Early Valley Predictions

[shoxrox]

I think WSU loses too much to win the league outright. I know they lost a lot this past year too so save your breath. When the Shox are good, they are very good. They are also the same team that lost to SIU and was swept by a middling Aces team.

I'll predict Indiana St, UNI, and WSU each with a 13-5 record.

WSU loses Hall and Armstead, the 2 leaders of the team.

They lose defensive stalwarts Orupke and Williams, and deep bench role player White.

UNI loses 3 year starters in Koch, Sonnen and James and little used center Austin Pehl.

Did WSU really lose more than UNI? Maybe you believe your replacements are better than WSU's. Just curious that's all.

I will be stunned if 3 teams are 13-5. There's just too much parity in this league, even more so with Creighton gone.

I tend to agree with this. According to UNI fans, last year was supposed to be *the* year for UNI, an NCAA appearance at the very least. They lose 3 key starters and contributors, also lost to SIU and were swept by middling Evansville but yet that doesn't get discounted toward the Panthers? Am I missing something?

I'm certainly not predicting a WSU runaway but I don't think UNI is going to magically be a Valley championship team, especially for the sole reason that the negatives for WSU seem to be even worse for UNI.

[uniftw]

UNI: HCBJ & Tuttle are the only reason I have them picked here.

No mention of Deon?

9.3 ppg
44% from the field
2.3 rpg
3.6 apg (2:1 A:T)
1.3 spg

Shabby


I'd put UNI 3rd behind WSU and InSU

We lost 3 very imporant players, but we had some players play important roles behind them.

Bohannon played very well towards the end of the season, and will be almost exactly what Sonnen was for our team in the next 3 years.

Singleton played quite a bit towards the end of the season and will be a solid player next year.

Matt Morrison missed the last half of the season with a torn hamstring, but the first part of the year and year before was a solid player

Wes Washpun, a transfer from TN, will be available next year. He was AAU teammates of Tuttle, Bohannon, and a couple others in the Valley/Un. of Iowa roster.


We have 2 freshman, maybe 3, that I think will contribute as well.


I'd put us solidly in 3rd, but a run at finishing higher isn't out of the question either.


I think there is, at least on paper,a large difference between the top 3 and everyone else

[GoShockers89]

I think most of the teams in the MVC will be rebuilding this season. It may be viewed as a down year for the MVC. If some of the Juco's pan out - it could also be interesting.

Here are my predictions:

#1 WSU: None of the three WSU losses you mentioned were with Baker & Wessel. Those guys are difference makers. They will be ranked top 20 and go up from there. They will also get everyone's best shot and will still win the league

#2 ISUb: ISUb will be a very good team. They were a little hard to figure out last season. If they find consistentcy - they could make the dance.

# 3 - 5 in no particular order:

UNI: HCBJ & Tuttle are the only reason I have them picked here.

MSU: I've lived in Springfield long enough now that I've drank a little of MSU's koolaid and the Bears are growing on me. Seriously, I like M Marshall, Thurman, and Gulley. If they get a good post player they could be a load

Bradley: Just a hunch. I like Geno and think he will turn the Braves around sooner rather than later.

The rest:

ISUr
SIU
Evansville
Drake























Loyola - yes there is that much difference IMO

I was going to post some picks and analysis but this post captures my thoughts perfectly.

[AndShock]

The only way WSU doesn't win the conference outright next year is if half the team gets injured. Actually, I think we'd still win the conference if that happened.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

The only way WSU doesn't win the conference outright next year is if half the team gets injured. Actually, I think we'd still win the conference if that happened.

Gonna bookmark this. I think WSU will most likely win the Valley next year but I don't have the boundless optimism that most WSU fans have. You are a good program, not a great one. Not yet at least.

[2livewu]

Define great then, because if WSU isn't great right now, then no Valley team has been great.

And frankly, your boundless optimism for WSU's success isn't needed. The program is loaded right now. Not invincible but loaded and in a better position to succeed than any other Valley program, by a fairly wide margin.

WSU fans will get heckled and so forth all off season, and I'm sure well into next. The rest of the Valley cannot wait to see them collapse. So be it. I hope some other teams are going to be a lot better than it appears on paper. The conference needs that to happen!

[rlh04d]

While I firmly believe WSU is the best team in the Valley, anything but outright winning the regular season championship will be a failure this year. As it was for Creighton two seasons ago and almost was for them last season.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Define great then, because if WSU isn't great right now, then no Valley team has been great.

And frankly, your boundless optimism for WSU's success isn't needed. The program is loaded right now. Not vincible but loaded and in a better position to succeed than any other Valley program, by a fairly wide margin.

WSU fans will get heckled and so forth all off season, and I'm sure well into next. The rest of the Valley cannot wait to see them collapse. So be it. I hope some other teams are going to be a lot better than it appears on paper. The conference needs that to happen!

Greatness to me is something that is sustained excellence. You have a Valley regular season title from a year ago and a lot of close finishes but still no conference tournament title. Don't get me wrong the run this March was cool. I've got to experience that a couple of times with the Lady Bears so I can commiserate. Still it was two awesome weekends in the end. To be great you need 2-3 regular season titles in a 4 or 5 year stretch coupled with a conference tournament title or three. That's just my opinion.

I don't need you to collapse. I don't really care. If you win the Valley next year or finish last is pretty much inconsequential to me. We are rivals but it is just a game to me in the end.

[GoShockers89]

Casey's prediction history speaks for itself.

[AndShock]

The only way WSU doesn't win the conference outright next year is if half the team gets injured. Actually, I think we'd still win the conference if that happened.

Gonna bookmark this. I think WSU will most likely win the Valley next year but I don't have the boundless optimism that most WSU fans have. You are a good program, not a great one. Not yet at least.

Regardless of what happens, my prediction won't look any more silly than the comment of Marshall being in over his head in this conference. Or the constant predictions of Marshall being gone year after year. If you look at other Valley boards I think Marshall should've left over 50 times by now.