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2024-25 Preseason picks

Da Coach

Da Coach

Moderator
Staff member
Several preseason magazines are out and the ones I've seen pick Bradley to win the MVC.
The Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook, which is considered by many to be the best preseason magazine, just published their 2024-25 edition.
Bradley was picked #1, and Duke Deen and Darius Hannah were both picked as MVC 1st team All-Conference - https://x.com/BradleyUMBB/status/1831058427763913034

I have not seen the Blue Ribbon Yearbook, since it is not sold in stores. It can be ordered here - https://blueribbonyearbook.com/
 
Here are the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook's picks for the MVC - https://x.com/ValleyHoops/status/1831368649539777028

GWpUFOYX0AATEMU


Interesting to see Drake predicted so high (3rd) with a nearly all-new roster, and many of them D2 transfers,
 
and UNI picked 2nd, but then nobody else stands out as being all that strong. The other site (CSM) had Murray State 2nd, these guys have them 6th.
Every team underwent huge turnover, making it impossible to guess who's gonna be good.
But the one that caught my eye is ILLINIOIS STATE at 4th. Must be thinking Kinziger has a monster year.

Do they say who wrote the MVC section - usually it is one of the beat writers in the Valley.
 
Da Coach said:
Here are the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook's picks for the MVC - https://x.com/ValleyHoops/status/1831368649539777028

GWpUFOYX0AATEMU
Click to expand...

The Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook's picks for preseason 1st team All-MVC includes 2 Bradley players - https://x.com/ValleyHoops/status/1831369368686752001

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Former D2 player Drake's Bennett Stirtz of Drake picked for Newcomer of the Year over the many proven D1 transfers who are new to the MVC this season. Stirtz did average an impressive 15.2 ppg at Northwest Missouri State, but can he can do that at the D1 level? He shot only 32.7% from three last year and got the bulk of his points on 2-point shots close to the basket, which will not come nearly as easily in the MVC.
 
Da Coach said:
The Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook's picks for preseason 1st team All-MVC includes 2 Bradley players - https://x.com/ValleyHoops/status/1831369368686752001

GWpUJDaX0AAPOSL


I'm not sure I agree that former D2 player Drake's Bennett Stirtz of Drake will be Newcomer of the Year over the many proven D1 transfers who are new to the MVC this season. Stirtz did average an impressive 15.2 ppg at Northwest Missouri State, but I'd be surprised if he can do that at the D1 level. He shot only 32.7% from three last year and got the bulk of his points on 2-point shots close to the basket, which will not come nearly as easily in the MVC.
Click to expand...

Dont count out Corey Thomas
 
bradleyfan124 said:
Don't count out Corey Thomas
Click to expand...

I hope you are right. We don't know much about Corey, yet, other than a couple comments from Coach Wardle. I don't expect him to replace what Malevy Leons did for last year's team, but he needs to become a major contributor on offense and defense every game if Bradley is going to win the MVC or have a chance at an NCAA Tournament season.
I've not been able to find much recent video of Corey, but here is a full game video of Cowley County College from late last season that features Corey wearing #22 in the red uniform - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWc6mWHHRCw

My impressions from watching most of the game video- He impressed me with his physical aggressiveness, despite being thin. And he made some nice passes. He lost control of the ball a couple times, but the officials allowed the play to get a bit physical. Corey only averaged 1.45 turnovers per game, so I don't think it's a big problem. He appeared to play decent defense, but he was not utilized on offense as much as he could have been. Cowley County had a couple guards who dominated the offense and took most of the shots, especially a player named Jeff Nwankwo, who is now playing at Oklahoma for Porter Moser. He was the Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year and a 1st team juco All American. He looked to shoot just about every time he had the ball.
But I like that Corey seems to be around the ball a lot, isn't afraid to mix it up inside, and goes for the dunk whenever he can, instead of trying for a soft layup.
Corey's stats for Cowley County last season are impressive-
FG%- 59.3% (147-248 )
3pt%- 36.6% (15-41)
FT%- 69.2% (92-133)
Points- 12.2 ppg
Rebounds- 10.1 rpg
Assists- 1.9 apg (64 in 33 games)
Blocks- 1.8 bpg
Turnovers- 1.45/game (48 in 33 games)
Assists/turnovers- 1.33

