 (A10 Champions)

NCAA Tournament 2-1 (Sweet 16)

Floor: 

Non-Conference 8-5

Conference 11-7 (5th Place)

Regular Season 19-12

A10 Tournament 1-1

My Prediction:

Non-Conference 11-2

Conference 14-4 (3rd Place)

Regular Season 25-6

A10 Tournament 2-1 (Runner Up)

NIT 3-1

Really want that NCAA bid but the non-conference schedule is an anchor and VCU, Dayton and LoyChi will be pretty good. We do get 6 chances at them in the conference season so that can help the metrics.

[cgeldmacher]

I feel like we are better than any team we play in non-conference.  I know that sometimes you build in a stumble or two, but I am predicting, oh boy (deep breath), 13-0 non-conference.  No matter how good you are, there are always stumbles, especially on the road, in conference games.  I will say 15-3 in conference.  That puts us at 28-3 before the A-10 tournament.  Even with that win total, if we lose in the A-10 tournament, we will be sweating the selection show given our dismal schedule.

[Billiken Rich]

4 hours ago, OkieBilliken said:

20 wins = successful season is what I have been told.   But seriously I just want a team that is fun to watch again.   The last few seasons even when we won, we were hard to watch.  A creative, cohesive offense with skilled shooters should be a blast.

Anyone else a bit disappointed in the crowd size for the exhibitions?   I cant blame the media at all.  This team has received a tremendous amount of well-deserved hype.  From the pictures and videos, it looks like they were playing at a mostly empty arena.   I cant point fingers because I live out of state, but man it would be nice to fill that barn up.  

 

 

 

Man I was there with my lovely wife and both of us dozed off in the second half.....could've been from the pregame Urban Chestnut stop as opposed to the boredom of the shi*-stompage.  We always draw poorly on the exhibitions.....even when you were in town..... 

[WUH]

The crowd was shockingly small for the Rockhurst game (I did not make the Maryville or Rockford games).

There are lots of reasons to be optimistic about attendance (a number of people are going to want to watch the guy with the googles and nicknames), but with the lack of compelling *non-conference games (and some games on Mondays and Wednesday), the numbers may be smaller than expected in November and December.

______________

*The coaching staff clearly did the best they could to build a schedule

[dlarry]

5 hours ago, gobillsgo said:

An at large is obviously the goal, but with our schedule limitations, that may be tough to accomplish barring a near-perfect non-con slate or great improvement from the rest of the conference (I never count on that).  I do think potential wise, this team’s is higher than almost any team I can remember.  With our Big 3, if even 2 of Anya, Dotzler, Kobe, Brockhoff, Casey, Thames can prove to be above average A10 players, we could really be cooking with fire. 
 

As far as an official prediction, I have us at 9-2 OOC (D1 games only) and 14-4 in conference for 23-6 overall.  Two wins in DC and a loss in the final puts us at 25-7, and probably sweating on selection Sunday, depending on the strength of the A10.  

 

2 hours ago, TheA_Bomb said:

Taking a page from Josh Pate's (College Football Show Podcast) prediction method of stating  ceiling, floor and his prediction here's my prediction:

Ceiling: 

Non-Conference 12-1

Conference 16-2 (1st place)

Regular Season 28-3

A10 Tournament 3-0 (A10 Champions)

NCAA Tournament 2-1 (Sweet 16)

Floor: 

Non-Conference 8-5

Conference 11-7 (5th Place)

Regular Season 19-12

A10 Tournament 1-1

My Prediction:

Non-Conference 11-2

Conference 14-4 (3rd Place)

Regular Season 25-6

A10 Tournament 2-1 (Runner Up)

NIT 3-1

Really want that NCAA bid but the non-conference schedule is an anchor and VCU, Dayton and LoyChi will be pretty good. We do get 6 chances at them in the conference season so that can help the metrics.

 

1 hour ago, cgeldmacher said:

I feel like we are better than any team we play in non-conference.  I know that sometimes you build in a stumble or two, but I am predicting, oh boy (deep breath), 13-0 non-conference.  No matter how good you are, there are always stumbles, especially on the road, in conference games.  I will say 15-3 in conference.  That puts us at 28-3 before the A-10 tournament.  Even with that win total, if we lose in the A-10 tournament, we will be sweating the selection show given our dismal schedule.

28-3 we will not be sweating at all. Probably be ranked in the top 25 at that point. 

25-6 or 25 -7 I don't think we will be sweating either. 

I think people are underestimating the hype that comes along with a national "brand" player. 

IMO With Schertz and more importantly Avilla if the Bills are on the bubble they will be in. 

