Looking ahead - predictions for 2012-13

by **MVCfans** » March 9th, 2012, 7:37 am

Just a few thoughts on what next year will look like.

link: The MVC Report - Predictions for 2012-13

**Sponsor**

by **bluejayfan00** » March 9th, 2012, 8:40 am

My early predictions
1.Creighton- Everybody is back except AY, 2 redshirts who will contribute next year. Echenique has a huge year.
2.Illinois St- They are loaded. Didn't lose anyone. Will score tons!
3.Northern Iowa- They only lose Moran, and Mitchell and Tuttle will be one of the best inside/out combos.
4.Wichita St- They lose a lot, but still have key pieces with the Valleys best recruiting class coming in.
5.Drake- Return Rice and Simons, all conference guys with VanDeest coming off injury.
6.Evansville- Lose Harris and Holmes, but return Ryan, Troy Taylor, and Ned Cox. Sawvell will be improved.
7.Missouri St- Very athletic, talented players coming back despite losing Weems.
8.Indiana St-Odums back, and is the Valleys best point guard. But, no scorers around him. Lost 4 seniors.
9.Bradley- There is some hope in Geno Fords 2nd season, with Dyricus and Walt Lemon Jr. back.
10.SIU- Lost Seck, there coach, fans, everything. Maybe Bruce Webber can bring them back!

All Conference 1st team
C- Gregory Echenique CU
F-Jackie Carmichael ISUR
F-Doug McDermott CU
G- Colt Ryan UE
G- Jake Odum ISUB
2nd Team
F- Ben Simons DU
G- Rayvonte Rice DU
G-Anthony James UNI
G-Taylor Brown ISUR
G-Nic Moore ISUR
Honorable Mention
Grant Gibbs CU
Seth Tuttle UNI
Deon Mitchell UNI
Ned Cox UE
Dyricus Simms Edwards BU

POY- Doug McDermott CU
DPOY- Gregory Echenique CU
COY- Tim Jankovich ISUR
Freshmen of the Year- Fred Van Fleet WSU
NOY- Cleanthony Early- WSU
Most Improved- Walt Lemon Jr BU
6th Man of the Year- Marc Sonnen UNI

I had a lot of time on my hands this morning!

Discuss!

by **BirdmanBB** » March 9th, 2012, 8:57 am

Can't really argue with it. Although the loss in the finals was dissapointing for redbird fans I think most of us know that we weren't really supposed to be there in the first place and like you mentioned we return everyone next year and this was something to build off of. So the sting isn't as bad as it has been in the past. If anything, next year we will have a lot more depth and probably will be resembling more of what the shockers are this year. Along with all of our starters, we get another big man in redshirt John Jones that will put us 3 deep (Camichael, Threloff, Jones). Johnny Hill has shown some glimpses of his athleticism throughout the year so hopefully he will show some improvement. We also have a redshirt freshman in Nick Zeisloft who is going to be a spot up shooter. Our bench will still have Anthony Cousin, Bryant Allen and Zeke Upshaw. We bring in two new guards (who will likely redshirt). One is the assistant coaches son and area superstar Anthony Beane Junior and the other is Aaron Simpson who is about to bring his team to the final four in IHSA for his 4th year and is a candidate for Mr. Basketball in Illinois.

The one area of concern for redbird fans as it always has been is scheduling. We are pretty sure that our new AD is going to be stepping in and doing what he can. He has already gotten creative with football and basketball where he could get us a home/home with Northwestern that will start after next year.

So far next year we have the tournament in South Padre, a home game against Western Michigan, a home game for the challege and we go on the road for bracketbusters. I have a feeling our schedule will be pretty good after our new AD gets his hands on it.

Redbird fans are really excited about next year.

by **Khan4Cats** » March 9th, 2012, 10:29 am

Sonnen started the last half of the year for UNI, I would expect him to be in the starting line-up all year next year so probably not the 6th man.

Can't disagree too greatly with the other predictions though the Jays will need Chatman to improve a lot, and he should, to replace AY at the point position. I think they will miss him quite a bit though they should still be the clear favorite.

by **Jays26** » March 9th, 2012, 10:42 am

There will be some growing pains from Chatman especially the first half of the year. Although the experience he received this year was big. I don't remember where I read it or who was quoted but one of the players from Ill St after the game on Sunday said that in a year or so Chatman would be a force. (not exact words but something to that effect)

With that said.....We will miss AY a lot! But hopefully with the freshman coming in, they will contribute and overall we will be a better team.

