2008-2009 Missouri Valley Predictions

[tornado]

The writer for the Pantagraph, Jim Benson, has posted his predictions of how
the Valley will go next year. Any thoughts??

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/04/12/usports/doc4801342282f52970149259.txt

Here's the order he predicts for the Valley race:
1. Creighton
2. Southern Illinois
3. Drake
4. Illinois State
5. Bradley
6. Indiana State
7. Wichita State
8. Evansville
9. Northern Iowa
10. Missouri State

I really can't argue much since between now and the start of Valley play, there could be a lot of personnel changes, late signings, injuries, losses, etc.

However, if I had to pick a point....
I would have Creighton, BU, Drake, SIU, and ISU in that order just based on the returning players.
Thebottom half I'd have the same as Benson except I'd switch Evansville & MSU.



PS-- please explain to me how Oguchi, who has been roughly a 32% 3-point shooter over his entire career,
can be considered a "dangerous 3-point threat" even though it gets harder next year as the line moves back.

 

[MikeCash]

The predictions I jotted down immediately following Arch Madness were:

2008-2009

1. CREIGHTON
2. ILLINOIS STATE
3. DRAKE
4. SOUTHERN IL
5. BRADLEY
6. INDIANA STATE
7. NORTHERN IOWA
8. EVANSVILLE
9. MISSOURI STATE
10. WICHITA STATE


FIRST TEAM
G Josh Young
G Bryan Mullins
G/F Osiris Eldridge
F Theron Wilson
C Jonathan Cox

SECOND TEAM
G Marico Stinson
G P'Allen Stinnett
G/F Shy Ely
F Andrew Warren
C Jordan Egleseder

COACH: Dana Altman

 

[Da Coach]

I think Drake, ISU, and especially SIU will take a bigger drop than the writer predicted.

 

[MacabreMob]

Bradley wins the MVC.



-glug-glug-

Yummm, kool-aide!

 

[tornado]

OK, then who will be this year's surprise team?
I doubt any team will pull a Drake in 2008-2009, but I will go with Indiana State as a surprise team and they'll make a push for the top half of the Valley.
And I also think that even tho I am picking UE last, there is a chance for Marty to do something special and surprise some, but I still can't see them in the top half of the Valley. They do return everyone including their entire starting five, and only lose one deep sub.

 

[patrick_o'brian]

Andrew Warren 2nd team? How can the player of the year be 2nd team?

 

[Bravesfan]

Here are my picks:

1. Creighton
2. Drake
3. Bradley
4. Indiana State
5. Illinois State
6. Southern Illinois
7. Northern Iowa
8. Evansville
9. Missouri State
10. Wichita State

I just don't see SIU finishing higher with what they have lost. But, Lowery himself and their homecourt advantage could propel them higher than expected.

I have Indiana St being next year's Drake. I have Drake finishing second until proven otherwise. And I think Bradley will finish strong considering the players they have coming back and the experience they gained from the CBI and injuries.

Finally, I have Evansville finishing eighth if only because they can't finish last every year!

 

[Garland 22]

If i had to pick a suprise team I would pick the Shockers.

I really like Garrett Stutz (sp?). Stutz, is a big kid with a great touch. Really good player and probably a future POY candidate. Reminds me a lot of O'bryant, probably a little stronger around the basket.

 

[georgethedog]

The depressing part of this is we will be in the 7th season (right?) of Coach Les and still not considered in the upper class of the league... Does anyone remember the song that they used to play at the fieldhouse after BU games when Versace started coaching? How many years did it take him to get the team in the upper crust of the league? Please don't respond with either of these patented repsonses:
- The MVC is a tougher conference now (Tulsa, WSU & ISU were pretty good back then)
- We got to the Sweet 16 under Les (I relish that memory... but it is fading)

Don't get me wrong, I like Coach Les, but my expectations are higher for league play.

 

[BradleyBrave]

On paper, based on what is returning for each team in the league.

1. CU
2. BU
3. DU
4. ISU
5. INSU
6. SIU
7. WSU
8. UE
9. UNI
10. MSU

Obviously, we are going to have to defend and rebound better to make the jump to the upper tier of the league, otherwise we'll be stuck in the middle again. I don't think my expectations are unrealistic. We've had a top 3-caliber team for the last 3 seasons. I don't view next year as being any different.

 

[it's boogie time]

I've got Bradley playing in the 2:35pm Friday game again. BU had six productive players last year. 3 are gone - 3 return. The glass is half empty and half full. If two of the five guys in the middle can step up over the offseason, then Bradley has a good chance to be in the top three. If not, they will be mired in the middle again.

I don't know enough about the other team's roster to know who they have to step in and replace their departing players. Recruits are nice, but it is usually those guys that played 5-10 minutes last year that step up and make a difference and most fans, outside of their own team, don't tend to know them.

 

[Da Coach]

As I posted in another thread, Bradley does appear to lose a lot with Matt Salley, Jeremy Crouch, and Daniel Ruffin. But they also return 57% of their scoring, which is one of the best in the MVC (only Creighton, Indiana St., and Evansville return more).

So I think BU will finish as a top 3 team, but I will reserve my guess until we know who all the players are that will be leaving teams, and the new recruits and transfers coming in at all 10 schools.

 

[georgethedog]

On paper, based on what is returning for each team in the league.

1. CU
2. BU
3. DU
4. ISU
5. INSU
6. SIU
7. WSU
8. UE
9. UNI
10. MSU

Obviously, we are going to have to defend and rebound better to make the jump to the upper tier of the league, otherwise we'll be stuck in the middle again. I don't think my expectations are unrealistic. We've had a top 3-caliber team for the last 3 seasons. I don't view next year as being any different.

