LOOKING AHEAD

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

plus 137 was an old ranking. he has plummeted.

[BCPanther]

Considering Missouri State is in the top tier this year, I don't think it makes sense to not include them in next year's top tier with all they'll have back and added.

So I think it'd be:

Loyola, Missouri State, UNI
-
Illinois State, Drake
-
Valpo, Evansville,
-
SIU, Indiana State

You forgot Bradley. Speaking of which, sort of, UNI next year looks like Bradley did to me this year. That is, a team that was a notch below the top teams, bringing most everything back, but hard to see where they would be a lot better. It's always nice to return a lot, but sometimes veterans are what they are and have been, you don't get a big bump up. I always look at does a team have 3 impact level guys, or a freshman or sophmore ready to be one of those guys. But most years I think you need 3. Sometimes someone comes out of the woodwork to emerge; that's what makes it interesting.

UNI gets Austin Phyfe back and JUCO National Player of the Year PG Tray Croft will be eligible and allow AJ to play off the ball more. I think those are key additions to what's already a solid group after they figured it out.

Missouri State was the one I struggled with the most. They found real success playing a possession game, I'm not convinced Ford won't decide to play fast and reduce their effectiveness. I know DaSilva will be able to play more on the wing nut will matchups reduce his effectiveness.

No matter how we look at it, the league is going to be a blast again.

[ValleyFAN]

Considering Missouri State is in the top tier this year, I don't think it makes sense to not include them in next year's top tier with all they'll have back and added.

So I think it'd be:

Loyola, Missouri State, UNI
-
Illinois State, Drake
-
Valpo, Evansville,
-
SIU, Indiana State

You forgot Bradley. Speaking of which, sort of, UNI next year looks like Bradley did to me this year. That is, a team that was a notch below the top teams, bringing most everything back, but hard to see where they would be a lot better. It's always nice to return a lot, but sometimes veterans are what they are and have been, you don't get a big bump up. I always look at does a team have 3 impact level guys, or a freshman or sophmore ready to be one of those guys. But most years I think you need 3. Sometimes someone comes out of the woodwork to emerge; that's what makes it interesting.

UNI gets Austin Phyfe back and JUCO National Player of the Year PG Tray Croft will be eligible and allow AJ to play off the ball more. I think those are key additions to what's already a solid group after they figured it out.

Missouri State was the one I struggled with the most. They found real success playing a possession game, I'm not convinced Ford won't decide to play fast and reduce their effectiveness. I know DaSilva will be able to play more on the wing nut will matchups reduce his effectiveness.

No matter how we look at it, the league is going to be a blast again.

Missouri State will returns its top two scorers Cook and DaSilva, while adding #4 overall juco Gaige Prim at center. This will really help DaSilvas effectiveness while allowing him to not have to guard the other teams 5 man. Other starters will be Tyrik Dixon, two year starter for MTSU, and Josh Hall, a Nevada transfer who is also an experienced DI player. Should be a solid group to work with. I dont see any reason the Bears should be picked lower than 3rd next season.

I am struggling to figure out how much losing DLO and Van Bree will hurt Bradley next year. I think with Brown, Childs, and Kennell they have a good group but DLO especially has been key for them.

[Blers]

plus 137 was an old ranking. he has plummeted.

The ranking just came out a few days ago (Prephoops), but i'm sure it wasn't closely monitored given how high he is.

I'm still not FULLY convinced Ford doesn't bolt if MSU wins in STL. He's so young and I could see a team trying to get him early. But if he stays MSU is a safe top 4 minimum next season in my book, the only question is how effective are their point guards? Dixon's stats are alright; not an efficient scorer; but the 3 to 1 assist turnover is nice. Tons of talent on that roster though.

Did Croft from UNI have any other offers? Just curious, his numbers are great, but i haven't been able to find much about him otherwise. Also, why'd he red shirt this season?

[BCPanther]

plus 137 was an old ranking. he has plummeted.

The ranking just came out a few days ago (Prephoops), but i'm sure it wasn't closely monitored given how high he is.

I'm still not FULLY convinced Ford doesn't bolt if MSU wins in STL. He's so young and I could see a team trying to get him early. But if he stays MSU is a safe top 4 minimum next season in my book, the only question is how effective are their point guards? Dixon's stats are alright; not an efficient scorer; but the 3 to 1 assist turnover is nice. Tons of talent on that roster though.

Did Croft from UNI have any other offers? Just curious, his numbers are great, but i haven't been able to find much about him otherwise. Also, why'd he red shirt this season?

He was a non-qualifier thanks to being from a dirt poor part of Alabama that didn't offer the necessary credits to get through the NCAA Clearinghouse. His first year of JUCO was basically everybody else's senior year of high school. He didn't finish JUCO until late August and still had one class to qualify. He couldn't join the team until semester after that class was done. GREAT kid that just didn't have the opportunities that he needed.

Other offers were South Dakota State and Central Michigan allegedly. Jake has been pretty adamant that him being able to practice is part of the reason they turned it around.

