Standings after 12 games

[valleychamp]

Interesting that it was some UNI and InSU fans who were most upset in October that they weren't included in the conversation for 1st and 2nd in the pre-season predictions.

Excuse me? Please, oh please find me any UNI fan that was predicting a top 2 finish.

[Bawss]

Interesting that it was some UNI and InSU fans who were most upset in October that they weren't included in the conversation for 1st and 2nd in the pre-season predictions.

uh....who?

[2livewu]

unfortunately for us wannabe 3rd place teams, I think UNI has a legit shot at a win over Creighton in cedarloo.

No.

[GOREDBIRDS4]

We need Hacksaw!!!!

[Jays26]

unfortunately for us wannabe 3rd place teams, I think UNI has a legit shot at a win over Creighton in cedarloo.

What gives you that idea? Just curious, not trying to sound like a homer or anything but the way the Jays are playing and scoring they are going to be really tough to beat home or away.

Now with that said, I do expect a close game but I expected a close game last night also. The place will be packed and loud and the UNI crowd will certainly try and get this team rattled but the Jays have proven all year they are cool as a cucumber.

Does UNI have a shot at a win...of course, that's why they play the game. Legit shot???? Nope.

The Jays losing the first conf game to MO St at home might have been the best thing to happen to this team. Really was a wake up call and forced the team to really focus on every game.

[MoValley John]

Interesting that it was some UNI and InSU fans who were most upset in October that they weren't included in the conversation for 1st and 2nd in the pre-season predictions.

Excuse me? Please, oh please find me any UNI fan that was predicting a top 2 finish.

Re: The debate for third place is open.
by valleychamp » August 29th, 2011, 9:50 am

I am also interested that aargh already views CU and WSU basically as automatic locks for the top 2 spaces. Personally, I thought WSU would absolutely have run away with everything last year with the talent and experience that they had. But they didn't. Why should I be believe that they are a lock for the top 2 this year, when that loaded team last year did not exactly perform up to most people's expectations?

And this year, they have to replace Durly, Ellis, Hatch, and Blair. That is a lot of talent and size to replace. They have a lot more experience coming back than a team like MSU because they were certainly a much deeper team, but they are losing as much, if not more talent than MSU is. WSU will have to rely on some new guys to win just as MSU will, IMO. And MSU has the POY coming back.

Re: The debate for third place is open.
by Khan4Cats » August 29th, 2011, 9:53 am

SubGod22 wrote:
unipanther99 wrote:
O'Rear is gone, but unlike his going down late last season there will be more bodies to help out and a new game plan that doesn't involve him. I won't predict that UNI will finish 3rd (or better), but I certainly don't think it's out of the question. I loved O'Rear's passion, but I think Kwadzo will be far more difficult to replace.


The O'Rear injury and UNI falling apart has no effect on this season. I've said elsewhere that Ben will play accordingly and they'll be a solid team this year. I do think they have a better shot at 3rd than MSU. I'm still not convinced that there's enough talent around Weems to make up for what they lost. Put that with a new coach and I think they struggle a bit this season.


While UNI lost 8 of it's last 10 games I think it is a little overstating to say that they fell-apart or were bottom feeders. Only 1 of the 8 losses was by double figures (the blow-out loss to WSU), but even that wa sonly our third-worst point-differential loss of the year, the other two we had O'Rear for.

Each of the other games was a close contest in the last few minutes where UNI had chances to win but didn't finish it off. Not too different from most of UNI's season as we rarely blow teams out or get blown out. We just didn't have whatever it was that O'Rear provided that was enough to get us over the finish line in those games.

Whether we have that toughness this year, no one yet knows.

Re: The debate for third place is open.
by glm38 » September 1st, 2011, 4:57 pm

2livewu wrote:
I know this is going to seem like I am contradicting myself but here goes.

Wragge is the main reason I pick CU to win the conference. He can stretch defenses like few others, has experience and is a smart player. He gives CU a uniqueness type player that few other Valley teams can claim. Combined with Greg E and Little Mac (2 more players that nobody really can match up with) that's just a bit too much to overcome. I don't see Creighton losing more than 3 games in conference, at the most. I think WSU has to split with CU and lose just 1 other game to take the title, and that's not going to happen. And WSU is the only team that's capable of challenging the Jays (man that hurts to say that).

The one thing about Wragge is that unless he has improved A LOT, he can't guard anything near a legitimate 4. Ever. He is not a good defensive player. He is a fantastic shooter, an amazing shooter. If he has improved a ton on defense, CU is probably unstoppable in the league.

Any fan of UNI, Evansville, Indiana State or MSU (to say nothing of the projected bottom 4) that thinks they have any more than a fleeting chance at the Jays doesn't understand basketball or just has a really bad case of tunnel vision.


CU was 10-8 in the conference last year. I just don't see how that translates into them being almost unbeatable this coming year?

In hindsight, it is somewhat funny to go back and re-read the thread in question. While nobody came out and said Wichita State and Creighton won't finish 1-2, many questioned how Aargh could make such a leap in the preseason. Reading the thread over, I got the distinct impression that many were hedging by not coming out and stating that Team A, B or C would finish above Wichita State or Creighton, but they also tried to give reasons for why their team might finish in first or second. And yes, that included you and other UNI fans, Champ.

[Ali]

UNI almost beat CU in Omaha. No reason we can't win on Saturday if we play well or CU isn't shooting well.

[MoValley John]

Other questions in that thread included Creighton not being strong in the post and being able to win on the road. Wichita State was questioned as not having depth and their returning players were questioned as there was a bunch of turnover.

Hindsight has answered all of these questions affirming Aargh's position and debunking any of the above questions. After 12 games, Creighton has a very strong post presence and depth at the position, they can win on the road. Wichita State does have depth and they didn't lose a step due to graduation. As it stands right now, the combined conference losses of both Creighton and Wichita State (3) are half of any other team. Also, Creighton and Wichita State have lost exactly six games total. six!!! Aargh was right, the whole preseason rankings came down to a battle for third.

[MoValley John]

UNI almost beat CU in Omaha. No reason we can't win on Saturday if we play well or CU isn't shooting well.

Any team can win on any given day, so this isn't much of a leap. What would be a more gutsy prognostication would be to state that UNI was going to win, probably win or at least give the odds of UNI pulling out the win.

[MoValley John]

Re: The debate for third place is open.
by Khan4Cats » September 4th, 2011, 9:34 am

Personally, I know that UNI had many questions coming into the season, but believe that they will get positive answers on those questions. I don't see any team as unbeatable in the conference for them. I understand why people will pick them in the second tier and I am fine with that. I also believe strongly in this team and anything less than wearing white on Friday in St. Louis will be disappointing and I'm not going to to try and argue why they should be a Thursday team.