2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

[SanDakotaState]

Sporting News Summit League Prediction

1. ORU
2. IPFW
3. Denver
4. SDSU
5. NDSU
6. UNO
7. USD
8. WIU
9. IUPUI

All Summit League Team
Korey Billbury (G), Oral Roberts
Obi Emegano (G), Oral Roberts
Steve Forbes (F), Fort Wayne
Cody Larson (F), South Dakota State
Brett Olson (G), Denver


Top Player: Obi Emegano (ORU)
Top Incomer: Deondre Parks (SDSU)
Top Coach: Scott Sutton (ORU)

http://summitpoints.blogspot.com/201...summitmbb.html

They seem pretty high on ORU this year. I think they will be a solid team but wont win (top 3). Losing Glover, going back into Summit Play, and the increase of level of play will be a surprise to ORU. Also I think IPFW is rated WAY to high. They will finish in the middle of the pack 4-6. They lost a lot of people and a new head coach. I think George Marshall will end up on the 1st league team along with Cody Larson.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

I bet Coach Mollinari has some pretty hard feelings over Emegano. WIU's prospects for the upcoming season would certainly be better if he hadn't transferred to ORU.

[SanDakotaState]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

I bet Coach Mollinari has some pretty hard feelings over Emegano. WIU's prospects for the upcoming season would certainly be better if he hadn't transferred to ORU.

Coach Mollinari is an assistant at UNL now but yeah just to think what their team could have been like if he had stayed. Emegeno and Covington would have been a tough matchup to prepare for.

[Theee Catrabbit]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

Wait ORU cant even win the vaunted Southland? Yet go ahead and crown 'em? Either way, I guess that's why I am glad they play the games.

[Southeast]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

I'm guessing we'll see several teams at the top with three or four losses and a couple more right on their heels in a more balanced field than normal. Who finishes where is tough to say. Study up on your tiebreakers!

[OldHare]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

Wait ORU cant even win the vaunted Southland? Yet go ahead and crown 'em? Either way, I guess that's why I am glad they play the games.

Maybe the prediction will come true some year when a new team like say Denver is picked to walk away with the conference and now this year ORU is vaulting to the top. If a new team comes to the Summit next year, there may be another chance for this to be true. ORU certainly has a great player in Omegano like Denver had with Udofia. Irregardless, ORU picks up some power rating for the Summit and the slow days in the press give them some attention. What is also interesting is how far the bison fall from the top as they lose Braun, Wright, & Bjorklund(&Saul). It reminds me of how bad the Jackrabbits would fall with Nate leaving.

[goon]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

I would say this is the first year in several years there is no obvious front runner for the mens team. As of now this is probablt the hardest to rank. The womens side maybe a little easier with SDSU, USD and IUPUI probably pretty salty, not sure the rest of the league at this point, but for the men, its a crap shoot.

[SanDakotaState]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

I think the bison will fall a little harder than the jacks did after Nate left. I see them finishing right in the middle of the pack like ipfw. Sdsu will be top 3 along with Denver and Oral Roberts. I think Parks and Marshall are going to turn some heads come conference time.

[jack power]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

I think the bison will fall a little harder than the jacks did after Nate left. I see them finishing right in the middle of the pack like ipfw. Sdsu will be top 3 along with Denver and Oral Roberts. I think Parks and Marshall are going to turn some heads come conference time.

One of the staff told me Marshall is an absolute stud.

[bigticket1]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

I think the bison will fall a little harder than the jacks did after Nate left. I see them finishing right in the middle of the pack like ipfw. Sdsu will be top 3 along with Denver and Oral Roberts. I think Parks and Marshall are going to turn some heads come conference time.

I see Denver having a hard time. Udofia was the heart and soul of that team , and the only inside option they had. And that 40 point thumping NDSU put on them (with Udofia) in the semi's sticks in my mind.

[SanDakotaState]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

I see Denver having a hard time. Udofia was the heart and soul of that team , and the only inside option they had. And that 40 point thumping NDSU put on them (with Udofia) in the semi's sticks in my mind.

Yeah they won't have any inside game this year but their team is loaded with shooters. If their shooters get hot they will be tough to beat. Also can't forget about potential POY winner, Brett Olson. Joe Scott is to good of a coach to have back-to-back under-preforming seasons.

[SanDakotaState]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

Athlon Sports Previews the upcoming Summit League season:
http://summitpoints.blogspot.com/201...summitmbb.html

The 2014-15 Athlon Sports College Basketball Yearbook hit newsstands today. Its analysis of the league race projects Fort Wayne as champion. In the national rundown, IUPUI's Jason Gardner is listed as one of "Five Notable First-Time Coaches". Below is a summary of the league picks:


PREDICTIONS
1. Fort Wayne
2. North Dakota State
3. Denver
4. Oral Roberts
5. South Dakota State
6. Omaha
7. South Dakota
8. Western Illinois
9. IUPUI


ALL-SUMMIT FIRST TEAM
Lawrence Alexander (G), North Dakota State
Garret Covington (G), Western Illinois
Steve Forbes (F), Fort Wayne
Cody Larson (F), South Dakota State
Brett Olson (G), Denver


PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Steve Forbes (F), Fort Wayne

Bison at #2? I Think I am just going to forget about this preseason preview for that reason. Obviously its possible that they could at 2 but c'mon. Braun, Wright, Felt, and Bjorklound are going to be missed. It's hard to replace that kinda talent.

[Nidaros]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

What does FW have besides that PeterBilt truck in the middle? Are the rest of the roster returning?

[Kemo]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

Bison at #2? I Think I am just going to forget about this preseason preview for that reason. Obviously its possible that they could at 2 but c'mon. Braun, Wright, Felt, and Bjorklound are going to be missed. It's hard to replace that kinda talent.

All those players were good, but losing Bjorklund will have the greatest effect on the Bison. He was the best back-to-the-basket player in the Summit League since I started following the conference, and that includes Keith Benson (Benson was a better rebounder/defender due to his physical gifts). Players like that don't come through the league very often, and a loss like that will change the way the Bison play, much to the same effect as losing Wolters did to the Jacks.

[SanDakotaState]

Re: 2014-2015 Summit League Preseason Preview

What does FW have besides that PeterBilt truck in the middle? Are the rest of the roster returning?

Mo Evans and Isiah McCrary are 2 other players that are decent who are returning. The Dons will also have a new head coach. Tony Jasick was/is a helluva coach and will be hard to replace. I can't figure out why just about SL Preview so far is high on IPFW. They won't be near as good as they were last year. Hell SDSU beat them in Frost by 28 last season and would have beat them in Sioux Falls if Cody Larson didn't psych himself out.