MVC Pre-Season Rankings

[Hime_Peterson]

What do you guys think? Here are mine:
1) UNI: I think the Panthers have the total package this year. Best combo of wings in the league in seniors Jacobson and Crawford, but the low-post combo of Coleman and Stout plus a deeper and more athletic bench puts UNI above Creighton in my mind.
2) Creighton: Perhaps the league's best player in Nate Funk with Johnny Mathies who is another great guard. Some good young existing talent plus a good recruiting class led by a top-flight point guard puts Creighton in position to contend for the title.
3) SIU: Despite the fact that their best player was lost to graduation, until somebody dethrones the Salukis, I have to put them in the top 3. Their defense is outstanding and Jamaal Tatum will be a star in the MVC for the next two years.
4) Wichita: They lose a strong senior class, but I was impressed with their young talent. An extremely tough non-conference schedule plus some good coaching will have them near the top of the Valley once again.
5) SMS: The talent is always there, but hasn't seemed to perform up to par. I still expect SMS to have the talent to beat anybody.
6) Drake: Return a good portion of their team with a decent recruiting class that contains some good-size athletes. Though it's awkward, Dr. Tom's system gives some teams fits.
7) Bradley: Perhaps the most talented starting five with the league's most talented player in Sommerville. However, Jim Les is questionable at best as a coach, and until they prove me otherwise, I expect them to be in the play-in round.
8) Indiana State: David Moss and Eric Gray can fill it, but they have pretty much nothing on the inside now, and they lack depth. These guys won't be a factor.
9) Evansville: Struggled mightily at the end of the year and lost some key guys to graduation.
10)Illinois State: Losing Lorenzo Gordon puts them in the tank. They will really struggle, although I like their coach. Have been burned by player defections, and their entire perimeter graduated without any battle-tested reserves.

[panther2317]

1) SIU - until someone proves otherwise, they are the league champs. Someone will have to knock them off of their throne.
2) UNI - I really think UNI has the tools to make a run at the regular season crown.
3) SMS - this team really has the most athletic ability from 1-13 on their roster. Is this the season they put it all together CONSISTENTLY? If so, watch out, because they could be scary-good.
3) CU - Altman is too good of a coach for them to finish out of the top 4. They will challenge at Arch Madness as well...otherwise known as the Bluejay Invitational
5) WSU - lost too much from their graduating class and then lost Adam Liberty to Oral Roberts as well. I like Ogirri, but I don't think they will be as strong as last season.
6) BU - good talent...can Les get his kids to play hard all season?
7) DU - if Korver can't play...they could struggle
8) IN. ST - good guard tandem, what else do they have?
8) EU - keep their kids out of trouble off the court and they could be pretty talented.
8) IL. ST - WOW...what's the over/under on when the next kid leaves Normal? Losing Gordon does hurt. Seems like Moser is an intense personality...wonder if that is why kids are leaving?

[Hime_Peterson]

panther2317,

Do you think Illinois State coach Porter Moser is paying the price for trying to load up on JUCO's for the quick fix?

That's a good synopsis and I agree with your assessment of SMS. They have been far too talented the past couple of years to finish 5th in the regular season, and I think a lot of it is because Barry Hinson seems to struggle to settle in on a rotation.

You other guys want to post your rankings?

[Marc Wigim]

1- UNI: Call me a homer, but this team is seasoned and knows how to play together. They have learned from past mistakes, and Coleman is a year smarter, along with the undeniable leadership of Ben Jacobsen and crowd-favorite Grant Stout.
2- CU: Another year, another Bluejay run. Dana Altman is the best coach the MVC has had in a while, and Creighton always gives me fits.
3- SIU: They lose a lot, but I think Lowery is just reloading. This team will struggle at first as they try to gel, but once they get rolling, they'll be as good as anybody.
4- SMS: I don't like Barry Hinson. He's a mediocre coach, and his team plays thirty or so minutes of awkward basketball. The other ten minutes... well, you saw what UNI did to them at Springfield last year.
5- DU: Drake might finally be able to turn a winning season in this year. The Doc has a decent line-up, but they're still a little inexperienced. You gotta love his style of basketball, though.
6- WSU: I'm not buying the hype. Last year they started out strong on a weak non-conference schedule, and self-destructed in the Valley. They don't have anyone to fill the void, either. They'll finish about two games above .500
7- Ill St: Moser is a good coach, but they're reeling with a couple of defections and graduations.
8- BU: Jim Les is not a good coach. They have Sommerville, and...?
9- UE: Another long season in Evansville. I hope they do better than I think they will, but I just don't see it happening this year.
10- In St: Sigh.

