Surprise team of the Valley in 2011/12?

[dgreenwell3]

I'm picking Illinois State to be the surprise team. A lot of young talent. If they don't improve, it's proof that Jank sucks.

Still very optimistic about this group. If they don't improve, it won't have anythnig to do with their talent level.

Yeah if Jank cant make this team work the next two years...something is wrong. Nic Moore Looks like a stud was on the fence about him but sense have seen him play again. Him and Odum will have some battles.

[2livewu]

Nic Moore Looks like a stud was on the fence about him but sense have seen him play again. Him and Odum will have some battles.

I don't understand.....Illinois State has a gay cowboy named Nic Looks, and you have a vague memory of seeing him play at some point?

"Him and Odum"............*sigh*

[45otseoj]

I know the 'Odum' thing has been beat to death, but you can make a very good case for him being the best guard throughout the conference season.

And yeah, Moore is a 5 star talent stuck in a 2 star frame; could have gone higher. I think people will also be impressed with Johnny Hill. He's the definition of a late bloomer. For anyone who follows high school basketball nationally, Hill dropped 22 on 11 shots from the field while taking eventual champion Simeon to the brink in the 4A semifinal. Wiry kid with a ton of upside who may even redshirt if ISU's jucos are good to go.

If Carmichael gets out of Normal without dancing, Jank should leave with him.

[Aargh]

My first thought was UE, but once I thought more about it I can't go with UE. I think UE will be expected to be in the top half of the league. It's hard to be a surprisewith a top-5 expectation. UE would have to replace CU, WSU, or InSU in the top 3 for their season to even resemble a surprise.

[dgreenwell3]

I know the 'Odum' thing has been beat to death, but you can make a very good case for him being the best guard throughout the conference season.

And yeah, Moore is a 5 star talent stuck in a 2 star frame; could have gone higher. I think people will also be impressed with Johnny Hill. He's the definition of a late bloomer. For anyone who follows high school basketball nationally, Hill dropped 22 on 11 shots from the field while taking eventual champion Simeon to the brink in the 4A semifinal. Wiry kid with a ton of upside who may even redshirt if ISU's jucos are good to go.

If Carmichael gets out of Normal without dancing, Jank should leave with him.

On the subject of the Odum thing, I am impressed by him but i dont expect him to be some sort of Savior of sorts. Trolls be baiting.
More importantly though, I wasnt impressed with Moore the first time I saw him what would have been a year ago. Probably just an off game in reality but after I saw him again, kid is a legitimate above MVC recruit. By that I mean if he was 2-3 inches taller I doubt he would be at ILSU. Hoping you guys return to form this year, an Illinois State- Indiana State game when both teams are competitive is fun to watch.

Reminds me of this:
"THAT'S LEGIT TUNNELL VISION."

[pafan]

I agree with

InSU, UE, and DU (possibly more) won't have the front court to battle for a championship,

I like UE for a dark horse. Most folks (from reading the posts here) have the Aces somewhere between 4th and 6th. It seems unlikely that Evansville will be worse this year than last, but the upside potential is very hazy. I won't argue with anyone who thinks UE could finish top 3 or win Arch Madness 2012.

If I had to pick a second candidate, it would be MSU. Again, most people seem to have them in the middle of the pack, but they have a lot of pieces back.

[45otseoj]

Reminds me of this:
"THAT'S LEGIT TUNNELL VISION."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wy0EXpUaE0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Nqon7O ... re=related

[BirdmanBB]

I know the 'Odum' thing has been beat to death, but you can make a very good case for him being the best guard throughout the conference season.

And yeah, Moore is a 5 star talent stuck in a 2 star frame; could have gone higher. I think people will also be impressed with Johnny Hill. He's the definition of a late bloomer. For anyone who follows high school basketball nationally, Hill dropped 22 on 11 shots from the field while taking eventual champion Simeon to the brink in the 4A semifinal. Wiry kid with a ton of upside who may even redshirt if ISU's jucos are good to go.

If Carmichael gets out of Normal without dancing, Jank should leave with him.

On the subject of the Odum thing, I am impressed by him but i dont expect him to be some sort of Savior of sorts. Trolls be baiting.
More importantly though, I wasnt impressed with Moore the first time I saw him what would have been a year ago. Probably just an off game in reality but after I saw him again, kid is a legitimate above MVC recruit. By that I mean if he was 2-3 inches taller I doubt he would be at ILSU. Hoping you guys return to form this year, an Illinois State- Indiana State game when both teams are competitive is fun to watch.

Reminds me of this:
"THAT'S LEGIT TUNNELL VISION."

Don't remind us. That was so hard to watch.

Well.....we are hoping Jackie Carmichael had some sort of sophmore slump last year. You guys better hope the same thing doesn't happen to Odum. It was hard to watch him not play up to his potential, but it was also hard to watch an "up tempo" offense have tons of difficulties moving the ball around and finding open shots.

[WSUbballer]

Sounds like everyone is gonna be a surprise team this year. Makes you wonder who everyone thinks is actually gonna tank into the bottom 2 or 3 spots..

Based on where they're gonna be predicted, I think Illinois State is gonna surprise the most.

[Khan4Cats]

Sounds like everyone is gonna be a surprise team this year. Makes you wonder who everyone thinks is actually gonna tank into the bottom 2 or 3 spots..

Based on where they're gonna be predicted, I think Illinois State is gonna surprise the most.

I was going to say something similar. I think the "surprise" team this year will be the team picked to finish upper half that instead tanks and has to fight to avoid Thursday. I really don't see that happening to WSU or CU, but just abouut anyone else might get a top 5 pick and falter.