Pre-season Valley picks

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

http://blogs.news-leader.com/msu/2010/10/13/a-peek-at-one-mvc-preseason-basketball-ballot/

[9YRPLAN]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

seems reasonable enough.

[Marc Wigim]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

My brief observations:

1-Wichita State: This is the UNI of the 2010-11 season. I would be stunned if they aren't an NCAA team, possibly still around after the first weekend. Talented, disciplined, and experienced.

2-Missouri State: Cuonzo "My name makes people smile" Martin might have it turned around with the best offense in the league. Missouri State going to be a force for many years.

3-UNI: Yeah, we're young, but a lot of guys had 10+ minutes per game that have come back. My new nickname for this team? "The Hydra": Cut off one head, three grow in its place. Still the best defensive team in the MVC, and will be as long as Jake is here.

4-Creighton: McDermott has much to prove to me before I rate this team higher. Remember all of Mac's regular season Valley titles at UNI? No? Oh yeah, his best mark was only 12-6 in a down year. They'll be good, but this isn't the Valley McDermott left in 2006.

5-Bradley: I talked to a lot of irritated Bradley fans in St. Louis last March, and who can blame them? Loads of talent (and Maniscalco is SICK), but really nothing to show for it. This year seems like another talented team that will be easy for coaches to solve.

6-Illinois State: I don't have a lot of faith in Jankovich's ability to come back from losing Osiris Eldridge. Would anyone disagree with me when I called last year's team "The Fighting O's?" Jank can recruit, but his teams always seem to rely on one off-the-hook shooter. He won't have that this year.

7-Drake: It pains me to say this, but Drake has a pretty decent bunch of young uns coming in, and I think this team will be in a battle with ISUred to avoid the dreaded Thursday game all season. They'll get much better in the next few years with Phelps at the helm.

8-Indiana State: Indiana State: McKenna seemed like the guy for the job. Remember how tough of an out this team was in St. Louis? Too bad he left to follow his guy Altman to Oregon. Indiana State will be a solid team that will surprise a few, but there'll be too much discord this season.

9-Evansville: I'm not willing to make UE my de facto last place as I do every year. Last year's team was very young and really started to gel towards the end, and Simmons is an undeniably skilled coach. Unforunately key defections will keep this team from finishing higher.

10-SIU: Lowery's gotta GO. This guy swindled his school out of a contract they couldn't afford, and for what? This? Nothing will change, either. Look for (IRONY ALERT!) the worst D in the league to get picked apart by some of the better set offenses in the league. And believe me... Chrissy-poo, there are quite a few.

[CyCarp]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

Decent article here. "Missouri Valley: What I Can't Wait to See"

http://espn.go.com/blog/CollegeBasketballNation/post/_/id/16497/mvc-what-i-cant-wait-to-see

[SpanishMoon]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

Jordan is the only "unreplaceable" player from last year, IMO. With that said, I would pick us 3rd and hope for better if they put the pieces together and get some big road wins.

There is no way to replace Jordan. He was the heart and sould of the team and the best drinker too, haha. I like ORear but he is going to struggle to stay in the game as long as we need him to. He won't be able to come in and rough people up and then go sit. He has to stay in the game and be physical without fouling.

We have one of the best pg's in the country in my opinion and this is what carries the team this year. We will look a lot diffferent this year you know.

[UNI Prof]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-1jgNhopNo

[CyCarp]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

I thought this was interesting. Top 144 countdown going on at collegehoops.net, and UNI checks in at 49...

http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/49-northern-iowa-2010-11-basketball-preview-168787

They are only on 48 right now, but the other Valley teams so far were Indiana St (131), So Illinois (127), Bradley (91), Creighton (77), Missouri St (67).

[Panther AC]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

Good article but he totally forgot Anthony James!

[UNI83]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

Good article but he totally forgot Anthony James!

It's easy to do...Anthony is still pestering Hannah

[ProwlingPanther]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

There is no way to replace Jordan. He was the heart and sould of the team and the best drinker too, haha. I like ORear but he is going to struggle to stay in the game as long as we need him to. He won't be able to come in and rough people up and then go sit. He has to stay in the game and be physical without fouling.

We have one of the best pg's in the country in my opinion and this is what carries the team this year. We will look a lot diffferent this year you know.

Jordan was obviously a great asset but he was not the "heart and soul" of the team. I don't know that you could put that label on any one player from last year's team.

[jnutt]

Re: Pre-season Valley picks

my picks are up at IowaSportsMonster.com

I am previewing UNI after I see them on saturday...flu permitting.

http://www.iowasportsmonster.com/home.php