Pre-Season rankings

[BrockLesnar]

Lindy's Sports MVC Men: Drake, Northern Iowa, Belmont, Bradley, Missouri State, Indiana State, Murray State, Southern Illinois, Illinois State, UIC, Evansville, and Valparaiso. Lindy's did not make us an at-large. Other notable rankings #10 Arkansas, #21 North Carolina, and # 28 Villanova all on our side of the draw. Lindy's does not have us as an at-large. Pre-Season Born First Team and Anderson the 2nd. The MVC is ranked # 11 that's trouble. I'm hopeful Ken Prom has better news.

[BrockLesnar]

Lindy's did not make us an at-large. Ken Prom could be different, though.

[sevelev711]

I don't think anyone would have us projected as an at large, nor should they. It's on us to prove it.

[sivert]

That’s true. On paper we are substantially the same team as last year. We were 9-11 in the Valley.
What we gain is Hutson, Heise, Born healthy, and depth (both from incoming freshmen and more experienced than usual sophomores).

[BCPanther]

Every publication has UNI/Drake/Bradley in any order as the top 3.

The Valley is a one bid league unless we absolute roll the non-con. Bradley's schedule is borderline good enough but they've got enough new pieces where it's hard to see them winning right out of the shoot. Drake refuses to schedule in a way that gives them a legitimate chance.

We need to start thinking that way going forward, unfortunately.

[UNIpanther99]

DeVries is scheduling like he's already been hired as Iowa's next coach.

[06panther10]

You can go ahead and rule out an At Large bid, as it is virtually impossible now. Probably is never coming back either.

[kochrab]

You can go ahead and rule out an At Large bid, as it is virtually impossible now. Probably is never coming back either.

I wouldn't go that far, but I can see your point. If we make lots of non-conference noise we have a shot of being at-large. I would argue that UNI still carries some weight with the name if we make ourselves relevant enough early on.

[06panther10]

We won 24 regular season games in 2020, had an NBA PG, and were going to be left out because we lost to Drake in STL.

Its over.

[BCPanther]

Should point out that that's not UNI or Valley specific.

The A10 is a one bid league going forward. The AAC is a one big league every year that Memphis wins the league tournament. The Mountain West has so wildly underperformed that they're going to be a one bid league when San Diego State wins that tournament. Any slim hopes that the MAC/Sun Belt/CUSA used to have are gone going forward.

Florida Atlantic was 31-3 on Selection Sunday and got a 9 seed when their only losses were Ole Miss and two league road games.

Frankly, the best thing that can happen for us is FOX and ESPN taking the power leagues out of the NIT and making that a decently funded mid-major tournament.

[CyCarp]

We won 24 regular season games in 2020, had an NBA PG, and were going to be left out because we lost to Drake in STL.

Its over.

I guess I missed the 2020 selection show, because I didn't think anybody got in that year. Drake got an at large in 2021 - a year that they had an absolutely awful non conference schedule. Sure, Loyola was in the league that year, but Murray and Belmont are very strong mid major programs to replace them. It's certainly an uphill battle, but an at large isn't impossible.

[BrockLesnar]

Lindy's top 10 are Kansas, Duke, Purdue, Michigan State, Tennessee, Marquette, Houston, Creighton, Miami, and Arkansas. If we go wins over North Carolina, Villanova, and Arkansas we'll get in.

[FOTY]

Yup. And if I send Taylor my friendship bracelet we’ll have a few dates and she will come watch me work.

[BCPanther]

Lindy's top 10 are Kansas, Duke, Purdue, Michigan State, Tennessee, Marquette, Houston, Creighton, Miami, and Arkansas. If we go wins over North Carolina, Villanova, and Arkansas we'll get in.

Perfect.

All we have to do is win Atlantis (while hoping the bracket goes perfectly), sweep the rest of the non-league and go 18-2 in the league to get a 6 seed. Easy. No issue.

[not a drake fan]

We won 24 regular season games in 2020, had an NBA PG, and were going to be left out because we lost to Drake in STL.

Its over.

The tourney is going to expand to 96, sooner or later. Most of those extra bids will go to high majors but it'll help.

With how they have been recruiting lately, I think the program has a chance to turn a corner here.