Who will be the preseason favorite in 2011-12?

[Shockerfan13]

I am pretty new here, and have a stupid question. Why is Indiana State referred to as "ISUb"? Is that some sort of word play on "I sub"? I don't get it. Please advise.

The conference has 2 ISU's

ISUb - ISU (blue) a.k.a. Indiana St
ISUr - ISU (red) a.k.a. Illinois St

[MoValley John]

[quote="wheresbird"]I am pretty new here, and have a stupid question. Why is Indiana State referred to as "ISUb"? Is that some sort of word play on "I sub"? I don't get it. Please advise.[/quote]

This is where the MVJ of old would pounce!!! Right for the throat!!!

The restraint I am showing is legendary!

With that, my segue back to the topic at hand. Since this is titled preseason favorite, that leads me to belive, who the prognosticators will pick. In other words, Suellenthrop, Steve Pivovar and other media people think. Preseason favorite will be one of two teams, Wichita State or Creighton. My gut says Wichita State, but looking at this on paper and devoid of gut, I sway toward Creighton. My gut is that pollsters will also split along those lines with beat writers, looking at the Shockers run in the NIT, break 60-40 or 55-45 toward the Shocks. Suellenthrop and Pivovar will both cast homer votes.

My on paper thinking has beat writers looking at what each school loses and what leadership is returning. Creighton returns their top three starters, plus, an emerging star in Jahens Manigat. The loss of Korver will be considered minimal, if not considered a positive by beat writers. And the on paper thinking is where Wichita State's depth this year could hurt them with the media. The Shockers were pretty balanced in stats and had 10 guys contribute. Therefore, beat writers will look at very deceptive, average numbers from the Shocker returners, combine that with the losses of JT Durley, Ellis and Hatch, and writers are likely to downgrade the Shockers.

In the end, my gut says the writers go to the eye test and pick the Shockers, followed by Creighton. ISUb gets number three followed by Missouri State. Drake hits the five spot, while Evansville locks up six. Seven goes to UNI, while 8,9 and 10 get the Illinois schools in any particular order.

MVJ, on the other hand, looks for a dead heat at the top!
1. CU/ WSU 15-3. Both teams hang a banner, Shockers get the 1 seed.
3. Drake
4. ISUb
5. MSU
6. UNI
7. E'ville
8. SIU
9. ISUr
10. BU

[Ricardo del Rio]

Indiana State all the way.

There is little doubt.

[Shockerfan13]

I am pretty new here, and have a stupid question. Why is Indiana State referred to as "ISUb"? Is that some sort of word play on "I sub"? I don't get it. Please advise.

This is where the MVJ of old would pounce!!! Right for the throat!!!

The restraint I am showing is legendary!

With that, my segue back to the topic at hand. Since this is titled preseason favorite, that leads me to belive, who the prognosticators will pick. In other words, Suellenthrop, Steve Pivovar and other media people think. Preseason favorite will be one of two teams, Wichita State or Creighton. My gut says Wichita State, but looking at this on paper and devoid of gut, I sway toward Creighton. My gut is that pollsters will also split along those lines with beat writers, looking at the Shockers run in the NIT, break 60-40 or 55-45 toward the Shocks. Suellenthrop and Pivovar will both cast homer votes.

My on paper thinking has beat writers looking at what each school loses and what leadership is returning. Creighton returns their top three starters, plus, an emerging star in Jahens Manigat. The loss of Korver will be considered minimal, if not considered a positive by beat writers. And the on paper thinking is where Wichita State's depth this year could hurt them with the media. The Shockers were pretty balanced in stats and had 10 guys contribute. Therefore, beat writers will look at very deceptive, average numbers from the Shocker returners, combine that with the losses of JT Durley, Ellis and Hatch, and writers are likely to downgrade the Shockers.

In the end, my gut says the writers go to the eye test and pick the Shockers, followed by Creighton. ISUb gets number three followed by Missouri State. Drake hits the five spot, while Evansville locks up six. Seven goes to UNI, while 8,9 and 10 get the Illinois schools in any particular order.

