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Bradley Picked Last in Preseason Poll

If Geno Ford gets this team out of the Thursday night play in round he should win Coach of the Year awards.

What is embarassing is how bad all three Illinois MVC school are at the moment. BU made a coaching change to try and make a difference, SIU is in an albatross of a coaching contract and ISU seems to not really care one way or another.

I would take BU's situation any day of the week. At least there is passion there and not empathy.
 
They say our conference is cyclical. Personally I think it is just our turns to be on the bottom of the league. I would hope that the next couple of years BU, ISU and SIU will be moving towards the top of the conference. BU has some exciting new talent to be hopeful about in the coming years as does ISU. I think SIU could be in the same situation but they are going to experience a coaching change at some point that should have them starting over again. I know that both BU and ISU were picked to finish near the bottom of the conference this year, but I suspect one or both teams will finish near the middle and look like we are on an upswing the following season. There are a few teams picked in the middle that I don't think will be as good as everyone is projecting and I think their preseason picks like most everyones is based off of last years production. Just look at UNI for example. After O'Rear went down they lost a ton of games but still finished in the middle. Not only do they lose him, but the also lost one of the best PG's in the valley from last year. Defensively I just don't think they are going to be as good as we normally see them being. There are also questions about how good MSU is going to be now that they have to replace 4 starters. Then there is Indiana St. who I think teams will "figure out" this year. Last season they caught lightning in a bottle and I see their winning the tourney as more of a fluke than anything else. They are very dependent on outside shooting and if the shots aren't falling it could be their downfall. They could be the surprise team this year that doesn't do as well as expected.
 
buschsquirrel2011 said:
What is embarassing is how bad all three Illinois MVC school are at the moment. BU made a coaching change to try and make a difference, SIU is in an albatross of a coaching contract and ISU seems to not really care one way or another.
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I am not even sure what you mean with the ISU comment. Coach Jankovich is starting his 5th year at ISU. During his first 3 years @ ISU, his teams finished 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd. Last year stunk with a 9th place finish, but let's not forget he has finished in the top 3, three out of the 4 years he has been in Normal.

Now if we are in the play-in games again this year, then maybe the seat starts to get warm. But it's nothing like it was in Peoria or even Carbondale.

Most fans I know think Coach Jankovich is a great recruiter, a good in game coach, a God awful scheduler and a good guy. (despite the occasional speeding ticket and cell phone violation) :D
 
I actually find myself agreeing with you cpacmel...

-first regarding ISU -- they did well for Jank's 1st 3 years then bottomed out - but Jank has reloaded and the rest of the guys who were "inexperienced" last year are now the experienced guys and playing reasonably well..

In ISU's two exhibitions (one vs. Quincy and one was the Red-White) they've been shooting and rebounding well....they scored well in the Red White and shot 50%...

and against a team that humbled Drake (a team picked higher than ISU) - The Redbirds hit at will and blew them out by 40

Maybe if there was a time to say this about ISU it was last year but Jank seems to actually be doing what's needed to rebound - so I will give 'em a chance to see what they've got before coming down hard on them.


-Then likewise - SIU may not be at the top of the Valley yet - but in their two public exhibitions, they played well and blew them out!!


-Finally -- on BU -- hey give Geno a chance before lumping him in with perceived bottom dwellers!
we have two players who if healthy - look to be All-Conference caliber players - and everyone who has actually seen BU play so far either in their exhibition or in practices has commented on the energy, the athleticism, and the hustle - and are inclined to think we're going to do better than picked.
 
tornado said:
I actually find myself agreeing with you cpacmel...

-first regarding ISU -- they did well for Jank's 1st 3 years then bottomed out - but Jank has reloaded and the rest of the guys who were "inexperienced" last year are now the experienced guys and playing reasonably well..

In ISU's two exhibitions (one vs. Quincy and one was the Red-White) they've been shooting and rebounding well....they scored well in the Red White and shot 50%...

and against a team that humbled Drake (a team picked higher than ISU) - The Redbirds hit at will and blew them out by 40

Maybe if there was a time to say this about ISU it was last year but Jank seems to actually be doing what's needed to rebound - so I will give 'em a chance to see what they've got before coming down hard on them.


-Then likewise - SIU may not be at the top of the Valley yet - but in their two public exhibitions, they played well and blew them out!!


-Finally -- on BU -- hey give Geno a chance before lumping him in with perceived bottom dwellers!
we have two players who if healthy - look to be All-Conference caliber players - and everyone who has actually seen BU play so far either in their exhibition or in practices has commented on the energy, the athleticism, and the hustle - and are inclined to think we're going to do better than picked.
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isnt the scheduling the problem with ISU however?

