Preseason Predictions 2025: Part 1

This week on Check the Net, Impact 89FM’s College Basketball Podcast, join Kylee, Josh, Eli, Porter, and Colin as they preview 8 conferences and make predictions about who may be this year’s conference champions! This week’s episode features the Big 12, Mountain West, Horizon League, Missouri Valley, Big Sky, SWAC, Big West, and Southland conferences!

Creators and Guests

Host

Colin Pearson

Host of the Check The Net Podcast, featuring all things NCAA basketball

JL

Host

Josh Lee

PH

Host

Porter Holden

What is Check the Net on Impact 89FM?

Are you a fan of college hoops? Check the Net is a podcast that covers everything about the world of college basketball. Whether it is discussions regarding top teams and weekly rankings, updates on transfer portal and coaching news, or commentary on the latest major stories from around the game, Check the Net has got you covered. The podcast covers both men’s and women’s basketball across all Division I conferences. Check the Net is available through Impact 89FM’s website, as well as via all major audio platforms.

Kylee: 00:00

Welcome back to Check the Net, Impact eighty nine's Men's and Women's College Basketball Podcast. I am your host, Kylie Tabler, and I'm joined today by some men I found, Colin, Eli, Porter, and Josh.

Colin: 00:10

Hey, y'all.

Kylee: 00:11

What's up, everybody?

Porter: 00:12

Hey. Hey.

Kylee: 00:14

Sorry. I said something real dumb before I was doing it. So that's why Josh and Eli are laughing. But we're we're here. We're doing conference pics today.

Kylee: 00:25

We start them very exciting. Yes.

Colin: 00:28

We've got eight conferences to get through. Yeah. To get going.

Eli: 00:31

Well Well, no. First we got a brief lore drop. Absolutely. We found old ESPN footage of when apparently ESPN used to do like eighteen hours of basketball or something in the mid 2010s.

Kylee: 00:43

Bring it back.

Eli: 00:44

And there's ESPN footage of me at 11 years old in the McCloud Center watching a UNI game against Stephen F Austin at, like, 08:30 in the morning on a school day.

Colin: 00:54

And the

Eli: 00:54

ESPN commentators are like, do these kids not have school today?

Kylee: 00:57

No. And that is so fitting for today because we're actually you and I should be making an appearance later on.

Eli: 01:03

Oh, we're talking about the best conference in basketball.

Porter: 01:05

Yeah. That is

Eli: 01:06

The Missouri Valley.

Kylee: 01:07

That is so very true.

Porter: 01:08

Well, I mean, the other best conference in college basketball starts with an m.

Kylee: 01:11

That is Right.

Eli: 01:12

Because it's the Missouri Valley.

Porter: 01:14

My bad. My bad. Alright.

Eli: 01:15

Wait, Colin, can you Or can somebody tell us about the format of these conference picks that we'll be following over the next four episodes? Yeah. Absolutely. Listeners we might have.

Colin: 01:23

So we're just gonna go jump conference to conference. We're gonna go women's first. We're gonna mention some of the notable teams from last year, some of the tournament teams from last year. And then we're each gonna make our picks. And we're just gonna jump right in.

Colin: 01:36

We're going to give our reasoning. We're gonna probably give a little bit of a diss to other people. Let's be honest, usually towards me. I have no borders pointing at me. Point and laugh.

Colin: 01:46

Point

Kylee: 01:47

and laugh.

Eli: 01:47

And laugh.

Colin: 01:47

We'll get through the women's, we'll get through the men's, and then we'll hop onto a next conference. We're gonna start and end the episode with bigger conferences. We're gonna get some smaller conferences in the middle, some of which are more exciting than others. We're gonna have some that are just very much we all agree, and some where who knows what's happening, and we all very much disagree. And so without further ado

Kylee: 02:09

Let's get started. The way. The big 12. So we have some notable women's teams from the big 12 last year. TCU was the champion of the regular season.

Kylee: 02:18

They went sixteen sixteen and two, thirty four and four overall.

Eli: 02:21

Say it with me now.

Kylee: 02:22

30 win team. Ahead of Baylor who went fifteen and three and twenty eight and eight overall. They had multiple tournament teams with TCU at a two seed, Baylor at a four, Kansas State at a five, West Virginia at a six, Utah at an eight, and then Iowa State was an 11, I e, a first four team. And then the team that made it the furthest, TCU made had an elite eight, lost to tech to number one seed Texas. So this one's really funny, a funny one to start out with because I'm just gonna say, we all picked the same team

Colin: 02:55

Yeah.

Kylee: 02:55

And we tried to be different. I know me and Josh earlier. We we were looking for ways to be different.

Josh: 03:01

Mhmm.

Kylee: 03:01

But I think some of y'all have some better justification explanation than I do. So I'll let some

Colin: 03:06

Eli, go ahead. Go ahead.

Eli: 03:08

I mean, yeah, it's TCU. They they pulled in Marta Suarez from Cal, standout Veronica Sheffey from San Diego State, and stellar rebounder Kennedy Basham from Arizona State on top of three other high profile transfers. And I just find it really, really hard to pick against a roster that's that talented top to bottom. Although Baylor did take three very consistent SEC players and a sophomore stand up from North Dakota. So really excited to see more of the Bluebonnet rivalry this season.

Colin: 03:35

Yeah. Josh, you got more reasoning?

Josh: 03:36

Yeah. I mean, it is TCU. I mean, one of the transfers that Eli didn't even mention is Olivia Miles. I mean I mean, that's gonna be the guy that's gonna be the person that's gonna lead this team. And, mean, I I like some of the other transfers that you didn't mention, Eli.

Josh: 03:50

I mean, I like Clara Silva from Kentucky, the center, and I like the Texas A and M guard, Talia Parker. I mean, you bring in some SEC players who can bring that edge into the big 12. Plus, I mean, their head coach, Mark Campbell, is an unbelievable coach. A little no on Clara Silva. She's six seven.

Josh: 04:07

Maybe that kind of edge that you can replace Sedona Prince with. And I just saw Kylie do the six seven thing. We're gonna move on. But as Kylie mentioned, we were looking for other teams. Another team that I wanna give a little shout out to, and maybe they can compete is Oklahoma State.

Josh: 04:24

They're led by, in her fourth year, JC Hoyt. And she won 25 games last season, so maybe she can build on that. They got some good transfers in from the portal. So Oklahoma State could be a team that, obviously, they didn't end up making the tournament as it was mentioned, but maybe they can shock the system a little bit.

Eli: 04:43

And if I recall correctly, I think Oklahoma State was one of the power conference programs that beat Fairfield last year.

Kylee: 04:49

I believe so.

Colin: 04:49

I believe your

Eli: 04:51

mark of future success.

Kylee: 04:52

Yes. That is very true. No. Yeah. I I completely agree.

Kylee: 04:55

TCU, it's too hard. I was really searching for for cracks and I there's no way. I wanna be different, but I don't wanna be wrong. The most well rounded team, surplus of incoming and returning talent. Shout out Baylor.

Kylee: 05:08

I I'm in I'm always a Baylor advocate. I'm pretty sure I picked them last year to win the big 12 when they got second. So shout out to Baylor. I know that they're a tough program, and they'll definitely give TCU a run for their money.

Colin: 05:19

Yeah. I it's hard to pick against anyone, but TCU.

Porter: 05:22

Jump on this TCU train. Although, I do think Baylor misses out by, like, a game. I think Baylor might be leading early in the season. I they just stumble towards the end and TCU is able to pull through with their experience.

Colin: 05:34

I don't know. Momentum at TCU is too big. Transfers are too impactful.

Kylee: 05:38

That's that's if they blend well together though. There's always the the chemistry thing.

Colin: 05:43

But this is a Mark Campbell coach team. That's

Kylee: 05:45

But you never I mean, we talked some mad game when Hailey Van Lutz transferred to LSU.

Colin: 05:51

I was suspicious of that one. I'm not suspicious here.

Kylee: 05:54

Alright. Fair enough. Yeah.

Colin: 05:56

Alright. Should we hop to the men's side?

Kylee: 05:57

The men's side is way more fun.

Colin: 05:59

So Because

Eli: 06:00

we moved to different teams from one another.

Kylee: 06:02

We all pick different teams, which is interesting, and that typically does not happen. But so we've got Houston as the champs last year in the Big twelve. I believe I predicted that. Tournament teams, Houston was a one seed, made it to the national championship game. Texas Tech was a three seed.

Kylee: 06:19

Iowa State out of three, Arizona for BYU a six, Kansas a seven, and Baylor a nine, and then West Virginia was a part of the first four out. And then Houston lost in the national championship game to Florida. Very sad. I wanted them to win. Their coach is cool, and I like their team as well.

Kylee: 06:35

So go ahead, Porter.

