MVC Predicted Finish

[chitown fanatic]

Briefly paging through the thread list, I didnt see a thread with predicted finish so I'll start one:
1)WSU- losing Hannah will be bigger than they think, but Durley is a beast and you win with bigs
2)BU- just too many seniors not to move up. Dunson will be a key difference maker, but to finish here, we will need to see something meaningful from Thompson and Prosser(not a lot- just something)
3)MSU- Mallet, creekmore and the kid who lit us up for like 30 in the 1st half(weems) all are back, but this team has to prove it can win away from home
4)UNI- I'm sorry, but losing two giants and farokhmanesh is not replaced in a season and a dropoff is inevitable, they still have Moran and orears
5)CU- kenny Lawton and the guy who's eligible in December and who else? new coach too= matinee game for CU
6)ISU Red- They're number 6 only because 7-10 are even worse. Bottom half of valley may be worst in more than a decade.
7)Drake- good recruiting class but at least a year away
8 )SIU- Lowery, your bus is boarding
9)IN St- new coach, new players, same thursday night appearance
10)Evansville- yuck

[thefish7]

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

Fun stuff. Our answers were pretty similar until the bottom of the league. Like you, I also think there's a big gap between #5 and #6.

[Braves4Life]

You could flip a coin and come up with reasonable picks this year. I like both of your guys' picks, you can make a case for either. However, I just think this year (as always) there will be a surprise team in the MVC. I don't think ISUBlue or EU will finish in the cellar; one will surprise.

Will BU be that surprise team? I'd love to see us run the table.

[amckillip]

Briefly paging through the thread list, I didnt see a thread with predicted finish so I'll start one:
...
2)BU- just too many seniors not to move up. Dunson will be a key difference maker, but to finish here, we will need to see something meaningful from Thompson and Prosser(not a lot- just something)
...

I disagree here, I think we really need WE and either JP or AT to really step up to finish 2nd+. I need to think about everything and I'll post mine, but I think it'll be similar to yours but BU will probably be a spot lower.

[Buesch N Chips]

I disagree here, I think we really need WE and either JP or AT to really step up to finish 2nd+. I need to think about everything and I'll post mine, but I think it'll be similar to yours but BU will probably be a spot lower.

I agree that AT or JP have to be contributors or we don't sniff 2nd. Not because our guards aren't fantastic, but because we are not balanced. Looks to me that everyone involved has done everything they can to get JP to be that inside presence from a physical standpoint. Fantastic job there. Now it is up to him to get it done on the floor.

[PTownHawkeye]

1. Creighton: nobody is able to match their bigs inside and the guards use constant double-teams to their advantage
2. Wichita St: Murry and team are good...but will have trouble replacing Hannah
3. Bradley: One of the best mid-major guard trio in the country are in the fight for first until the final week. However, questions will remain at the 5 throughout the season, and defense is still suspect.
4. Missouri St: Weems and company bring the MSU program back from the dead, but fall short of expectations
t5. Northern Iowa: Sweet 16 hangover for yet another mid-major. No combination of recruits and last season's bench players can replace Egelseder, Koch, and Farokmanesh
t5. Drake: Surprise team in the Valley has a late season surge behind most improved player in the conference, C Seth VanDeest
7. Indiana St: If healthy, could easily be top 5. But they won't stay healthy
8. Southern Illinois: Experience returning, but too many question marks keep them from being picked any higher
9. Illinois St: Now that Carmichel is the only real inside threat, he receives constant double teams and has a rough year. Sub-par guardplay and a sad NonCon SOS doom ISU into a battle to avoid Thursday night
10. Evansville: Colt Ryan and Denver Holms may be the 3rd best backcourt in the Valley, but with no support, they don't win a conference game until a late season battle with their in-state rival.

[TheAsianSensation]

Wichita St 14-4 NCAA
Bradley 12-6 NCAA
Missouri St 11-7 NCAA
Creighton 11-7 NCAA
Northern Iowa 11-7 NCAA
Indiana St 7-11 CIT
The Drake 7-11 CBI
Southern Illinois 6-10
Evansville 3-15
Illinois St 0-18

The top 5 are going to run away and hide from the bottom 5, guaranteed.

[MacabreMob]

1st: Bradley (18-0)
.....
the rest: doesn't matter.

[Buesch N Chips]

Wichita St 14-4 NCAA
Bradley 12-6 NCAA
Missouri St 11-7 NCAA
Creighton 11-7 NCAA
Northern Iowa 11-7 NCAA
Indiana St 7-11 CIT
The Drake 7-11 CBI
Southern Illinois 6-10
Evansville 3-15
Illinois St 0-18

The top 5 are going to run away and hide from the bottom 5, guaranteed.

5 NCAA berths. I like your optimism.

[Buesch N Chips]

1st: Bradley (18-0)

THAT would be amazing.

[Braves4Life]

1st: Bradley (18-0)
.....
the rest: doesn't matter.

Great minds think alike!

[LittleBrave]

1) Wichita St.
2) Missouri St.
3) Creighton
4) BU
5) UNI
6) ISU (red)
7) Drake
8 )SIU
9) Indy St.
10) Evansville

I will pick our team at a safe position - not saying I don't think they can do better. Injuries - STAY AWAY!!!

[TheAsianSensation]

5 NCAA berths. I like your optimism.

I really get a 2006 vibe from the conference race this year. Wichita will shock the world in Maui, Missouri St will come very close to running their non-con table, UNI has the street cred, we have the SoS. I have a good feeling about this.

[shaunguth]

I really get a 2006 vibe from the conference race this year. Wichita will shock the world in Maui, Missouri St will come very close to running their non-con table, UNI has the street cred, we have the SoS. I have a good feeling about this.

You being the local bracketologist, I certainly hope you're right. It would be great to see the conference as a whole (or at least the top half) to make a lot of noise in March!

[amckillip]

5 NCAA berths. I like your optimism.

I would be stoked to just get 3!