Early 2012-2013 Preseason MVC Prediction

[tornado]

also preseason story on Drake - Head coach Mark Phelps "attracting top-ranked players"??? - multiple "top-ranked" recruiting classes...

http://www.dsmmagazine.com/2012/09/25/on-the-ball/

Hmmm...this is really putting the monkey on Phelps' back....if so then he has little excuse to finish out of the running this year...

[LittleBrave]

also preseason story on Drake - Head coach Mark Phelps "attracting top-ranked players"??? - multiple "top-ranked" recruiting classes...

http://www.dsmmagazine.com/2012/09/25/on-the-ball/

Hmmm...this is really putting the monkey on Phelps' back....if so then he has little excuse to finish out of the running this year...

It seems that Phelps & Drake have been reported to get the best recruiting classes in the Valley after CU & WSU for the past few seasons. But I have to question why???

One of weakest fan bases in Valley
Have a rep as one of worst teams in the Valley for decades with few exceptions
There are other schools in Iowa that would tend to be more attractive to recruits than Drake
Not many people seem to like Phelps, so why would recruits? How is he selling the program??

Somebody please help me understand what draws someone like Rayvonte Rice?

[tornado]

Drake fans have been very patient - they have not had a whole lot of GOOD years or great performers in the past few decades......

They have however, had numerous kids who redshirted and/or stayed 4-5 years - and gave the fans some solid performances....kids like Adam Emmenecker, Jon Cox, Josh Young, Van Deest...and so they get some solid contributors...

However - it's not like getting those kids has done enough to keep the fans happy - as many are chronically unhappy and want to change coaches...
..and they draw poorly - rarely more than 4000 unless the rare in-state rival like Iowa comes, then they get 6K...meanwhile lots of lesser opponents draw ~3000

yes- they had one great year - but other than their 28-5 in 2007-2008 (fading back 5 years ago) - they have precisely zero seasons out of the past TWENTY FIVE where they've actually gone more than one game over .500 against D-I competition! And their overall record in those 25 seasons (minus the 28-5) is 280-412..

[tornado]

Another decent preseason MVC preview...

They pick Evansville #2 and ISU #4, and Bradley #6!!

Marty Simmons on the hot seat??...

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/15/college-hoops-preview-the-missouri-valley-conference/

[tornado]

another early preseason MVC assessment from CBSSports.....

"Muller will win immediately" ....

so much for Gary Parrish's prognostication