Porter: 06:37

I I got Houston. They're just too good. Got a fantastic coach. I think losing in the national championship last year gives them a bit of extra motivation. I do think this is another case of BYU's gonna have it for the first part of the season.

Porter: 06:50

And then Houston, you know, BYU might stumble. I don't think Houston stumbles at all. I think Houston's

Kylee: 06:56

just stumble. Regular season.

Eli: 06:57

Especially once they build up speed.

Porter: 06:59

What the tournament, like, after the regular season, I think, will be interesting, because I don't think Houston wins that. But I do think that Houston can run the regular season.

Kylee: 07:06

Oh, yeah.

Eli: 07:07

I'm with definitely with Porter on this one, also picking Houston. They didn't really need to pull in anybody from the transfer portal, but they grabbed a sixty five percent two point shooter from same Houston state. And I agree. BYU took in a lot of really impressive mid major talent on top of, obviously, AJ DaVanza, the number one recruit in the country. But I just can't ignore the last three seasons oldest rule, which is bet on Houston for the big 12.

Kylee: 07:31

That's very true.

Josh: 07:31

And I'm gonna follow suit with you, Eliamporter. I think I just won't ever bet against Houston and especially Kelvin Sampson. I think for a guy that still hasn't gotten over the hump and won that national championship, I think he's one of the best coaches in the country. He's just so good at what he does. No matter who's there, who's the leader, they're always just gonna be good at what he's the head coach.

Josh: 07:53

Although, one game that you both did not mention and that I wanna give a little props to Texas Tech. Yeah. Really think this Texas Tech team is gonna give a run for their money or give Houston a run for their money. I mean, they're bringing back JT Toppin. They're bring bringing back Darian Williams.

Josh: 08:08

That's gonna be scary. They did a they were really close in the NCAA

Kylee: 08:13

tournament. Be in Florida.

Josh: 08:14

They really should have beaten Florida. Like, that's

Kylee: 08:16

they sold it.

Josh: 08:16

Yeah. They just struggled in that last couple minutes. So I think Texas Tech is gonna be a really scary team, but if we're talking regular season, I'm not gonna bet against Houston.

Porter: 08:24

I think they're built for March rather than

Kylee: 08:26

Yeah. Season.

Josh: 08:27

Yeah. Yeah. 100%. That's that's interesting.

Colin: 08:29

So I agree. Houston looks crazy strong. However, I think I gotta take Kansas State, and that's a hot take. I know.

Kylee: 08:36

It's it's interesting. Let's

Josh: 08:39

Let's

Colin: 08:39

hear Transfer portal class cannot be ignored. They got PJ Hagerty and Tyreek Smith from Memphis. They've got four stars Nate Johnson and Abi Bashir junior. They've got Kamari McGriff from UNC Wilmington. They also pulled in two major European stars, including the top shooting guard from Serbia who pulled out of the NBA draft to be at Kansas State.

Colin: 09:03

I just see that kind of a draft class or that transfer portal class. And if Kansas State can pull them together like they usually do for transfers, and they have in the past, generally speaking. I think this is an easy not an easy year for Kansas State, but I think I can confidently say Kansas State looks better than Houston if this all pulls together as I think it will.

Kylee: 09:25

They've had a rough couple years.

Eli: 09:27

I would never call the Big twelve easy.

Kylee: 09:29

Yeah. Was gonna say also, you're bringing a lot of different different players into a conference that is typically a bloodbath during during the season. So

Eli: 09:38

Especially to European basketball players. I It's it's a potent mix for sure. I'm just worried it's gonna explode on itself.

Kylee: 09:46

Yeah. Because the big the big twelve is more physical than like an SCC conference, So or an ACC.

Eli: 09:52

And I feel like it's more physical than the German u twenty national game.

Josh: 09:56

That's a that's that's a very true take.

Kylee: 09:59

Yeah. I mean, that's that's fair. Yeah.

Colin: 10:01

I'm just saying. Is this

Josh: 10:03

is my take. I'm taking

Kylee: 10:04

Kansas It's State You did your research, you know? I'm I'm I'm picking different too, Colin. I get you. Thank you. Betting on Houston, typically the move, bet on them last year really paid off.

Kylee: 10:14

And probably the past couple other years, I don't remember. But I'm I'm taking BYU. Yeah. I I had lots of confidence and faith in them, so much so in March that I had one of my brackets where they won the entire thing. They clearly didn't.

Kylee: 10:28

But I think that was due to injuries. Me and Josh were adamant before the tournament started last year that BYU could have been and would have been a very impactful team, and they they looked pretty pretty good. So Yeah. I'm taking it. I'm taking BYU.

Kylee: 10:43

Transfer portal pickups were crazy, and then as well as recruiting this general recruiting talent. It makes me nervous because there's so much hype around this team, and I'm really scared that they're not gonna live up to the hype, but I don't care. I'm feeding into it. I'm feeding into it. I'm gonna I'm gonna hop on the hop on the hype train.

Colin: 11:02

The super hyped up teams always scare me. Yeah. Because Yeah. 75% of the time they don't pan out, and the other 25% of the time they do, and it is incredible.

Kylee: 11:12

And I mean, we we had a super Would you guys remember, throwback to when we were sophomores, we

Eli: 11:17

had I was about super tight to bring that up.

Kylee: 11:19

And how well that season went for us. Not great. Not not great.

Eli: 11:24

Same for The trials and tribulations of losing to James Madison at home.

Kylee: 11:27

Oh, our first game in, like, double overtime and it was, like, I didn't know, there was, like, 11:30PM

Porter: 11:32

and Yeah.

Josh: 11:34

Kylie and I, I remember we we talked about this at the end of last season with BYU. It's a really this is a make or break, I feel like, BYU. As a basketball program. I feel like if you can build on this hype and you don't fall flat, BYU can really put themselves in this new era of college athletics. They can put themselves up there

Colin: 11:53

Mhmm.

Josh: 11:53

Because BYU has done an incredible job with NIL. Yeah. I mean, in this con in this modern era, they are paying their players and they are getting good talent. That's just I mean, not not jumping to football, but I know they got a five star quarterback coming in. Thanks to NIL.

Josh: 12:08

They're doing a great job with the NIL at BYU. This is make or break of the year.

Kylee: 12:13

No. I I completely I completely agree. And I just I think that they have the makings. Alright. I'm gonna say this now, and it's not gonna go well, but that's fine.

Kylee: 12:21

They have the makings to be a title team. I'm sorry. Wow. Looking looking at objectively from right now, have not seen any of these in September. But listen, we make these crazy predictions every every time, and I'm gonna say it.

Kylee: 12:35

I think they could. They've got the makings for it.

Josh: 12:37

That's not a bad take. I wouldn't disagree with that.

Kylee: 12:40

This is why.

Eli: 12:40

Of course, you wouldn't Josh

Kylee: 12:41

is my friend.

Colin: 12:42

That's a

Josh: 12:43

I genuinely think there's I think there's three big 12 teams that could generally compete for the national title between Houston, Texas Tech, and BYU.

Kylee: 12:52

I think those are three

Josh: 12:53

teams that could could I'll give you the could I'm not saying that they will I

Kylee: 12:58

say scared of me a little bit. It's just a pitch just me saying things. It's a hunch. I get it. I'm just saying stuff.

Colin: 13:05

I can't talk I pick Kansas State. Yeah, so

Kylee: 13:08

say mine has a little bit more justification than yours does at the moment.

Eli: 13:12

Got something more concrete.

Kylee: 13:14

To the to the SWAC, great name. So notable women's teams. Southern were the champions last year. They obviously, this is a one big league, unfortunately. They were in the 16 seed play in.

Kylee: 13:27

They beat UCSD, and then unfortunately had to go play UCLA after.

Colin: 13:31

That's a tough one.

Kylee: 13:32

And unfortunately ended up losing. Now we're really getting into territory where we all pick the same teams Yeah. Even more so. So

Colin: 13:41

I mean, I'll start us Yeah. Off It's it's really really hard to argue with Alabama A and M being the champion here.

Josh: 13:47

Which none of us do. Think all of

Colin: 13:49

Yeah. Us agree on So Southern was twenty one and fifteen last year. Alabama A and M was twenty one and eleven. They were, you know, right up there in the championship talks for the SWAC. Southern lost almost all of their roster, and you've got Kalia Walker for Alabama A and M that's staying as their top player.

Colin: 14:11

I can't see any debate from any other team. I looked deeply into the other teams. There was nothing that told me anyone could be Alabama A and M this season.

Josh: 14:22

Yeah. I mean, I think we all kind of agree on this one. It's it's Alabama A and M. And with the return of last season's leading scorer in Kalia Walker who averaged over around 15 points last season and they're returning majority of their roster. I mean, Colin, you mentioned it.

