Next year predictions

[DoubleJayAlum]

For the most part I have just been reading along, but I don't think anyone here is looking for Congratulations at at this point - thank you, but we are now looking forward to 2011-2012 last year is in the past. With that said, what we are looking for (I am looking for) is a little bit of respect - your attempt to give us respect included several "yeah but's" and the thing about that is the Sycamores answered "yeah but" questions last year.

Respect is something that is earned, usually over a period of time. Nobody is denying that InSU won the tourney last year. However, that doesn't make them the force to be reckoned with going forward either. The jury is still out as to whether InSU just got hot at the right time (in a league that arguably was the worst it has been in many years) or whether they are an up and comer. Many are waiting to see how they do this next year to decide between a hot stock and a one hit wonder. Even you admitted they were not the best team in the conference last year, which at least gives credence to a discussion that their title was a bit fluky.

You can't be as bad as you were for as long as you were and expect everyone to immediately recognize you as some new conference power. Drake went through a similar situation a few years ago. Respect comes with consistent results over time, not from the results of one conference tourney in arguably one of the conference's weakest years in recent history.

[SycamorePsycho]

For the most part I have just been reading along, but I don't think anyone here is looking for Congratulations at at this point - thank you, but we are now looking forward to 2011-2012 last year is in the past. With that said, what we are looking for (I am looking for) is a little bit of respect - your attempt to give us respect included several "yeah but's" and the thing about that is the Sycamores answered "yeah but" questions last year.

For example they were picked to finish what 7th in the Valley? They finished 3rd.

No one picked us to win in St. Louis, we won in St. Louis. "Yeah but" you beat Evansville with a last second shot (be it by a freshman). It's sudden death/playoff basketball it's not like every single team in that setting doesn't put up a good fight (hence Indiana State winning it all), who cares if we won by a last second shot? We won... I don't think any Indiana State fans are delusional in thinking that Indiana State actually had the best team in St. Louis last year. What we did have was one of if not the best defensive team, the best PG and one of the deeper teams and in a setting in which you have to win 3 games in 3 days that can be a very nice advantage.

STLMVC nailed it and that is basically all I am looking for is some respect. You don't think Odum is the best PG in the league - that's understandable you can make a case for many kids. But if you think losing Aaron Carter and Isiah Martin is going to send the Sycamores back into the play in game your dead wrong. They will be just as deep, if not deeper in 2011 and 2012. The one constant that the Sycamores can count on is Jake Odum - it's probably fair to say he was the "only" star on last years team and even he was overlooked until the Sycamores won the damn thing.

I agree wholeheartedly, couldn't have said it any better myself...

[2livewu]

*sigh*

ISUB fans have officially, and unfathomably, turned me into a Creighton fan for at least 2 days next year.

You want congrats?


You got it, tough guy! Congrats!

[shockalot]

If the pissing contest has concluded; anyone up for a 1 through 10 finish prediction for next year?
My current prediction:
1. CU: They've got a decent front and back court with critical experience, adequate depth.
2. WSU: Lost some important players, but seem to have filled the gaps fairly well; if the seniors come through they'll be very tough.
3. InSU: Good players and experience at all position except perhaps the 4, and will need more post presence to compete for the top spot.
4. DU: They should have enough talent that now has enough experience to make it count, as long as all they finally get the chemistry thing to gel.
5. MSU: Yeah, they lost critical folks, but I'm betting their temporary PG fix may be enough to keep them in the top half, and this is especially true if Creekmore returns.
6. EU: They have a tenaciousness that you have to admire, even if the defense is akin to a country road after a gulley gusher: dirty and bumpy. Still, enough good, experienced basketball players, and coach to stay out of the play-in, barely.
7. IlSU: Should do better than this, but I'm skeptical....
8. NIU: No real post, no proven point, but should still beat some folks.
9. SIU: With Bocot back, Seck the beast, and decent PG, they might finish a little higher.
10. BU: Better days will come.

[dgreenwell3]

If the pissing contest has concluded; anyone up for a 1 through 10 finish prediction for next year?
My current prediction:
1. CU: They've got a decent front and back court with critical experience, adequate depth.
2. WSU: Lost some important players, but seem to have filled the gaps fairly well; if the seniors come through they'll be very tough.
3. InSU: Good players and experience at all position except perhaps the 4, and will need more post presence to compete for the top spot.
4. DU: They should have enough talent that now has enough experience to make it count, as long as all they finally get the chemistry thing to gel.
5. MSU: Yeah, they lost critical folks, but I'm betting their temporary PG fix may be enough to keep them in the top half, and this is especially true if Creekmore returns.
6. EU: They have a tenaciousness that you have to admire, even if the defense is akin to a country road after a gulley gusher: dirty and bumpy. Still, enough good, experienced basketball players, and coach to stay out of the play-in, barely.
7. IlSU: Should do better than this, but I'm skeptical....
8. NIU: No real post, no proven point, but should still beat some folks.
9. SIU: With Bocot back, Seck the beast, and decent PG, they might finish a little higher.
10. BU: Better days will come.

Can't disagree with this. I don't think there is a true "pissing contest" till fans from traditional powers take things the wrong way. ISUB fans are excited and for good reason people, their superstar is only a superstar and it seems that Greg lansing is surrounding him with great talent for what should be a greart Junior and Senior year for that young man and the rest of Indiana State.

