Does the MVC get better next year?

by **Red** » February 21st, 2011, 1:50 pm

If we can agree that the MVC is at or near rock bottom right now, we have to hope things improve next year. Team by team, which teams should be better or worse next year if you look at things objectively based on who is lost and who returns or will be added.

Better - Bradley, Creighton, Illinois St, Evansville, So. Illinois, Drake
Worse - UNI, Missouri St, Indiana State
Uncertain - Wichita St

If 6 or 7 of the teams are better next year, maybe we're moving in the right direction as the young guys who are already leaders of their teams like Rice, McDermott, and Odum get even better.

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by **8ball** » February 21st, 2011, 1:55 pm

I do think the Valley will be better next year... and I don't necessarily agree that Indiana State will be worse. They still get another year out of Lathan, Richard, Walker, and Printy, and Odum could end up All-MVC 1st team by next year. There won't be many teams better than them in the league in 2011-12.

by **Red** » February 21st, 2011, 2:02 pm

8ball wrote:I do think the Valley will be better next year... and I don't necessarily agree that Indiana State will be worse. They still get another year out of Lathan, Richard, Walker, and Printy, and Odum could end up All-MVC 1st team by next year. There won't be many teams better than them in the league in 2011-12.

I debated that one. I think they'll finish third this year, but I'm not sure they will fare as well next year although its possible for sure. But you might be right that they will be a better team overall.

by **Jet915** » February 21st, 2011, 2:04 pm

I think Creighton will be better next year. Our three best players return (AY, McDermott, GE) and we lose our seniors who other than Lawson to a small extent, have not contributed much this year at all. The big question for us is if our bench will improve next year with our new recruits or if one of our wings steps up next year.

by **BradleyBrave** » February 21st, 2011, 2:12 pm

I'm not sure you can count on BU to be anything. Even if guys return to their former selves (Sammy and Taylor), we are still losing Warren and Dunson. Almost a wash there, with a slight edge to next year. Slot in continued improvement from Prosser and Simms-Edwards, and it appears we may be better than a last place team. But, everyone healthy and the staff returning, that team maxes out at 5th place. Even with the staff returning, more likely is that there's still an injury or two, and some defections. So the arrow isn't really pointing north for BU right now, regardless of who's coaching. I can't see the Braves contributing to the league being better next year, but that's just me. Would love to be wrong.

by **8ball** » February 21st, 2011, 2:47 pm

BradleyBrave wrote:I'm not sure you can count on BU to be anything. Even if guys return to their former selves (Sammy and Taylor), we are still losing Warren and Dunson. Almost a wash there, with a slight edge to next year. Slot in continued improvement from Prosser and Simms-Edwards, and it appears we may be better than a last place team. But, everyone healthy and the staff returning, that team maxes out at 5th place. Even with the staff returning, more likely is that there's still an injury or two, and some defections. So the arrow isn't really pointing north for BU right now, regardless of who's coaching. I can't see the Braves contributing to the league being better next year, but that's just me. Would love to be wrong.

I'd love you to be wrong too, since you are always down on the BU program. :duel:

by **bigdawg** » February 21st, 2011, 2:59 pm

Can Bradley really finish worse than last? Cmon, I think they'll be better even losing Warren. SIU should be improved as well and I expect we will be playing on Friday next year instead of Thursday.

by **BradleyBrave** » February 21st, 2011, 3:08 pm

8ball wrote:
BradleyBrave wrote:I'm not sure you can count on BU to be anything. Even if guys return to their former selves (Sammy and Taylor), we are still losing Warren and Dunson. Almost a wash there, with a slight edge to next year. Slot in continued improvement from Prosser and Simms-Edwards, and it appears we may be better than a last place team. But, everyone healthy and the staff returning, that team maxes out at 5th place. Even with the staff returning, more likely is that there's still an injury or two, and some defections. So the arrow isn't really pointing north for BU right now, regardless of who's coaching. I can't see the Braves contributing to the league being better next year, but that's just me. Would love to be wrong.

I'd love you to be wrong too, since you are always down on the BU program.

Always? Hardly. Just tired of losing.

by **BradleyBrave** » February 21st, 2011, 3:12 pm

bigdawg wrote:Can Bradley really finish worse than last? Cmon, I think they'll be better even losing Warren. SIU should be improved as well and I expect we will be playing on Friday next year instead of Thursday.

Perhaps we won't finish last again, but the thread is about the league as whole getting better. I don't see a 4th or 5th place BU team making the MVC as a whole any better, and I don't see us finishing much higher than that next season even if Sam and Taylor come back at 100% and we don't sustain any significant injuries.

And if a coaching change is made, I have been told to expect years and years and years of rebuilding. :roll:

by **MoValley John** » February 21st, 2011, 4:14 pm

The Valley will be better next year. A lot better. What teams in the Valley can't do is see the success next year and mistake the one year uptick as having corrected all of the problems.