Who will be the preseason favorite in 2011-12?

[BirdmanBB]

So E-ville was the better of an (increased) number of weaker teams in the valley. Traditionally when the valley is stronger a team that is constructed like that of the current E-ville squad does not fare as well. I like Colt Ryan too, but I also remember how things were with Shy Ely (another great Eville player). Its all going to depend on the pieces that Marty surrounds him with.

Guys, you continue to miss my point: If the Valley is weaker, most of the Valley teams are weaker, in different scales of relativity. We are trying to quantitatively answer qualiatative questions. None of us will ever know. Just judge all 10 teams by the same standard.

Do not pat Coach Martin on the back for winning the regular season championship and then give Coach Simmons a backward compliment for finishing 6th instead of 10th because the Valley is weak. Either Coach Lansing deserves the accolades for getting the Sycamores to the NCAAs, or he does not because the Valley is weak. Tell Jim Les that the Valley was weak this year.

I get what your saying. My standpoint is that no one deserves accolades because the valley is weak. We have some good talent coming up though which could change things. However, next year might be shaping up to be very similar to this year. We all had WSU and MSU at the top and didn't have a clue about the rest of the teams. I will probably feel the same way next year. I will put CU and In St. at the top, but after that, there isn't anyone who really stands out as they have in the valleys past. I will say though, different from this year, under the right circumstances I see CU being a potential top 25 next year. Something I didn't really see out of this years teams (although I thought WSU was close). That is just my opinion though.

With teams progressing the way they are, I think in 2 years the valley will be strong again. A lot of younger stars in Rice, Ryan, Odum, McDermott, DSE (seems like every team has at least 1-2 coming up) will make the competition much tougher in the future.

Hopefully we will see that perfect storm scenario occur once again where we are getting multiple bids.

[MSUBear42]

I think the Valley will be even worse next season.

But maybe the top two will be good enough to separate and both can get into the Tournament.

We were saying the same thing this season, and the top two DID separate...

[ihsi]

I think the Valley will be even worse next season.

But maybe the top two will be good enough to separate and both can get into the Tournament.

We were saying the same thing this season, and the top two DID separate...

But both teams managed to lose basically every game on their respective schedules that could have enabled them to dance. Think of where we'd stand if WSU had beaten VCU and MSU had beaten Valpo? The Valley was awful this year and the top 2 teams didn't bring the rest of the conference up because they faltered in a big way when it mattered. I think next year will be different.

[St. Sebastian]

1)Creighton - Clearly the best choice. Most talented/balanced team returning. possible top 25 caliber.
2)Indiana St. - Losing some important keys, but still have Odum and Kelly.
3) Wichita St. - Great athleticism will win games for them.
4) Illinois St. - New PG, more maturity/improvement could get this young team to the #4 spot.
5) UNI - Kwadzo or not, Jacobson will still have a tough defensive team
6) Drake - I like Rice too, but will he have help?
7) E-ville - A weak valley made marty look good last year.
8) Missouri St. - Should be interesting to see what happens with what they lose.
9) Bradley - Could move. New Coach and don't know who is coming back.
10) SIU - Still have Lowery and losing some talent. Might be better off with a cleaned house.

....yeah I know. Putting the redbirds 4th is very homerish, but I think after CU and Indiana St. it will be a crapshoot. I would say thats the birds ceiling next year.

Kelly is gone, he hasn't been much of a factor in their MVC success anyway. His ppg was built during the non-con, when Indiana State was playing totally different. Aaron Carter is the only "key" player Indiana State loses. Pretty sure they have one of the top recruits in the MVC (Justin Gant) coming on-board too.

[valleychamp]

1) CU- If they play to their ability
2) Missouri State-As long as we get a JuCo post, we will be golden. We lose Mallett but we gain Pickens, who was a starter and Scheer will step in well for Leonard.
3) Indiana State- Odum will be POY before he's gone
4) WSU
5) UNI
6) UE
7) SIU
8) Illinois State
9) Drake
10) Bradley

Idk about MSU being that high, but I do agree that they will not plummet too far. I see them in the 4-6 range. Other than that, I pretty much agree with your prediction.

[valleychamp]

The difference was that UNI had a first 5 and second 5 on their depth chart. WSU had 10 guys who never knew from week to week if they would start or not play at all. JT was the only regular starter and Gabe Blair the only reliable backup all year. Other than that, they all played with short leashes and never settled into a rhythm.

As for next year, I like In St and CU at 1&2. The next grouping could be WSU, MSU, E'Ville & UNI. Bottom feeders will be BU, Il St, SIU, Drake

Well, that is pretty much what I said. Your coach didn't know how to manage all those players, and they did not know/buy into their role on the team.

[DUBulldog]

1) CU- If they play to their ability
2) Missouri State-As long as we get a JuCo post, we will be golden. We lose Mallett but we gain Pickens, who was a starter and Scheer will step in well for Leonard.
3) Indiana State- Odum will be POY before he's gone
4) WSU
5) UNI
6) UE
7) SIU
8) Illinois State
9) Drake
10) Bradley

Wow

Where do you disagree?

Well, there's no way I see MSU finishing 2nd next year. I could be wrong. And, I might be biased, but I don't see how Drake, which started 3 sophomores and a freshman and had a boatload of injuries, drops 2 spots in the standings next season. I just hope our coach improves as much as he expects his players to.

[dgreenwell3]

That thrashing was one of our worst games we played all season...possibly worse than that wyoming game and Cleary we came into our own towards the end of the season...the next three years should be interesting between our two fine establishments...and that "lucky" tip-in is called rebounding, put a body on Carl Richard and you dont have that "Lucky" tip-in...fact of the matter is, in the game of basketball, you make your own luck.

[MoValley John]

I have no idea how the Valley will shake out next year. I hope better from top to bottom. Creighton should be better, Wichita State may take a step backwards, but they have such a strong group of players, they could once again contend. Bash me now, I don't care, but I'm still not sold on Indiana State. Missouri State loses a ton, this should have been their year. Drake is an enigma to me, even with the injuries, they should have done better this year. I don't even know what to think about SIU. UNI will be a huge question mark. Illinois State has the horses, do they have the coach? Evansville, probably not a play in team, not a league favorite, either. Bradley is a toss up, we don't know who will be coaching and we don't know which players will be back.

All big question marks???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

My stab in the dark guess

Creighton
Wichita State
Indiana State
Missouri State
Evansville
UNI
Drake
Illinois State
SIU
Bradley

[hot nuts]

I still think Marty still have Evansville on the upswing next year. Maybe 4th.