The MVC Preseason Poll

[tornado]

The media guys from around the Valley are being asked to submit their preseason picks...and the Wichita writer, a really knowlegable guy named Paul Suellentrop, has revealed his picks...

http://blogs.kansas.com/shockwaves/2009/10/07/time-to-look-foolish/

Of course he has UNI ranked #1...and he's also the guy who wrote the section in Athlon, so we kinda knew what he thought...
this present preseason conference ranking is exactly the same as what he had published in Athlon way back a couple months ago...

http://bubravesblogger.blogspot.com/2009/09/athlon-preseason-college-basketball.html

He's got Bradley 6th...

His all conference picks do not include any Bradley mentions...
Hopefully the BU and Pantagraph guys will also reveal their picks!

[jeffsu]

I love that we'll be the 6th pick in the MVC poll. I at least hope we are.

That'll make it so much better. And instead of feeling pressure about being ranked high, our guys may have a chip on their shoulders and prove everyone wrong!!

[Bradleyguy10]

I don't see a high finish this year...

I don't see sixth...but I don't see top 3. If we can stay relatively healthy...as in no top player misses more than 2 games...and one team of ISU, CU, and UNI suffer a major injury to a major player or maybe two players (like we've had in each of the past 2 seasons) then I could see a top 3 finish.

[tornado]

The Creighton writer also mentions his vote, but we already knew since he's the guy who wrote the Lindy's Valley section

"For the record, here's my preseason ballot. Projected order of finish:
Northern Iowa, Creighton, Illinois State, Wichita State, Southern Illinois,
Bradley, Indiana State, Drake, Missouri State, Evansville.
All conference: Stinnett; Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State; Adam Koch, UNI;
Kwadzo Ahelegbe, UNI, and Josh Young, Drake."

http://www.omaha.com/article/20091007/SPORTS02/910059978

[ph]

I think, if healthy, a high finish is quite possible.

Warren can be potentially very, very good, (or should I say very, very, very good?)
We certainly could get more production out of the 5 spot than the past 2 years (can it really go down any more?)
We have 2 quality senior juco guards, and usually quality junior jucos guards become really good their senior year for us.
Based on Brazil stats, Brown should be more than ready to step into the starting 4 spot.
Our 2 underclassman point guards from last year now have another year of experience.

[tornado]

Warren can be potentially very, very good

Brown should be more than ready to step into the starting 4 spot....

as we will soon see, these are two understatements...

[bu fan 9]

I think we will finish 5 or 6.

[Beninator]

I think, if healthy, a high finish is quite possible.

Warren can be potentially very, very good, (or should I say very, very, very good?)
We certainly could get more production out of the 5 spot than the past 2 years (can it really go down any more?)
We have 2 quality senior juco guards, and usually quality junior jucos guards become really good their senior year for us.
Based on Brazil stats, Brown should be more than ready to step into the starting 4 spot.
Our 2 underclassman point guards from last year now have another year of experience.

I think that a high finish is quite possible as well. I also love it that we are under the radar in the preseason!

[MacabreMob]

I think we win the MVC Tourney.

[real fan]

I think we had better finish higher then 5th or 6th if our players are healthy, last year we gave UNI everything they could want and this years team should be better , T.Wilson will be missed but with all the experience we have returning including A.Warren we should be a much better team.

[LG281]

Agreed Real Fan. Agreed.

[SFP]

I believe Brown will make up for TW in both the stat line and the attitude. TW did bring it on and could get the team going. The only thing TB may not be able to do this season is be consistent and learn quickly when teams are keying on him he needs to concentrate on other parts of his game to help the team.

DC was a body and at times especially at home he had some big games. If WE can steps up and is healthy, he should be able to contribute more then DC. I expect SS will be improved becasue that is what happens to players his age. If we get anything from JP and MK we'll have the bodies to do some serious damage. The rest of the positions we should be much better and I expect our shooting to greatly improve especially with a healthy AW.

If you are at team how do you D us up? Play zone? That's what some teams did last year with some success and they over played SM. Can they do that this year with AW in there and EM capable of doing some damage also. Do they play man2man? I believe we'll be better then last year to break down any team who decides to play m2m.

My biggest concern will be defensive rebounding and shutting down penetrating guards with good team D. We do go deep with EM, SM, AW, DD, CR, TB. WE, SS and with any contribution from AT and the Freshmen we'll be able to play quality minutes every minute of the game. I expect to see JL go to the bench quicker this year if someone just is not mentally in the game. To me besides UNI there is no other clear favorite. I also believe CU will struggle a bit this year. WSU will be a tough foe due to their D, ISU will be erratic with the capability to beat anyone. SIU just does not do anything for me for some reason. It may be their style of play and personnel may not be right for it???

UNI clear number 1
Then BU, WSU, CU
ISU red (I guess they could have an all world person and I'd never pick them for anything)
SIU
and the rest

[BradleyBrave]

Not to be a negative nelly, but if we finish anywhere below the top 3, this season will be a major disappointment.

[BU_EMT128]

Not to be a negative nelly, but if we finish anywhere below the top 3, this season will be a major disappointment.

I concur

[Bradleyguy10]

Really? With no injuries to any team I see ISU, UNI, and CU being better than Bradley. I think BU could challenge for 3rd if healthy all season but more than likely I think a 4th place finish sounds right with SIUC/InSU/WSU nipping at the heels.