Previewing next years MVC

[jigga]

ILLINOIS STATE

Finished: 5th

Record: 16-15 (9-9)

Head Coach: Dan Muller

Returning Starters:
Daishon Knight; sr, 6-1, 186
Bobby Hunter; sr, 5-10, 192
Paris Lee; so, 5-11, 166
Nick Zeisloft; jr, 6-4, 203
Reggie Lynch; so, 6-10, 253

Key Reserves:
Zach Lofton; jr, 6-4, 202
John Jones; sr, 6-9, 258
Tony Wills; so, 6-3, 176

Key Losses:
None

Additions:
MiKyle McIntosh; fr, 6-7, 230
Deonte Hawkins; so, 6-8, 215

Biggest strength: Deep talent

Biggest weakness: Play more like a JUCO/AAU team than D-I team

Second Biggest weakness: I think everyone was wearing 1 & 1/2" platform heals when they were measured.

Projected Finish: 4th

I think our biggest weakness' would have to be either coaching or lack of size and length.

I think with our key additions, a healthy roster, and all of our players returning I believe we can make a push for the conference.(I know thats laughable on this forum, but that is how I feel).

I think as long as the coaching or injury bug don't hinder us too much we will be #1 or #2 in the conference and/or tournament champs... Just one Birds simple opinion tho.

[agrinut]

ILLINOIS STATE

Finished: 5th

Record: 16-15 (9-9)

Head Coach: Dan Muller

Returning Starters:
Daishon Knight; sr, 6-1, 186
Bobby Hunter; sr, 5-10, 192
Paris Lee; so, 5-11, 166
Nick Zeisloft; jr, 6-4, 203
Reggie Lynch; so, 6-10, 253

Key Reserves:
Zach Lofton; jr, 6-4, 202
John Jones; sr, 6-9, 258
Tony Wills; so, 6-3, 176

Key Losses:
None

Additions:
MiKyle McIntosh; fr, 6-7, 230
Deonte Hawkins; so, 6-8, 215

Biggest strength: Deep talent

Biggest weakness: Play more like a JUCO/AAU team than D-I team

Second Biggest weakness: I think everyone was wearing 1 & 1/2" platform heals when they were measured.

Projected Finish: 4th

I think our biggest weakness' would have to be either coaching or lack of size and length.

I think with our key additions, a healthy roster, and all of our players returning I believe we can make a push for the conference.(I know thats laughable on this forum, but that is how I feel).

I think as long as the coaching or injury bug don't hinder us too much we will be #1 or #2 in the conference and/or tournament champs... Just one Birds simple opinion tho.

Has middlebrooks left the team? I know he was I eligible but I thought I heard he left the team as well.

[Wufan]

For Ill St, coaching might be a weakness, but I think Muller did pretty good with that group of newbies. We will see if he can get the talent to play as a team. I would have said a lack of size, but Lynch is the real deal and the Redbirds will be adding two very talented PFs to the rotation next year. While I expect the boys from Normal to be too inconsistent to compete for a title next year, they will most certainly be dangerous.

[rlh04d]

Anything is possible. Sr. is probably looking, he interviewed elsewhere last year. Jr. could be gone with him. It is also possible that Jr. isn't the prize. There is an even younger Beane who is supposed to be the best. A 6'3" 8th grader that is already making noise.

I really, really hate that the NCAA allows schools to basically buy players by giving their dads jobs.

All of the pointless stuff the NCAA goes ballistic over, yet it would be so easy to make a blanket rule that players can't go to schools their parents are paid by.

[glm38]

For Ill St, coaching might be a weakness, but I think Muller did pretty good with that group of newbies. We will see if he can get the talent to play as a team. I would have said a lack of size, but Lynch is the real deal and the Redbirds will be adding two very talented PFs to the rotation next year. While I expect the boys from Normal to be too inconsistent to compete for a title next year, they will most certainly be dangerous.

I think Muller has a chance to be a fine coach. After all the angst over his cleaning house and their season being a dumpster fire the redbirds were pretty decent. It's not often a team cleans house and avoids the bottom of the conference

I like most of your picks but I think we might nudge out UNI for 2nd if we can find a decent post player ( juco or transfer) before next year. Or if Tmac fully develops his game over the summer.

[Wufan]

I like most of your picks but I think we might nudge out UNI for 2nd if we can find a decent post player ( juco or transfer) before next year. Or if Tmac fully develops his game over the summer.

Please don't put any stock into my picks for next year. Rosters aren't even set yet. This is similar to a bracketology pick in November. It's fluid.

[glm38]

I like most of your picks but I think we might nudge out UNI for 2nd if we can find a decent post player ( juco or transfer) before next year. Or if Tmac fully develops his game over the summer.