MVJ, on the other hand, looks for a dead heat at the top!
1. CU/ WSU 15-3. Both teams hang a banner, Shockers get the 1 seed.
3. Drake
4. ISUb
5. MSU
6. UNI
7. E'ville
8. SIU
9. ISUr
10. BU

I know that I have heard Suellentrop already mention he expects Creighton to be the favorite next year. I am sure that is how he will lean. I expect Creighton to be the pre-season pick.

[wheresbird]

Makes perfect sense on the ISUb thing. Glad nobody pounced - I admitted that I'm new so there's no way I could have known that. Thanks.

[Bluejay09Bear06]

This is where the MVJ of old would pounce!!! Right for the throat!!!

The restraint I am showing is legendary!

Seriously? Are you for real? After you single handedly had ValleyTalk shut down for cramming it half-full of the junior-high ROTFL emoticons, now you're ridiculing someone brand-new to the board for not knowing that this board, quite illogically in my opinion, distinguishes two teams by their color rather than their name? Stick to what you do best - lifting two pages straight out of "Introduction to Market Dynamics" in a 10th grade civics textbook and posting it on a basketball thread like you're some bad*ss economics professor.

[MoValley John]

[quote="Bluejay09Bear06"][quote="MoValley John"]This is where the MVJ of old would pounce!!! Right for the throat!!!

The restraint I am showing is legendary![/quote]

Seriously? Are you for real? After you single handedly had ValleyTalk shut down for cramming it half-full of the junior-high ROTFL emoticons, now you're ridiculing someone brand-new to the board for not knowing that this board, quite illogically in my opinion, distinguishes two teams by their color rather than their name? Stick to what you do best - lifting two pages straight out of "Introduction to Market Dynamics" in a 10th grade civics textbook and posting it on a basketball thread like you're some bad*ss economics professor.[/quote]

I will give you everything you said about VT. But at the same time, I will issue you a couple of challenges.

First, find where I lifted my economics out of a textbook and posted it. I'm sure you can accomplish this if you simply Google supply and demand, market value, fair market value, market forces and what have you. If I am lifting anything straight out of any textbook, you will find it in two minutes.

My second challenge is for you to find where I haven't been restrained on this board, you won't. As the post I made stated, I have been very restrained. And as you stated, I ruined Valley Talk for exactly that. I haven't done any of that here. I haven't name called, I haven't badgered. That said, I have opinions on the direction of the Valley, some are very strong. I have stated them plainly. My opinion on any issue is no more or no less valid than anyone else's opinion. In fact, BEE LINE and I had a very spirited debate regarding coaches salaries and budgets. We had different opinions but remained very respectful. If you remember Valley Talk, BEE LINE and I were absolute enemies on that board. The discussion weh had a little over a week ago had neither of us getting hot under the collar or calling each other a single name. It was quite refreshing. So, as I said, I will grant you that I had a big part in the demise of VT, but until you can demonstrate where I have done anything on here to deserve your reply, your response is completely unfounded and undeserved.

Thank you.

[SubGod22]

I do think CU will be the preseason favorite with WSU right behind them. After that, who the hell knows for sure. ISUb, DU and UNI in some order will round out the top 5. Followed by UE and MSU and then the Illinois schools. Although, I do think that ISUr has a chance to move up into 5th or 6th.

[MoValley John]

[quote="SubGod22"]I do think CU will be the preseason favorite with WSU right behind them. After that, who the hell knows for sure. ISUb, DU and UNI in some order will round out the top 5. Followed by UE and MSU and then the Illinois schools. Although, I do think that ISUr has a chance to move up into 5th or 6th.[/quote]

The biggest question mark I have is ISUr. Them and Bradley. Bradley is an unknown with a new coach and stars gone, so even though I am pretty confident in my opinion that they will be 8-10, they still are a bit of an inknown. ISUr, on the other hand, is simply a puzzle. Jank couldn't get it done with arguably the best talent in the league and without Osiris and the boys, he has simply looked lost. That said, they do have good players and recruits and maybe Jank will put the pieces together, I simply don't know. Placing ISUr is simply a mystery to me.

[bigdawg]

First of all, I like the new MVJ.

Secondly, ISUr, BU, and SIU will all be playing on Thursday. Illinois hoops not so good right now.