Josh: 14:37

Southern lost so much of their roster. I was doing research and I initially I had Southern, but then doing some more research and seeing that they lost so many people. I just can't. I'm gonna go to Alabama and A and M to get over the hump and push Jackson State and Southern off their pedestal because I believe within like the last four or five years

Colin: 14:55

since anyone else has won.

Josh: 14:57

Yeah. It's been between Jackson State and Southern. So I'm gonna go with Alabama a and m to push them off their pedestal and finally get a regular season title.

Eli: 15:05

And Southern lost almost all those contributors to graduation, not the portal. Like, they went out on top and didn't go anywhere else after. So that's really cool for them as a program, but I just don't think they have the right pieces to win the league again this year.

Colin: 15:18

Yeah.

Eli: 15:19

And Texas Southern was another team that was really in the championship mix late into the season last year. But they were the ones that were absolutely decimated in the portal. So don't think they're gonna and they didn't really pull they didn't pull in a lot of replacements that I think are championship caliber so

Kylee: 15:34

yeah I think that's Alabama a and m yeah that's good to say yeah realistically moving on moving on we have men's teams so southern were the champions here as well Alabama State, however, were the tourney champs. They were fourth in in conference play. Their tournament, 16 seed play in. They beat Saint Francis and then had the unfortunate reality of playing Auburn, and they lost to Auburn. We were all rooting for them though.

Eli: 16:02

We were.

Colin: 16:02

They they played Auburn in a tough game right there. They really put up a good fight.

Kylee: 16:07

They did, and it was and it was fun. It was it was not fun to watch, but I still

Eli: 16:12

It was fun to think about.

Kylee: 16:13

It was. Yeah, I was still I still had hope.

Colin: 16:15

Right around halftime was when that hope started dwindling but like yeah the fact that they made it that far was really impressive

Josh: 16:21

honestly yeah

Colin: 16:23

especially against that auburn team

Kylee: 16:25

so let's have Eli go ahead Sure.

Eli: 16:28

Just looking through SWAC teams on the men's side, I just wanted to point out that Bethune Cookman is literally rebuilding their roster. They have 10 transfers in

Kylee: 16:38

Oh, my god.

Eli: 16:39

Like, just an entirely new basketball team. Including two former Central Michigan Chippewa team teammates.

Kylee: 16:45

Wow.

Eli: 16:46

So that'll be fun. But I'm going to choose to bet on a Jackson State squad that's returning 62% of their minutes after last year's second place finish to get past some of the other contributors who lost a lot more than that in the portal.

Porter: 17:01

I'll also take Jackson State. I mean, they finished second. They got a couple good transfers. They are relatively young, but I think those transfers will push them over the top. They do have, I think, enough experience to get the job done and not the most difficult conference.

Josh: 17:14

Well, I'm not following suit. I'm following suit and picking a state, but I'm not picking Jackson State. I'm doing some research into the SWAC. Looked at to Grambling State. They have 13 upperclassmen.

Josh: 17:26

That's

Kylee: 17:27

How many people are on their roster?

Josh: 17:30

Close to about let's we can do the math. 12 15. So 13 out of 15. That's classmen. I'm gonna bet on the experience and that they've they have more time playing basketball and they feel like they can gel together.

Josh: 17:46

So I'm gonna take Grambling State.

Eli: 17:48

Just to clarify, Check the Net knows that neither Jackson nor Grambling are States.

Josh: 17:53

That is true. Yes. We do know that. I'm yes. We're aware.

Kylee: 17:55

We can name all 50 states.

Eli: 17:57

We can if we work together and if you give us, like, forty five minutes.

Kylee: 18:00

We divide them up. Need to each name 10 states.

Colin: 18:03

Give us, like, three We

Eli: 18:04

got this, guys. Yeah.

Colin: 18:06

I'm looking at this league, and it's just pure chaos. I mean, Jackson State, Grambling State, no one's really standing out to me. Bethune Cookman's transfers, obviously, are great, but I don't think they're gonna work together all that well.

Eli: 18:19

Think they'll be entertaining.

Colin: 18:20

They'll be entertaining, but it's gonna take a while for those for that team to gel with how many transfers they have. With that said, I've been between Southern and Jackson. I'm taking Southern simply because I think they're gonna have the motivation from missing the tournament last year after winning the conference regular season. I think they're gonna turn it around, win it again in the regular season, and make the tournament this year.

Kylee: 18:41

And as much as I hate agreeing with Colin, and everyone knows I hate agreeing with Colin, I agree. I I I echo exactly exactly what he just said. I I bank on experience. I guess I'm not banking as much on experience as Josh is. Yeah.

Kylee: 18:56

But I do I do bank on experience. And I know losing a conference tournament that you a 100% should have won is a very frustrating feeling. So I'm going to also bank on the fact that they they have motivation and they're upset. So yeah. Not too not too too bad.

Kylee: 19:12

Alright. Horizon League time.

Colin: 19:14

This is a fun one.

Kylee: 19:15

This is a fun one. This is a very very fun and interesting one.

Eli: 19:18

So

Kylee: 19:18

on the women's side, Green Bay, Horizon League champs. We we are a Green Bay Fan Club here at the net. We have a relatively prominent one, and they are 12 seed, unfortunately lost to Alabama. I think I probably picked them for an upset, I'm sure.

Colin: 19:33

Most of us did.

Kylee: 19:35

Which is why I'm gonna pick them again. Which is why I'm gonna pick them again.

Colin: 19:41

You go right ahead, Kylie.

Kylee: 19:43

Absolutely. They they lost a lot of their team, unfortunate. However, I trust Kayla Harris. I trust I trust this woman to put together a strong team. She has been for the past however many years.

Kylee: 19:56

Like, she's extremely active in the portal. And also, was looking at their non conference schedule. They've got some they've got some pretty good opponents. They've got, you know, that little in state rivalry with Wisconsin. They've got Kansas State, NC State, Richmond, and Washington.

Kylee: 20:09

So I'm very excited to see what they're gonna do against those teams. So I'm I'm I'm sticking with Green Bay.

Eli: 20:15

I mean, yeah. They grabbed stars from South Dakota and Oakland. Milwaukee is two bright spots from last year's. I think, two and eighteen in conference team.

Colin: 20:25

Oh. Yikes.

Eli: 20:26

And then some p five bench players from Wisconsin and Iowa State. And despite both them and Purdue Fort Wayne, the other team that was really locked in that title fight last year, losing most of their top scores, The Phoenix look reloaded, and the Mastodons do not. So I'll be sticking with Green Bay as well.

Porter: 20:43

Yeah. Give me Green Bay as well. Good transfer portal. They did well last year. I don't know.

Porter: 20:47

They're mascot school too. Shout out, Phoenix.

Kylee: 20:51

So true.

Josh: 20:53

Yeah. I'm joining the train of Eli, Kylie, and Porter

Kylee: 20:58

Woo hoo.

Josh: 20:58

Going to Green Bay. And part of my reasoning was also going against Collin, just because

Kylee: 21:03

He's hopping on the We Know ball train. Yeah.

Josh: 21:07

Do know that Green Bay's women's team is gonna be better than their men's team. I can guarantee.

Colin: 21:12

Yeah. Well, yeah. So for me, I feel like too much of that Green Bay roster graduated and transferred for me to pick them. Purdue Fort Wayne also losing most of their roster. In my mind, this is a completely open field horizon.

Colin: 21:25

And so I'm taking a huge gamble. I'm going with Detroit Mercy. We've got a new head coach, Keefer Haffee, who was promoted for us from assistant coach last year. They were fifteen and fifteen last year, but they beat pretty much every single one of the teams in the Horizon League once, with the exception of Green Bay and Peru Fort Wayne. And so They're also returning some of their best talent.

Colin: 21:50

Aaliyah McQueen was averaging 13 and a half points per game. Her sister is a freshman this year at Detroit Mercy as well, her younger sister. You've got Kaylee Davis from Northern Kentucky who has just joined this team. You've got Naeemi Daiwara, I believe, is how you pronounce that. She's Canadian, but she was a star in the Canadian college circuit.

Colin: 22:13

I'm really liking the look of this team. Don't come out.

Kylee: 22:16

Hey. Fair enough. Collin's gotta be quirky and different. I gotta

Colin: 22:19

be quirky and different.

Kylee: 22:19

And speaking of being And quirky and

Eli: 22:20

different he's gonna do it again. We're gonna go ahead.

Kylee: 22:22

The men's side. So we had Robert Alright. Morris as champs. Hold on. We had Robert Morris as champs last year of the Horizon League.

Kylee: 22:27

They won the tournament as well They are they were a 15 seed lost to Alabama. I agree with whoever wrote robbed because that was a crazy thing

Colin: 22:36

yeah,

Kylee: 22:36

and That would have been well deserved if they would have won for sure

Eli: 22:39

they should have

Kylee: 22:40

and then Colin being different go ahead.

