Race for 3rd

[jwa123]

If it is Indiana St. versus Illinois St. for the last spot it is talent against great coaching. I'll take the Trees.

As the saying goes, most of the time it's more about the Johnnys and Joes than the x's and o's. You are right, though, Lansing is a great coach.

[uniftw]

If it is Indiana St. versus Illinois St. for the last spot it is talent against great coaching. I'll take the Trees.

As the saying goes, most of the time it's more about the Johnnys and Joes than the x's and o's. You are right, though, Lansing is a great coach.

The funny thing about that saying is...well...it's wrong unless the talent discrepancy is nearly insurmountable.

[rlh04d]

I see ILL State finishing 3rd purely based on them having the momentum and talent to bring it together. Wouldn't be surprised to see them beat WSU in Normal. I think we'll sweep Indy State.

Momentum's a weird thing.

It's easy to look like you have bad momentum when you're in a 9 game stretch that includes two games against bottom three teams, three games against the top two teams in the league who are both nationally ranked, six games against top half teams, and five overall road games (two against Thursday night teams).

It's easy to look like you have good momentum when you're in a 9 game stretch that includes five games against bottom three teams, only one game against the top two teams, three games against top half teams, and four road games (three against Thursday night teams).

Tough to figure out what's momentum and what's just the quirks of the MVC schedule. Right now, the only difference I see between the two is that ISUb swept IlSt and lost @Drake. Momentum's meaningless to me -- IlSt has an easier middle season schedule, so they should have "momentum" right now.

[bufan42]

Obviously the redbirds want third to avoid northern iowa as long as possible.

However...

The assumption that the 6th seed is an automatic win may be premature.. I would not want to see Loyola in the 6 seed 100% healthy in March.

That team has 3/4 place talent and has been hammered by injuries to Doyle and others.

[Championz]

Obviously the redbirds want third to avoid northern iowa as long as possible.

So they want WSU?

Hmm. Ok.

[bufan42]

Obviously the redbirds want third to avoid northern iowa as long as possible.

So they want WSU?

Hmm. Ok.

Yes. I dont think anyone would dispute that

[GOREDBIRDS4]

Obviously the redbirds want third to avoid northern iowa as long as possible.

So they want WSU?

Hmm. Ok.

Yes. I dont think anyone would dispute that

I will dispute that. Why wouldn't the Birds rather face UNI who they nearly beat earlier this year. (We will see what it looks like when ISU plays WSU at home). But they clearly played a much closer game vs UNI than vs. WSU.

I don't think anyone wants to see either team but thats just inevitable and if you had to pick which team you would rather face there is a lot of controversy to that... #14 v #16 right now.

[hot nuts]

I bet WSU is hoping to avoid Bradley!

[bufan42]

[uote="GOREDBIRDS4"]

Obviously the redbirds want third to avoid northern iowa as long as possible.

So they want WSU?

Hmm. Ok.

Yes. I dont think anyone would dispute that

I will dispute that. Why wouldn't the Birds rather face UNI who they nearly beat earlier this year. (We will see what it looks like when ISU plays WSU at home). But they clearly played a much closer game vs UNI than vs. WSU.

I don't think anyone wants to see either team but thats just inevitable and if you had to pick which team you would rather face there is a lot of controversy to that... #14 v #16 right now.[/quote]


The guy cherry picked my original post that was mainly outlining that playing a healthy Loyola team is no garuntee.

I have seen wichita and uni play several times each and UNI is a much better team imo and wichita road a high preseason ranking all year.

Wichita is a good team but I see them as beatable

[Wufan]

At this point in the season wanting UNI or WSU is preference only. Both teams are 20-3 against a good SOS. Both teams only have one loss to an opponent (road). It's about match-ups.