*2010-2011 MVC basketball thread

[DJH]

Hard to believe, but its almost time for another MVC basketball season to tip off. I figured there is enough MVC posters here now to start a discussion. How do you feel the season will turn out? Here is my prediction:

1. Wichita State
2. Missouri State
3. Northern Iowa
4. Bradley
5. Creighton
6. Drake
7. Indiana State
8. Illinois State
9. Southern Illinois
10. Evansville

Wichita State seems to be the easy choice to win the conference this year, returning nearly their whole team from last season, in which they won 25 games and finished 2nd. Lots of talent and athleticism and a really deep team. Probably will be a top 25 team.

Missouri St was a young team last year, but brings everybody back. They should have a breakout season this year.

UNI lost some great players from last year's 30 win team, but still returns plenty of experience and talent, and could possibly still be a contender. Should still be a deep team, and a great defensive team as always. Probably won't win the MVC for the third year in a row, but they should be in the mix, and could be dangerous come MVC tournament time.

[clenz]

I'm not buying the Missouri State hype...yet. That may change though.

1. Wichita State
2. Northern Iowa
3. Bradley
4. Creighton
5. Missouri State
6. Drake
7. Indiana State
8. Illinois State
9. Southern Illinois
10. Evansville


So, in theory I have the same finish as DJH, but with MSU lower.

[DJH]

I was pretty shocked that MSU slipped as for down in the standings as they did last year. I thought they looked like a very good team at times. Very very athletic, with good size, and a potential POY candidate in Weems.

They should have the experience under their belts this year to be a really good team.

[clenz]

I was pretty shocked that MSU slipped as for down in the standings as they did last year. I thought they looked like a very good team at times. Very very athletic, with good size, and a potential POY candidate in Weems.

They should have the experience under their belts this year to be a really good team.

Agreed. I'm just not buying it yet. Talk to me in January and I may be eating crow, and I'll willingly do so here.

Missouri State is a program, in all sports, that I have a hard time believing the preseason hype.

Creighton is the team I'm not sure what to make of this year though

[clenz]

And we can't talk MVC basketball without this video

[youtube][/youtube]

[DJH]

Creighton has the two best big men in the league, but zero guard play. And they have a new coach/system to break in.

Not to mention, McDermott's teams have been absolutely terrible at Iowa State.

[MSUDuo]

Creighton has one of the best big men in th Valley in Lawson Jr. Don't have the two best, IMO

[ODUfanRazor]

Out of curiousuty, which MVC teams are participating in the bracketbusters this year?

While ODU didn't win its game at UNI last year in the BB, it was an invaluable experience which helped us go on to win the CAA, the CAA tourney and a game in the NCAA tourney.

Would love to see us play another MVC team this year.

So which ones are participating?

[clenz]

All of them are, I believe.

[wkuhillhound]

Is Southern Illinois that bad? WKU plays them in Bowling Green this season.

[DJH]

Yes, the have really plummeted. They have a coach that everybody hates, and the whole attitude of the program is crap right now, but they cannot afford to buy him out. Its pretty sad to see how far they have fallen in just or 4 years.

[wkuhillhound]

That's so unfortunate for them.

[clenz]

That's so unfortunate for them.

Meh....they were in need of a good hard reality check.

[DJH]

MVC media day today in STL.

ST. LOUIS -- Wichita State, which returns four starters from a team that won 25 games last year, has been picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball title in 2010-11. WSU was last picked to win the league in 2003-04 and last earned the league's regular-season title in 2006.


2010-11 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team
Kwadzo Ahelegbe, UNI, G, 6-2, 213, Sr., Oakdale (Minn.) Tartan High
Kenny Lawson Jr., Creighton, C, 6-9, 250, Sr., Oceanside (Calif.) Vista High
Sam Maniscalco, Bradley, G, 6-0, 175, Sr., Chicago (Ill.) St. Patrick High
Toure' Murry, Wichita State, G, 6-5, 197, Jr., Houston (Texas) Klein Forest High
Kyle Weems, Missouri State, F, 6-6, 232, Jr., Topeka (Kan.) Highland Park High
  Honorable Mention: Taylor Brown, Bradley; J.T. Durley, Wichita State; Adam Leonard, Missouri State; Colt Ryan, Evansville; Seth VanDeest, Drake; Andrew Warren, Bradley.

Preseason Player of the Year -- Kenny Lawson Jr., Creighton

MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

School (First-Place Votes) / Total
 1. Wichita State (33) ... 382
 2. Missouri State (1) ... 313
 3. UNI (3) ... 289
 4. Creighton ... 282
 5. Bradley (2) ... 264
 6. Illinois State ... 165
 7. Indiana State ... 136
 8. Drake ... 121
 9. Southern Illinois ... 120
10. Evansville ... 73

Some audio from the press conferences. http://www.mvc-sports.com/ViewArticle.d ... =205019212

[ISUSycamores23]

Indiana State, I know is participating in the Bracket Buster. Indiana State is returing all but 3 players. We should be pretty solid for guard play, but I'm not real sure about post play yet. I will have to wait and see how we look in our first exhibiton game this Tuesday against Rose-Hulman.

[DJH]

UNI tips off on friday, playing at #10 Syracuse.

[DJH]

Valley goes 4-1 on opening night, with the only loss coming from UNI at Syracuse.

[DJH]

MVC doormat Evansville goes on the road and wins at Butler today. Go figure.

[mebison]

Sounds like a nice win by the Panthers last night over the Cyclones. I have no idea how the Cyclones are supposed to be, but its always nice to get a win over in-state neighbors, regardless.

[clenz]

4 of 5 now for the Panthers over the Clowns

Thanks to our version of Jared Allen

[DJH]

Iowa state is not good, but decent. Its a good win for UNI at this point. Always nice to beat the in-state teams.

[DJH]

Good behind the scenes video of UNI basketball.

http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/articl ... 002e0.html

[DJH]

UNI beats Indiana and 10-1 New Mexico in consecutive days to win the Las Vegas invitational championship.

[MSUDuo]

Missouri State opens Valley play with a huge road win at UNI. Weems hits a 3 pointer with 2.5 seconds left for the win

[DJH]

Huge win for the Bears.