MVC Media Day...

[Da Coach]

Doug Elgin-
In future years, the MVC-MWC Challenge will take place from Wednesday through Sunday, probably the first week of December. -it takes a couple years ahead to get these games all scheduled, so that's why this year's Challenge was so spread out.

[Da Coach]

Question- Are you happy with BracketBusters?

Doug Elgin-I am. Some of our coaches don't love it, but you have to give them credit for putting faith in another's hands. I think it's no longer viewed as an elimintion tournament. What we would like to do is get better conferences to participate. We've had conversations with ESPN to bring in other leagues. We're committed through the end of next year (contract term), then we'll look and evaluate.

[Tulsa Brave]

I think I disagree with SIU being so far ahead of both WSU and BU in the poll (I'm looking at votes received). BU in 6th but only a couple of votes away from 5th doesn't worry me too much.

Expectations aside, it's top 3 or bust, as usual.

I agree with this...I'd have SIU 6th, but otherwise pretty much agree with the top 5. Lots of posters on this site seem to be underestimating WSU in my opinion.

[ER3]

then technically Egolf started 60% of all the games he played last season & Singh and TB were starters as well...so if we return SEVEN "starters" then we should be pegged ahead of UNI!

UNI returns 7 "starters" as well...so I guess we'll have to settle for 2nd.

[shaunguth]

It's all semantics...technically we return 7 "starters"...if you consider a "starter" to be anyone that started a game last year...Maniscalco, McCain, Roberts, and Dunson each started 19 or more games last year for BU, so I can certainly see how they would qualify to be noted as "returning starters"...

That's the way I've always looked at it too. If the coach is determining playing/starting time based on what he sees in practice, then I certainly hope the same five guys aren't starting every single game.

[shaunguth]

I agree with this...I'd have SIU 6th, but otherwise pretty much agree with the top 5. Lots of posters on this site seem to be underestimating WSU in my opinion.

I agree with the SIU statement. I'm still not quite sure why they're getting so much love in these preseason polls. They were far from impressive last season, while we only finished one game out of 3rd. I say JL should make every single player carry this poll around with them everyday from now until the end of the season. I would also enlarge it into a poster and put it up in the offices and the locker room. The players need a constant reminder of just what the rest of the league thinks of them!

[tornado]

UNI returns 7 "starters" as well...so I guess we'll have to settle for 2nd.

no way...you can't be a starter if you are DEFINED as a 6th man!!

[ER3]

no way...you can't be a starter if you are DEFINED as a 6th man!!

good point. if you label him, you negate him.

[basketball nut]

This is a good place to be picked because then we are not disappointed if they only finish 3rd or 4th. The one thing I have heard is they are not tough in the middle. Talked to a person who watched them practice and said the guards looked great but the 4-5 position was looking weak. He said EM, SM, DSE were monsters on the court but the bigs were a little tentative. Hopefully this will change as WE gets healthy (and he is getting there). This individual said the MK also looked very good and has a great outside shot-time will tell on that. He felt at this point & time they (DSE & MK) were the best looking freshman on the floor.

[SaintLouBrave22]

I agree with this...I'd have SIU 6th, but otherwise pretty much agree with the top 5. Lots of posters on this site seem to be underestimating WSU in my opinion.

I am not underestimating WSU by any means...


If anyone recalls, they should have won their tournament game against Creighton if not for the ridiculously slow clock that allowed Booker Woodfox to catch a pass, fumble it twice, recover, and shoot all in slightly over 1 second....


Still bugs me how cocky the "a---" well you know from Omaha were after that game...

I guess thats just the difference between some of us and those who believe its their god given right to get every call and win every game and walk all over opposing fans in the process...

By far the worst fan base I've ever run across down in St. Louis, and thats saying something in comparison to bad SIU fans.


Sorry I had to vent there....

[KillerB]

Just back from media day. I caught the tail end with Simmons, Martin, Lowery, Jankovich and Les answering questions.

Big surprise.. all the coaches like their teams and the leadership on them. All are concerned about the trend toward less mid-majors making the tournament and more BCS schools getting in. Good comment by Mo State coach on his experience in the Big Ten then coming to the Valley. He says the periminter play in the Valley is as good as any in the country.

There was some talk about a new rule in effect this year.. the no charge zone. Some liked the idea.. others did not.. some concern about enforcement of an imaginary box.

I talked with Commissioner Elgin afterwards. He stressed schools need to schedule tough opponents to help get more of the Valley teams in the tournament. He also picks Wichita State as his surprise team.

[SFP]

I'm fine with 6th! If this team plays for all 40 minutes of every game we will surprise a lot of these voters. If we play inconsistent and cannot rebound they may be just right. This team will have to show up every day, step up it's D and rebound if we want to get to where we believe they can be. This will be a test of character for this edition of BU basketball team. From what I have heard, this team has what it takes. Now they need to show it!

[SaintLouBrave22]

There was some talk about a new rule in effect this year.. the no charge zone. Some liked the idea.. others did not.. some concern about enforcement of an imaginary box.

I like it! It'll take care of about all of Sammy and Edge's charges

[Da Coach]

Note the section of the MVC meetings starting at 1:08 pm with several men's coaches, including Jim Les--

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=143324#post143324post143324

Coach Les favors expanding the NCAA tournament.

[Braves4Life]

So if BU and Les finish better than 6th does that mean Les did a fine job of coaching his team of misfits? And, if Les can SOMEHOW find a way to will this team to a top 3 finish does that make him Coach of the Year?

I think this 6th place pick is more of an indictment of the league's hatred and jealousy of BU and Jim Les, IMO. They've always had a thing about Les from the first day he came into the league.

Oh, and for the record, I think a 6th place pick for BU is pure BS!