I'm calling it right now. UCLA is going to beat GCU. So much depth in GCU's starting lineup has left the program since last season. Right now they're in a rebuilding phase of the program. Give it another 2-3 years and I think they could possibly challenge for the national championship again. Also- Trent Moser at GCU is going to have a big season. He was a starting outside/ opposite at BYU. Transfers to GCU after 2 of GCU's main pin hitters (Camden Gianni and Jackson Hickman) graduate. Plus Moser has proven himself an excellent player at BYU; but I think this season is where he's really going to shine.
I think UCLA is going to beat GCU too, but I think they are one of the teams in the MPSF that is going to put up a fight with the Bruins. Love the Moser add at GCU, I agree I think he has an awesome year this year. Thanks for the comment!
UCLA is stacked for real this season. They just need to be on their "A" game this year because many teams will be gunning for them. I think USC and BYU will challenge them in the MPSF. I'm looking at the Big West, and 3 teams in the AVCA Top 5 are from the Big West Conference, and they are a much bigger threat to UCLA, if they want to get back to the Final. Almost every team has improved on their rosters this year, and it will make for a much more competitive season.
Definitely agree with you! I think LBSU, UCI, are going to be the biggest challengers for UCLA this season. But always exciting to look at conference rivalries as well. Should be a close and competitive season all the way through.
Thoughts on Irvine being 3rd in the polls now Shewey has left? I’m personally unsure on Hawaii being 4th after losing so many players - Voss, Galloway, Todd, Thiim, Hakas as not many of their potential replacements players got bedded in/court time last season or were slightly underwhelming (Sakanoko has such a high ceiling but is frustratingly inconsistent). I also think Rosenfeld and Choy needs to show progression but have a lot of faith Milan Zarkovich will do a lot of good work with them a la Thelle. Nusterer is a stud though.
Irvine still has insane firepower with Henno, Flexen and Gregoriev. The limiting factor for them will be floor defense and reception. Hawaii looked really good in their exhibition and have some top foreign talents in their freshmen class.
Hawaii played pretty well in the Exhibition, tread definitely looks a lot more consistent with his setting too. Roure, Kearney, and Titriskyi looks real promising
I think this question could be an entire video. But I think UCI deserves to be in that third slot for now based on bringing back to NPOTY and the rest of the guys they bring back. Hawaii has a new core this year, but their pedigree of success makes me feel comfortable putting them at 4 or 5 ahead of a team like Ball State or Loyola for now.
@@beamerstudios1675Hawaii suffered from not properly transitioning their players. Their 2023 core players left almost simultaneously that no one's left to guide the young ones. That's where UCLA is successful. They give exposure to their younger players so when the senior graduates, someone is ready to take the spot. Rama and Cooper didn't start right away for UCLA. Sperraw transitioned them to the role.
I’m not buying any USC/Dillon Klein hype until they start winning big games, but hopefully Wes Smith can stay healthy. Also, how did any coach say “yeah BYU is my pick to win the MPSF this year”???
I think UCLA will win another championship this year. LB getting Nikolov is huge, and Henno will be great as usual, but UCLA is just so elite all round.
Is it this year that the NCAA championship tournament is gonna expended? I feel like I’ve heard some stuff last a few year if the number of teams going to the post season
As far as my understanding, the expansion is not set for this year. They are hoping to go from an 8 to 12 team playoff. I think it’s probably within the next year or two if I had to guess. Especially with the addition of some of these D2 teams to some of the D1 conferences.
That’s a wonderful question. I could only speculate as to why as he hasn’t announced that publicly. I know he did move to Southern California when he transferred there so maybe that had something to do with it.
I'm not sure how USC did against UCLA during their fall tournaments, but USC's starting lineup with Sterling Foley, Parker Tomkinson, Noah Roberts, and Dillon Klein. I think USC's downfall with be in their setting decisions made by caleb blanchette. I honestly think Trent Taliaferro is better than Caleb
@@behappy6215 Yea I'm a UCLA fan but I'd love to see USC improve and make it more difficult for UCLA to beat them. Their recruiting has improved so much but I just think the coaching and setting is a major issue
UCLA beat them 2-0, but one of the sets was 29-27. I think that's a matchup they will likely try and have their best stuff for this season. I think Blanchette will continue to get better and better, remember he is only a true sophomore this season.