BTW, I hope we can also get greater contributions from Connor Linke and Goanar Biliew, along with Meta, inside.
It will be interesting to see. Overall, I don't recall as many uncertainties about every MVC team as we have this season due to the huge amount of changes in personnel and coaches.

Nice photo of Corey - https://cowleytigers.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/releases/20240326nyfxa9
Box score from their final game. Corey was the game's top scorer (20 pts, 9 reb) - https://cowleytigers.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/boxscores/20240325_f4uk.xml?view=boxscore

1Z4A6277.jpg
 
Da Coach said:
I hope you are right. We don't know much about Corey, yet, other than a couple comments from Coach Wardle. I don't expect him to replace what Malevy Leons did for last year's team, but he needs to become a major contributor on offense and defense every game if Bradley is going to win the MVC or have a chance at an NCAA Tournament season.
I've not been able to find much recent video of Corey, but here is a full game video of Cowley County College from late last season that features Corey wearing #22 in the red uniform - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWc6mWHHRCw

My impressions from watching most of the game video- He impressed me with his physical aggressiveness, despite being thin. And he made some nice passes. He lost control of the ball a couple times, but the officials allowed the play to get a bit physical. Corey only averaged 1.45 turnovers per game, so I don't think it's a big problem. He appeared to play decent defense, but he was not utilized on offense as much as he could have been. Cowley County had a couple guards who dominated the offense and took most of the shots, especially a player named Jeff Nwankwo, who is now playing at Oklahoma for Porter Moser. He was the Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year and a 1st team juco All American. He looked to shoot just about every time he had the ball.
But I like that Corey seems to be around the ball a lot, isn't afraid to mix it up inside, and goes for the dunk whenever he can, instead of trying for a soft layup.
Corey's stats for Cowley County last season are impressive-
FG%- 59.3% (147-248 )
3pt%- 36.6% (15-41)
FT%- 69.2% (92-133)
Points- 12.2 ppg
Rebounds- 10.1 rpg
Assists- 1.9 apg (64 in 33 games)
Blocks- 1.8 bpg
Turnovers- 1.45/game (48 in 33 games)
Assists/turnovers- 1.33

BTW, I hope we can also get greater contributions from Connor Linke and Goanar Biliew, along with Meta, inside.
It will be interesting to see. Overall, I don't recall as many uncertainties about every MVC team as we have this season due to the huge amount of changes in personnel and coaches.

Nice photo of Corey - https://cowleytigers.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/releases/20240326nyfxa9
Box score from their final game. Corey was the game's top scorer (20 pts, 9 reb) - https://cowleytigers.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/boxscores/20240325_f4uk.xml?view=boxscore

1Z4A6277.jpg
Click to expand...

I watched a couple games of Thomas. I didn't think they played to his strengths. He is an inside out guy. He can take the ball down low and make good moves under the basket but he can also pass back out to the shooters. That works perfectly into Wardle's game plan. Like you said his JC team was geared around a couple guards
 
Online blogger Bart Torvik has his ratings for the 2024-25 college basketball season up, and here are his MVC ratings - https://barttorvik.com/trankpre.php?conlimit=MVC&state=All&year=2025&sort =

MVC rankings-
1) Bradley- projected record: overall record 21-8 (vs. D1), MVC record 14-6
2) Northern Iowa
3) Drake
4) Southern Illinois
5) Murray State
6) UIC
7) Illinois State
8 ) Belmont
9) Indiana State
10) Evansville
11) Valparaiso
12) Missouri State
​
Overall NCAA D1 rankings for 2024-25- https://barttorvik.com/trankpre.php