Jank should have been to an NCAA but the fact is, he wasnt.

The NIT is a reputable tournament....The others, eh...

I don't care whether Jank stays or goes, but I believe his warmth to be self inflicted.
 
tornado said:
I actually find myself agreeing with you cpacmel...

-first regarding ISU -- they did well for Jank's 1st 3 years then bottomed out - but Jank has reloaded and the rest of the guys who were "inexperienced" last year are now the experienced guys and playing reasonably well..

In ISU's two exhibitions (one vs. Quincy and one was the Red-White) they've been shooting and rebounding well....they scored well in the Red White and shot 50%...

and against a team that humbled Drake (a team picked higher than ISU) - The Redbirds hit at will and blew them out by 40

Maybe if there was a time to say this about ISU it was last year but Jank seems to actually be doing what's needed to rebound - so I will give 'em a chance to see what they've got before coming down hard on them.


-Then likewise - SIU may not be at the top of the Valley yet - but in their two public exhibitions, they played well and blew them out!!


-Finally -- on BU -- hey give Geno a chance before lumping him in with perceived bottom dwellers!
we have two players who if healthy - look to be All-Conference caliber players - and everyone who has actually seen BU play so far either in their exhibition or in practices has commented on the energy, the athleticism, and the hustle - and are inclined to think we're going to do better than picked.
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I've seem BU play this year and I'm not sure where they will finish--Im still thinking 9th or 10th. It would be tough for me to make an educated guess because there are 9 other teams in the conference. I think sometimes people forget this :)

How do I know if what I see at BU compares to what they are doing at Missouri State, for example? To say "everyone" who has seem BU play is inclined to think they will be better than picked would be a bit of a reach.

If SIU, ISU and BU are all going to be better than picked then what three teams finish 8,9 and 10 this year in the MVC?

I agree with SRW. Jank had a guy in Osiris and never made the NCAA's. His schedule was an abolute joke to his team and the MVC. He finished 9th and is picked again towards the bottom. When the league was down he didn't capitalize. Now the league is a lot better and he isn't where he was.
 
buschsquirrel2011 said:
If SIU, ISU and BU are all going to be better than picked then what three teams finish 8,9 and 10 this year in the MVC?

I agree with SRW. Jank had a guy in Osiris and never made the NCAA's. His schedule was an abolute joke to his team and the MVC. He finished 9th and is picked again towards the bottom. When the league was down he didn't capitalize. Now the league is a lot better and he isn't where he was.
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Just because you have one marquis player on a team doesn't make you NCAA material. I think Jank did a more than respectable job in 3 of his 4 years. And scheduling DID keep him out of the Big Dance in possibly 2 of the years. (Yes, the responsibility mainly lies with him in this)
And what do you mean, the league is a lot better? using what criteria???
We're worse than we have been in a league in a decade or more! Last season was the worst in a looooong time - how much better are we going to get this year, as the best 2 teams last year are arguably better than the Top 2 this year. I DO think the league will be slightly stronger, but they're going to have to prove something to me. I would be totally shocked if we get 3 teams in the NCAA tourney.

The teams that could easily finish 9, and 10 if the 3 Illinois teams improve are:

Drake
Missouri St.

So many are up on MSU this season - some picking them 3rd. But with so much turnover and so many newcomers, I would venture to say they will be playing on Thursday in St. Louis.
 
Chico said:
Who are we supposed to ask?
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I don't recall who the guy was, but he didn't have TB listed on his first four MVC all-conference teams. TB was also not among the top 10 players in the MVC Poll determined by panel of league sports information directors, media, and coaches.
 
LittleBrave said:
And what do you mean, the league is a lot better? using what criteria???
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For me its the talent on the floor. The level of talent in the MVC will be better this year than it was 3, 4, or 5 years ago.
 
tornado said:
I actually find myself agreeing with you cpacmel...
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You should have waited til Friday to make that post.

Seems only right that after all these years (how many has it been?) that you finally agree with me on something, that it should have taken place on 11/11/11. :-D

The world can officially end now. 8)
 
buschsquirrel2011 said:
I agree with SRW. Jank had a guy in Osiris and never made the NCAA's. His schedule was an abolute joke to his team and the MVC. He finished 9th and is picked again towards the bottom. When the league was down he didn't capitalize. Now the league is a lot better and he isn't where he was.
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Plenty of great players have never made the NCAA's though.

I am not sure how you can say the league is a lot better. Nor how can you say he (jank) isn't where he was. No one has played a single game yet.