:Cheers:

by **Duan** » March 9th, 2012, 11:01 am

Jays26, I believe that it was WSU's Ragland who said that Chatman would be a force in the valley.

by **Jays26** » March 9th, 2012, 11:23 am

Duan wrote:Jays26, I believe that it was WSU's Ragland who said that Chatman would be a force in the valley.

Thanks Duan! My bad...thought it was a player from the Redbirds.

by **Wufan** » March 9th, 2012, 11:27 am

Some very solid and logical predictions in this thread. I certainly can't argue much with what has already been posted, though I would like to know more about who is coming in before making a prediction.

For the Shockers:

Seniors Demetric Williams, Carl Hall, and Ehime Orukpe will all play significant minutes or start next year. Sophomores Tekele Cotton and Jake White will also be in the mix.

To the poster that said Fred VanVleet will be FOY, I am doubtful as I believe he will play only 10-15 minutes a game. I will be disappointed if he is not one of the premeir PGs by his senior year (or before) however. FVV will likely back-up senior transfer Malcolm Armstead from Oregon State. MA was a two year starter and is very good defensively and solid offensively.

Cleanthony Early as NOY is an informed choice. Certainly has the size, athleticisim and talent to be the pre-season NOY.

Deonte Hawkins is a third uber-talented new-commer to WSU (freshman) but he has certainly had his share of question marks (work ethic, academics) and will be a bit of a wild card.

Ron Baker is a RS freshman that many Shockers feel will be in the fold.

As a homer...I'm going to say that WSU finishes third behind CU and ISU. To anyone that disagrees...well I have no logical defense so I won't try. Here's my early prediction:

1. ISU, why not? Drastically improved record in just one season.
2. CU, if I was smart I'd pick them as #1 by a land-slide.
3. WSU, Homer pick.
4. UNI, talent + coaching = wins.
5. Drake, size and experience will get you mid-pack w/o a PG.
6. Evansville, find a big man and sky rocket to #3.
7. MSU, Gulley and Downing take over in January 2013.
8. In St, Odum and ...well, he's pretty good.
9. SIU, no Lowery means they win one more game.
10. Bradley, in the abyss.

by **LanceShock** » March 9th, 2012, 11:30 am

It is tough to say where WSU will end up next year. They did come back stronger this year after losing a lot the year before, but I'm not sure they have enough experienced guys coming back next year. My guess would be somewhere in the 3-5 range.

by **kochhead22** » March 9th, 2012, 11:34 am

Wufan wrote:Some very solid and logical predictions in this thread. I certainly can't argue much with what has already been posted, though I would like to know more about who is coming in before making a prediction.

For the Shockers:

Seniors Demetric Williams, Carl Hall, and Ehime Orukpe will all play significant minutes or start next year. Sophomores Tekele Cotton and Jake White will also be in the mix.

To the poster that said Fred VanVleet will be FOY, I am doubtful as I believe he will play only 10-15 minutes a game. I will be disappointed if he is not one of the premeir PGs by his senior year (or before) however. FVV will likely back-up senior transfer Malcolm Armstead from Oregon State. MA was a two year starter and is very good defensively and solid offensively.

Cleanthony Early as NOY is an informed choice. Certainly has the size, athleticisim and talent to be the pre-season NOY.

Deonte Hawkins is a third uber-talented new-commer to WSU (freshman) but he has certainly had his share of question marks (work ethic, academics) and will be a bit of a wild card.

Ron Baker is a RS freshman that many Shockers feel will be in the fold.

As a homer...I'm going to say that WSU finishes third behind CU and ISU. To anyone that disagrees...well I have no logical defense so I won't try. Here's my early prediction:

1. ISU, why not? Drastically improved record in just one season.
2. CU, if I was smart I'd pick them as #1 by a land-slide.
3. WSU, Homer pick.
4. UNI, talent + coaching = wins.
5. Drake, size and experience will get you mid-pack w/o a PG.
6. Evansville, find a big man and sky rocket to #3.
7. MSU, Gulley and Downing take over in January 2013.
8. In St, Odum and ...well, he's pretty good.
9. SIU, no Lowery means they win one more game.
10. Bradley, in the abyss.

Just a quick correction, Armstead is coming from Oregon not Oregon State!