NET Rankings

[Buxcies]

I had hoped the Bradley win over Belmont would give them another nice pop but they only moved up 4 spots to 61.

UNI and Illinois State didn't see much positive movement from either of their wins.

[IllinoisState]

I had hoped the Bradley win over Belmont would give them another nice pop but they only moved up 4 spots to 61.

UNI and Illinois State didn't see much positive movement from either of their wins.

We moved down 2 spots with our win and Indiana State moved up 4 with their loss.

[Chuck A]

I had hoped the Bradley win over Belmont would give them another nice pop but they only moved up 4 spots to 61.

UNI and Illinois State didn't see much positive movement from either of their wins.

We moved down 2 spots with our win and Indiana State moved up 4 with their loss.

That's crazy how that plays out!

[IllinoisState]

I had hoped the Bradley win over Belmont would give them another nice pop but they only moved up 4 spots to 61.

UNI and Illinois State didn't see much positive movement from either of their wins.

We moved down 2 spots with our win and Indiana State moved up 4 with their loss.

That's crazy how that plays out!

It makes sense why, but we're close enough that we have a chance to be a top 100 team.

[MovingScreenOfDeath]

MVC NET: 159

MVC NET without Missouri State: 150.9

MVC NET with St. Thomas (103) as the 12th team: 146.9


CUSA NET: 146.7

CUSA NET with Missouri State: 156.9

Replacing MoState with St Thomas would gain the conference 2 spots to be the #8 ranked conference

[TylerDurden]

CUSA NET Rankings:
85 85 Liberty
96 96 Middle Tenn.
127 124 UTEP
132 133 New Mexico St.
133 135 Louisiana Tech
144 145 Western Ky.
146 149 Jacksonville St.
174 176 Kennesaw St.
187 186 Sam Houston
243 243 FIU

MVC NET Rankings
61 61 Bradley
64 65 Drake
104 105 UNI
109 110 UIC
124 140 Murray St.
126 126 Illinois St.
137 134 Belmont
201 198 Valparaiso
220 211 Southern Ill.
222 222 Indiana St.
259 256 Missouri St.
292 290 Evansville

Averages aren't particularly useful to compare NET. It just shows a bunch of CUSA meh in the middle.

MVC is stronger at the top, with six teams who rank above the third-best CUSA team and the two best-rated teams by 20+ spots...but we also have five sub-200 teams, including one CUSA team, while CUSA just has FIU anchoring this year.

Dynamics have certainly changed with the portal and NIL, but even after the offseason raids the MVC is better than CUSA. But that shouldn't surprise anyone. CUSA schools focus on football.

[Chuck A]

End of Week 13

59 Drake
79 Bradley
98 Northern Iowa
106 UIC
117 Illinois State
137 Belmont
161 Murray State

203 Southern Illinois
219 Valparaiso
220 Indiana State
235 Missouri State
240 Evansville

[BUFanatic]

I know Bradley got exposed but I will never understand how the AP works. Drake went from getting 200 votes to 0. Bradley does well over a stretch and manages 1. Bradley loses and Drake is back on top and they get 18.

I get it, BU got exposed and is playing terribly over the last two games but wtf other than non con SOS?

[TylerDurden]

I know Bradley got exposed but I will never understand how the AP works. Drake went from getting 200 votes to 0. Bradley does well over a stretch and manages 1. Bradley loses and Drake is back on top and they get 18.

I get it, BU got exposed and is playing terribly over the last two games but wtf other than non con SOS?

Several things influence voters, but on a basic level the best explanation for what you're describing is that games don't happen in vacuums.

The expanded size of the power leagues does provide those teams with a lot of opportunities to pick up eye-catching wins. Drake beating Missouri State and Southern Illinois doesn't register as much as Arizona beating Iowa State, for instance.

When a Valley school loses to UIC and Murray State in consecutive games, it takes a while to build up your cache again. They simply don't have the same opportunities to post impressive wins. Vanderbilt is the only win of note that they have and it's the only one they'll have come selection Sunday.

[Chuck A]

End of Week 14

57 Drake
83 Bradley
96 Northern Iowa
113 Illinois State
117 UIC
122 Belmont
155 Murray State
183 Southern Illinois

205 Indiana State
233 Valparaiso
239 Missouri State
248 Evansville