Monday hoops: rankings, Final Four sleepers, JMU

[pressvirginia]

WVU bumped up to No. 22 in the Coaches Poll and No. 28 in the AP.

The NCAA, oddly enough, says WVU, Michigan, Purdue, Vanderbilt and LSU are Final Four sleepers.
http://www.ncaa.com/video/basketbal...tball-sleepers-lsu-michigan-purdue-vanderbilt

JMU should provide a pretty decent early test today. Line is WVU -12. They had an impressive win at Richmond Friday. Connected on 11/24 from 3. Had four scorers in double figures including 20 points off the bench from guard Shakir Brown.

Won 19 games last season & return all five starters. Huggins said they will finish in the top 100, so a win today could be a shot in the arm for the RPI.

Interesting JMU has won 3 of 7 vs WVU all time, although WVU won the last three meetings (2003, 04, 05).

I'll take WVU to pull away in the second half and cover. Won't break 100 again tonight, but will get another big game out of the back court and a force a slew of turnovers by the end. Would like to see more from Ahmad and Macon and a lot less foul calls.

What's your take for tonight?

 

[wvpaper]

jmu is decent, but they're not to be confused with GMU. this should be a 30 point win

 

[GoWVU]

Charleston Civic Center seems to have an almost legendary Kryptonite effect on Mountaineer shooting percentages over the years. I'd just worry about getting out of there with a win of any kind.

 

[Jp WVU]

jmu is decent, but they're not to be confused with GMU. this should be a 30 point win

You're right ..... they're much better than GMU.

 

[pressvirginia]

how about that front court?

NKU game
Williams 18 pts 15 rebs
Holton 14 pts 12 rebs

JMU game
Williams 19 pts 10 rebs
Holton 12 pts 12 rebs

Holton producing dually with Williams like this will make this team a very tough out.

 

[locustwv]

Couldn't pull away but good win against what I think is a better team than we thought

 

[skygusty]

BR

Couldn't pull away but good win against what I think is a better team than we thought

Brown was a handful, Curry would have been too butfor the foul trouble. That win won't hurt the SOS at all.

 

[wvpaper]

those guys hit some unbelievable shots. but they are better than i thought

 

[LowFatMilk]

They were pretty much EXACTLY what I expected.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

JMU will be a top 100 RPI win and a real contender for an NCAA Tournament bid (auto of course)

 

[pressvirginia]

'Eers are tied for 8th in the RPI with the pair of early wins.

No. 20 Baylor lost at 25 Oregon, so Bay should be dropping out of the AP poll at 1-1.

More upsets
GW upset 6 Virginia
Tulsa beat 9 Wichita State

All early signs point to a wide open, crazy season. Will be great to watch.

 

[VaultHunter]

I love the talent on this team the only concern is PG which is a big concern.

Carter has played well so far and his defensive ability should be a challenge for opposing teams PG's

We have to wait and see how he does running the offense against a good team before we know what WVU has but I'm confident he can figure it out.

I don't see WVU having any problems until the Virginia game. Then we will know exactly what WVU has.

 

[pressvirginia]

Our guys logged a ton of minutes last year versus all variety of competition. They will have to show and prove this season as the primary ball handlers and closers throughout the entire slate.

Could be a few bumps in the road and some learning opportunities sure, but I am confident in the group. Last time at Kansas was one of those such instances where they played awesome for about 35 minutes in very hostile environment, but didn't finish.

It's what Fraschilla said the sum is greater than the individual parts. I am impressed early on with team passing and assisting on buckets.

The UVA game is an excellent barometer, but they may be more beatable than we originally thought. That'll be a sloppy grinder for sure vs two defensive teams who have two opposite defensive styles. They are definitely missing Justin Anderson.

I believe SDSU or Cal will be tell-tale as well. SDSU gave Utah all they wanted the other night. Cal obviously is a real test on a neutral floor.

 

[Jp WVU]

San Diego St is a top 25 team.

I personally think we'll end up playing them instead of Cal.