Official MVCfans.com Prediction - 1st Place

[Aargh]

The results of this poll aren't going to make me paranoid.

There are going to be a lot of people voting for MSU just to irritate WSU fans. That's about the only reason to vote for MSU.

By the time we got to the end of the Valley season and St, Louis last year, there was no longer a huge gap between DWill and Hanna. Most WSU fans expect Ragland to beat DWill for the starting spot. Ragland looks like a larger, faster version of Hanna.

Then there's the seldom-noted fact that Murry has gotten minutes at PG in both of his years at WSU. Murry has been more valuable at SG than at PG, but if neither DWill or Ragland has what it takes, WSU STILL has a PG.

MSU is only about 7-deep. Between fouls and just wearing down over the season, MSU could run into some problems.

WSU going 16-2 isn't out of the question. There's a lot of experience, depth, athleticism, and height. I don't know if the overall team is as good as the S16 team from 2006, but it's close and this year's WSU team has a bit more room for fouls, injuries, and other things that could have derailed the 2006 team.

[WSUbballer]

Missouri Sate fans are stuffing the ballot box.

The last 4 people to join the board:

letsgobears
MVCBEARFAN
SMS79
Sharpe

[WSUbballer]

There are going to be a lot of people voting for MSU just to irritate WSU fans.

I agree. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion though.

MSU has a good nucleus and may in fact take a big jump this year. However to make the jump from 7th to 1st would be quite large. And in terms of basing things in the preseason, I don't think many could argue the position for which WSU will likely be in. Now once the season starts, all bets are off. I personally think WSU has a lot to prove on the offensive side of things. But again, in preseason terms, it seems like a no-brainer.

We have responses from people who think WSU should be the preseason favorite. What we don't have is a lot of responses from people who picked MSU and why they felt that way - and a lot of them at that. I'd like to see some of their reasoning.

[BirdmanBB]

You should start a new poll after this one is completed based on these results. Ask people who they think might be the biggest sleeper/ who will have the biggest letdown and the like.

[TNMSUFAN]

Missouri Sate fans are stuffing the ballot box.

I voted for the Shocks even though I don't by the "Williams was as good as Hannah at the end of the season" argument. Looking at the last 10 games Williams averaged 7.2pts 1.7ast...during the same time Hannah averaged 11.3pts 4.3ast. On the season Williams scored double figures 2 times while Hannah did so 18 times. Hannah is a big loss but with that said you guys are loaded and I am sure other guys will step up.

Concerning the Bears only being 7 deep that doesn't include the 3 incoming frosh and if Shocker fans think Williams was as good as Hannah at the end of the season then we can assume some of our frosh will contribute a little. Nathan Scheer is very good plus Cooper and Copeland will bring some athleticism at the guard positions.

[DoubleJayAlum]

TBy the time we got to the end of the Valley season and St, Louis last year, there was no longer a huge gap between DWill and Hanna. Most WSU fans expect Ragland to beat DWill for the starting spot.

I voted for WSU in the number one spot, but I can't possibly disagree more with the first line of the quote above.

Not only were Williams' numbers a lot worse than Hanna's as noted by TNMSUFAN, but it seemed like WSU limped to the finish line (leading up to St Louis) rather than getting stronger as the year went on. My recollection of last season was that the Shockers' struggles down the stretch cost them an NCAA at large bid. Losses to the likes of UE and Bradley and needing OT to beat Evansville in Wichita doesn't do much to back up the argument that Williams was interchangeable with Hannah. Wsu did play well in STL until getting killed by UNI in the final, only to get beat in the first round of the NIT.

Aargh, if you are right that most WSU fans feel that Ragland will start over Williams, I think that says more about their faith in Williams (or lack thereof) rather than their belief in a player that has not even played a game at the D1 level.

[snoopj]

[I could see the last weekend of the season determining all of the 4-5 top seeds in St Louis and I don't think WSU or MSU runs away this year.

Bingo. The MVC standings are going to get very interesting up until Arch Madness. For each contender, there's a lot of positives, but some question marks as well. Going to be a fun year.

[45otseoj]

I wonder how WSU will play as the favorite also. I think Marshall does a good job of getting his guys to play with a chip on their shoulder and us against the world mentality, but I'm not sure how that will work when everyone is trying to knock off the preseason pick.

HCGM seemed to do pretty well starting from the front at Winthrop.

[TylerDurden]

I wonder how WSU will play as the favorite also. I think Marshall does a good job of getting his guys to play with a chip on their shoulder and us against the world mentality, but I'm not sure how that will work when everyone is trying to knock off the preseason pick.

HCGM seemed to do pretty well starting from the front at Winthrop.

At Winthrop he had to play:

Charleston Southern
Coastal Carolina
Gardner-Webb
High Point
Liberty
Presbyterian
Radford
UNC Asheville
VMI

...In front of an average of 1428 fans.
http://www.bigsouthsports.com/fls/4800/STATS/MBB/2009-10/confldrs.htm

Just saying.

[oneNEIGHBOR]

TBy the time we got to the end of the Valley season and St, Louis last year, there was no longer a huge gap between DWill and Hanna. Most WSU fans expect Ragland to beat DWill for the starting spot.

I voted for WSU in the number one spot, but I can't possibly disagree more with the first line of the quote above.

Not only were Williams' numbers a lot worse than Hanna's as noted by TNMSUFAN, but it seemed like WSU limped to the finish line (leading up to St Louis) rather than getting stronger as the year went on. My recollection of last season was that the Shockers' struggles down the stretch cost them an NCAA at large bid. Losses to the likes of UE and Bradley and needing OT to beat Evansville in Wichita doesn't do much to back up the argument that Williams was interchangeable with Hannah. Wsu did play well in STL until getting killed by UNI in the final, only to get beat in the first round of the NIT.

Aargh, if you are right that most WSU fans feel that Ragland will start over Williams, I think that says more about their faith in Williams (or lack thereof) rather than their belief in a player that has not even played a game at the D1 level.

WSU did play bad going into the final part of the regular season, but WSU got beat by a VERY good Nevada team. Dont forget Nevada had Luke Babbitt who went # 16 in the first round of the NBA draft.