VERY early record predictions

[MoBraves]

Dude...if Bradley gets to 9-9 in the MVC I will buy you as many beverages as you want MVC Tourney weekend in St. Louis.

Dude - game ON!

I don't see a 9-9 as unrealistic. We gotta' do better under a new system - not expecting Geno to perform a miracle in his 1st season, but I believe he can do better with the guys we have...and he will get through to his players better in the way of expectations. Let's not dwell on last season too much 'cause these guys are capable of playing like they did the last 10 games of the season...maybe better (???)

I think the majority of MVC fans are expecting us to play like a last place team because that's where we finished last year. I don't see that happening. And there's somethin' wrong if somebody is predicting MSU to go 25-5 when they have the potential, and likelihood, to be a bottom 4 team.

[tdawgs87]

Most SIU fans feel that we will be lucky to win 2-3 league games. I guess everyone in the league will tie for 1st and SIU will end up 10th. Go Dawgs

[Tom Servo]

Total shot in the dark but for the Aces I will say:
8-3 Non-con (losses @UNC, IU, and @Miami)
10-8 Valley
18-11 Overall

I would be very happy with this considering what we have been through for the last 10 years. It would be our first winning Valley season since 99. Anything better and I would be even more happy.

I will be able to give a better prediction after I see the Exhibition games and the first two home games. If the freshman look pretty good and Peeler can give us some good minutes inside we can probably win 20 games if not we will do worse than what I have above. Just don't know yet.

[Jet915]

Total shot in the dark but for the Aces I will say:
8-3 Non-con (losses @UNC, IU, and @Miami)
10-8 Valley
18-11 Overall

I would be very happy with this considering what we have been through for the last 10 years. It would be our first winning Valley season since 99. Anything better and I would be even more happy.

I will be able to give a better prediction after I see the Exhibition games and the first two home games. If the freshman look pretty good and Peeler can give us some good minutes inside we can probably win 20 games if not we will do worse than what I have above. Just don't know yet.

Wow, finally a realistic prediction. My semi-optimistic prediction for the Jays:

10-2 (non-conference, lose 2 of 3 on the road either @UAB/Tulsa/SDSU)
13-5 (conference, probably lose @WSU/ISUB, a couple more road games we shouldn't and a home game)
23-7 and hopefully the NCAAs although it looks like MSU might take our spot

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Just going game by game for Missouri State's non-conference I am having a hard time between fixing it at 11-1 or 10-2. Winning at the Pit in ABQ is next to impossible so that is the one I don't see us getting. I think we might lose a game in Vegas but on a neutral court I'd still feel very good about the Bears against both oponents. With the Valley I see 13-5 or 14-4. So overall I predict something between 23-7 and 25-5. With our young team outsiders may roll their eyes, but I think that is where we will be. Kyle is the best player in this league and he will lead us especially on the road. Coach Lusk is a total stud and is a big time upgrade over the guy from East St. Louis that lead us previously (all ready forgot his name ha ha).

I am rolling my eyes and rolling on the floor laughing.

This is 10x worse than the Bradley 9-9 prediction.

After what happened in Richmond, KY today I amend my numbers. I go 0-30. Nothing good ever happens to us. We are cursed. I am livvid right now. I know basketball and football are different. But even in women's basketball we lost a gal from Springfield to Louisville this week. Nothing has gone right for our Bears this week. I am sorry for my optimism...Lucy is going to continue to pull the ball out from under our Charlie Brown. I believe in Coach Lusk but he is fighting an uphill battle with our fate. I don't demand a National title but just once, just once I'd like to do something special here. Anyhow switching over from football to basketball right now. The worm might just turn for us, for my sanity I'd sure like for it too. I was probably excited for 25-5 or whatever, who knows. I just want to see goo d ball.

[BEARZ77]

You know Casey, you can have it both ways, you just need a little restraint. 20-10 looks very doable for this team, with a 12-6/13-5 conference mark a possibility. The losses will be painful early and feed the critics, but we play a number of decent teams on their home courts , and while in the process of building team identity, you just don't waltz in and win that many tough road games. Teams like Nevada, UALR,ORU, Arkansas State aren't great, but they're good enough to make a developing team stumble some, not to mention games against @New Mexico and neutral site West Virginia and possibly Baylor. But all that will season the team quite nicely for a solid chance at a good conference run.

As per the last 2 years, I don't think it will be but a team or 2 if any that walk out of JQH with a win, so then it comes down to road wins in the Valley, and that's where a road schedule like ours should have us ready. We are deep and talented, we just have to see if we can become an efficient team in the span of about 12 games. If so, things will work well when it's all said and done.

And Casey, as far as the overall athletic program, football doesn't bother me at this level, and minus that we are quite successful across the board and always have been in the other significant sports. It is shaping up to be a very fun year in MSU sports when you look at VB,WBB,MBB, and Baseball. Relax and enjoy.

[glm38]

Casey it's not nearly that bad. I agree with most of BEARZ77 thoughts on this. As you already alluded to football and basketball are very different especially at MSU.

Our FB program hasn't been good for a very long time. But it's much harder for a mid major to compete at the DI level in this sport as opposed to b-ball. And further I've lived here all my life and Spfld has always been more of a b-ball town as far as fan support.

Remember in b-ball we had the best conference record last year. We had a great year. We just need to keep building on that and I think we will. There's absolutely no reason to be down regarding basketball. We've got a lot of challenges this year but I'm truly looking forward to seeing what our new coach and our new players can do. And watching Kyle his senior year. I think it's going to be a great year.

My advice is to focus on Bears b-ball and just take an ambivalent approach to our football. That's what I do.

[Red]

I'd be disappointed if we don't at least come close to .500. If we win less than 5-6 conference games, Jank might be out.

[SubGod22]

I'd be disappointed if we don't at least come close to .500. If we win less than 5-6 conference games, Jank might be out.

Does this mean you're hoping to win less than 5-6 conference games?

[MSUDuo]

If you are counting the D2 game...

I will go with non-conference wins against @Ark State, Emporia State, Tulsa, @ORU, @UALR, Kennesaw State, TA&M-CC, and in Vegas against St. Mary's.

Maybe we can find a way to win at home against Oklahoma State or on the road against Nevada. I don't see us beating New Mexico or West Virginia.

Couple that with 11 conference wins and I'll put us at 19-11. 11-7 would put us 4th in the MVC and I expect us to finish in the top half.

Not terrible and something to build on going into the next season hopefully.

If we some how pull some magic out of the hat and end up with wins against the right teams in and out of conference, maybe we can make the noise for the Big Dance but that is a long shot at best.