@mitchsterkenburg I just can't help but compare his development to Rowan and to think that their coach is a UCLA alum and olympian, I am sure he learned a thing or two from playing under Al Scates. Sperraw and Karch learned from him.
I would agree the big west is much tougher this year, but last years sweep to Hawaii was someway of an anomoly. This was coming off a back to back against UCI, and GCU has to fly to Hawaii for a night match. Tough for anyone to win under those circumstances. Beating UCLA in the MPSF champs showed me what I needed to see from them last year about winning when it matters.
I'm calling it right now. UCLA is going to beat GCU. So much depth in GCU's starting lineup has left the program since last season. Right now they're in a rebuilding phase of the program. Give it another 2-3 years and I think they could possibly challenge for the national championship again. Also- Trent Moser at GCU is going to have a big season. He was a starting outside/ opposite at BYU. Transfers to GCU after 2 of GCU's main pin hitters (Camden Gianni and Jackson Hickman) graduate. Plus Moser has proven himself an excellent player at BYU; but I think this season is where he's really going to shine.
I think UCLA is going to beat GCU too, but I think they are one of the teams in the MPSF that is going to put up a fight with the Bruins. Love the Moser add at GCU, I agree I think he has an awesome year this year. Thanks for the comment!
I think its best to wait until mid Feb to make an honest prediction. A lot of the games so far are one-sided.
Hawaii looked awesome in their exhibition with BC. Over 5000 people showed up on a Monday early match. Lookout, huge surprise
That's awesome, looks like Adrien Roure and Clay Wieter got the start at OH, and Titriyski at OPPO. Good for them!
UCLA is stacked for real this season. They just need to be on their "A" game this year because many teams will be gunning for them. I think USC and BYU will challenge them in the MPSF. I'm looking at the Big West, and 3 teams in the AVCA Top 5 are from the Big West Conference, and they are a much bigger threat to UCLA, if they want to get back to the Final. Almost every team has improved on their rosters this year, and it will make for a much more competitive season.
Definitely agree with you! I think LBSU, UCI, are going to be the biggest challengers for UCLA this season. But always exciting to look at conference rivalries as well. Should be a close and competitive season all the way through.
For those wondering, the exhibition match was recorded on UA-cam.
where
Was the full match recorded? I’ve found videos of partial clips but haven’t found a full replay yet.
@ As of now no. There are highlights.
@@mitchsterkenburg ua-cam.com/video/gldTDw0A_PQ/v-deo.htmlsi=LSdtLrCJ6yKfCgM9
why is no one talking about Long Beach... they definitely could win this year.
hes just talkin bout the regular season
I had a full video on UCLA vs. LBSU. This one is focused on the MPSF conference.
Thoughts on Irvine being 3rd in the polls now Shewey has left? I’m personally unsure on Hawaii being 4th after losing so many players - Voss, Galloway, Todd, Thiim, Hakas as not many of their potential replacements players got bedded in/court time last season or were slightly underwhelming (Sakanoko has such a high ceiling but is frustratingly inconsistent). I also think Rosenfeld and Choy needs to show progression but have a lot of faith Milan Zarkovich will do a lot of good work with them a la Thelle. Nusterer is a stud though.
Irvine still has insane firepower with Henno, Flexen and Gregoriev. The limiting factor for them will be floor defense and reception. Hawaii looked really good in their exhibition and have some top foreign talents in their freshmen class.
Hawaii played pretty well in the Exhibition, tread definitely looks a lot more consistent with his setting too. Roure, Kearney, and Titriskyi looks real promising
I think this question could be an entire video. But I think UCI deserves to be in that third slot for now based on bringing back to NPOTY and the rest of the guys they bring back. Hawaii has a new core this year, but their pedigree of success makes me feel comfortable putting them at 4 or 5 ahead of a team like Ball State or Loyola for now.
yes and yes.
