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ESPN's Sleeper Teams

Goose

Goose

Hoops Moderator
Club Member
Junta Member
The Buffs aren't on their list, but there is one Pac-12 team on there.

Oregon
Diamond Leung: Dana Altman was far from Oregon's first choice last spring when the school set out to hire a coach, and after coming aboard, he was left with a team depleted by transfers and picked to finish last in the Pac-10. But after the Ducks won 21 games on their way to a CBI championship, Altman added a significant amount of talent and has his team poised to become the surprise of the Pac-12 and challenge for an NCAA tournament bid if things fall right.

Oregon learned on its preseason tour of Italy that freshman Jabari Brown might have what it takes to step right in and carry the team. Brown, who ESPN ranked seventh among shooting guards in the incoming class, led UO by averaging 15.4 points over five games. While the 6-foot-4 Brown made his share of mistakes, it's clear his presence gives the Ducks a dimension they didn't have last season.

Altman also brought in three potential impact transfers who are all eligible to play this season. Olu Ashaolu withdrew his name from the NBA draft to continue his college career after leaving Louisiana Tech, and he already has shown he can be a force inside by leading the team with seven boards a game in Italy. Tony Woods is a 6-11 center who can add to the frontcourt after Wake Forest dismissed him in the wake of an assault case. Also getting a second chance is guard Devoe Joseph, who transferred from Minnesota and will be available in December.

Along with returning starters E.J. Singler and Garrett Sim, the Ducks should get better as the season progresses while they develop a team chemistry with all the newcomers. While many Pac-12 teams lost top talent to the NBA, Oregon improved its roster. In their first full season playing in Matthew Knight Arena, the Ducks appear ready to take flight.
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Also, it's time for me to bust out the Shocker Hoops batsignal, because...

Wichita State
The Shockers could've been an NCAA tournament team a season ago but were stunned by Indiana State in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. Gregg Marshall's crew was able to stabilize, though, winning legitimate NIT games over Virginia Tech, Washington State and Alabama to take home the postseason title. Leading scorer J.T. Durley is gone but the rest of the core returns, led by Toure' Murry and David Kyles. The Shockers returned from Brazil last month still on target to be the Valley co-favorite with Creighton. Marshall stayed instead of pursuing possible job opportunities at Missouri or NC State or Georgia Tech. He stayed because he knew he had a team that can still make the NCAAs and create some noise. -- Katz
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The Walrus said:
Wait? Where did Shocker go? I liked that kid.
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He's still around. Posts quite a bit in the recruiting board. I feel bad for him though because it's going to be hard for him when Buddy Hield signs with us instead of him. :thumbsup:
 
We'll see about Oregon. Should obviously be improved - they were horrible at times last year. I saw them live when the Ducks visited Virginia, and an injury-plagued UVA team completely dismantled them. I wouldn't classify them as a NCAA tournament quality team just yet, I think the NIT is where they end up
 
CVilleBuff said:
We'll see about Oregon. Should obviously be improved - they were horrible at times last year. I saw them live when the Ducks visited Virginia, and an injury-plagued UVA team completely dismantled them. I wouldn't classify them as a NCAA tournament quality team just yet, I think the NIT is where they end up
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Great class and a good coach. They're a popular pick to do well this year. I'm with you on them. I'll believe it when I see it.
 
We're getting a lot of good preseason publicity this season which is awesome. On top of that we've signed a couple big time juco players in the last 2 days. Last year's juco player of the year, Cleanthony Early, and then signed a high major recruit in Earl Watson, who is a 6'8'' 240lb big body.

If I had to make a deep sleeper list, I'd include Colorado. I think Tad is a great coach, he can pull it out.

Oh and I found the arcade, if you wonder why I've been slacking on posting.
 
A team from Kansas and JUCOs? Someone help me out, where do I know this from?
 
Oregon BBall, just one of their many sports being looked at by the NCAA...

Having said that I think Oregon may surprise a few people this year in hoops, they were playing well at the end of last season FWIW...
 
Altman's a good coach. That said, I too think they're an NIT team.
 
While reading The Sporting News preview, Wilner (yes that biased guy from the SJMN) pointed out that the Ducks don't travel to LA and only plays UA once.
 