Colin: 22:43

Yeah. I I have to say, Robert Morris looks the strongest, but their turnover is scaring me. Right States holding on to 53% of their minutes, they picked up some strong transfers, including a guy from Vermont and the top player from Merrimack. I'm going right state and, you know, maybe that's controversial.

Kylee: 23:04

Said no one ever. But

Josh: 23:06

Said no one ever. You know, right state

Colin: 23:08

looks good for me. Sam Elamudu from Vermont is really what's making that.

Kylee: 23:13

It's just because Vermont.

Eli: 23:15

53% of their minutes from a team that finished eighth, by the way.

Josh: 23:21

Wow. Give me hope.

Kylee: 23:23

That is a very key thing that he left

Eli: 23:27

Alright. They were eight and twelve in conference.

Josh: 23:30

500. Okay. Yeah.

Colin: 23:32

You guys go right on ahead and pick the classic Robert Morris.

Josh: 23:36

Yeah. Pick it. I will. Yes.

Eli: 23:39

I I I mean, I get it. They are only returning a quarter of their minutes.

Colin: 23:43

They were also only fifteen and five. Your turn is They weren't that good.

Eli: 23:46

Your turn is They

Kylee: 23:47

won, and they made it to the tournament. What do you mean they weren't that good? They won.

Eli: 23:51

They returned a quarter of their minutes, but they recruited some really excellent mid major big man talent. Cleveland State returns literally 0% of their minutes, and Milwaukee managed a single Toledo transfer. Toledo, Sorry, Ty. No, we're moving on. And I'm I'm gonna give the Colonials the back to back.

Kylee: 24:08

Yep. I agree. Even though Elijah's hurt my feelings. I agree.

Colin: 24:14

Kylie, join the dark side.

Kylee: 24:16

No. I'm not picking Wright State. I'm picking Robert Morris. I will never it can't be that bleak.

Eli: 24:22

I would never pick Dayton, Ohio.

Kylee: 24:23

I would never pick Dayton, Ohio. No. Only Toledo.

Porter: 24:26

Yeah. I mean, I got Robert Morris as well. They were Rob versus Austin.

Eli: 24:30

Yeah. It louder.

Porter: 24:32

Rob. Yes. I think that hunger fuels them to another conference ship. They wanna get back. They wanna prove they can be.

Kylee: 24:39

They wanna beat a two seed.

Josh: 24:40

Yeah. Mhmm. That was funny, Eli. That was good. Yeah.

Josh: 24:44

I follow I'm keeping my tradition when it comes to the Horizon League and going against Collin. Robert I'm gonna go with Robert Morris. Ouch. It was one of my favorite watches in the tournament last year watching this team. I think they're excellent excellently coached team.

Josh: 25:00

So I think they're just gonna run it back again. And then they're I know that they're only bringing back a quarter of their minutes and Wright State's bringing back 53% of their minutes. But I'm gonna bet on the coaching staff to get this team back to where they belong.

Kylee: 25:13

I Word.

Eli: 25:14

I feel like I remember actually watching like multiple games of the Horizon League tournament for some reason.

Josh: 25:19

I think I think I remember this too.

Eli: 25:21

And Robert Morris really impressed me. So Mhmm. Hoping they can run it back.

Kylee: 25:25

Yeah. All right. Big West time.

Eli: 25:27

Let's go to somewhere very geographically different.

Kylee: 25:30

Yes. Absolutely. To the other side.

Josh: 25:32

And we all went different.

Kylee: 25:34

Yeah. We all actually went different this time. We I lied when we were talking about the Big twelve. That's okay, though. So notable women's teams, Hawaii won

Eli: 25:42

I don't think you said what conference we're at.

Kylee: 25:44

Yeah, did. I said we're out of the Big West.

Eli: 25:45

Oh, yeah.

Kylee: 25:46

How dare you? Hawaii won the regular season. They were sixteen and four. However, UCSD making their first ever appearance won the tournament. They were a 16 seed play in, and they lost to Southern.

Kylee: 26:01

However, their first time being eligible, and then their first time they made the tournament. Super exciting.

Eli: 26:06

Go Tritons.

Kylee: 26:07

So, let's see. Who wants to go first? Alright, Collin, you can go first. Alright.

Colin: 26:13

So another controversial pick, however, this is a conference where we really have no clue. And I'm looking at the all freshman team, and there was a team with two all freshman players from the conference. Jakoya Jones Brown and McKelly Richards, both played for Long Beach State, and they are both coming back to Long Beach State this year. Long Beach State also brought in the senior, Kylie Pepe, from San Diego State. It's looking like an incredibly young team, but one with lots of returning talent as sophomores.

Colin: 26:46

I think it's one that can put together an impressive season, and they're gonna improve on their twelve and eight finish last year, and

Kylee: 26:51

I think they can take it. You know, at least you picked the team with a positive record.

Eli: 26:54

With a winning record. Yeah.

Colin: 26:55

Very open conference. I like Long Beach State here.

Kylee: 26:58

Yeah. I agree. I agree. This is a very open con a conference. So I'm gonna show UC Irvine some love.

Kylee: 27:04

They're returning their top scorer and rebounder from last year. They brought back also another top three scorer, and then they added Jada Wynn from Texas Tech. They placed second during the regular season last year. They only had one more loss than Hawaii. So they have it in them to win.

Eli: 27:19

Real reporter.

Porter: 27:20

Like, obviously, Hawaii's good. Yeah. But I got UC San Diego. They won the tournament last year. Gave Michigan a run for their money, lost by three points in the tournament.

Porter: 27:30

They also got the Big West defensive player of the year in Mikayla Rose from UC Riverside. So I think that's gonna help him out quite a bit. I think tougher defense goes a long way in these mid major conferences. Yeah.

Kylee: 27:40

Yeah.

Eli: 27:40

And, I mean, yeah, we're we're all dancing around it, but Hawaii graduated their top two scores and really didn't pull in impressive transfers. And though the right the Rainbow Wahini have dominated recently, I'm gonna predict an upset one run from UC Davis to take their first title since 2019, 2020 on top of some really good transfer talent from Wofford and Manhattan and returning second highest senior scorer, Megan Norris.

Colin: 28:06

Josh, what do you got?

Josh: 28:08

Well, I'm gonna go Hawaii just because, I mean, if you're dominating a conference for that long if when you're dominating a conference, sometimes it's just hard to bet against them. I mean, just said it said it with Houston earlier. Just don't bet against them. I'm gonna be honest, this one's kind of a a vibe pick for me. I love Hawaii.

Josh: 28:25

Good vibe check. So aloha.

Colin: 28:27

Was that an aloha hello or an aloha goodbye? Because

Josh: 28:30

Hello to the conference championship again. That's what

Porter: 28:34

really good home court advantage though, like having to make every That is true. Far.

Kylee: 28:39

That's probably why they dominate so often.

Eli: 28:41

It's a

Kylee: 28:41

great point about that.

Porter: 28:42

Because they're

Josh: 28:43

they're not playing

Porter: 28:43

like schools with tons and tons of money like

Eli: 28:46

No.

Colin: 28:46

These are all big West schools. These are almost all public schools in California.

Kylee: 28:50

Wow. I

Josh: 28:51

should have thought about that. Yeah. Thanks thanks Porter for giving me even more

Porter: 28:54

reason to pick Hawaii.

Colin: 28:56

Okay.

Kylee: 28:56

Alright. On to the men's team. So UCSD won the conference last year. They went eighteen and two. 35 overall.

Eli: 29:05

Say it with me now. 30 win team.

Kylee: 29:08

And then they were a 12 seed. The tournament lost to Michigan. Should not have lost to Michigan. I had that upset on my on my bracket and was very upset.

Colin: 29:16

It was a tough one.

Kylee: 29:17

That one was quite unfortunate. So let's kick it to Porter.

Porter: 29:22

Alright. I have UC Santa Barbara.

Colin: 29:29

Okay. Super

Josh: 29:32

confident. You

Colin: 29:33

got it.

Eli: 29:33

Are you are you sure? Do you?

Colin: 29:36

You got any reasoning there or just kind of vibes?

Porter: 29:38

They weren't great last year

Colin: 29:40

correct

Porter: 29:40

first to admit

Eli: 29:42

are you are you are you right stating it?

Kylee: 29:45

On the other hand you have a winning record last year.

Porter: 29:48

I don't know

Eli: 29:50

That's not important.

Kylee: 29:51

What is fun a wheel in literally whatever conference his finger team has finger landed on, he picked it. He was like, this one.

Eli: 29:57

Porter was like, let me think of a Californian city and put UC in front of him.

Porter: 30:02

Yeah. I okay. Hear me out. I think they win the regular season, and then just the tournament just flame out. They're they're gone.

Eli: 30:09

They were eleven and nine in conference last year.

Kylee: 30:11

Okay. A winning record.

Porter: 30:13

They'll lose to like, CSUN or somebody in the

Kylee: 30:15

Yeah. Yes.

