Early Valley Predictions

[shockalot]

At this point it seems predicting those beyond the top three is very speculative and tenuous, but here's an early guess:

1. WSU
2. InSU
3. UNI
4. MSU (I think they have great young talent that gained very good experience as a unit last year and are bringing in some important pieces. Biggest key is Gulley able to come back the same as before the injury.)
5. Bradley (It's time for Geno to get them to this level....)
6. Loyola Chi (I think they have some good young players and a decent coach, and this is a good year to join the MVC and try to make a mark).
7.Evansville (Perhaps they do better than this if they can find the necessary guard play, but they lost a lot).
8. IlSU (their coach has learned a lot from last year and now putting together a team that fits his approach).
9. SIU (mostly because BH can do more than many with not much).
10. DU (they could do 2 or so spaces better than this if players and coach gel quickly, but probably will take most of the season to find their identity).

[rlh04d]

Every tourney game?

Jump-balls aside...yes

Shocks were not better than Louisville. I will probably give you every other team but there is way WSU was a better team than the Cardinals.

I think for the most part we were the better team in that game. It was a tough loss as we outplayed them for the vast majority of the game, but that's basketball.

I think Louisville was the better team overall, however.

As for the other teams. .. there was no luck in our run. Simply put, all five games combined: 200 minutes of basketball. We trailed for 18 minutes of that. Had an 18 point lead over Pitt, 13? over Gonzaga, 22 over La Salle, 20 over Ohio State, and 12? over Louisville. I think Gonzaga is the only team that ever lead us by as much as 6. The only team that was more dominant than us was Louisville through the first four. Huge stretch to call that luck.

[Red]

If we finish behind Loyola in their first MVC season, I will be so pissed.

predictions- wp/2013/05/02/a-way-too-early-look-ahead-at-the-2014-mvc-mens-basketball-season/

[kcmsaluki12]

If we finish behind Loyola in their first MVC season, I will be so pissed.

predictions- http://www.mvcfans.com/wp/2013/05/02/a- ... ll-season/

I think chances are pretty good it will happen. Relying on a bunch of freshman and juco transfers is never a recipe for success and Loyola brings most of their squad back.

[Wufan]

If we finish behind Loyola in their first MVC season, I will be so pissed.

predictions- wp/2013/05/02/a-way-too-early-look-ahead-at-the-2014-mvc-mens-basketball-season/

I think chances are pretty good it will happen. Relying on a bunch of freshman and juco transfers is never a recipe for success and Loyola brings most of their squad back.

Illinois State is in rebuilding mode just like Bradley, SIU, MSU, and Drake. None of those teams have been very good in recent years, but three of them do have a year of rebuilding on Ill St. As such, it is not out of the question for ISUr to finish at or near the bottom.

[Brot4britu]

Hello everyone from Brot !!
Long time LUC poster--first time MVC poster !!

My scientific prognostication--
--Better Conference--Bad for LUC wins
--Getting feel of new Conference--Not so hot for LUC
--Did OK with two best players out for long stretches last year--OK for LUC
--Added some "tallness"--one bigand tall--other skinny and tall--As Jewish Mama says--Can't hoit !!!
--Team as is is not chopped liver-- Good for LUC
-------Can shoot threes !! ---Good for LUC
--Thomas--tough as nails can board---Good for LUC
-------only 6'4"--bad for LUC

There you have my absolutely scientific and BIASED outlook !!!

Maybe Fifth--probably seventh !!!!

GO RAMBLERS !!!!

[agrinut]

If Loyola isn't a play on team them we are not who we thought we were.

[TNMSUFAN]

Illinois State is in rebuilding mode just like Bradley, SIU, MSU, and Drake. None of those teams have been very good in recent years, but three of them do have a year of rebuilding on Ill St. As such, it is not out of the question for ISUr to finish at or near the bottom.

We weren't good last year but we finished tied for 3rd and 1st the 2 years before that

[Haha]

We weren't good last year but we finished tied for 3rd

I think you are referring to MSU as "we". If so you finished in a 3 way tie for 7th not tied for 3rd.

[TNMSUFAN]

We weren't good last year but we finished tied for 3rd

I think you are referring to MSU as "we". If so you finished in a 3 way tie for 7th not tied for 3rd.

Guess you missed the "we weren't good last year" and the "2 years before" parts....reading comprehension must not be the best in haha land. Let me make it easier for you...we have finished tied for 7th (the not good part), tied for 3rd and MVC Champs (the 2 years before parts). 7th, 3rd and 1st the last 3.