Expectations

[chitown fanatic]

This is tough to answer, especially after the debacle this weekend but here goes: I expect BU to have a shot at the Dance this year and finish top 3. If we cant move out of the 4-5 range with 4 seniors, we're never going to. I'm expecting a 22-8 reg season, 8-3 Non-con with losses to Duke, W. Carolina and either Detroit or USC. 13-5 Valley with road losses to trees, shux, CU,MSU, and UNI and a sweep of our conf home slate. This is a one bid league unless Wichita wins 25 or more, our conference just isnt that good. The bottom 5 teams this year are beyond woeful. I really think the league champ could go 16-2 or 15-3 at worst. Our downfall will be our continued lack of a big man and our coach's insistence on running the weave as his only offense with bigs 25 ft from the basket setting screens. We'll knock off some people when the threes are falling and struggle mightily when they're not. The X factor is Prosser. If he' more than advertised, we may contend. If he and Thompson arent anything special, we're in trouble as our Alskan isnt very good at the 5.

[Drakey]

Who are those bottom 5 "woeful" teams? Drake has been picked 8th or 9th by all "experts" and they certainly are not woeful. Evansville is picked last by everybody, and I certainly don't think they wil be "woeful."

[DUBulldog]

Who are those bottom 5 "woeful" teams? Drake has been picked 8th or 9th by all "experts" and they certainly are not woeful. Evansville is picked last by everybody, and I certainly don't think they wil be "woeful."

According to the post you're responding to, the bottom 5 in the MVC are not just woeful, they are "beyond woeful". Apparently, the original poster considers any team that is not in contention for an NCAA bid to be beyond woeful.

[Drakey]

Maybe "beyond woeful" means BETTER than woeful.

[jayball]

Maybe "beyond woeful" means BETTER than woeful.

Kind of like D+

[DUBulldog]

Maybe "beyond woeful" means BETTER than woeful.

Kind of like D+

Well played.

[chitown fanatic]

The beyond woeful include Drake, Evansville, Trees, SIU, and ISU Red and yes BU will lose to at least one of these schools. Beyond woeful to me is no more than 6 conf wins. Drake has a great recruiting class but they arent going to contend for anything except which Thursday night seed they get. I'm sorry, just calling it like I see it. Trees with a new coach also fall in this bunch as does a severely depleted SIU program. Evansville is well..evansville and should just go to D2 as fast as MArty can take them there. Colt's not gonna be the savior. If those four arent playing Thursday, I'll be very surprised.

[WuDrWu]

Well I expect somewhere near a .900 non conference winning percentage across the Valley. The Shocks will drop a game or 2 in Hawaii, Evansville will probably get beat by UNC and Bradley is going to have their hands full @ Duke, but other than those games the Valley should be favored in the rest so there is little reason to think that .900 isn't maybe even the floor of the expectations!

I see a GREAT year for the conference with a minimum of 3 NCAA bids (I really think it's 4 or 5 but I am trying to contain my enthusiasm early......it's just so darned hard with all this talent and great coaching!!!!) and 4 NITs. Everyone else makes the CIT and CBI where we'll win at least 1 if not both of those tourneys. A great way to start next year's run to the Final Four, right???!!!!!!


I guess my expectations would be for the .925 non conference winning percentage and then that everyone stay healthy and a big party in St. Louis while we wait to see who gets the highest tourney seed! Although I really feel like whomever gets in from the VALLEY OF DEATH, they'll get a good solid seed....9 or higher for all teams!

[DUBulldog]

Well I expect somewhere near a .900 non conference winning percentage across the Valley. The Shocks will drop a game or 2 in Hawaii, Evansville will probably get beat by UNC and Bradley is going to have their hands full @ Duke, but other than those games the Valley should be favored in the rest so there is little reason to think that .900 isn't maybe even the floor of the expectations!

I see a GREAT year for the conference with a minimum of 3 NCAA bids (I really think it's 4 or 5 but I am trying to contain my enthusiasm early......it's just so darned hard with all this talent and great coaching!!!!) and 4 NITs. Everyone else makes the CIT and CBI where we'll win at least 1 if not both of those tourneys. A great way to start next year's run to the Final Four, right???!!!!!!


I guess my expectations would be for the .925 non conference winning percentage and then that everyone stay healthy and a big party in St. Louis while we wait to see who gets the highest tourney seed! Although I really feel like whomever gets in from the VALLEY OF DEATH, they'll get a good solid seed....9 or higher for all teams!

Do I detect just the tiniest bit of sarcasm in your recent posts?

[WuDrWu]

Do I detect just the tiniest bit of sarcasm in your recent posts?

Not at all. The Valley is by FAR the most under-rated conference top to bottom, nobody wants to play any of our teams on their home courts, and after the building process of the last couple of years where only UNI manned up and held up their end of the bargain, all the teams seemed loaded for bear and poised for greatness!!!! Sure Drake may a tad young and Evansville a tad under-manned, but they make up for it with great coaching, heart the size of lions and fierce and loyal fan base that takes a back seat to NOBODY!!!!

The Valley will be heard from this year folks! The VALLEY OF DEATH is BACK!!!!!!!