Porter: 30:17

In the tournament.

Kylee: 30:18

They will lose to CSUN.

Eli: 30:20

Speaking of CSUN.

Kylee: 30:20

Speaking of CSUN, they're all all these teams are underwhelming this year. I had not moved. I was looking at all of them. I was like, none of these teams should win this conference. Correct.

Kylee: 30:30

So I'm I'm picking CSUN. Cal State Northridge, shout out. They have a heavily upperclassmen roster. I'm I'm pulling a Josh and going with experience. And they're also returning one of their top rebounders, and, you know, rebounding is very important, And I complain about that a lot.

Kylee: 30:49

So, I'm going with Cal State Northridge.

Eli: 30:51

I I also went with experience on this one, which led me to Hawaii, really based on their upperclassmen heavy roster and some talented transfers, including a seven footer from Utah State. And as much as I hate to pick a departing school because Hawaii is leaving for the Mountain West next year, I can't help but root for both the boys and the girls from Manoa.

Colin: 31:12

Look, I I look at this conference and I see UC San Diego lost pretty much their entire roster. I see UC Santa Barbara and I was honestly debating pick them as

Kylee: 31:23

well. How That's you know it's a bad how you know it's a bad idea. And I

Colin: 31:29

pushed that demon down deep inside for this one. We took UC Irvine. UC Irvine has just been dominant in this conference for years and years and years. I think they're returning to the top. Yeah.

Colin: 31:40

You really I I can't fight the urge to fake UC Irvine here.

Josh: 31:45

Yeah. I'm gonna follow sadly, I'm gonna follow suit with Collin. And agree.

Eli: 31:50

No point in left.

Josh: 31:51

I mean, Irvine had such a good year last year, thirty two and seven, seventeen and three in conference.

Porter: 31:57

They were so

Josh: 31:59

team. They should have been a were really good.

Kylee: 32:01

Mhmm.

Josh: 32:02

And I think that they just shake off what happened last year and they win the conference and I would love to see them in the tournament. I loved I remember watching a couple games last year. However, I did just look at their roster and they have a lot of younger players. I believe they have seven freshmen on this team. So I'm kinda contradicting myself.

Eli: 32:19

It's way too late to switch.

Kylee: 32:21

Yeah. It's joy, Josh. You bought it.

Josh: 32:22

But I'm gonna go with UC Irvine despite having seven.

Kylee: 32:26

You know, we wanted a we wanted a two bid

Eli: 32:28

We were campaigning for it. Mhmm.

Josh: 32:29

So I mean Months.

Kylee: 32:31

I get it. Yeah. For months.

Colin: 32:33

Cried when we didn't get it.

Kylee: 32:34

And they don't they don't listen to us.

Eli: 32:36

UC Irvine's gonna lose to Northern Iowa, though. They play in November.

Colin: 32:40

Oh. We'll see.

Kylee: 32:41

Alright. Let's move on. Let's move on to a little bit more. So a little more of less contentious From the

Colin: 32:48

Big West to the Big Sky.

Kylee: 32:49

To the Big Sky. So women's teams, Montana State, where the champs last year, they were seventeen and one. 34 overall.

Eli: 32:55

Say it with me now.

Colin: 32:56

30 win team.

Kylee: 32:58

In the tournament, they were 13 seed, lost to Ohio State, very unfortunate. Eli, what do you have?

Eli: 33:05

Yeah. So I know we just all said 30 win team altogether.

Kylee: 33:08

Mhmm.

Eli: 33:09

But I firstly, I wanna thank Montana State for Mara Dykstra who transferred here from Bozeman. She's Canadian and she's really good at basketball and she wears green and white now, which is convenient. And the Bobcats to replace, I think, lot of their scores that left in the portal, pulled in two red shirted freshmen from Toledo

Kylee: 33:29

Toledo Mention. Toledo Mention.

Eli: 33:32

We're moving on. And so those are some unknown factors because we literally didn't get to see them play. But Idaho, on the other hand, is pulling in and is I think they're going to build on a admittedly pretty distant third place finish.

Colin: 33:47

Very distant.

Eli: 33:48

They were ten and eight. But they got some pretty consistent scores from Wofford, Washington State, and two senior teammates from San Francisco in the West Coast Conference, while also returning Hope Hassman who averaged 12 points per game last year. So that was just enough for me to take the risk and pick against the 30 win team paradigm.

Josh: 34:09

Okay. Interesting. Alright, Colin. I'm taking Montana State.

Colin: 34:14

Yeah. Thirty thirty win team. And like you said, you know, lost a few of their top players. They keep four of their top players, though. They picked up a ton of strong freshmen.

Colin: 34:26

I think it's gonna be a team that might take a few weeks to get going. You know, that non conference slate, it's gonna it's gonna take a second for those freshmen to kinda pick up those minutes. As soon as they get going though, once the conference schedule starts up, the Montana State Bobcats are gonna be rolling again, and it's really hard to pick against them in a conference like this. Go Bobcats.

Porter: 34:47

Yeah. I mean, I also have Montana State, they were a 30 win team. I don't think their non conference will go favorably. I think that they will roll through this conference schedule.

Kylee: 34:57

Yeah. 30 win team.

Josh: 34:59

Montana State for all the reasons I just said.

Kylee: 35:02

Yeah. Yep.

Josh: 35:02

Alright. That's the

Kylee: 35:03

men's side. So during the season last year, Montana were the champions. They were fifteen and three. Northern Colorado though also fifteen and three so very interesting how that shook out They were a 14 seed lost to Wisconsin. Oh So I'm gonna take them again.

Kylee: 35:26

I'm just gonna I'm taking them again Also did not really was not moved by any of these teams again. So I'm thinking about Tina. They're returning their top contributor along with a couple other solid players from their team last year. Tournament experience is it is a factor, So Absolutely. We'll see.

Kylee: 35:43

We'll see. Hopefully, it translates to the regular season.

Josh: 35:46

Yeah. I'm following suit with you, Kylie.

Colin: 35:48

Yes. If

Josh: 35:49

you're you're bringing one of your key players back, you have that depth with some solid players coming back. And like you said, they they were in the tournament. So I'm gonna go with Montana too. Woo hoo.

Eli: 35:59

I unfortunately think the big sky is going to be deeply underwhelming on the men's side this year, which is unfortunate. But I'll rummage through the heap and pick Montana State over here because I am a Bobcats fan.

Kylee: 36:12

Just Clearly not.

Eli: 36:14

We're moving on. And I'm really hoping the Bobcats will lean on some talented defense and the best freshman recruiting class in the conference, which was two, three stars.

Colin: 36:25

Lovely. You know, I I don't see any standouts in this conference. A lot of the best teams lost all their players. A lot of the bad teams also lost all of their players. There's there's really just fresh starts all around this conference, and so strictly based on vibes.

Colin: 36:43

No stats whatsoever. Northern Arizona, go Lumberjacks.

Kylee: 36:48

Nice mess, guys. Wait.

Colin: 36:50

You've got the home court advantage playing in the Skydome. I do think they're genuinely pretty balanced between, you know, older players, younger players. You know, you've got just some good balance all throughout that team. I've seen them play before last year. I like their coach, generally speaking.

Colin: 37:10

And, yeah. We're we're taking Northern Arizona off of vibes and vibes alone.

Kylee: 37:16

Yeah.

Porter: 37:17

I couldn't find anybody I was super excited about.

Kylee: 37:22

Big Sky moving.

Eli: 37:22

Neither could any of us.

Porter: 37:24

Yeah. So I picked Northern Colorado. They finished second in the conference last year. Basically identical to Montana. I think they got a decent shot at getting it done.

Porter: 37:35

They got a three star. They lost two three stars. Who who knows?

Eli: 37:40

Have you been have you been to Greeley?

Josh: 37:42

I have

Porter: 37:42

been to Greeley.

Eli: 37:43

What's it like?

Porter: 37:43

It's a big pig processing plant, so it just smells like pig. Poop.

Eli: 37:47

And then there's a college. And then there's a college.

Colin: 37:49

So what I'm I'm hearing

Josh: 37:50

a surfer and acting degree though. Home court advantage.

Eli: 37:53

And and I'm and I'm hearing that. And actually, that's what I'm getting in these headphones.

Kylee: 37:58

We know all about.

Porter: 37:59

Their best player transferred to Minnesota.

Eli: 38:02

Oh, that's unfortunate.

Kylee: 38:03

That is a rough place to

Porter: 38:04

hang out with Nico Medved,

Eli: 38:07

but we'll get to the guy.

Kylee: 38:08

We'll get to the

Eli: 38:12

best conference in basketball.

Kylee: 38:13

The Missouri Valley, So we've got some conference realignment here. Boo. Missouri State leaves for Conference USA. On the women's side, Murray State were regular season champs last year, sixteen and four. But Missouri State also were sixteen and four in conference, but they're gone now, so they don't matter.

