The Valley Next Year

[BUfan14]

I still expect a good finish to this year, so I'm not looking past the end of this season already but now that the regular season in the Valley is over, I started to think of what teams have back next year while we have a week off.

It seems like the Valley should be really good next year. I think we could even get a couple in the top 25 and have multiple (3-4) bids. The only teams that seem to lose a lot and will maybe take a step back are UNI and IL. St.

In no particular order and not counting what teams have coming in:

UNI should still be decent with Moran, O'Rear, and Ahelegbe, but i expect bottom half next year and a big drop off.
IL. St. loses their top 3 players, so will need Carmichael, Hill, Rubin, Thorton, and Lewis to really increase their production to be any good.
Drake loses Templeton and Young, but still has some talent coming back and didn't do very good this year so at least they won't take a step back.
Creighton loses Carter, Witter, and probably Stinnett (not much of a loss) but they seem to have some good young shooters and most of their front line coming back.
WSU should be really good losing just Hannah which is a big loss but still they look to be very good next year (20+ wins and 2nd place already this year!!)
Evansville should be a ton better losing no one.
Bradley should be very good next year losing just Roberts and Singh.
Missouri St. just losses Fuehrmeyer and looks dangerous.
SIU just loses Tony Freeman and could be much better.
In. St. loses Marshall, Crawford, and Reed but has a lot of good shooters and talent coming back and played well without Marshall for a while anyway.

I think BU and WSU look really good coming into next year! Are we a back as a "power league" next year? (I consider power leagues to be the Big 6, and then the A10, MWC, and MVC all on most years)

[sycamorefan]

Indy State also gets back...

Iowa Superstar Jake Kelly into a more open system for him...less crowded backcourt without Harry...Watch for Kelly to live up to his prophetic name from the beginning of the season...

[+44]

Speaking just for Bradley, I am really hoping Taylor Brown steps it up and shows his true potential, If he plays consistently like we have seen flashes of him playing this year, he could be a FORCE. That said, Sam Maniscalco will be a solid guard, and with WE and AW returning, i expect big things out of the braves next year

[flipper]

i agree. next season should be a big year for bradley basketball.

[BradleyBrave]

We will be picked no higher than 4th.

Predictions mean nothing, positive or negative.

[Future Walk-On]

I have always said....WSU and Bradley.....it is those 2

[tornado]

I am expecting a couple teams to undergo additional roster changes in addition to the loss of their seniors

[Big Mike]

high hopes for BU next season.......

1-DD will return which is a plus in my book

2-the Braves return three of the Top 10 in scoring.... #3 AW, #4 SM & #6 TB

3-JE & DSE will be better players after nice freshman contributions

4-throw JP & MK into the mix

5-bring in new recruits to fill in some needs(maybe a couple surprizes)

[DUBulldog]

UNI should still be decent with Moran, O'Rear, and Ahelegbe, but i expect bottom half next year and a big drop off.

I think UNI will be in the mix for the league championship next season, unless there are unexpected player losses. They have interchangable parts in a system. They will continue to play suffocating defense and run dozens of different sets on offense while being very fundamentally sound.

Of course, if Jacobson leaves for more $, then everything could change.

[Da Coach]

There will likely be some unexpected changes by next year.

What players will leave their teams early? SIU fans expect some losses-

http://www.salukitalk.net/st/viewtopic.php?t=32072&sid=818fa59a81d1dd8f31fe09f773843266

Will there be any coaching changes?

Will Jake Kelly be able to come back from a serious injury?

Will UNI be able to replace the inside talents of Eglseder and Adam Koch? Jake Koch has shown some flashes, but I don't expect him to do what Adam has done these last 2 seasons.

Will Drake's freshmen be able to improve, or will there be a sophomore slump without their seniors Josh Young, Adam Templeton, & Craig Stanley?

[Braves4Life]

The Valley will no doubt be better from top to bottom next year but should also be wide open. I definately expect BU to be no less than a top 3 team, and I would also expect CU, WSU, MSU and UNI to challenge for the top 3. I don't count UNI out if Jacobson is still their coach. If he goes they fall to the second half of the standings.

[That Guy]

Really? I type "unless TB leaves", and that gets deleted? How is this in the least bit inflammatory or against any rules on this board. You can talk about players from other schools who might be leaving other team, but we can't talk about rumors we've heard about our own players?

Really guys?

[Braves4Life]

Really? I type "unless TB leaves", and that gets deleted? How is this in the least bit inflammatory or against any rules on this board. You can talk about players from other schools who might be leaving other team, but we can't talk about rumors we've heard about our own players?

Really guys?

If he leaves I would still pick BU Top 3.

[Da Coach]

Really? I type "unless TB leaves", and that gets deleted? How is this in the least bit inflammatory or against any rules on this board. You can talk about players from other schools who might be leaving other team, but we can't talk about rumors we've heard about our own players?

Really guys?

TB is not leaving.
Included in the rules you agreed to on this site, is a rule prohibiting rumors and speculation about Bradley players leaving. So it's against the rules to do so.

And we did not talk about any specific players from another team leaving, even though that wouldn't be against the rules if someone did, so please stop creating things that aren't even there. All I did was link to a public message board where SIU fans discuss their own team.

[Disturbed]

With the talent coming back at guard and forward, I think JL or whomever is coaching needs to go get the two nastiest, biggest, baddest JUCO post players he can find, even if they aren't great scorers. Post defense must be a priority.