Too early 2018-19 predictions

[VUGrad1314]

I get that. I just think the recruiting work he did and the overall talent on that team is going to open some eyes sooner rather than later. Also his success came at a place where it is very hard to win, so that has to count for something.

[Adunk33]

http://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/illin ... cary-good/

[BradleyFan71]

http://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/illinois-state-might-be-scary-good/

So the "Big Three" (Yarbrough, Fayne, and Evans) are scary good and Copeland might be the best player on the team.

Sounds like the rest of the conference is playing for 2nd place.

[BirdsEyeView]

http://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/illinois-state-might-be-scary-good/

Taylor Burning....my favorite Redbird

[glm38]

http://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/illinois-state-might-be-scary-good/

I have no doubt ISUr will be good. But my money's still on Loyola this year.

[Redhawk]

http://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/illinois-state-might-be-scary-good/

I have no doubt ISUr will be good. But my money's still on Loyola this year.

Loyola is the champ until someone knocks them out and they should be the odds on favorite this season.
What the article failed to mention though is the impact the two tall FR Ndiaye & Idowu could have on the
team. If they provide strong minutes to back up Fayne then the Birds truly could be "scary good."

[BEARZ77]

There's no doubt ISUr will be a very talented and deep team this year, and obviously having the firepower of Evans, Fayne, and Malik back is huge. But i thought the article gave too much credit to the jucos as if getting a 42nd and 91st ranked juco is something extraordinary. Both may prove to be very good players, but there are higher ranked jucos across the board in the Valley. MSU alone has the 31st and 76th ranked jucos and Drake has the highest ranked of all. The forward at Indiana State who missed alot of time last year was highly ranked as well. UNI has the top scorer in D-2 juco ranks and a very good 6'9 forward as well. Again I'll probably pick ISUr to win the title , but they had a lot of talent last year and had trouble with chemistry and playing smart and unless they show progress in those areas, they may have problems with teams like LOC who play smart team oriented basketball.

[VUGrad1314]

Dan Muller offers a preview of the Redbirds for Mid-Major Madness.

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2018/8/ ... uri-valley

[underdawg]

Belmont #89 in 2018-19 Midmajor madness top 144 ==Bradley was #91

[Adunk33]

There's no doubt ISUr will be a very talented and deep team this year, and obviously having the firepower of Evans, Fayne, and Malik back is huge. But i thought the article gave too much credit to the jucos as if getting a 42nd and 91st ranked juco is something extraordinary. Both may prove to be very good players, but there are higher ranked jucos across the board in the Valley. MSU alone has the 31st and 76th ranked jucos and Drake has the highest ranked of all. The forward at Indiana State who missed alot of time last year was highly ranked as well. UNI has the top scorer in D-2 juco ranks and a very good 6'9 forward as well. Again I'll probably pick ISUr to win the title , but they had a lot of talent last year and had trouble with chemistry and playing smart and unless they show progress in those areas, they may have problems with teams like LOC who play smart team oriented basketball.

Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the article just because it was kind of lazy. It was things most Valley fans already know and then I agree, overhyping the Juco guys. I do expect big things out of Copeland. He's been with the team for a year and had a bunch of P5 interested peppered in with a Big 10 and Pac 12 offer. Kid can score. Jefferson is supposed to be a really good, high scoring combo guard. So what these two are supposed to be will greatly appreciate our team to have more than just 3 who can put the ball in the hole. The freshman, Rey Idowu.....I like a lot! I'm not sure how much floor time he'll see this season, I assume a decent amount with little post depth the squad has and Fayne will need a break. ILST's posts are Fayne, Bruninga, and Idowu. Obviously if they want to go small, Milik can go to the 5, and Tinsley/Chas can play some 4, but I wouldn't recommend it.

At this point, just assuming Abdou Ndiaye is ineligible until reported otherwise.