Kylee: 38:31

They're the tournament, they were in eleventh Missouri Murray State was an eleventh seed, and then they went and lost to Iowa, unfortunately. Alright, Eli. Go for it.

Eli: 38:41

I mean, we we kind of all concur here.

Josh: 38:44

Yeah.

Eli: 38:44

We're picking Murray State.

Colin: 38:46

Yep. Yep.

Eli: 38:47

They they stole Indiana State's lone bright spot and grabbed two power five freshmen from Indiana and DePaul, while also losing literally no contributors to the portal, which is super impressive. And with no road trip to Springfield this year to play Missouri State, they shouldn't face a lot of obstacles.

Colin: 39:04

Yeah. I'm looking at Haven Ford and Hallie Pook, both returning as juniors. They're both second team all conference last year for Murray State. There's no one else who brought in anyone even remotely close to challenge these two. Not even even without the two star freshmen, without Indiana State transfer, there there's nobody.

Colin: 39:26

Murray State.

Kylee: 39:27

The consensus.

Josh: 39:28

Murray State.

Porter: 39:29

Murray State. Murray State.

Kylee: 39:30

Alright. Cool. Men's side. This is where we get some shake up, and this is where the coaching carousel comes into play. So last last season, Drake, love love the Drake Bulldogs.

Kylee: 39:40

They were they were the champs. Oh, don't whatever. They are seventeen and three thirty one and four overall.

Eli: 39:46

So let me know. 30 win team.

Kylee: 39:49

In the tournament, they were an 11 seed which most of us. I don't know if all of us did, but we might have predicted. They beat Missouri in the first game of tournament and then unfortunately lost to Texas Tech so men's picks

Josh: 40:01

and I'm not gonna go and bet against the grain. I mean I know they lost essentially what was my darling head coach that got taken in the coaching care

Eli: 40:09

of myself.

Kylee: 40:09

My boogie man.

Josh: 40:11

Essentially, I'm not gonna bet against the grain. Drake just knows how to rebuild these things. I mean, they did lose an excellent head coach to the big 10, but I just I'm gonna believe in the management to know to find the right coaches. They find the right players. They just know how to reload.

Josh: 40:28

So I'm gonna go with Drake on this one, and I know you all are gonna disagree with that.

Eli: 40:32

I mean, reload because they have to do it every two years.

Colin: 40:34

Yeah. Said

Josh: 40:35

that they're that good.

Colin: 40:36

Look, Drake has struck gold with their last few coaches. We can't argue with that. I'm not so confident in this one. I think it's about time that Drake doesn't get a good coach, and, you know, maybe maybe that's just like hopes and dreams, but and maybe it's a bad choice to do with the Bulldogs here. I see the rivals to the north, 72% of their minutes retaining returning.

Colin: 41:00

I can't help but think they've got the cohesion to win a relatively open Missouri Valley Conference this year. And so I'm taking Northern Iowa.

Eli: 41:08

Yes. Go Panthers.

Colin: 41:09

Go Cats. Eli?

Eli: 41:12

I mean, they on top of all of those wonderful, beautiful reasons that Colin already said, they got some underutilized transfers from NC State and Baylor, and this is why we're friends.

Colin: 41:22

Eli was supporting this kind of a team at 08:30AM on a school night. In 2015.

Josh: 41:27

Yeah. So Not school day. Day. The school day.

Kylee: 41:34

Was on ESPN.

Eli: 41:35

We were we were beating Stephen F. Austin by, like, 15.

Kylee: 41:39

Yeah. Kylie, what you got? For my pick, even though he's been awfully rude to me thus far this episode and cutting off my Toledo mentions, I am gonna stick with with Eli, my my man, my man. And I'm gonna go with you and I. Because mainly because I think he'd be very upset with me if I didn't.

Colin: 41:58

And and that's So that's a fair reason.

Kylee: 42:00

And you know, and I'm preserving this great relationship I have, and I'm picking you and I.

Colin: 42:05

Porter, that leaves you.

Porter: 42:06

You and I looks like a solid pick. I will agree. Bradley Braves are the team for me. Bradley. Okay.

Porter: 42:13

Doctor. They came in second last year.

Colin: 42:15

I kinda forgot that.

Porter: 42:16

They didn't lose a lot of they didn't lose a lot of players. They got a four star from Eastern Kentucky who is six eight and one ninety.

Josh: 42:26

Wait. Wait. Wait. Say that one more time for myself and anyone else that did not hear. He's six eight Uh-huh.

Josh: 42:33

And one ninety.

Colin: 42:34

Okay.

Porter: 42:35

So he's a twig.

Eli: 42:36

I was gonna say, sweet.

Kylee: 42:37

Let's think about it.

Josh: 42:37

Wow. Okay. Go ahead.

Eli: 42:39

So he's frail.

Porter: 42:40

We did also get two more three star forwards.

Josh: 42:45

Porter, do you by chance know this guy's name so I can see a picture

Kylee: 42:48

of him?

Porter: 42:49

Meyer Wohl.

Josh: 42:51

We're just gonna look up Bradley's roster because I do not know how to spell that.

Kylee: 42:55

So what I'm hearing is Porter does not wanna preserve his relationship with Eli No. And he's he's gonna start writing rhymes.

Eli: 43:01

You and Josh are both dead to me.

Kylee: 43:03

Alright. So Alright.

Colin: 43:05

Hopefully, this doesn't backfire on the rest of us. Hopefully, Bradley doesn't win it.

Kylee: 43:09

That's what I'm saying. Alright. Moving on to the Southland, everyone's favorite conference.

Eli: 43:14

It's the land of the thou.

Kylee: 43:15

It is. So from the women's side, we have a Southeastern Louisiana. They were nineteen and one in in conference play. However, they lost in the tournament to Steven F Austin, who finished third in conference, and were sixteen and four. The tournament, they were 14 seed, which means unfortunately, you have to play one of those really really tough seeds, I.

Kylee: 43:36

E. Notre Dame. So they unfortunately fortunately lost. And you know what? For these Collin's gonna be kicking off this conference

Colin: 43:45

I for both absolutely am. I watched a lot of this conference last year, to be completely honest.

Kylee: 43:50

You watched a lot of one team.

Eli: 43:51

Oh, wait. Right.

Colin: 43:52

I watched specifically one team in this conference a lot last year. Go Pokes, we're taking McNeese State on the women's side at least. Southeast Louisiana lost almost their entire roster from last year, their championship roster, after their coach left for McNeese State. And with her went nine of the 14 players on that roster, including all five starters, I believe. Maybe four of the five starters.

Colin: 44:20

Pretty much, McNeese State stole the entirety of Southeast Louisiana's championship team from last year. And so, go pokes, you know? That's a that's conference realignment or coaching carousel Yeah. You know, master class, I guess.

Eli: 44:35

I mean, a head coach Kinda rude, but A head coach that leaves a program that went nineteen and one in conference to one that went five and fifteen would have been a super tough rebuild if she hadn't just taken her entire non graduating roster with her. So that was kind of iconic. And I'm also gonna pick McNeese State. Go Cowgirls.

Kylee: 44:57

Yeehaw. I'm also picking McNeese State.

Porter: 45:00

See previous answers.

Josh: 45:02

McNeese State. What Porter said. McNeese State.

Kylee: 45:05

Perfect. To the men's side. McNeese State, champion. During the regular season last year, they were nineteen and one. In the tournament, we finally saw it.

Kylee: 45:14

They were a 12 seed. They beat Clemson their first game.

Colin: 45:17

Yeah, they did.

Kylee: 45:18

Me and Kyle are watching that game together, and we were so excited about it. I had my

Colin: 45:22

McNeese state shirt on.

Kylee: 45:23

Oh, were yeah. We were hyping. Unfortunately, the thing that we all did not want to happen happened, and then they went and lost to Purdue. If they would have won, we would have gotten to see them in Indianapolis, but we don't get to win like that ever. No.

Kylee: 45:36

So Colin, kick it off again. Who are you picking?

Colin: 45:40

Go Pokes, McNeese State. I know, Will Wade left, and that's the biggest story about this McNeese State men's team is, you know, coach Will Wade was incredible for two years, three years, and then he left for NC State this year. Bill Armstrong is not going to have any problem taking over for Will Wade. Bill Armstrong was the assistant coach under Will Wade back at LSU, moved with him to, McNeese State, and so taking over as head coach, Bill Armstrong is gonna pick up right where Will Wade left off. By far the most impressive transfer class in Southland.

Colin: 46:16

You've got guys like Giannis and Jonga from Baylor, Garway Duo from Seton Hall. You've got three stars from Oklahoma and Creighton. You've got four stars from New Mexico State and SMU. This is by far the best class in McNeese history, let alone, you know, in the Southland Conference this year.

