Not too early

[doug shank's crossover]

I haven't given up on a possible NIT / CBI tournament appearance by BU this year...or even the distinct possibility that they could run the table and win an NCAA birth in St. Lou...but I'm also thinking toward next year, and must admit, I'm as excited as I've been in years about next year's BU team. Here's why: 1. AW returns to give BU the much needed perimeter game it lacked this year and 15-20 ppg. 2. Attention given to AW should make it easier for other guards like DD, EM and SM to score. 3. Will Egolf is poised to be a viable 5 who can score inside or outside...giving BU a scoring option from 5 spot. 4. Jordan Prosser will eventually develop into a legit low block scoring threat as he's proven acceptional aptitude in getting put-backs and around the basket garbage hoops...this will give BU depth (including MK) it hasn't had at the 4/5 spot since...?

That's not to mention normal development of Norris, Brown and McCain.

There will be much love from the pundits for Creighton (returning Stinnett and Lawson), UNI (returning most of their team), and ISU (returning Eldridge and Odiakosa), but BU will be the team to beat IMO.

[real fan]

I agree with many of your opinions, the thing that concerns me most is losing T.Wilson who is not only a good player but our toughest one, plus T.Brown is not getting enough minutes and AT not any minutes, Will Egolf is a huge ? because of his injury and going up against Creighton, Ill.St. and UNI"s experienced inside personnel will be a very tough task, we should have the best guards in the league.

[Out of Balance]

I haven't given up on a possible NIT / CBI tournament appearance by BU this year...or even the distinct possibility that they could run the table and win an NCAA birth in St. Lou...but I'm also thinking toward next year, and must admit, I'm as excited as I've been in years about next year's BU team. Here's why: 1. AW returns to give BU the much needed perimeter game it lacked this year and 15-20 ppg. 2. Attention given to AW should make it easier for other guards like DD, EM and SM to score. 3. Will Egolf is poised to be a viable 5 who can score inside or outside...giving BU a scoring option from 5 spot. 4. Jordan Prosser will eventually develop into a legit low block scoring threat as he's proven acceptional aptitude in getting put-backs and around the basket garbage hoops...this will give BU depth (including MK) it hasn't had at the 4/5 spot since...?

That's not to mention normal development of Norris, Brown and McCain.

There will be much love from the pundits for Creighton (returning Stinnett and Lawson), UNI (returning most of their team), and ISU (returning Eldridge and Odiakosa), but BU will be the team to beat IMO.

I agree, never give up! There could be some very good things happen to this team, yet!

[amettrick]

It does look like next year's team could be very, very good. Yet with the way things have been the last couple years, the pessimist in me can't help but wonder what will go wrong next year (injury or something else) to derail us again.

Hopefully we can finally have an injury/trouble free year in 2009-10 and finally win another MVC title.

[VeveJones007]

I haven't given up on a possible NIT / CBI tournament appearance by BU this year...or even the distinct possibility that they could run the table and win an NCAA birth in St. Lou...but I'm also thinking toward next year, and must admit, I'm as excited as I've been in years about next year's BU team. Here's why: 1. AW returns to give BU the much needed perimeter game it lacked this year and 15-20 ppg. 2. Attention given to AW should make it easier for other guards like DD, EM and SM to score. 3. Will Egolf is poised to be a viable 5 who can score inside or outside...giving BU a scoring option from 5 spot. 4. Jordan Prosser will eventually develop into a legit low block scoring threat as he's proven acceptional aptitude in getting put-backs and around the basket garbage hoops...this will give BU depth (including MK) it hasn't had at the 4/5 spot since...?

That's not to mention normal development of Norris, Brown and McCain.

There will be much love from the pundits for Creighton (returning Stinnett and Lawson), UNI (returning most of their team), and ISU (returning Eldridge and Odiakosa), but BU will be the team to beat IMO.

Don't forget about the 2010-2011 team! Subtract Collins, Singh, TW, CR, and DD but add AW, WE, JP, MK and an extra year of experience for everyone on the team! On paper, that team is stacked. (knocks on wood)

I haven't given up on this team. Get back to keeping teams around 60 points and make some plays down the stretch in St. Louis and I still think this team can win the Valley.