Did you guys see the Bleacher Report article that had the best player on each pac 12 team, and they had Malcom Armstead as Oregon's best player.

Funny because he left Oregon and is a walk on at Wichita State. haha
 
Your problem there is that you actually read something on Bleacher Report. I highly recommend you not do that.
 
Goose said:
Your problem there is that you actually read something on Bleacher Report. I highly recommend you not do that.
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No ****. Last year they even had something I wrote on there. That should give you an idea of where they set the journalistic bar. :lol:
 
Buffnik said:
No ****. Last year they even had something I wrote on there. That should give you an idea of where they set the journalistic bar. :lol:
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Did they at least ask you or did they just take it? Because I know of a few people who have made strong message board posts that have magically appeared on that site without them knowing.
 
Goose said:
Altman's a good coach. That said, I too think they're an NIT team.
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not sure about Altman. he did a nice job at Creighton but recall he got canned at KSU. i don't dislike the guy, but seemed pretty underwhelming as a hire with all the new gym/Nike money and juice Uyou'd think UO would be throwing around. in fact, i thought a measure of the Pac in hoops that wasn't so impressive was the recent UO and USC hires. i do like Miller at U of A a lot. to the orig point, i thought Kent should have been out a couple years ago....but i guess he was running on fumes from those Ridnour/Luke Jackson teams (who were fun to watch). big Swedish kid in the middle and another good power forward type, versatile player who's name i am forgetting. Kent seemed to sign a McD's or top 100 type player every year and then you'd never hear the name again really. unless it was a guy scoring 9 a game as a junior. Malik Hairston, he was a UO McD's. lotta game, not much career at UO.

Wich State shouldn't be a sleeper to anyone. they were hands down the best team in the NIT, return their coach who could have probably put himself on the market....stability at a high end mid-major like WSU is key. you can only turn out so many coaches as a stepping stone type deal....see Wyoming in football or Tulsa in hoops (80's/90's)....Nolan R, Tubby S, Bill Self, and a slew of other guys....eventually, program can't take the turnover.
 
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Mick Ronson said:
not sure about Altman. he did a nice job at Creighton but recall he got canned at KSU. i don't dislike the guy, but seemed pretty underwhelming as a hire with all the new gym/Nike money and juice Uyou'd think UO would be throwing around. in fact, i thought a measure of the Pac in hoops that wasn't so impressive was the recent UO and USC hires. i do like Miller at U of A a lot. to the orig point, i thought Kent should have been out a couple years ago....but i guess he was running on fumes from those Ridnour/Luke Jackson teams (who were fun to watch). big Swedish kid in the middle and another good power forward type, versatile player who's name i am forgetting. Kent seemed to sign a McD's or top 100 type player every year and then you'd never hear the name again really. unless it was a guy scoring 9 a game as a junior. Malik Hairston, he was a UO McD's. lotta game, not much career at UO.

Wich State shouldn't be a sleeper to anyone. they were hands down the best team in the NIT, return their coach who could have probably put himself on the market....stability at a high end mid-major like WSU is key. you can only turn out so many coaches as a stepping stone type deal....see Wyoming in football or Tulsa in hoops (80's/90's)....Nolan R, Tubby S, Bill Self, and a slew of other guys....eventually, program can't take the turnover.
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Seeing Altman coach against the Shox every year for something like 10 years, he is a good coach. Give him 2 years, and he has Oregon in the hunt from there on. Not quite sure why he would bench and split time with his star in Malcolm Armstead, but he ran off a senior point guard that could have helped his team. I guess he really is interested in building up the team with his talent, over using the old players, even if they're great.

And thanks for the kind words about WSU. I think we will be a year in an out threat for big things for the next few years. People that I talk to, that are close with Coach Marshall, say that he will most likely stay until his daughter graduates high school. They have really been received well in the community, and his daughter is in middle school I think. So that would mean we have Marshall unless an absolutely ridiculous deal comes down for him, for at least 4-5 more years imo. If we can get to the tournament every year during his time here, and he continues to recruit the way he is, I really think we have a shot at keeping him here for a long time. You could tell he was frustrated rebuilding WSU up, when he left Winthrop. I don't think he wants to leave and start over with another program, especially if WSU can start making the dance every year. Just my assumption on his situation.
 
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