[STL MVC]

I'd go:

1. Wichita State-- Maybe they can remember how to win at home this year.
2. Indiana State-- Why not?
3. Creighton-- these top three teams are interchangeable in my mind. CU just comes in lowest in my gut.
4. Evansville-- Marty Simmons has the classic blueprint for an overachiever.
5. Missouri State-- Sometimes we forget they still have Weems. I think the rest of the returning roster can play... it's just that the starting 5 played so much last year that it's hard to tell.
6. Drake-- Should at least finish above .500, could be a lot better than that. Big year for Mark Phelps.
7. Northern Iowa-- Going to have to start 11-12 a hell of a lot better than it ended last season
8. Illinois State-- because they're not as bad as the last two teams on the list.
9. Bradley-- I like DSE.
10. Southern Illinois-- Waiting for that contract to run out...

[sycamorestateofmind]

For the most part I have just been reading along, but I don't think anyone here is looking for Congratulations at at this point - thank you, but we are now looking forward to 2011-2012 last year is in the past. With that said, what we are looking for (I am looking for) is a little bit of respect - your attempt to give us respect included several "yeah but's" and the thing about that is the Sycamores answered "yeah but" questions last year.

Respect is something that is earned, usually over a period of time. Nobody is denying that InSU won the tourney last year. However, that doesn't make them the force to be reckoned with going forward either. The jury is still out as to whether InSU just got hot at the right time (in a league that arguably was the worst it has been in many years) or whether they are an up and comer. Many are waiting to see how they do this next year to decide between a hot stock and a one hit wonder. Even you admitted they were not the best team in the conference last year, which at least gives credence to a discussion that their title was a bit fluky.

You can't be as bad as you were for as long as you were and expect everyone to immediately recognize you as some new conference power. Drake went through a similar situation a few years ago. Respect comes with consistent results over time, not from the results of one conference tourney in arguably one of the conference's weakest years in recent history.

I can handle this... Well put, other than stating the most obvious (as if I was born yesterday) that respect is something that is earned bla bla bla. I get that, I really do.

I guess for me (total homer) that a team picked to finish 7th that finishes 3rd and the wins the damn thing in St. Louis has probably done enough to garner some respect. Especially when they didn't lose much - so basically what you've suggested is the 3rd place finish in the Valley was a fluke to you and the fact that they ran the table in St. Louis was a fluke to you - so we can't be taken serious... The only thing flukie about the Sycamores winning in St. Louis was the fact that we hadn't done it for 10 years and we finally had a good enough regular season to avoid the play-in game.

But your right - if the Sycamores were going to do what they did, last year was a perfect year for it. The table was set perfectly for us to do what we did. We were hot at the right time, the Valley sucked and the team had absolutely nothing to lose because no body expected us to do anything - the pressure to preform was non-existent.

Once again - thank you for the Congratulations. Would really like to just understand how a team that loses virtually nothing can't be taken "all the way" serious, I just struggle with that. Don't take Jake Odum serious, what do we care. He had his best games against Young last year during MVC play, he doesn't seem to look threatened by anything the Valley has thrown at him so far.

[Shockerfan13]

Last year Indiana St was the underdog many times in most people's eyes. They had virtually no expectations and were playing loose and obviously having fun.

I'm curious how they will handle higher expectations with a little bigger target on their back. They will have more pressure this year to back up what they did last year. That's the biggest question mark in my mind.

I do think they will be a solid squad though. We'll just see how it plays out.

[sycamorestateofmind]

Last year Indiana St was the underdog many times in most people's eyes. They had virtually no expectations and were playing loose and obviously having fun.

I'm curious how they will handle higher expectations with a little bigger target on their back. They will have more pressure this year to back up what they did last year. That's the biggest question mark in my mind.

I do think they will be a solid squad though. We'll just see how it plays out.

I feel like my post above alluded to this point? I couldn't agree with you more and I think it's a fair reason to think that the Sycamores might not be able to succeed/live up to the hype. The will not go overlooked this year - as they were much of last season. 3 Reasons that we will be able to handle the pressure:

1. Jake Odum
2. Defense
3. Depth

None of that changed for this team, Greg Lansing is going to go about 4 or 5 deep into his bench night in and night out. Outside of Richard, Walker, Odum you have players that are very replaceable/interchangeable.

[shockalot]

I'd go:

1. Wichita State-- Maybe they can remember how to win at home this year.
2. Indiana State-- Why not?
3. Creighton-- these top three teams are interchangeable in my mind. CU just comes in lowest in my gut.
4. Evansville-- Marty Simmons has the classic blueprint for an overachiever.
5. Missouri State-- Sometimes we forget they still have Weems. I think the rest of the returning roster can play... it's just that the starting 5 played so much last year that it's hard to tell.
6. Drake-- Should at least finish above .500, could be a lot better than that. Big year for Mark Phelps.
7. Northern Iowa-- Going to have to start 11-12 a hell of a lot better than it ended last season
8. Illinois State-- because they're not as bad as the last two teams on the list.
9. Bradley-- I like DSE.
10. Southern Illinois-- Waiting for that contract to run out...

Equally plausible. For me, picking the order for the last four is harder than picking the top 3 anyway.

As for whether or not it has been a pissing match, it just looked, sounded, and smelled like one, but since I didn't drink of it, I defer to those who did as to how it tasted.