Quest to avoid the PIG

[Eville Ways]

We break this down every Tuesday at Eville Ways. Here is this week's analysis.

[Old School MVC]

In my mind there are two locks, Evansville and ISUr, and after watching the Bears at Evansville today, I may have to lean for Missouri St to be in the PIG. I know they are 3-3, but their 3 wins are against ISUr and Evansville (twice). And none of those three wins were impressive.

[ACECARD]

In my mind there are two locks, Evansville and ISUr, and after watching the Bears at Evansville today, I may have to lean for Missouri St to be in the PIG. I know they are 3-3, but their 3 wins are against ISUr and Evansville (twice). And none of those three wins were impressive.

I would certainly agree, and for a team that was supposed to win the Valley, the Bears looked very ordinary.

[VUGrad1314]

And yet that team very nearly took down Miami and Xavier... We'd be singing a different tune about them if they had succeeded in those games which is a real shame. I hope that Ford can figure out how to bring all that talent he has together because if he can the Valley gets a heck of a lot stronger.

[VUGrad1314]

Looking ahead the next week, Valpo has a really big date with the Bears in Springfield this Thursday that is very important for both teams as they look to stay within the top 6. Because of its potential PIG implications, it might just be this week's biggest game (especially among the early games of the week I would say that the UNI-Loyola matchup is probably a bigger more important game for the conference as a whole though). If you want to watch, Thursday's Valpo-Missouri State game will be on CBSSN at 8:30ET 7:30 CT. UNI-Loyola will be on next Sunday at 4 ET 3 CT on ESPNU.

[Saluki 4 Life]

just bumping this thread. A lot has changed in a few weeks. Evansville and ILL ST are locks at the bottom. I would say the other 2 are PIG spots are still very much in play for most of the league.

10 Evansville
9 ISUR
8 Valpo
7 Missouri State

Just a guess, wouldn' be surprised at anyone 8 or 7 besides UNI and Loyola.

Hard to see SIU and Bradley falling that far at this point too but I would not consider them safe at all just yet.

[BCPanther]

just bumping this thread. A lot has changed in a few weeks. Evansville and ILL ST are locks at the bottom. I would say the other 2 are PIG spots are still very much in play for most of the league.

10 Evansville
9 ISUR
8 Valpo
7 Missouri State

Just a guess, wouldn' be surprised at anyone 8 or 7 besides UNI and Loyola.

Hard to see SIU and Bradley falling that far at this point too but I would not consider them safe at all just yet.

Flip Valpo and Missouri State and I think you've got it.

[VUGrad1314]

Interestingly enough I honestly think a seventh place finish would be pretty good for us in light of everything we dealt with this offseason. Disappointing but definitely a sign of progress and growth especially if we finish better. With three really tough games coming up that all could be losses for us I think it will all come down to the final two weeks for us and that is why I love this conference.

[Old School MVC]

The way Bradley looks tonight at Drake could they enter the conversation? They are a game up on Valpo, but they stil have to go to Valpo. They did not look good tonight! Their Games with MSU and Valpo will be huge. Two weeks ago I thought they were one of the top teams, now, I am not sure who they cn beat besides ISUr and Evansville.

[Majik45]

The way Bradley looks tonight at Drake could they enter the conversation? They are a game up on Valpo, but they stil have to go to Valpo. They did not look good tonight! Their Games with MSU and Valpo will be huge. Two weeks ago I thought they were one of the top teams, now, I am not sure who they cn beat besides ISUr and Evansville.

Bradley definitely is not looking good right now, but the schedule is pretty favorable down the stretch. They definitely aren't out of dangers way, but Bradley has 4 home games and 3 road games left. The 3 road games left are @Valpo, @SIU, @ISUr. I would think the Valpo and ISUr games are coin flips at this point, so as long as they can hold home court (UNI is only team to win @ Bradley right now), then they should not be in danger.

Also, there is no definitive reports yet, but Elijah Childs should be coming back soon. He re-injured his hand on Jan 4th, and I believe had Surgery on January 8th. That will be 5 weeks out from injury on Saturday, and 5 weeks out from Surgery next Wednesday. We literally have heard nothing on the time frame, but you would think that it would be close around 6 weeks. Again, he broke a finder on his non-shooting hand.