[pfunk880]

Don't forget about the 2010-2011 team! Subtract Collins, Singh, TW, CR, and DD but add AW, WE, JP, MK and an extra year of experience for everyone on the team! On paper, that team is stacked. (knocks on wood)

I haven't given up on this team. Get back to keeping teams around 60 points and make some plays down the stretch in St. Louis and I still think this team can win the Valley.

Don't forget JW (I hope) for 2010-2011.

[ifarania]

Dear Cubs fans,

Can we have this discussion in April?

Or did we forfeit to Missouri State?

Love,
ifarania

[VeveJones007]

Dear Cubs fans,

Can we have this discussion in April?

Or did we forfeit to Missouri State?

Love,
ifarania

I'm an Orioles fan, hence my look multiple years into the future.

[houstonbrave]

I agree I am excited about next year's team.

1) AW rejoining us is about a push with the loss of Theron-probably a positive from a scoring perspective but a loss from a rebounding/toughness perspective (not saying AW is soft but just does not give us what Theron does). AW will also be a positive because he will force the opposing defense to extend.

2) Getting WE back is a slight positive from SS and DC. It will a big positive if WE comes back quickly and a slight positive if it takes him as long as it might to get back in rythm.

3) The growth of our returning players especially EM, TB and DN.

4) MK and JP -they will be freshmen but I am optimistic with these two.

5) We still have 2 open scholy's for next year so who knows

6) I saw AT plan in HS a fair number of times and I thought he'd see the court this year but I still think he will be a special player before he is done.


But it is a young conference and others will be better too...

[BradleyBrave]

I agree I am excited about next year's team.

1) AW rejoining us is about a push with the loss of Theron-probably a positive from a scoring perspective but a loss from a rebounding/toughness perspective (not saying AW is soft but just does not give us what Theron does). AW will also be a positive because he will force the opposing defense to extend.

2) Getting WE back is a slight positive from SS and DC. It will a big positive if WE comes back quickly and a slight positive if it takes him as long as it might to get back in rythm.

3) The growth of our returning players especially EM, TB and DN.

4) MK and JP -they will be freshmen but I am optimistic with these two.

5) We still have 2 open scholy's for next year so who knows

6) I saw AT plan in HS a fair number of times and I thought he'd see the court this year but I still think he will be a special player before he is done.


But it is a young conference and others will be better too...

Agree with everything. We will probably be picked 4th or 5th simply because we haven't proven we are better than that. I'd put good money that Creighton, UNI, and ISU are your top 3. After that it's probably us, Wichita St, and probably SIU. The bottom is still pretty weak.

[TheHeemyMonster]

I think the Valley can be a 3 bid league next year

[it's boogie time]

plus T.Brown is not getting enough minutes

The scary part is the Taylor Brown will be Bradley's most experienced post player entering next year. As of now, BU will have no junior or senior post players next year.

[ER3]

Agree with everything. We will probably be picked 4th or 5th simply because we haven't proven we are better than that. I'd put good money that Creighton, UNI, and ISU are your top 3. After that it's probably us, Wichita St, and probably SIU. The bottom is still pretty weak.

Yep, we should be picked 4th or so going into next year...that would be about right. With some breaks, we would have a chance to finish better than that.

You're right about the bottom of the conference being bad next year...Evansville will be awful. They aren't very good right now and they lose Ely, Holsinger, and Garner...yikes. They will return about 20% of their scoring from this year. Ugly.

[ER3]

I think the Valley can be a 3 bid league next year

I'll put a million dollars on the under.

Who are going to be the two at large teams next year? Creighton will likely be picked to win the league again...so you think that two teams from the group of UNI, ISU, BU, WSU, or SIU are going to somehow put together an at large resume? I don't know...I really don't see it.

[pfunk880]

I'll put a million dollars on the under.

Who are going to be the two at large teams next year? Creighton will likely be picked to win the league again...so you think that two teams from the group of UNI, ISU, BU, WSU, or SIU are going to somehow put together an at large resume? I don't know...I really don't see it.

Yeah, the key word is that we can be a three-bid league. I personally see us being a two-bid league conference, but three is certainly possible.