Who will be the preseason favorite in 2011-12?

[BirdmanBB]

If ISU is in the play-in next year, Jank might want to think about looking for a new job. Most reasonable ISU fans don't mind the one bad season, but they want to see progress next year with the outlook of a top finish the following. Going from the 9-8 seed will not do it and they will be calling for him to be fired. If this PG turns out to be everything they are saying, I don't expect ISU to be playing on Thursday.

[DieHardMSUFan]

My dose of reality for my Bears....

I think Rhine is underrated, and I really like him to fill the role of Creekmore. Rhine is the same size, yet quicker and I think a better decision maker. Creekmore is a load underneath, but you can hear a buzz over the MSU crowd when he touches the ball in the post, because he forces way too many shots and can definately counter his good with bad. I actually feel that Rhine with Patterson to back up the post is servicable and not a big issue for us. Weems is Weems and will be great next year as a senior. Sheer will improve, but is not even close to Leonard, and will not be a replacement for Leonard. That being said, the combo of Pickens, Sheer, Copeland and Valla (for D) will be Ok at our second guard/small forward works. Copeland actually really looked pretty good at times and if he can beef up a little could help us a lot. We need Kirk to be the real deal to keep is with another solid big forward threat. Our big problem is at the point. Who is going to handle the ball? Sheer certainly is not it, Pickens isn't a point, Cooper really looked bad the games he came in, and did not play at all the second half of the season because of it. We have to either hope Dorian Williams comes in as a very good point guard or get a juco transfer. If neither happen, we will not have a good point guard and that is our HUGE hole right now.

I see us as a 4-6 range finish next year, right smack in the middle of the pack.

[9628]

Here's my guess:

1) ISU(Blue)
2) Creighton
3) Drake
4) WSU
5) SIU
6) MSU
7) Bradley
8) Evansville
9) ISU(Red)
10) UNI

[bleach]

Trees
Jays
Shocks

Bears
Aces
Bulldogs
Panthers

Salukis
Redbirds
Braves

The breaks shown for separation. Anyone in any group could replace another in that group.

[bluejayfan00]

My guess with just a WILD guess at conf. records
1. Creighton (16-2)
2.Indiana St (13-5)
3.Wichita St (12-6)
4.Bradley (11-7)
5.Northern Iowa(10-8)
6.Drake(10-8)
7.Evansville(9-9)
8.Missouri St(9-9)
9.Illinois St( 6-12)
10.Southern Illinois(4-14)

[Ace Dad]

Good breakout.

[LJay]

Lots of questions at CU with 8 newcomers (that includes Wragge with a med redshirt) next year. If that makes CU the favorite that's a damning statement on the conference.

[WSUbballer]

I hope the conference makes a move with scheduling. That's the biggest thing that needs to be changed to get us out of one-bid status. Oh yeah, winning would also help. We have lacked quality wins for a while now as a conference. Not enough of them.

I'm hoping the Valley will be better next year and return to multi-bid status, but I just don't see it. Then again, I don't know how many people thought we were gonna get 4 in, in 2006, going into that season. We shall see.

1. Creighton
2. Indiana State
3. Wichita State
4. Bradley
5. Missouri State
6. Evansville
7. Northern Iowa
8. Drake
9. Illinois State
10. Southern Illinois

[Bryce44]

CU
Trees
UNI
WSU
MSU
UE
Drake
IL St
Bradley
SIU

I've got UE at 6th but if they get decent post defense and rebounding from incoming players and if Harris gets back to where he was before his concussion they could reach as high as 3 or 4. If not they could easily slide to the bottom half of the league.

[acesfool]

I think most people on here are underestimating Illinois St. for next. They have some of the best talent coming back and are adding an excellent point guard in Moore. This kid should win Indiana Mr. Basketball over some much bigger names. The only thing that may cost him the title is a late season knee injury.