MVC Reality Vs Predictions

[AZ BU Fan]

Put this on another thread, then thought it might stand on its own and be an interesting thread:

Interesting how the Valley played out vs the pre season predictions..

UNI #1........... predicted #1
WSU #2 ........ predicted #5
ISU Red #3..... predicted #3
CU #4 ........... predicted #2
BU #5 (t)........ predicted #6
ISU Blue #5 (t).. predicted #7
MSU #7 .......... predicted #9
Drake #8 ........ predicted #8
SIU #9 ........... predicted #4
EU #10 ............ predicted #10

For all the Kool Aid induced wishful thinking about UNI's lucky 2008-09 season, CU's lack of depth, ISU Red's lack of depth and weak scheduling, WSU's inexperience, and BU's depth and experienced talent, the season played out pretty close to predictions except for WSU exceeding expectations, and SIU tanking. CU slipped a little, but everyone else finished close to what pollsters thought.

What is interesting is teams with pretty good post play, UNI, WSU, ISU Red, and CU did pretty well in a guard oriented league. Before anyone questions WSU post play, their 4 bigs, Stutz, Blair, Ellis and Felter combined for 13 rpg and 18 ppg.

IMHO, BU will need to expect more and get a lot more from their bigs to step up in the MVC next year.. Hopefully JL can pull a rabbit out of his recruiting hat, BU gets progression from WE and AT, and JP turns out to be the steal of the 2009 MVC recruiting year.

Personally, I'd like to see BU 'hang its hat' on their bigs in the future!

[sycamorefan]

I would like to say I told you so...

But I am not that big of a douche...Sycamores have proven to be a different breed than those of the past 8-9 years.......

[BradleyBrave]

This has nothing to do with who is coaching or playing - 15-14 and 9-9 is a bad year to me. Maybe my standards are too high, but those high standards are how I was brought up as a Bradley fan for 20+ years in Peoria. Not acceptable.

But...win the tourney and my tune changes. It changes a lot. I'd love nothing more for it to change...

[flipper]

This has nothing to do with who is coaching or playing - 15-14 and 9-9 is a bad year to me. Maybe my standards are too high, but those high standards are how I was brought up as a Bradley fan for 20+ years in Peoria. Not acceptable.

But...win the tourney and my tune changes. It changes a lot. I'd love nothing more for it to change...

15-14 with wins over a top 25 team, illinois and siu is not a bad year,imo. now siu is having a bad year with a 6-12 conference record and a ninth place finish.you should know the difference.we our having an average season with some nice ups and some downs.

maybe the best is yet to come.

[BradleyBrave]

15-14 with wins over a top 25 team, illinois and siu is not a bad year,imo. now siu is having a bad year with a 6-12 conference record and a ninth place finish.you should know the difference.we our having an average season with some nice ups and some downs.

maybe the best is yet to come.

I look at those highs as an indictment of how disappointing this season is. One win over a top 25 might be a fluke, twice tells me we're capable of doing it all the time. Those 2 wins added to beating WSU tells me that this year has been a big underachievement. We are much more capable than our record, and it doesn't make me a 'hater' saying that. I hope you're right in saying the best is yet to come!

[Dallas Brave]

IMHO, BU will need to expect more and get a lot more from their bigs to step up in the MVC next year.. Hopefully JL can pull a rabbit out of his recruiting hat, BU gets progression from WE and AT, and JP turns out to be the steal of the 2009 MVC recruiting year.

Personally, I'd like to see BU 'hang its hat' on their bigs in the future!

We had Bigs this year, but didn't use them IMO. Why recruit more? To fill out the end of the bench? Players need to get game minutes to get better. Case in point, look how much JE progressed from his first game to his last game after he came off R/S.

[Braves4Life]

I look at those highs as an indictment of how disappointing this season is. One win over a top 25 might be a fluke, twice tells me we're capable of doing it all the time. Those 2 wins added to beating WSU tells me that this year has been a big underachievement. We are much more capable than our record, and it doesn't make me a 'hater' saying that.

My thoughts exactly BB.

[Bradleyguy10]

We are much more capable than our record, and it doesn't make me a 'hater' saying that. I hope you're right in saying the best is yet to come!

Many will accuse you of it though.

Remember you didn't want Bradley to win because you predicted they'd lose?