Redbird Logjam

[BCPanther]

Probably a homer alert but I expect UNI to be on the fringe of the title picture this year and to be fully in the picture for the following 3 years. Best recruit in a while (Consensus 4*, Rivals-90, ESPN-76, 247-75) in the league plus an influx of talent to go along with the best in game coach in the league.

And if we land Reaves, man, look out for UNI to be a second weekend team in '20 and '21.

[BEARZ77]

Probably a homer alert but I expect UNI to be on the fringe of the title picture this year and to be fully in the picture for the following 3 years. Best recruit in a while (Consensus 4*, Rivals-90, ESPN-76, 247-75) in the league plus an influx of talent to go along with the best in game coach in the league.

And if we land Reaves, man, look out for UNI to be a second weekend team in '20 and '21.

Hard to evaluate till we see how things look this year. Definitely on a 3 year downward trend and last years team did not have much talent. Reaves is interesting to me in that while he clearly can shoot the ball, his overall stats for last year were very pedestrian, he had a lot of talent around him, and he's slow defensively; there's alot of returning guards in the MVC with much better or at worse similar stats. Overall, Jake gets benefit of doubt because of past performance, but this would seem a very important year in regards to which way UNI is trending. Hard to pick them above 5-6 right now and that's giving ample credit to Jake, but if Green can be a star, then things could change.

[Blers]

Conference continues to get better at the top in my opinion.

-ISUr and SIU are both deep with talent.

-I think LUC has the best starting 5 (Uguak is the one that will cause headaches; his stats at New Mexico don't impress but everything fans have seen at open practices/heard is really impressive)... But there are legit depth questions (will need at least one of the freshman to have a Williamson like impact)

-UNI has a baller in Green and I think Pickford will be more consistent

-Bradley should be ready to compete from day 1 with the pieces they have coming back (I love Childs game)

-I could see Valpo making a decent jump into the middle tier

-Evansville and Drake rebuilding but with coaching choices that seem to be well liked.

-Missouri State and Indiana State are kind of mysteries to me at the moment...not sure where they'll fall. But i'm thinking MSU will be contending before too long,

[Redbirdgrad]

MSU will absolutely be contending sooner than we all think.

Coach Ford was a fantastic grab for them.

[ISUSOX13]

Redbird guard Madison Williams has called it a career because of a nagging issue with his knees. He will stay at ISU on a medical hardship scholarship, which will my count against the 13.

I assume Romine and Gassman will both be walk-ons, which gets Muller to 13.

This will be the deepest Redbirds squad I can remember. It’s going to be a fantastic day league with the returning talent and talented newcomers across the league.

[BearUp11]

MSU will absolutely be contending sooner than we all think.

Coach Ford was a fantastic grab for them.

Recruiting has definitely improved with Coach Ford in command at Mo State! We just signed a pair of 3 star recruits from Poland, and 4 star transfer Jared Ridder will get to play this season after his redshirt season last year. We also have another 4 star athlete signed for the 2019 class, Ty Freeman.
Looks like the entire conference is on the rise.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Redbird guard Madison Williams has called it a career because of a nagging issue with his knees. He will stay at ISU on a medical hardship scholarship, which will my count against the 13.

I assume Romine and Gassman will both be walk-ons, which gets Muller to 13.

This will be the deepest Redbirds squad I can remember. It’s going to be a fantastic day league with the returning talent and talented newcomers across the league.

Willliams did very well given what he was battling. Smart decision to put lifelong health first. At least he gets to stay near his friends at ISU.

SR Yarbrough
SR Fayne
SR Evans
SR Tinsley
JR Copeland
JR Romine
JR Jefferson
JR Hein
SO Chastain
SO Bruninga
SO Clarance
SO Gassman
FR Ndiaye
FR Idowu
TR Boyd
TR Hillsman

If those 2 walk-on, still need 1 less to hit 13. Doesn’t Hein like live in a mansion? If so I’d bet everyone in that locker room is wishing he’d give up his lol.

[Aargh]

N'diyae looks like a bit of a project. He can probably play some post in the MVC, but he' projected as more of perimeter player on offense and rim protecter on D in the AAC.

The Shox go 7'0", 6'11", 6'9", 6'9", 6'8", 6'8" in the front court, so there is time to bring a project along and get one or two good years out of that player. N'Diyae probably saw more available playing time at IlSU.

The real question is, if he develops and becomes a solid contributor on both ends of the court, how many years will he stay at IlSU. It seems like players 6'7" or taller with skills don't stick around IlSU very long.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

ISU has Yarbrough and Fayne locked into starting at the 4 & 5 so AN’s ceiling will be as their back-up his freshman year. He needs to fend off Idowu and Romine for first big man off the bench.

He’s a shoo-in to start as an upperclassman and probably his SO year.

ISU’s starters seem obvious (4 Seniors + Copeland). 2nd team likely Clarance, Chastain, Taylor, N’diyae, & Idowu/Romine.

[BEARZ77]

N'diyae looks like a bit of a project. He can probably play some post in the MVC, but he' projected as more of perimeter player on offense and rim protecter on D in the AAC.

The Shox go 7'0", 6'11", 6'9", 6'9", 6'8", 6'8" in the front court, so there is time to bring a project along and get one or two good years out of that player. N'Diyae probably saw more available playing time at IlSU.

The real question is, if he develops and becomes a solid contributor on both ends of the court, how many years will he stay at IlSU. It seems like players 6'7" or taller with skills don't stick around IlSU very long.

The only frontline player with more than 50 minutes D-1 experience is MM ; there would appear to be more opportunity to compete for time immediately in WSU vs ISU. If WSU was still in the Valley,a good chance they would be picked no better than 3rd to 4th this year. Not saying they don't have quality recruits and obviously GM can take talent and get results; but on paper, they have alot of questions and unproven players who will have to quickly emerge, where as LOC/ISU and even SIU and BU have proven D-1 players. It's nice having a program like LOC who actually exceeds expectations once they got to the tourney vs WSU who was supposed to be all that and pretty much choked the last couple years.