Who will be the preseason favorite in 2011-12?

[MSUDuo]

CU
ISUb
BU
UE
WSU
MSU
UNI
DU
SIU
ISUr

[pafan]

If SIU fires Lowrey, they move up to 7th or so. If Lowrey remains, they will be a solid 10th.

I think they should put Missy Tiber (SIU women's coach) in charge of the men's team, allowing her to go 0-17 in the conference. After Tiber loses 35 straight conference games in 2 years, they fire her and forfeit senior day by just not showing up. Literally.


Otherwise, I like what a lot of you are saying.

1. ISU-Blue
2. CU
3. WSU
4. ISU-Red
5. UE
6. UNI
7. MSU
8. DU
9. BU
10. SIU

[TNMSUFAN]

CU
ISUb
BU
UE
WSU
MSU
UNI
DU
SIU
ISUr

You question 42 about putting us 2nd but you put BU 3rd when they finished 10th and lost their 2 best scorers and will have a new coach with a new system. Brown is still iffy and there is talk of Sam transferring plus who knows the status of their 4 incoming recruits. If Brown can't play and Sam leaves they are in big trouble...hope it doesn't happen but their situation is tough right now.

[BirdmanBB]

Wow.....

If the preseason vote is anything like the majority of you are guessing, Jank is my preseason favorite for COY.

[TNMSUFAN]

1 - CU
2 - ISU B
3 - WSU
4 - MSU
5 - DU
6 - UE
7 - UNI
8 - ISU R
9 - SIU
10 - BU

[PowderBlue]

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 completely agree. ISUb played some tough teams in the non-con with Purdue and ND on the docket this year, but the Oakland City's and DePaul's of the world need to be few and far between. The guys had really good showings against ND and Purdue...and a non conference record featuring those two losses and MAYBE one more would have looked really good. The problem was they didn't win the games they should have. I haven't really dug into how everyone else scheduled...I only know that ISUb had one of the top OOC-SOS in the MVC with teams like EKU, Oakland City, and DePaul (along with that awful loss at Wyoming) on the schedule...and that's a little scary.

My guess for next year:
1. Creighton (Only thing that keeps them out of the top are Sophomore slumps in my mind. GE will be a force next year, if for no other reason than teams will have to focus on the perimeter players more.)
2. Wichita State (Ragland, Murry, Kyles, and Stutz back...I really don't see the fall for WSU that some predict or hope for.)
3. Indiana State (I really think ISUb is going to take everyone's best shot next year. The team will be better, IMO, but no one is going to take the Sycs lightly...unlike the start to this conference season.)

4. Missouri State (Could take them a bit to gel, but I still think they'll be a top half of the Valley team. Personally, I'm not a fan of 'Zo's antics, but it works for that team. He got them to buy in this year.)

5. Evansville (The negative point differential is worrisome, but Simmons gets the most out of his guys.)
6. Northern Iowa (If James takes another big step forward, they could be better than here for sure.)
7. Bradley (I'm on board that injuries hurt them a TON this year. New blood as a coach should help, but I think it'll be a transition year for them.)
8. Drake (I do think they'll be better as well, I can see them getting out of the Thursday game if some of those shooters become more consistent.)
9. Illinois State (Good recruits coming in. But it's tough to make a huge impact as a true freshman. I left them in this grouping because I think they're trending upward at least...definitely closer to BU/DU than SIU.)

10. Southern Illinois (Ugh. Just ugly there for SIU. As an ISUb fan, I very much sympathize. I hope you can get it turned around quickly. Ten years of sucking is not fun.)

I honestly think 5 through 9 will be a really good race next year. I also think the Valley will be better from 1-9 next year (and top to bottom if SIU can find a way to unload their coach). I put space between teams where I think there is a gap.

IF teams schedule better and perform better in the OOC, I think the Valley could get three teams into the Dance next year.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

1. Creighton: Pains me to say it but McD can coach
2. Missouri State: If Weems comes back, put them #4 if he stays in the Draft
3. Wichita State: If Marshall stays, put them #1 or #2 if they hire random coach
4. SIU: Just a hunch, but I think C-Lo gets a 4th place finish and shows everyone why he is worth every penny.
5. Bradley: Depends on them hiring a quality coach, but I like their talent when healthy.
6. Illinois State: I don't know, seems about right for a Jankovich team
7. Drake: I really like their coach and I hope to see the exceed this.
8. UNI: Magic from somewhat flukey run wearing off quickly for Jacobson.
9. Indiana State: I just don't feel these guys. They pull a rabbit out of their hat when everyone thinks they stink. They'll play closer to their real talent in 11-12. And hopefully no BCS school needs an assistant coach either.
10. Evansville: Man, I hate to see these guys here but that is what I prognosticate.

[Shox21]

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 have a suggestion (which will go in one ear of the existing coaches and commissioner and out the other without any kind of pause in between). Why don't the most consistent top 5 finishers in the Valley go the Gonzaga route -- give up at least two cupcake home games each year and schedule two road games with top BCS schools. Win and the Valley RPI goes through the roof, lose and we still get credit for playing top RPI teams. It would take a good deal of commitment from half the league because that is revenue from two home games the schools do not get, but in my uninformed opinion the upside is definite. I invite the pile on.

[BirdmanBB]

It's all about money. A team like CU or WSU could take a buy game from a top BCS school, but in all likelyhood they will make more money playing a cupcake at home. I think that is one of the things schools complained about and why Elgin took the 150RPI rule away.

The non-con RPI tiebreaker I think is a step in the right direction (and a shot directly at my school). With this, hopefully teams will schedule a little better.

[DUBulldog]

9. Indiana State: I just don't feel these guys. They pull a rabbit out of their hat when everyone thinks they stink. They'll play closer to their real talent in 11-12. And hopefully no BCS school needs an assistant coach either.