Please don't put any stock into my picks for next year. Rosters aren't even set yet. This is similar to a bracketology pick in November. It's fluid.

Hey no worries. I thought you did a good job breaking down the teams for next year.

[Wufan]

Ranking the coaches (all stats from wiki):

1) Gregg Marshall, 7 years in MVC
Head Coaching Record: 367-153 (.706)
@ WSU: 173-70 (.712)
In Valley Play: 84-42 (.667)
Valley finishes: 1st twice, 2nd three times, 5th once, one MVC tourney championship
Postseason: 1 CBI (second round), 2 NITs (first round and Championship), 9 NCAAs (one second round, one final four)
Accolades: 4 Big South COYs, 3 MVC COYs, Hugh Durham National COY in 2007, National COY in 2014

2) Ben Jacobson, 8 years in MVC
Head Coaching Record: 172-109 (.612)
@ UNI: 172-109 (.612)
In Valley Play: 87-59 (.596)
Valley finishes: 1st twice, 3rd three times, 4th once, 5th twice, two MVC tourney championships
Postseason: 2 CITs (1 quarterfinal, 1 semifinal), 1 NIT (second round), 2 NCAAs (one Sweet 16)
Accolades: 2 MVC COYs.

3) Greg Lansing, 4 years in the MVC
Head Coaching Record: 79-54 (.594)
@ ISU: 79-54 (.594)
In Valley Play: 41-30 (.577)
Valley finishes: 2nd once, 3rd once, 5th once, one MVC tourney championship
Postseason: 1 CIT, 1 NIT, 1 NCAA
Accolades: Skip Prosser Award Finalist

Others (alphabetical):

Geno Ford, 3 years in the MVC
Head Coaching Record: 105-99 (.515)
@ BU: 37-62 (.374)
In Valley Play: 16-38 (.296)
Valley finishes: NA
Postseason: 2 CITs (1 quarterfinal), 2 NITs (2nd round, quarterfinal)
Accolades: 2 MAC COYs

Ray Giacoletti, 1 year in the MVC
Head Coaching Record: 138-105 (.570)
@ DU: 15-15 (.500)
In Valley Play: 6-12 (.333)
Valley finishes: NA
Postseason: 1 NIT, 2 NCAAs (1 Sweet 16)
Accolades: NA

Barry Hinson, 11 years in the MVC
Head Coaching Record: 233-176 (.570)
@ SIU: 28-36 (.438)
In Valley Play: 120-96 (.556)
Valley finishes: 2nd twice, 3rd twice, 4th once, 5th twice, 6th once
Postseason: 4 NITs (two second rounds, one third round)
Accolades: NA

Paul Lusk, 3 years in the MVC
Head Coaching Record: 47-50 (.485)
@ MSU: 47-50 (.485)
In Valley Play: 25-30 (.455)
Valley finishes: 3rd twice
Postseason: NA
Accolades: NA

Porter Moser, 5 years in the MVC
Head Coaching Record: 137-162 (.458)
@ Loyola: 32-61 (.344)
In Valley Play: 26-64 (.283)
Valley finishes: 6th once
Postseason: NA
Accolades: NA

Dan Muller, 2 years in the MVC
Head Coaching Record: 34-30 (.531)
@ ISU: 34-30 (.531)
In Valley Play: 17-19 (0.472)
Valley finishes: 6th and 5th
Postseason: NA
Accolades: NA

Marty Simmons, 7 years in the MVC
Head Coaching Record: 102-122 (.455)
@ UE: 102-122 (.455)
In Valley Play: 48-78 (.381)
Valley Finishes: 1 each; third, fourth, fifth, sixth
Postseason: 2 CBI (one second round), 2 CIT (one semifinal)
Accolades: NA

[Wufan]

I like most of your picks but I think we might nudge out UNI for 2nd if we can find a decent post player ( juco or transfer) before next year. Or if Tmac fully develops his game over the summer.

Please don't put any stock into my picks for next year. Rosters aren't even set yet. This is similar to a bracketology pick in November. It's fluid.

Hey no worries. I thought you did a good job breaking down the teams for next year.

Lots of teams are going to have the opportunity to move way up in the standings. Drake already has a very nice supporting cast and some talented youth, and they signed a monster recruiting class.

Bradley added the most highly rated player in the Valley in transfer Mike Shaw and added a superbly talented PG.

Evansville is in desperate need on a JUCO big, but that could make their season.

I picked those three teams to finish on Thursday, but there is so much potential there. Not sure what to make of Loyola yet. It seems like they should be better than they are.

[Wufan]

Porter Moser, Geno Ford and Marty Simmons have to be on the hot seat right?