Overly Excited Early Season Assessment

[usmcsaluki]

These conversations are always fun, but ultimately it's just too early since these ranking systems are built off preseason or even last year's data; there will be so much variability here so league rankings will really fluctuate as reality of this season hits and teams either rise above or fall below preseason expectations.

But regardless, totally agree with others on some very promising developments so far with the Valley, particularly with Evansville and UIC. I'd have to look back through KenPom the last few years, but it would be cool to have the entire league < 200 or somewhere around there (with of course a handful of teams in the top 75 or better).

[municup14]

I dont think it really matters anymore on where the conference stands.The way the NCAA changed the teams they pick for the NIT its irrelevant. MVC will probably be a one bid conference. No NIT

[BuBrave2006]

I dont think it really matters anymore on where the conference stands.The way the NCAA changed the teams they pick for the NIT its irrelevant. MVC will probably be a one bid conference. No NIT

I agree. Why even play the season? I'm not even paying attention until we get to St. Louis.

[BEARZ77]

It's always fun to conjecture and you can identify any number of ways the MVC might get multiple bids, but in reality it 's a simple numbers game and the odds are very stacked against it. To begin with there are only 36 at large bids and 32 conferences . The p-6 generally average between 6-8 bids per overall , meaning on the low side they'll get 30 of those , on the high side probably 35 most years. That means for conferences 7-32 there are usually 6 at most and often 3-4 bids available. That will become even less with re-alighnment as teams used to getting an at large from non p-5 conferences now will be in those conferences, so teams like Cinn, Houston, BYU, will be in even better position. As that happens , look for several p-6 to average 8-10 bids .
Will there be years that are exceptions , probably, but the likelihood of the Valley ever being a consistent multiple bid league under the current format is pretty remote.

[BCPanther]

It's always fun to conjecture and you can identify any number of ways the MVC might get multiple bids, but in reality it 's a simple numbers game and the odds are very stacked against it. To begin with there are only 36 at large bids and 32 conferences . The p-6 generally average between 6-8 bids per overall , meaning on the low side they'll get 30 of those , on the high side probably 35 most years. That means for conferences 7-32 there are usually 6 at most and often 3-4 bids available. That will become even less with re-alighnment as teams used to getting an at large from non p-5 conferences now will be in those conferences, so teams like Cinn, Houston, BYU, will be in even better position. As that happens , look for several p-6 to average 8-10 bids .
Will there be years that are exceptions , probably, but the likelihood of the Valley ever being a consistent multiple bid league under the current format is pretty remote.

And it's not just a Valley issue. The A10 is in the same boat. The AAC will be in years Memphis wins the league tournament and the Mountain West will be in years San Diego State wins the tournament.

The Mountain West doing absolutely nothing with all the extra bids the past couple of years is going to hurt us all.

[VUGrad1314]

UIC and Evansville are definitely better than last year. Even Valpo if you can believe it is better. I hoped against reason that the Beacons were going to pull off that win against Illinois but it seems like it will be a long first year for Roger Powell with hopefully things to build on for year 2. It pains me to see my school as such a drag on a conference I have dearly loved since I was young and had always wished Valpo could be a part of. I hope one day VU will truly earn its place in this league. I remain faintly cautiously hopeful but that hope really wavered after the IUPUI loss. I fear that the program really might be a one family program that is nothing without the Drews who are not walking back through that door. I dearly hope I'm wrong. Also I have to give some serious love to UIC. I gave them a lot of crap (undeservedly and unjustifiably as I am a Valpo fan given what Valpo has been to the MVC in basketball) and they got the conference a nice win over Loyola an A-10 opponent. I know Loyola is down but it's still great to see that a school that thought it was too good for the MVC lost to its direct replacement. The Flames absolutely ooze potential athletically. If they can make good on it (and they are already showing signs) they may one day become one of the strongest adds the MVC has ever made.

[tribecalledquest]

It's always fun to conjecture and you can identify any number of ways the MVC might get multiple bids, but in reality it 's a simple numbers game and the odds are very stacked against it. To begin with there are only 36 at large bids and 32 conferences . The p-6 generally average between 6-8 bids per overall , meaning on the low side they'll get 30 of those , on the high side probably 35 most years. That means for conferences 7-32 there are usually 6 at most and often 3-4 bids available. That will become even less with re-alighnment as teams used to getting an at large from non p-5 conferences now will be in those conferences, so teams like Cinn, Houston, BYU, will be in even better position. As that happens , look for several p-6 to average 8-10 bids .
Will there be years that are exceptions , probably, but the likelihood of the Valley ever being a consistent multiple bid league under the current format is pretty remote.

And it's not just a Valley issue. The A10 is in the same boat. The AAC will be in years Memphis wins the league tournament and the Mountain West will be in years San Diego State wins the tournament.

The Mountain West doing absolutely nothing with all the extra bids the past couple of years is going to hurt us all.

Good point on the MW.

They were always just good enough to get beat once they stepped on the big stage.

[So iLL 24]

UIC and Evansville are definitely better than last year. Even Valpo if you can believe it is better. I hoped against reason that the Beacons were going to pull off that win against Illinois but it seems like it will be a long first year for Roger Powell with hopefully things to build on for year 2. It pains me to see my school as such a drag on a conference I have dearly loved since I was young and had always wished Valpo could be a part of. I hope one day VU will truly earn its place in this league. I remain faintly cautiously hopeful but that hope really wavered after the IUPUI loss. I fear that the program really might be a one family program that is nothing without the Drews who are not walking back through that door. I dearly hope I'm wrong. Also I have to give some serious love to UIC. I gave them a lot of crap (undeservedly and unjustifiably as I am a Valpo fan given what Valpo has been to the MVC in basketball) and they got the conference a nice win over Loyola an A-10 opponent. I know Loyola is down but it's still great to see that a school that thought it was too good for the MVC lost to its direct replacement. The Flames absolutely ooze potential athletically. If they can make good on it (and they are already showing signs) they may one day become one of the strongest adds the MVC has ever made.

Valpo better? No way! How do you lose Ben Krikke (IMO the most valuable player in the valley last year) and somehow get better? Krikke is destroying defenders at IOWA right now.

[jsaluki080]

I don't want to jump on the hype train yet but, Is MVC pretty good this year? Bradley, MSU, ISUb getting some nice wins. Evansville doing better than expected. No major victory yet, though, ... right? Come on MVC keep getting those Ws!! I would love to jump on the hype train.

[Chuck A]

I don't want to jump on the hype train yet but, Is MVC pretty good this year? Bradley, MSU, ISUb getting some nice wins. Evansville doing better than expected. No major victory yet, though, ... right? Come on MVC keep getting those Ws!! I would love to jump on the hype train.

Come on, quit your waiting and jump on! The Valley is halfway through the non-con (about 5 games). That's a pretty decent barometer. The league has some good wins, some tough losses and has shown improvement throughout. So far, UIC & Evansville are doing their part to remove the stigma of Conference anchor from their names.

Right now, I think the excitement is clearly warranted!