@@beamerstudios1675Hawaii suffered from not properly transitioning their players. Their 2023 core players left almost simultaneously that no one's left to guide the young ones. That's where UCLA is successful. They give exposure to their younger players so when the senior graduates, someone is ready to take the spot. Rama and Cooper didn't start right away for UCLA. Sperraw transitioned them to the role.
I’m not buying any USC/Dillon Klein hype until they start winning big games, but hopefully Wes Smith can stay healthy. Also, how did any coach say “yeah BYU is my pick to win the MPSF this year”???
UCLA can’t vote for themselves and I’m sure they thought byu was the next best team. Very simple actually
@ 🤦♂️ not sure how I didn’t think about that lmao thanks
I’m not saying he’s going to do it, I just think they’re the best shot on paper to upset UCLA, but I still think it’s HEAVILY favored for the bruins.
It's hard to play games at BYU. The high altitude affects players. It's their secret advantage. 😂
I think UCLA will win another championship this year. LB getting Nikolov is huge, and Henno will be great as usual, but UCLA is just so elite all round.
I think that's the feeling most people have (myself included).
wait what happened to lbsu?
this video focused on teams in the MPSF, which is UCLA's conference. LBSU is in the Big West, so that is why they were not mentioned.
Is it this year that the NCAA championship tournament is gonna expended? I feel like I’ve heard some stuff last a few year if the number of teams going to the post season
As far as my understanding, the expansion is not set for this year. They are hoping to go from an 8 to 12 team playoff. I think it’s probably within the next year or two if I had to guess. Especially with the addition of some of these D2 teams to some of the D1 conferences.
Menlo is definitely underrated.
🤣
don't sleep on Menlo
why do you think guy decided to transfer to USC when he was getting good PT at the #1 team in the nation?
That’s a wonderful question. I could only speculate as to why as he hasn’t announced that publicly. I know he did move to Southern California when he transferred there so maybe that had something to do with it.
Exactly, an All-America middle on the national championship team.
I think he graduated from UCLA and is going to business school at SC. I guess he has some eligibility left so he can still play.
@@lukasky03 I doubt that is that case but maybe
@@stainless7950 Except it's true.
Where is the best place to watch these games this season as someone from the UK ,any suggestions?
ESPN +
Moomoocowjonny on UA-cam
pac-12.com/ live stream
Flosports
Team’s Live Streams
Also B1G + will be streaming some game this year as well for B1G opponents.
I'm not sure how USC did against UCLA during their fall tournaments, but USC's starting lineup with Sterling Foley, Parker Tomkinson, Noah Roberts, and Dillon Klein. I think USC's downfall with be in their setting decisions made by caleb blanchette. I honestly think Trent Taliaferro is better than Caleb
UCLA beat them. USC has the pieces but for some reasons they always fall short. I also think their is limiting them.
@@behappy6215 Yea I'm a UCLA fan but I'd love to see USC improve and make it more difficult for UCLA to beat them. Their recruiting has improved so much but I just think the coaching and setting is a major issue
UCLA beat them 2-0, but one of the sets was 29-27. I think that's a matchup they will likely try and have their best stuff for this season. I think Blanchette will continue to get better and better, remember he is only a true sophomore this season.
@mitchsterkenburg I just can't help but compare his development to Rowan and to think that their coach is a UCLA alum and olympian, I am sure he learned a thing or two from playing under Al Scates. Sperraw and Karch learned from him.
Idk about GCU. Last year they were ranked higher but Hawaii swept them. I think the Big West is tougher or if not the toughest.
I would agree the big west is much tougher this year, but last years sweep to Hawaii was someway of an anomoly. This was coming off a back to back against UCI, and GCU has to fly to Hawaii for a night match. Tough for anyone to win under those circumstances. Beating UCLA in the MPSF champs showed me what I needed to see from them last year about winning when it matters.