Projections and polls are fun to talk about. But neither are 100% accurate.
 
cpacmel said:
Plenty of great players have never made the NCAA's though.

I am not sure how you can say the league is a lot better. Nor how can you say he (jank) isn't where he was. No one has played a single game yet.

Projections and polls are fun to talk about. But neither are 100% accurate.
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Of course a lot of great players don't make the NCAA's...calling Osiris a "great player" would be a stretch :)

I just think that if I were an ISU fan I would feel less than satisfied with the Osiris era at ISU. You obviously feel differently. No biggie.

Do you think the overall talent on the floor is better and trending up in the MVC compared to the last few seasons?
 
buschsquirrel2011 said:
Do you think the overall talent on the floor is better and trending up in the MVC compared to the last few seasons?
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I believe so - this season will tell a lot about where we're headed with young talent. The new faces last year brought hope to the MVC. We need that to happen again this year.
 
buschsquirrel2011 said:
Of course a lot of great players don't make the NCAA's...calling Osiris a "great player" would be a stretch :)
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You don't think a guy that first team All MVC 3 of his 4 years is great? His freshman year he was Freshman of the Year. He has also won the defensive player of the year in the MVC and he was voted most outstanding player in tourney, despite not winning the title.

I just think that if I were an ISU fan I would feel less than satisfied with the Osiris era at ISU. You obviously feel differently. No biggie.
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I have a feeling if roles were reversed and he had done the same thing at Bradley, your feeling might be alittle different. Your right, no biggie.

Do you think the overall talent on the floor is better and trending up in the MVC compared to the last few seasons?
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Be nice to see some games before making such a proclaimation.

This year's preseason all MVC is Odum, McDermott, Murry, Ryan and Weems. With the next 5 being: Gregory Echenique, Creighton; Anthony James, UNI; Rayvonte Rice, Drake; Mamadou Seck, Southern Illinois; Antoine Young, Creighton..

5 years ago the top 10 was Falker, Funk, Ahearn, Tatum, Tolliver, Coleman, Stout, Will Franklin, Dan Ruffin, Matt Webster.

2 years ago the top 10 was Eldridge, Hannah, Koch, Dinma O, Josh Young, Marshall, Weems, Sam M, Lawson, and Egelseder.
 
Osiris was never as productive as I thought he'd be -- he took an awful lot of shots just to get his 14 points per game..and maybe hurt the team at time by gunning...

Taylor, however, if he stays healthy and on the court can give so much more --scoring, rebounding, and a little defense as well - and in the Parkside game I actually was surprised he got 25 pts as he didn't take a lot of shots (only 11)
I'd have to wonder if there was ever a game Osiris ever took as few as only 11 shots! ;)
 
cpacmel said:
This year's preseason all MVC is Odum, McDermott, Murry, Ryan and Weems. With the next 5 being: Gregory Echenique, Creighton; Anthony James, UNI; Rayvonte Rice, Drake; Mamadou Seck, Southern Illinois; Antoine Young, Creighton..

5 years ago the top 10 was Falker, Funk, Ahearn, Tatum, Tolliver, Coleman, Stout, Will Franklin, Dan Ruffin, Matt Webster.

2 years ago the top 10 was Eldridge, Hannah, Koch, Dinma O, Josh Young, Marshall, Weems, Sam M, Lawson, and Egelseder.
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Sure I may be a little biased, but if neither DSE nor TB are among the top ten players in the conference there must be a lot of talent this season. Again, I've been known to be on the wrong side of an opinion.
 
I think it was pointed out at valley media day that winning valley teams are usually loaded with Sr's on them, but we are seeing a bunch of young talent come forward. CPAC might have been eluding to this in his post, but it could mean one of two things. Either a) our senior class is really bad and younger players are being picked for 1st and 2nd teams or b) the young talent that is being brought in is really that good. After watching some of these guys last year, I would like to think that the young talent really is that good which means the valley is trending upward and should continue to be good over the next few years.
 
cpacmel said:
I have a feeling if roles were reversed and he had done the same thing at Bradley, your feeling might be alittle different. Your right, no biggie.
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Every time Bradley has had a player like Osiris for four years it has made the NCAA Tournament and that should be the expectation. They also won the conference title with a player like that. ISU did neither with Osiris--they did so with Rico Hill.

Expectations are different for you then. That's fine. I think Jank really wanted to schedule soft, win a bunch, and get out of ISU as fast as possible. Unfortunately by not winning a league title and never getting to the NCAA his star has dimmed and his time has passed.

I think he played his cards a certain way and lost.
 
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