MVC Games - Mon 12/11-Sun 12/17

[Majik45]

Did not see any of game tonight but Bradley comes off a 10 day layoff after a bad loss and absolutely dominates a bad team. They shoot 61% from the field and lots of people got minutes.

Good to see the team respond after JoJo was kicked off the team.

[VUGrad1314]

And some thought this Little Rock team would be a good expansion addition for the MVC to consider. I doubt that's still true.

[freddycat68]

Let's not hear any silliness about the BU-Little Rock game. With supposedly higher-tier Valley teams losing to the likes of SEMO and Charleston Southern at home and Oral Roberts on the road, how about some props for BU for beating the absolute snot out of a team like that? Wardle still has a bunch of freshmen and sophomores running around out there and they were men against boys last night. Bradley's most lopsided win against a DI opponent in 18 years. BU is fun to watch.

[BCPanther]

Let's not hear any silliness about the BU-Little Rock game. With supposedly higher-tier Valley teams losing to the likes of SEMO and Charleston Southern at home and Oral Roberts on the road, how about some props for BU for beating the absolute snot out of a team like that? Wardle still has a bunch of freshmen and sophomores running around out there and they were men against boys last night. Bradley's most lopsided win against a DI opponent in 18 years. BU is fun to watch.

With SIUs injuries and inconsistencies, I think BU could be battling MSU, ISUred and Valpo for 3-6.

Right now its:
UNI
Loyola

MSU
ISUred
BU
Valpo

SIU
Evansville

Drake
ISUblue


This will all change by Sunday

[Khan4Cats]

I have no complaints about Bradley's schedule. They are a young team and still building. It would be foolish of Wardle to try and take on a highly challenging schedule. They are doing what they need to do-and that is win the games they have on their schedule.

No one expected an at-large candidacy out of the Braves, but they are setting themselves up nicely for W-L % in the non-conference, which makes them a solid team to play in conference. It's how the power conferences do it-have their middle to lower teams build gaudy non-conference schedules to give the illusion of top to bottom strength.

As it is they are looking like a solid middle of the conference team that can give the upper tier teams fits. Having that nice OOC record will mean a loss to the Braves in Peoria won't be as painful as if they had challenged themselves in the non-con and come into league play under .500. It's strategy that should be employed throughout the Valley-top teams schedule for possible at-larges, middle teams play solid but winnable games, re-building teams schedule light to rack up wins prior to conference.

[chitown fanatic]

Loyola is a contender, UNI is still a pretender in my eyes....I don't understand all the love for this team with very little depth

[BCPanther]

Loyola is a contender, UNI is still a pretender in my eyes....I don't understand all the love for this team with very little depth

UNI goes 9 deep and has wins over SMU, NC State, UNLV, Arlington and will be favored to beat Iowa State on Saturday, has a 16 RPI and they're a pretender? Okay. I guess...

[GoAcesgo]

Loyola is a contender, UNI is still a pretender in my eyes....I don't understand all the love for this team with very little depth

The difference is the Coach's pedigree, in my eyes until you do it once your are in my eyes a pretender.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Turnout here in Rosemont is at minimum 1/3 Valpo fans. Would love this turnout in St Louis.

[tribecalledquest]

I have no complaints about Bradley's schedule. They are a young team and still building. It would be foolish of Wardle to try and take on a highly challenging schedule. They are doing what they need to do-and that is win the games they have on their schedule.

No one expected an at-large candidacy out of the Braves, but they are setting themselves up nicely for W-L % in the non-conference, which makes them a solid team to play in conference. It's how the power conferences do it-have their middle to lower teams build gaudy non-conference schedules to give the illusion of top to bottom strength.

As it is they are looking like a solid middle of the conference team that can give the upper tier teams fits. Having that nice OOC record will mean a loss to the Braves in Peoria won't be as painful as if they had challenged themselves in the non-con and come into league play under .500. It's strategy that should be employed throughout the Valley-top teams schedule for possible at-larges, middle teams play solid but winnable games, re-building teams schedule light to rack up wins prior to conference.

I agree. Bradley did what it needed to do with the schedule for this group. Anyone who watches can clearly see how improved the team is. What does that mean in the MVC? Who knows.

But BU is going to be really hard to beat at home with the way it defends and shoots the three. Bradley is shooting 38% from three and holding teams to 26% from three. That's a pretty good recipe.