Kylee: 46:36

Yeah. There will never be a team from the Southland that I pick over McNeese, and and that's just gonna be that way. And also, the transfer portal class kinda speaks for itself, so.

Eli: 46:46

I I feel that McNeese was spiritually a 30 win team last year.

Kylee: 46:50

Agreed. They should've been because they should've been Purdue.

Eli: 46:53

And, I mean, Colin picked UNI for me.

Colin: 46:55

So I didn't pick UNI for you.

Eli: 46:57

Yeah, you did. I'll stick with McNeese State here.

Kylee: 47:00

Let's go with it.

Eli: 47:00

May the second best MSU in the country sweep the Southland this season.

Kylee: 47:04

So true.

Porter: 47:05

What about Metropolitan State University Denver?

Eli: 47:07

They're not even top 10.

Colin: 47:08

What about Montana State?

Eli: 47:10

They're definitely top 10.

Kylee: 47:11

They're definitely top 10.

Josh: 47:12

Yeah. Mississippi

Eli: 47:12

State I would only be their third. No. No. Mississippi State is also not top

Kylee: 47:15

They're not top 10.

Josh: 47:17

Yeah. Once again, the trend. Miss McNeese State sweep both sides, the men's day women's basketball.

Porter: 47:24

I'm not

Josh: 47:24

gonna bet against what Colin listed and Eli listed and what everybody's listed. So, yeah. McNeese state.

Porter: 47:31

Okay, guys. Hear me out. Nineteen and seventeen incarnate words.

Eli: 47:35

They got

Colin: 47:35

Are we doing this right now, Porter?

Porter: 47:37

They got Tyler Simon from Harvard. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're we're taking McNeese story.

Porter: 47:42

Okay.

Eli: 47:43

But Tyler Simon from Harvard.

Kylee: 47:45

Yeah. Not Porter's not moved. So have

Eli: 47:48

you considered Simon comma Tyler from Harvard?

Colin: 47:50

At the end of the season, when we're reflect it, if Carter has won What the Southland

Eli: 47:55

then? What then, Porter?

Kylee: 47:56

We give Porter a metaphorical, like, extra points.

Porter: 47:59

Yeah. I get a tenth of a point.

Eli: 48:01

I actually think you should lose points if that happens.

Kylee: 48:03

Yeah. You brought that into existence.

Porter: 48:05

You know what? I'll take minus one points if a current word.

Kylee: 48:08

Yeah. Perfect. Works for us. Alright. To to Porter's favorite conference.

Colin: 48:13

We've got our last conference today.

Kylee: 48:14

We are to the Mountain West. We got some conference realignment. Grand Canyon has joined from the WAC. Super exciting stuff.

Colin: 48:21

Very exciting.

Kylee: 48:21

I guess. Some notable women's teams. We've got UNLV won the regular season last year. They were sixteen and two. However, San Diego State were their tournament champions.

Kylee: 48:34

They were fourth in the conference. They went eleven and seven. And then we have GCU who were the WAC champs, 16 and o, and thirty two and three overall.

Eli: 48:44

Say it with me now. 30 win team.

Kylee: 48:47

And then we've got some tournament teams. GC was a 13 seed, San Diego State a 14, and then UNLV was a part of the first four out. Unfortunately, I think they should have been in, but the voters aren't to listen to me.

Colin: 48:59

I have to agree that I think they should have been in, and I think they've got the motivation to be in this year. They've got the depth, the experience, they're frankly quite angry at the fact that the committee left them out, I think.

Kylee: 49:12

Mhmm.

Colin: 49:12

And I don't see anyone taking down this team after that. UNLV is my pick.

Josh: 49:17

Yep. I completely agree. I guess we're gonna be boring. I mean, they went sixteen and two in conference last year, twenty six and eight overall. But UNLV is bringing back seven seniors and experience matters in these lower level conferences.

Josh: 49:30

And I know that's gonna upset a certain

Kylee: 49:32

person But on this

Josh: 49:34

bringing back to 10 plus point scores and Aaliyah Alexander and Meadow Roland, that will always help. So I'm gonna go with you and L. V. To repeat as regular season champs.

Porter: 49:44

I cannot believe you think this is a lower level

Kylee: 49:46

conference, Josh.

Josh: 49:47

Compared to power five? Yeah.

Porter: 49:50

Love This is the fifth power conference.

Colin: 49:52

Yeah. Thirty two and Grand Canyon just joined. I mean, obviously, it's a power conference now. You know why I have affiliation for that?

Kylee: 49:59

We tried to make arguments about this on the men's side, I feel like. Or at least, I've tried. On the women's side, I can't make an argument about it.

Porter: 50:05

It's still the Mountain West. UNLV wins the regular season, and then I don't think they come close to winning their conference tournament in March. I just don't think they're built for that.

Kylee: 50:16

They are a Mountain West school. No. They're they're never built to do well in March. Sorry. Sorry.

Kylee: 50:22

The same schools have been biting me into bug for the past however many years. Remember when they had six bids and they all like lost immediately? Yes. Mhmm. And how upset I was?

Kylee: 50:31

Yeah.

Colin: 50:32

And how upset all of our podcast listeners was after they'd listened to us tell them to

Kylee: 50:36

pick the mountain west to pick over. Listen

Josh: 50:39

to us again.

Porter: 50:39

Yeah. Florida State versus Virginia and no points are scored for 40 Okay.

Eli: 50:43

But that was cinema.

Kylee: 50:45

No. I mean, it wasn't good cinema.

Eli: 50:47

Enjoyed it.

Kylee: 50:49

Alright. Well, I'm I'm hopping on. I'm picking UNLV. I've been a UNLV advocate ever since I watched them play that one time. I I just like I like their coach a lot.

Kylee: 50:57

I like their play style. So I'm and they've got they're bringing back experience again. Oh my gosh. Yes.

Porter: 51:03

Yeah, experience.

Kylee: 51:05

So we're bringing back u n l v. And Eli, are you hopping Come on.

Eli: 51:11

Join us. The train's leaving the station, and I have not purchased a ticket. You guys have fun. I think the bridge is out, actually. So Oh.

Eli: 51:19

I hope somebody rescues you. But I'm picking San Diego State. They replaced Veronica Sheffey, who was their star from last year that transferred to TCU. So we talked about that at the top of the episode, which means you should listen to the entire episode again to get all of that context again. But they got consistent scoring talent from Utah State, San Jose State, Nevada, and Fresno State.

Eli: 51:40

And intra conference transfers transfers move me. What can I say? Just getting comfortable with the same kind of play style, the same kind of opponents that you're seeing year after year, home and away. So I'm gonna pick the Aztecs to build on tournament success in the regular season. But I do think it will be a really close battle between them and you and Lavi for the title.

Eli: 52:01

I do think Grand Canyon will be interesting. I obviously wasn't gonna pick them because as we know, we don't pick new teams to conferences on this podcast.

Kylee: 52:08

Very true.

Eli: 52:09

But they pulled in six power five transfers that are that were really young and not getting many minutes at their old schools. So they're kind of trying to pull an Akron men's from last year which Mhmm. Worked out. For Interesting. Yeah.

Eli: 52:21

For

Kylee: 52:21

Akron. It worked out.

Eli: 52:22

They did make the tournament. So

Kylee: 52:23

Yeah. I mean, it could.

Eli: 52:24

You never know.

Kylee: 52:25

It can happen.

Eli: 52:26

It's I I guess I'll enter my official prediction as San Diego State for the regular season in Grand Canyon for the tournament.

Porter: 52:32

I can agree with that.

Colin: 52:34

I can get behind that simply because, I mean, we've seen this time and again where the new coming team had extreme success in the previous conference. I mean, we watched this with Houston a few years back on the men's side. Houston, crazy, crazy success. They get into the big 12. Everyone's going, can they compete?

Colin: 52:52

And then they absolutely dominated the entire conference. I could see that with Grand Canyon. I could also see it going up in flames. And I just don't know and don't have the confidence to pick them.

Kylee: 53:02

I I can agree with that. So I could say UNLV for the regular season in San Diego State for the tournament again.

Colin: 53:08

Yes.

Kylee: 53:08

That that I can see.

Josh: 53:10

I'd say I just can't bet I I they lost Molly Miller.

Colin: 53:14

Yeah.

Josh: 53:14

They lost Molly Miller. I mean, I I I know they pulled in the I believe it's the assistant from South Carolina as their new head coach. Yes. Yeah. I just wonder it's hard it's hard A

Colin: 53:24

of turnover.

Eli: 53:25

It's a

Josh: 53:25

lot of turnover. So Grand Canyon, I think, is just one of those programs, not only on the men's and women's side, that's just very consistent in what they do. And they're always gonna find consistent talent, consistent coaching staffs that can bring in that talent and get the best out of that talent. I just think when you lose a coach like Mollen Miller to Arizona State, I think that turnover is just a little scary.

