Season Predictions 2021-22

[Kyle_Saluki_17]

I'll go with...

1. UNI
2. Drake
3. LUC
4. MSU
5. SIU
6. Il St
7. VU
8. BU
9. EU
10. Ind St.

Illinois State being picked 6th is the boldest prediction I've seen so far this year.

[letsgoAces]

I'll go with...

1. UNI
2. Drake
3. LUC
4. MSU
5. SIU
6. Il St
7. VU
8. BU
9. EU
10. Ind St.

Illinois State being picked 6th is the boldest prediction I've seen so far this year.

There will be several coaches fired if ISU-red gets to 6th place.

[hot nuts]

I'll go with...

1. UNI
2. Drake
3. LUC
4. MSU
5. SIU
6. Il St
7. VU
8. BU
9. EU
10. Ind St.

Illinois State being picked 6th is the boldest prediction I've seen so far this year.

I'm a bold thinker...and of course a homer. Sad that my homer pick for the Birds is 6th.

[hot nuts]

There will be several coaches fired if ISU-red gets to 6th place.

This seems a little strong. Whilst I'm fully aware of why the Birds should be picked at or near the bottom of the standings, I don't think they will be a pushover. They'll certainly win some home games.

[BCPanther]

I'll go with...

1. UNI
2. Drake
3. LUC
4. MSU
5. SIU
6. Il St
7. VU
8. BU
9. EU
10. Ind St.

Illinois State being picked 6th is the boldest prediction I've seen so far this year.

There will be several coaches fired if ISU-red gets to 6th place.

Eh, Lottich would be the only one in trouble in that situation.

Wardle is safe. Evansville needs stability and isn't going to make a move. Schertz is new.

Schertz is the fascinating one to me. He wants to play fast, not just 'Valley Fast' but, like, real fast. I don't know how that translates in this league.

[squirrel]

Eh, Lottich would be the only one in trouble in that situation.

Wardle is safe. Evansville needs stability and isn't going to make a move. Schertz is new.

Schertz is the fascinating one to me. He wants to play fast, not just 'Valley Fast' but, like, real fast. I don't know how that translates in this league.

Right. Although Wardle would clearly be on the hot seat, but my best guess is given the talent of Mast and Leons, he would probably be given that next 2 years to win with them.

He is still the first Bradley coach to earn back-to-back NCAA bids (it was different coaches in 1954 and 1955) and would be just 2 years removed from that, in spite of disappointing league finishes (yes, I recognize league finish is the more important barometer), but optics and $ are also a factor.

That said, the Schertz question will be interesting. There really has not been a dramatic style change in DI hoops in a LONG time. One of the finalists when Bradley hired Wardle was Jim Crutchfield (who turned D2 West Liberty into a rapid-paced unconventional national power, and now attempting the same at Nova Southeastern). . .but what Schertz did right is bring in guys in each class from LMU that already know the system and style. So at least it will be easier to implement. But I would imagine by league, you'll see them play the same slug-it-out style everyone else in the league plays. But how DI ready will those guys be?

[tribecalledquest]

Schertz is the fascinating one to me. He wants to play fast, not just 'Valley Fast' but, like, real fast. I don't know how that translates in this league.

Agreed on Schertz. I hope it works.

[All-MVC Fan]

Schertz’s progress will be interesting to watch. If he can get the right pieces in place (a big if), he will be in a position to force his style of play on his opponents. Don’t forget, at LMU, his teams were outstanding on the defensive end. Could be riding the front side of a wave of change in basketball. Or it could crash. Should be a good movie to watch.

[letsgoAces]

Schertz’s progress will be interesting to watch. If he can get the right pieces in place (a big if), he will be in a position to force his style of play on his opponents. Don’t forget, at LMU, his teams were outstanding on the defensive end. Could be riding the front side of a wave of change in basketball. Or it could crash. Should be a good movie to watch.

Completely agree about Schertz. Who knows, maybe the next Bruce Pearl. It's hard in the MVC (and many other leagues) to play high octane all the time. He was an interesting hire and a guy whom I believe will be very driven. As you say, it will be a good movie to watch.

[IllinoisState]

Schertz’s progress will be interesting to watch. If he can get the right pieces in place (a big if), he will be in a position to force his style of play on his opponents. Don’t forget, at LMU, his teams were outstanding on the defensive end. Could be riding the front side of a wave of change in basketball. Or it could crash. Should be a good movie to watch.

Completely agree about Schertz. Who knows, maybe the next Bruce Pearl. It's hard in the MVC (and many other leagues) to play high octane all the time. He was an interesting hire and a guy whom I believe will be very driven. As you say, it will be a good movie to watch.

So every team he leaves will be toxic?