[Blers]

Jake has been pretty adamant that him being able to practice is part of the reason they turned it around.

Gotcha! Thanks for the info. One other question, what are the expectations for Pickford next year? I know his playtime has been down compared to his freshman year and he's been up and down with injuries. I feel like he really hit a wall last year midway through conference play last year after a stellar start and I haven't heard a ton since.

[BEARZ77]

UNI gets Austin Phyfe back and JUCO National Player of the Year PG Tray Croft will be eligible and allow AJ to play off the ball more. I think those are key additions to what's already a solid group after they figured it out.

Missouri State was the one I struggled with the most. They found real success playing a possession game, I'm not convinced Ford won't decide to play fast and reduce their effectiveness. I know DaSilva will be able to play more on the wing nut will matchups reduce his effectiveness.

No matter how we look at it, the league is going to be a blast again.

I try never to bet against Jake [although the last 3 years have made me less sure of his magic] but Croft is a Juco Div 2 sitting out a year, and Phyfe missed this year with injury, so both would seem likely to need some adjustment time. Again my question would be, who looks to be an impact level player besides Green. And I know UNI beat MSU twice[ but again , we aren't that good in a total rebuild year] but UNI is a sub .500 team , so I just have trouble seeing a jump to the top given the recent 3 year trend. But like I said, no one looks like a clear favorite to me at this point. I know for MSU, we'll be a lot deeper barring the unforseen, but it usually takes 3 years to really get things established , so we'll have to see. I think style wise, we'll be a tick more up-tempo because of the depth and it will probably show most in us being more aggressive defensively with traps and pressure. But we'll have to see.

As to Blers comment, seems like everyone likes to think Ford will be short stay; I think he'll have to accomplish a lot more to get a chance and then who knows. He's a midwest Valley guy, MSU has great facilities, and not many mids have the student and fan base to project possible 7,000 attendance when successful. But like all things, it'll probably come down to money.

[BCPanther]

Jake has been pretty adamant that him being able to practice is part of the reason they turned it around.

Gotcha! Thanks for the info. One other question, what are the expectations for Pickford next year? I know his playtime has been down compared to his freshman year and he's been up and down with injuries. I feel like he really hit a wall last year midway through conference play last year after a stellar start and I haven't heard a ton since.

Pickford just needs a chance to get healthy. Injuries started in May and he really hasn't been healthy since. I think his freshman year was kind of what he is. I don't think the ceiling is much higher than that. Never going to be a great scorer and isn't a good shooter. Kind of a defensive, physical dirty work guy.

I think he'll have a solid, though unspectacular, career.

[BCPanther]

UNI gets Austin Phyfe back and JUCO National Player of the Year PG Tray Croft will be eligible and allow AJ to play off the ball more. I think those are key additions to what's already a solid group after they figured it out.

Missouri State was the one I struggled with the most. They found real success playing a possession game, I'm not convinced Ford won't decide to play fast and reduce their effectiveness. I know DaSilva will be able to play more on the wing nut will matchups reduce his effectiveness.

No matter how we look at it, the league is going to be a blast again.

I try never to bet against Jake [although the last 3 years have made me less sure of his magic] but Croft is a Juco Div 2 sitting out a year, and Phyfe missed this year with injury, so both would seem likely to need some adjustment time. Again my question would be, who looks to be an impact level player besides Green. And I know UNI beat MSU twice[ but again , we aren't that good in a total rebuild year] but UNI is a sub .500 team , so I just have trouble seeing a jump to the top given the recent 3 year trend. But like I said, no one looks like a clear favorite to me at this point. I know for MSU, we'll be a lot deeper barring the unforseen, but it usually takes 3 years to really get things established , so we'll have to see. I think style wise, we'll be a tick more up-tempo because of the depth and it will probably show most in us being more aggressive defensively with traps and pressure. But we'll have to see.

As to Blers comment, seems like everyone likes to think Ford will be short stay; I think he'll have to accomplish a lot more to get a chance and then who knows. He's a midwest Valley guy, MSU has great facilities, and not many mids have the student and fan base to project possible 7,000 attendance when successful. But like all things, it'll probably come down to money.

UNIs preconference stuff really isn't indicative of who they are and will be. UNI since Feb 1 is a much better representation. Totally new offense installed over the summer and fall by Seth Tuttle to take advantage of what AJ is going to be able to do and to highlight a passing big.

I think UNI fans real concerns have been alleviated. There was some real edginess around the first of the year, myself included, about being stuck paying a guy $1M per year who lost it.

Realistically, we're 3 buckets and a 10 minute stretch against SIU from having the league wrapped up at this point. Damn you, Cameron Krutwig!!

[Blers]

Haha, I mean a lot of teams can make the case their a few plays away from a league title... The valleys just been that close this year! That's kinda been my assessment of Pickford too, does a lot of extra things really well, but may never be a primary scorer.

As for Ford I only think he leaves because of how young he is, which i would think would make him super appealing to a program looking to find their next long term head coach (probably at a more reasonable rate by high major standards). I def don't think he does a lateral-ish mid major move like Medved though.