Yes, they do. However, we could get a coach who plays a completely different style of offense which is possible. Remember what happened when we switched from Morgan to GMac? Don't get too comfortable even though with Hoiberg we would have been top 10 preseason.
So much uncertainty at this point, I don't know what to expect. Some may feel I'm being a "Debbie Downer", but I just feel I'm being realistic. I think a top 10 team is the ceiling and the floor is a bubble team.
The system and style of play means a lot, and who knows what kind of system this next coach will implement, and what kind of manager of student-athletes he will be. Fred proved to be a great coach, and I think he was getting a lot out of his players.
Plus, right now, we only have 9 scholarship guys. We are exceptionally thin in the front court. If the injury bug hits or guys get in foul trouble, this team will have some trouble. Hopefully we can pick up Biefeldt or some other big to provide some quality bench minutes, but the team is thin right now in the front court. A lot remains to be seen about Long's recovery too.
For those reasons, I'd have to say a top 25 team (5 or 6 seed) seems like the average, but I bet it is more likely this team either: a.) finishes as a top 3 seed, or b.) finishes as a middling bubble team. It seems like it could be one extreme or the other with so much to play out before the season begins.
Check back in October when the roster and coach are set;-)
