2019-20 Top 144

[BCPanther]

College Sports Madness is in the middle of their Top 144 and the Valley portion is done. Here's what they think:

86. UNI
100. Missouri State
114. Bradley
130. Loyola

That's it for The Valley. Lots to prove after last year but I think they got the Top 4 right, it's just a matter of what order they go in.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Of course you think they hit it right. Missouri state is clearly #1. UNI could very well finish 7th or 2nd.

[BEARZ77]

Of course you think they hit it right. Missouri state is clearly #1. UNI could very well finish 7th or 2nd.

While a lot of people are picking us, i just don't get it. You got to do it first, so for me Loyola remains the most proven commodity [ although the loss of Kaifes is big] and I still think everyone is underestimating Drake, who I think was easily the best coached team in the conference last year. I think this looks like a typical past successful UNI team, but the last three years have given me pause to just expecting Jake can make it happen. And I look at Illinois State and think while they have a lot of new faces, their roster may be as deep and talented as MSU with a more proven coach. And then you just can't overlook the confidence Bradley got down the stretch last year. So for me it's a 6 team race right now , and that doesn't take in to account a vastly more talented Evansville or a team like Indiana St. who has as talented and deep a back court as anyone, who if they get some play out of their young bigs is also dangerous. Someone[s] may emerge and separate from the pack, if so I think it'll be a team that plays different from the majority of the league like Drake did last year.

[Aargh]

It's sad to see the Valley getting only an auto bid and the prediction that that bid will be a 14 seed. Yikes!

Ford's recruiting has a proven track record. His coaching doesn't have as strong a track record. If he can coach as well as he recruits, I'd have to go with MSU to win the Valley.

That would be unfortunate for MSU. If Ford could manage to win a game in the tourney, he'd be gone. Ford does not have a track record of sticking around at any school where he's coached.

[BCPanther]

Of course you think they hit it right. Missouri state is clearly #1. UNI could very well finish 7th or 2nd.

Did. Did you read the back half of that sentence?

[uniguy]

To say Missouri State is clearly number 1 is silly, and that is no disrespect to them. You're talking about league whose co-champions had six losses last year. And your obvious pick finished tied for third with eight losses and just a game above the playin zone. A number of teams are bringing back a lot of guys. You can make a strong argument that Missouri State should be the favorite.....but there isn't an "obvious #1".

The only thing I can say I feel pretty strongly about, is that the predictions will be wrong. This is a pretty wide open league.

[Sir Sci]

To say Missouri State is clearly number 1 is silly, and that is no disrespect to them. You're talking about league whose co-champions had six losses last year. And your obvious pick finished tied for third with eight losses and just a game above the playin zone. A number of teams are bringing back a lot of guys. You can make a strong argument that Missouri State should be the favorite.....but there isn't an "obvious #1".

The only thing I can say I feel pretty strongly about, is that the predictions will be wrong. This is a pretty wide open league.

No disrespect detected. Missouri State hasn't won anything yet. I'm hoping they run away with the conference, but until that happens, nothing is clear or obvious.