MVC Games - XMas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa Break

[Blers]

It is a shame You can see how good Loyola would be if they had been healthy. Hopefully this year just helps them build depth for next year.

I still think they would have dropped some games even if healthy. I cant overemphasize how different the team looks compared to the last two years in terms of personnel, so many new pieces, but they're all settling in. Clemons a steady point and pesky defender, Kennedy and Pipkins are both developing into scoring spark plugs off the bench... biggest surprise has probably been D2 transfer Tate Hall who's become a real leader on the floor, tough as nails, second leading scorer. They've been fun to watch even in loses, especially after last year where they really only had 2-3 scoring options in any given game. I feel good about how they've been gelling despite a tough loss today... last year they would have collapsed being down 2 starters in the majority of a half.

They'll still lose some head scratchers this year, they're not there yet, Valpo (everyone really) will be TOUGH, but there's been a massive improvement in play since Coppin; way faster than i would have thought. Next year I'm really hoping they can be scary. We don't lose anyone playing minutes right now plus get Kaifes back, Norris eligible, and Baylor Hebb who's been on an absolute tear in Texas... the worst player on the roster by then may very well be Uguak who has started for a season and a half.

[Mikovio]

I still fail to see the big issue with 11 even if it creates non revenue sport scheduling issues Those can be figured out and smoothed over it just takes a strong will to make it happen. It's the right move for the conference and makes us better.

Well it would impact MBB too because 11 teams means someone is sitting out every weekend/mid-weekday while the other 10 are playing each other. Or play a noncon opponent but who's available to play in February? The MWC is 11 teams and has a team sitting out but instead of cutting into their noncon availability they just don't do the full round robin. I'd favor keeping the round robin, especially if we're expanding to add a team for its quality so we can improve the collective SOS.

It also obviously impacts the tournament but you could just add a third game on Thursday and only award byes to the top 5 teams. Downside to that is fewer teams will feel they have a shot going into it.

[VUGrad1314]

I'm not concerned with everyone feeling like they have a shot going into St Louis. That's what the season is for and it behooves us to send our best team(s). I mean we could always schedule non con games with schools from say the WAC or the WCC who have less conference games if we need to fill a scheduling hole in January or February. Might even be able to get some good resume boosting matchups for our best teams. Think of it almost like a return of the Bracket Buster for us. Ideally yes you keep a round robin for rivalries togetherness and harmony among the SOS because it can be hard to predict who needs the boost of a slightly tougher conference slate and who might benefit from it but I'm willing to forgo it if it makes the conference better and I feel a Murray State addition does many more years than it doesn't especially when you account for the scheduling and recruiting bump they will get for playing here in the MVC. I would love to see each MVC school drop its non D1 and its worse D1 game (or second non D1 in a few cases) for an annual series with Murray State. I think it would be great for everybody and help much more than it hurts.

[BCPanther]

The non-DI games aren't the problem. We all HAVE to play home games and paying a DIII $10K to have no bearing on numbers makes so much more sense than playing a bad DI team $75k to make your computer numbers look worse.

Jake said a couple weeks ago that two non-DIs is going to be the norm going forward for UNI. The NET rewards beating bad teams at home and playing close games or winning against good teams on the road.

UNI's future non-cons are going to be: MTE, 3 or 4 H-H with like minded leagues, 1 DI buy and 2 non-DIs. Will also be bought once every two or three years for the right matchup and travel.

[Drakey]

What is MTE?

[VUGrad1314]

Multi Team Event Think of them as your early season tournaments that usually occur around Thanksgiving. Notable examples include the Maui Invitational the Battle 4 Atlantis the Cancun Challenge the Paradise Jam the Charleston Classic the Diamond Head Classic the Wooden Legacy and so on...

[Majik45]

Bradley took down a solid Toledo team this afternoon in Peoria 78 to 66. Bradley was down to 7 scholarship players available as it was announced just before game that freshman Stephan Gabriel was kicked off the team for multiple team violations. Juco PG Danya Kingsby was also suspended for the game. Childs still out with broken hand.

Darryl Brown had a game and scored 29 points and it was a complete team effort on the win. Bradley played lineups we have not seen this year like Koch Bar and Ari Booyah at same time. Walk on Sean Haupt also logged a few minutes.

I feel much better about Bradley being able to compete at home while Childs is out in early MVC play.