So, according to your quote we've had a top 3-caliber team for the last 3 seasons. Where did we finish each of those seasons?

 

[BradleyBrave]

So, according to your quote we've had a top 3-caliber team for the last 3 seasons. Where did we finish each of those seasons?

That is correct. And we have finished 5th, 4th, and 5th in those years. It's arguable that we had top 3 talent in '07, so the 4th place finish that year isn't as disappointing as the finishes in '06 and '08. I also think we had top 3 talent in 2004 as well, and we finished 7th that year. Draw your own conclusions as to why.

 

[Bravesfan]

On paper, based on what is returning for each team in the league.

1. CU
2. BU
3. DU
4. ISU
5. INSU
6. SIU
7. WSU
8. UE
9. UNI
10. MSU

Obviously, we are going to have to defend and rebound better to make the jump to the upper tier of the league, otherwise we'll be stuck in the middle again. I don't think my expectations are unrealistic. We've had a top 3-caliber team for the last 3 seasons. I don't view next year as being any different.

The big difference this year however is that we have the most experienced team of the past four years. In 2006 it took two-thirds of the season to hit our stride, in probably one of the strongest years the Valley has ever seen, at least in recent memory. In 2007 we lost a lot of good players, but finished fourth with a completely overhauled offense, which wasn't bad. This past year we had a lot of talent on paper, but many players with limited Division I experience and the dreaded injury bug. I'm not sure I can blame Les for most of that.

However, this coming season sees most of our returning players with very valuable playing experience behind them, via injury play and the CBI. In other words, we have the most experienced team of the last four seasons going into play next year despite losing Ruffin, Crouch and Salley. With an experienced team, the additions coming in this next season combined with a slightly down Valley, we should be able to finish at least third if not higher.

I have and will continue to be a Les supporter. But this may be the year that the team needs to show us something in league play. Fifth place was good enough for an at-large bid in 2006, but until our conference is guaranteed at least three or four bids to the NCAA Tournament every year, we have to finish higher in league play. However, I think people will be pleasantly surprised by how well we do next year!

 

[Out of Balance]

The depressing part of this is we will be in the 7th season (right?) of Coach Les and still not considered in the upper class of the league... Does anyone remember the song that they used to play at the fieldhouse after BU games when Versace started coaching? How many years did it take him to get the team in the upper crust of the league? Please don't respond with either of these patented repsonses:
- The MVC is a tougher conference now (Tulsa, WSU & ISU were pretty good back then)
- We got to the Sweet 16 under Les (I relish that memory... but it is fading)

Don't get me wrong, I like Coach Les, but my expectations are higher for league play.

My expectations are set to be higher in the league, as while. I don't see it happening through! I to like JL, but with the anouncment of yet anough guard for next yr. (Norris), his system is starting to wear!
I don't look for BU to finish any higher than what JL's team's have the last 6 yr.s (5th to 6th). I hope I am wrong! Things can change before next yr. and maybe the wissard and his munchkins can pull it off.

 

[ER3]

1. CU
2. DU
3. ISU
4. BU
5. INSU
6. SIU
7. UE
8. WSU
9. UNI
10. MSU

A lot could change by the time the teams start practicing in the fall, but this would be my guess for now.
Creighton looks to be the team with the fewest question marks right now...Stinnett, Woodfox, Lawson, and Witter are a really solid returning group.
After that, I think any of the next 5 teams could be picked 2nd...I'll give the nod to Drake and ISU in the 2nd and 3rd spots for now...Young and Eldridge will be really tough to handle as juniors in this league...We'll see if Warren and or Wilson can progress enough to be mentioned in the same conversation as those guys when All-Valley teams are discussed at the end of the year...If so, BU would certainly be capable of finishing in the top 3 for the first time in a while.

 

[georgethedog]

That is correct. And we have finished 5th, 4th, and 5th in those years. It's arguable that we had top 3 talent in '07, so the 4th place finish that year isn't as disappointing as the finishes in '06 and '08. I also think we had top 3 talent in 2004 as well, and we finished 7th that year. Draw your own conclusions as to why.

I understand and agree.

 

[georgethedog]

1. CU
2. DU
3. ISU
4. BU
5. INSU
6. SIU
7. UE
8. WSU
9. UNI
10. MSU

A lot could change by the time the teams start practicing in the fall, but this would be my guess for now.
Creighton looks to be the team with the fewest question marks right now...Stinnett, Woodfox, Lawson, and Witter are a really solid returning group.
After that, I think any of the next 5 teams could be picked 2nd...I'll give the nod to Drake and ISU in the 2nd and 3rd spots for now...Young and Eldridge will be really tough to handle as juniors in this league...We'll see if Warren and or Wilson can progress enough to be mentioned in the same conversation as those guys when All-Valley teams are discussed at the end of the year...If so, BU would certainly be capable of finishing in the top 3 for the first time in a while.

Drake will go back to sucking next year...

 

[ER3]

Drake will go back to sucking next year...

Anything is possible, I suppose...but Josh Young and Bucky Cox is about the best 1-2 punch that any team in the Valley has coming back. I have no idea who they have in place that might be able to step up and fill the void left by Emmenecker, Houston, and Korver, but Keno appears to have developed a nice offensive system that may allow them to succeed again next year with some new faces plugged into those spots (Parker, Eaddy, ???).