[TheA_Bomb]

2 minutes ago, dlarry said:

 

 

28-3 we will not be sweating at all. Probably be ranked in the top 25 at that point. 

25-6 or 25 -7 I don't think we will be sweating either. 

I think people are underestimating the hype that comes along with a national "brand" player. 

IMO With Schertz and more importantly Avilla if the Bills are on the bubble they will be in. 

I hope you're right and SLU is the recipient of some helium this year that keeps our bubble inflated. There is a new wrinkle in the selection this year in that Torvik will be used and the metric Wins Above Bubble.  This is supposed to be agnostic of P5 and may help us out in the A10.  I haven't delved into what it really means for SLU yet.  https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2024/7/11/24196421/ncaa-mens-basketball-selection-committee-torvik-wins-above-bubble-wab-criteria

[willie]

8 minutes ago, dlarry said:

 

 

28-3 we will not be sweating at all. Probably be ranked in the top 25 at that point. 

25-6 or 25 -7 I don't think we will be sweating either. 

I think people are underestimating the hype that comes along with a national "brand" player. 

IMO With Schertz and more importantly Avilla if the Bills are on the bubble they will be in. 

I agree. Robbie will bring a lot of national exposure as long as he delivers. 

[ACE]

39 minutes ago, dlarry said:

 

 

28-3 we will not be sweating at all. Probably be ranked in the top 25 at that point. 

25-6 or 25 -7 I don't think we will be sweating either. 

I think people are underestimating the hype that comes along with a national "brand" player. 

IMO With Schertz and more importantly Avilla if the Bills are on the bubble they will be in. 

Unfortunately it wasn't enough for those two to avoid getting the screw job last year even with a NET 28. 

[dlarry]

2 hours ago, ACE said:

Unfortunately it wasn't enough for those two to avoid getting the screw job last year even with a NET 28. 

They really didn’t burst onto the national scene until March and by then it was too late.

This year at they’ll already have good will built up. 
 

Thats my hope anyway!

 

[almaman]

9 hours ago, TheA_Bomb said:

Taking a page from Josh Pate's (College Football Show Podcast) prediction method of stating  ceiling, floor and his prediction here's my prediction:

Ceiling: 

Non-Conference 12-1

Conference 16-2 (1st place)

Regular Season 28-3

A10 Tournament 3-0 (A10 Champions)

NCAA Tournament 2-1 (Sweet 16)

Floor: 

Non-Conference 8-5

Conference 11-7 (5th Place)

Regular Season 19-12

A10 Tournament 1-1

My Prediction:

Non-Conference 11-2

Conference 14-4 (3rd Place)

Regular Season 25-6

A10 Tournament 2-1 (Runner Up)

NIT 3-1

Really want that NCAA bid but the non-conference schedule is an anchor and VCU, Dayton and LoyChi will be pretty good. We do get 6 chances at them in the conference season so that can help the metrics.

floor seems almost impossible imo. I think we dance, will be as disappointed as any season if we fail.

[billikenbill]

23-8, well, 21-8 not counting the NAIA games. Will have to win the A-10 Tourney to advance. Might make a deep NIT run, otherwise.

[thetorch]

Avila will be by far the best player on the floor in every game we play until the NCAAs.  When was the last time we could say that?  Macauley?

I've made some dour predictions the last couple years (they came true), but that ends this year.

Non Con 12-1

Conference 14-4

A10 Tournament 3-0

NCAAs 2-1

31-6

[Box and Won]

17-14.  I'm never getting my hopes up again.

[Crewsorlose]

I think something like 13-5 in the A-10 and 25 wins overall has SLU pretty clearly in the NCAAs. Beating either GCU or USF on the road will be essential for the at-large bid. We also need the A-10 to be good and have a couple of top 50 NET teams. 

[WUH]

8 hours ago, thetorch said:

Avila will be by far the best player on the floor in every game we play until the NCAAs.  When was the last time we could say that?  Macauley?

 

The Billikens played a particularly tough schedule in 1997-1998, but I think we could make a case for Larry Hughes Sr.

[almaman]

I'd kill for that schedule now

[ACE]

1 hour ago, WUH said:

The Billikens played a particularly tough schedule in 1997-1998, but I think we could make a case for Larry Hughes Sr.

Absolutely - it's an easy case to make considering he was the 8th pick in the NBA Draft following his freshman season and was the national freshman of the year. 

[WUH]

The 1997-1998 schedule included SIU, Vanderbilt, Illinois, UMKC, UCLA, Syracuse, Iowa State and Arkansas along with DePaul, Marquette, Memphis and Cincinnati in conference play, so a compelling mix of regional and historical rivals and P5 conference programs.  Maybe next season...