Kylee: 53:45

Yeah. Absolutely. Very fair. Alright. Now I'm over to the men's side.

Kylee: 53:48

Now here how here's where we get interesting, because I believe we all picked different teams again.

Colin: 53:52

I think we

Porter: 53:53

did. We did.

Kylee: 53:53

Yeah. Alright. We've all got some pretty good reasonings on here, so I'm excited. So quick recap. New Mexico won the regular season.

Kylee: 54:00

Last year, they were seventeen and three. But Colorado State won Woo hoo. The Mountain West tournament.

Eli: 54:06

No, Rams.

Kylee: 54:07

They were second in conference, and they were sixteen and four. GCU won the WAC tournament, not the WAC regular season. Their second regular season, and we're thirteen and three. So looking at the tournament teams we had that are now currently in the Mountain West, we had New Mexico at a 10, Utah State at a 10, San Diego State was at an 11 in the first four, Colorado State, and then Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, Boise State was in the first four out.

Kylee: 54:33

They should have been in over North Carolina, and I'm gonna continue to say that. Absolutely. Both Colorado State and New Mexico made it to the round of 32, beating Memphis and Marquette, which Colorado State, funny enough, was favored over Memphis before losing to Maryland and Michigan. And Colorado State should have beaten Maryland.

Josh: 54:49

Michigan State. State.

Kylee: 54:50

Oh, Michigan State. Sorry. Yes. And Colorado State should have beaten Maryland.

Eli: 54:55

Yeah. They should have. Also robbed.

Colin: 54:57

Absolutely should have.

Eli: 54:58

Weekly robbed.

Kylee: 54:59

So We begin.

Eli: 55:00

We we've kind of all got essays here.

Colin: 55:02

We do. Yeah. Yeah.

Eli: 55:04

I wanna start with Porter because this is his

Colin: 55:06

Porter, go for it.

Porter: 55:07

This is what I live for. Late night Mountain West basketball. I will stay up till 1AM on a random Tuesday night watching Mountain West basketball.

Kylee: 55:17

And who wouldn't? Who And wouldn't wanna do that?

Porter: 55:19

New Mexico is gonna be better than people think. Natino's gonna get him in shape. I'd rather be wrong than pick GCU

Eli: 55:25

Correct.

Porter: 55:25

As a new member.

Kylee: 55:28

And ain't that true?

Porter: 55:30

Utah State looks good. Boise State and their new transfer, they look good. I don't think they'll win, but they'll make noise. San Diego State, great transfer class. But how about CSU?

Porter: 55:38

Will they struggle with

Colin: 55:39

a new coach? Yes.

Porter: 55:41

Undoubtedly. Did they lose a high impact player to Minnesota along with their coach? Also, yes. Did they get robbed in Marsh Madness and bring in five decent transfers? You bet.

Porter: 55:52

Will most of their games be entertaining? No. Probably not. Am I a blatant homer? Yep.

Porter: 55:58

Skull rams.

Kylee: 56:01

And that's beautiful. And that's beautiful.

Eli: 56:05

Okay. Does anybody have any real opinions? Or

Kylee: 56:08

Collin's got some real wrong opinions, so let's This sit back and listen to

Colin: 56:13

is the

Josh: 56:13

true essay. You know how I

Colin: 56:14

said, like, probably about three minutes ago that I wasn't gonna pick Grand Canyon on the women's side because, you know

Kylee: 56:21

New to the conference?

Colin: 56:21

They're new to the conference, but like, we doubted Houston going into the Big 12 a few years ago, and so, you know, we shouldn't have. This is the exact opposite feeling for me. I feel like it's completely up for grabs. New Mexico's got some crazy turnover. Colorado State's got some more turnover than I'd like to see.

Colin: 56:42

And it's a crazy take, I know. But after doubting Houston a few years ago, I feel like I shouldn't be doubting Grand Canyon. And so I'm picking Grand Canyon here. They're keeping only 20% of their playing minutes. However, they have more Raw talent than any other team in this conference.

Colin: 56:58

Oh. They've got a crazy transfer class that I think is gonna work really, really well in their system. They've got Wilhelm Bradenbach from Washington, who we watched play against Michigan State and played

Porter: 57:08

Mhmm.

Colin: 57:08

Quite well. He was the only bright spot from that that team. Yeah. They've got Jaden Henley from UNLV. They've got Dusty Stromer from Gonzaga.

Colin: 57:16

And they've got a seven one freshman, Dennis Evans, who redshirted at Louisville last year. This Grand Canyon team, they pulled that together. They're going to be on top of Mountain West this year. I feel somewhat confident.

Eli: 57:30

I am unmoved. I sit here and I am unmoved. And that's probably because Phoenix, Arizona isn't on a fault line, so it's not really moving. But

Kylee: 57:41

Crazy.

Eli: 57:42

GCU's class doesn't impress me. New Mexico returns literally zero of their minutes from last year. And Boise State adds six eleven Drew Fielder from Georgetown. Sixty one percent two point shooter. That's really impressive, but not quite enough.

Eli: 57:58

I'm gonna pick San Diego State to sweep women's and men's. I really think they're gonna lean on emphasizing defense in this conference for once. Mountain West basketball is kind of similar to SEC basketball, and that everybody just kind of shoots and misses the whole time.

Porter: 58:11

Yeah. But we don't score points.

Kylee: 58:12

Exactly. We don't go in.

Eli: 58:14

Emphasis on misses. And they also had a top 75 recruiting class, so I just I trust the Aztecs.

Colin: 58:22

So what makes you think defense will matter if everyone's missing anyways?

Kylee: 58:26

Here's where the make shots.

Eli: 58:27

Turnovers, hopefully.

Porter: 58:29

Hopefully lots of turnovers.

Kylee: 58:30

To open open layups. Yes. Open layups. Shots that should be made.

Eli: 58:34

Hopefully, your giant Washington guy will be, like, stumbling away into the corner or something.

Kylee: 58:39

Something like that.

Colin: 58:40

Braden Boxbatter.

Eli: 58:40

He'll be running into a seven foot Louisville teammate.

Kylee: 58:43

Alright, well, I know I know Eli mentioned Boise State adding in Drew Fielder from Georgetown so they also however returned Andrew Meadow who was their big man from last year who had a pretty good season and Picked up someone from UCLA as well so and I believe they were robbed They were extremely robbed last year, and I was really perturbed when they did not end up making the tournament I'm using big words here

Eli: 59:09

Yep, She she's perturbed.

Kylee: 59:12

I am perturbed. So I'm picking Boise State. I I believe in this team, and I believe in karma, that they're gonna have that that they're gonna have good karma this year because they were wronged last year. So give give me Boise State. And their colors are fun.

Kylee: 59:26

Okay. They're blue and orange. That's so fun.

Eli: 59:29

They're the Denver Broncos. Perfect.

Josh: 59:32

That was the ultimate vibe pick. I'm gonna go Another vibe pick? No. This is this one's not a vibe pick.

Kylee: 59:39

This is

Josh: 59:40

the same

Kylee: 59:40

exact explanation. Basically, I gave.

Josh: 59:43

It got the last part, yes. The other part's not so much. I'm gonna go Utah State. I like the addition of Zach Keller from Utah. They added a big man.

Josh: 59:53

Some of their returning scores are on the older side, which I've been a little inconsistent on this episode, but I do like having that experience to lead your team going forward. They are gonna have a strong starting core that, like I said, lots of that scoring's coming back. It's just can those depth guys, those guys that they're bringing in live up to the standard? And then, yeah, the vibe pick. I love the crowd at Utah State.

Josh: 01:00:15

I love I love how energized they get into it. They have great coordination in trying to make sure that place is a fortress to come into. Utah State made the tournament last year. I think they build on it, and they get a regular season title out of it.

Eli: 01:00:27

But how are they at free throws?

Kylee: 01:00:28

Oh. Josh, why are you not purely looking at free throw percentage?

Josh: 01:00:32

You know what? That's what that's what we're gonna do that's what I'll do next week for all my picks. Beautiful. They're leading the conference in free throws.

Porter: 01:00:39

You mentioned the standard in the Mountain West. Well, is a power conference. The standard is unfortunately not that high.

Kylee: 01:00:46

Is a standard not powerful? Alrighty. Well I think that

Colin: 01:00:51

leads us into I

Kylee: 01:00:52

think it's time to close it out, and let let me let all of you go. So thank you for listening to this week's episode of Check the Net on Impact eighty nine FM. Let us know what you think by connecting with the station on Facebook, x, or Instagram at WDVM and at Impact eighty nine FM. This is our third full basketball season, and we can't wait for it to begin. In the coming weeks, we'll continue with our conference predictions starting next week with the SEC.

Kylee: 01:01:15

Super exciting, which will lead us into the preseason exhibition games. This season's madness is only just beginning, and we can't wait to talk about it more next week on Check the Net.