Here were the Blue Ribbon College Yearbook rankings-
blue-ribbon.png


Note Bart Torvik has SIU and Belmont 3 places higher than Blue Ribbon, and UIC 5 places higher.
He has ILSU, Belmont, and Valpo 3 places lower
Missouri State fans don't quite agree :) - https://247sports.com/college/misso...ontents/preseason-pollsmags-235656972/?page=1
 
sorry, but I don't see that. The links you post show a graphic that indicates Kansas beats Clemson to get to the Sweet 16, then they lose to Tennessee who then loses to Illinois - and then Illinois plays all the way to the title game, losing to Alabama.
On the opposite side it has Bradley (12 seed) losing to Cincy in the opening round.
But that whole bracket was posted a month ago.

I think you meant to post this graphic- https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1foqlmp/joe_lunardi_2025_ncaa_tournament_preseason/?embed_host_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsirshanksalot.com%2F joe-lunardis-2025-ncaa-tournament-bracketology-mixed-reactions-from-fans%2F




In Lunardi's updated bracket on his ESPN page - he now drops Bradley to a 13 seed facing Purdue
But of course, this is all pretty silly, as I guarantee at least 75% of everything he's got there is going to change by next spring,
including the fact he has St. Louis and 4 Big Ten teans as the first teams out while 9 Big Ten teams are in, 10 SEC teams.
https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/s...logy-2025-march-madness-men-field-predictions
 
MId-maor Madness' preseason picks. He does a good job and does his research. - https://x.com/mid_madness/status/1840753520242483525
But ftr, I don't think Illinois State will be 12th. They have some decent talent and a good coach.

1. Bradley
2. Northern Iowa
3. Drake
4. Belmont
5. Murray State
6. Southern Illinois
7. Missouri State
8. Valpo
9. Indiana State
10. UIC
11. Evansville
12. Illinois State​
 
Da Coach said:
MId-maor Madness' preseason picks. He does a good job and does his research. - https://x.com/mid_madness/status/1840753520242483525
But ftr, I don't think Illinois State will be 12th. They have some decent talent and a good coach.

1. Bradley
2. Northern Iowa
3. Drake
4. Belmont
5. Murray State
6. Southern Illinois
7. Missouri State
8. Valpo
9. Indiana State
10. UIC
11. Evansville
12. Illinois State
Click to expand...

Mid-Major Madness Preseason Player of the Year- Duke Deen - https://x.com/mid_madness/status/1840756795373166758

Other picks-
Newcomer of the Year- Samage Teel of Indiana State - https://x.com/mid_madness/status/1840758451452236049

Freshman of the Year- Makhai Valentine of Missouri State - https://x.com/mid_madness/status/1840761537214255181

Question: Does Zek Montgomery qualify for the Newcomer of the Year award?
 
Da Coach said:
Mid-Major Madness Preseason Player of the Year- Duke Deen - https://x.com/mid_madness/status/1840756795373166758

Other picks-
Newcomer of the Year- Samage Teel of Indiana State - https://x.com/mid_madness/status/1840758451452236049

Freshman of the Year- Makhai Valentine of Missouri State - https://x.com/mid_madness/status/1840761537214255181

Question: Does Zek Montgomery qualify for the Newcomer of the Year award?
Click to expand...

My pick for Newcomer of the Year.......Corey Thomas, Bradley
 
Other picks-
Newcomer of the Year- Timoty van der Knaap

Freshman of the Year- Jaquan Johnson

Question: Does Zek Montgomery qualify for the Newcomer of the Year award? HE SHOULD! He's new to the valley (again)!​
 
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In his article about Bradley picked #1
Dave Eminian says this about opening night MVC schedule:
”Northern Illinois get Duquesne”

how silly is that?
Northern Illinois has nothing to do with the MVC,
so I assume he means Northern Iowa, but they aren’t playing Duquesne either - they’re playing Dubuque. (Duquesne plays Lipscomb)
 
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