Illinois State at Evansville

[Redbird Recon]

I think WSU, ISUr and Evansville are the best teams in the MVC next year. Swept by one. Swept the other.

[Wufan]

I give Simmons credit, he sat Blake late in the 2nd half with the Aces down 8 and the Aces took the lead. Normally he would put Blake back in but kept him out the entire rest of the game including OT.

Ill st is easily the 3rd best team in the league, just a notch below UNI and WSU but only because of lack of experience. They are closing that gap rapidly. They could win it all in St. Louis.

Ill St is clearly the 4th best team in the league, just two or three notches below WSU and UNI only because of lack of smart play. They maintained the gap that has existed for the past few years. They could win a game in St. Louis.

[rlh04d]

I think WSU, ISUr and Evansville are the best teams in the MVC next year. Swept by one. Swept the other.

As long as Marty is coach, I have a hard time ever believing Evansville will be one of the best teams in the MVC.

[bryce]

I give Simmons credit, he sat Blake late in the 2nd half with the Aces down 8 and the Aces took the lead. Normally he would put Blake back in but kept him out the entire rest of the game including OT.

Ill st is easily the 3rd best team in the league, just a notch below UNI and WSU but only because of lack of experience. They are closing that gap rapidly. They could win it all in St. Louis.

Ill St is clearly the 4th best team in the league, just two or three notches below WSU and UNI only because of lack of smart play. They maintained the gap that has existed for the past few years. They could win a game in St. Louis.

They have as much talent as anyone in the league but are young. They are now healthy and have gained experience as the season has gone on. They have the 3rd best shot at winning the tournament or they could due to their inexperience lose the first game.

[jturner38]

Dont discount the Sycamores even though they arent the best talent...Lansing is too good of coach and I expect them to be in top 4. Just my opinion though so take it with a grain a salt.

[BCPanther]

I think WSU, ISUr and Evansville are the best teams in the MVC next year. Swept by one. Swept the other.

UNI is certainly going to have something to say about that. Tuttle is obviously a huge loss, but Washpun, Morgan, Jesperson, Bohannon, Lohaus, and Koch return. I fully expect UNI to be picked 2nd in the preseason poll.

[jackwagon]

I think WSU, ISUr and Evansville are the best teams in the MVC next year. Swept by one. Swept the other.

UNI is certainly going to have something to say about that. Tuttle is obviously a huge loss, but Washpun, Morgan, Jesperson, Bohannon, Lohaus, and Koch return. I fully expect UNI to be picked 2nd in the preseason poll.

I don't. Tuttle is a once a decade player that makes everyone else better around him. Mitchell has played a lot of minutes for that team in 4 years and you lose both of your PF's. You have some nice pieces, but I'd pick them 4th or 5th next year. Both of the isu's should be better and talent wise Evansville should be too. Not sure they'll ever finish top 3 with Marty though.

[Wufan]

I think WSU, ISUr and Evansville are the best teams in the MVC next year. Swept by one. Swept the other.

UNI is certainly going to have something to say about that. Tuttle is obviously a huge loss, but Washpun, Morgan, Jesperson, Bohannon, Lohaus, and Koch return. I fully expect UNI to be picked 2nd in the preseason poll.

ISUr will be good, but will have to replace Knight/Hunter/Jones. Jones shouldn't be an issue. Lee and Wills are very defensive minded players, and for an offense that thrives on scoring in runs, Muller is going to have his work cut out for him in the backcourt.

For UE, will Marty return? Will Mockevicius? The Purple Aces are not a threat unless the former is gone and the later stays.

UNI will again have an excellent backcourt with Washpun, Bohannon, Morgan, and Lohaus. Jesperson will be okay at the 4. Development of the frontcourt will be the key between UNI as top two or mid-pack.

WSU will have VanVleet and Baker (not going pro IMO) back which is good enough for them to finish top 2. Wessel and Morris will solidify the starting line-up. Brown, Kelly, and Wamukota need to develop a bit, but they have the talent to make the Shocker rotation very solid. Five newcomers (Frankamp at 40, Shamet at 80, McDuffie at 90, Hamilton at 150, Taylor at 200) come in highly regarded.

ISUb is the other threat to make a run and Loyola can play spoiler.

The last 4 should all be better.

[Wufan]

I don't. Tuttle is a once a decade player that makes everyone else better around him. Mitchell has played a lot of minutes for that team in 4 years and you lose both of your PF's. You have some nice pieces, but I'd pick them 4th or 5th next year. Both of the isu's should be better and talent wise Evansville should be too. Not sure they'll ever finish top 3 with Marty though.

UNI will lose both their PFs and starting center.

ISUb will lose their starting PF and starting center as well as their leading scorer. The sycamore's (and Redbirds) finished 5 games back of UNI. FIVE GAMES. Do you know how hard it is to make a FIVE GAME turn around to make the top tier of the Valley (that would be second place)? It's happened once in the last decade (MSU finished the 09-10 season 7 games back and the 10-11 season 1 game up).

[jackwagon]

Isub only loses kitchell and gant. Also adds a talented pf who sat out per transfer rules, but I get your point. I keep coming back to what makes uni so great this year is Tuttle and supreme depth. Both of those will be gone next year. I think it has more to do with other teams stepping up and not so much uni falling off a cliff,we know jacobson doesn't have bad years.