[5panthers]

About UNI

I am only going to comment about UNI as the other posts are well said about the other MVC schools...

I agree that Benny is the undeniable leader of this team next year...but we need that "team" emotional leader (and motivator) on the floor. I think that this will be Brooks' year to step up and play well and take on that role as well. I have met Michael Williams (the JC transfer) and believe that he can do the same very easily and very quickly as well! He has already quickly become a welcomed and well-fit part of the bb team.

It is going to be another great year for the Cats...and I believe even better than the last two!

[Hime_Peterson]

[QUOTE=5panthers]I agree that Benny is the undeniable leader of this team next year...but we need that "team" emotional leader (and motivator) on the floor. I think that this will be Brooks' year to step up and play well and take on that role as well.QUOTE]


You guys probably know more than I do, but to me, Crawford is the leader in his own quiet way--cool, calm, and collected. The guy never gets rattled.

[5panthers]

Hime

Great observation and I certainly agree with you as well...Crawford does bring that leadership to the team. His leadership is in that coolness and collectiveness on the court. Benny's leadership style is also more of a take control of the game...which he can most certainly do. Ben certainly does show more emotion on the court.

In my opinion what a Brooks or Michael Williams can bring is more of an "team" floor leader to stoke some emotion on the court or bring the team together to calm things down when they need to be collected. Brooks did that (in some way) with his team meeting that he called half way through last season.

We certainly have a coach that is active in this role...but I believe that we need a player on the floor to serve that "on court" role as well.

[GonzoCat]

I think Ontheprowl nailed it. I'll second his rankings.

[panther2317]

I think Coach Hinson's problem in Springfield the past couple of seasons is that he does have the most athletic team in the conference, but he wants them to play a slow-down, half-court defensive struggle type of game.

Those kids want to run. SMS had two 7 game winning streaks last season and when they won...they ran. They still played defense, but they got up and down and attacked on offense. If they do that all year long...they will challenge for the Valley and an NCAA at-large bid.

Coach Hinson is one of the nicest people I've had the opportunity of meeting...and he's a very smart coach. I think the addition of Ben Miller on his staff was good for him. They will be good.

[Marc Wigim]

Thanks, I'll be the first to admit that I probably know a little more about MVC Basketball than I do football. I don't know how that happened, because I've followed football since I was a young lad. Need proof? Look at a few of my misguided posts in the football board.

[Marc Wigim]

I also second Crawford as a quiet leader. He reminds me of Derrek Lee of the Chicago Cubs.

[tcondon]

I'll throw in my early two cents.

1. UNI-It may be a homer call, but after a year of being the "hunted" in the Valley after taking the tourney title, they will realize that they have to bring it every night. I expect 15-3 wins it for the Panthers.
2. SIU-A great homecourt advantage leads to this mark.
3. Creighton-Consistently towards the top of the league.
4. Missouri State-Agree with most everything said about Hinson's boys.
5. Bradley-They will get the home court rocking again this season with Sommerville, Bennett and Wright.
6. Drake-Dr. Tom continues to build the program, just not the surge that many Bulldog fans are expecting this season.
7. Wichita-Late season slide once again leads them to a play in game.
8. Evansville
9. Illinois State
10. Indiana State

[ejacobson]

I am only going to comment about UNI as the other posts are well said about the other MVC schools...

I agree that Benny is the undeniable leader of this team next year...but we need that "team" emotional leader (and motivator) on the floor. I think that this will be Brooks' year to step up and play well and take on that role as well. I have met Michael Williams (the JC transfer) and believe that he can do the same very easily and very quickly as well! He has already quickly become a welcomed and well-fit part of the bb team.

It is going to be another great year for the Cats...and I believe even better than the last two!

The team has an emotional leader and his name is John Little, little is the beating heart on the bench and when he is on the court he always makes things happen. The panthers are getting a great addition in Williams, and I cannot wait to see what happens this winter, but as for needing someone to get the team going just look for the Fro, and watch JLit get em going.

[Marc Wigim]

Can't argue with that. I've talked with J-Lit a few times... he's a class act 110%.