Will BU Gain Ground In 2012-13? (Vs just improving their abilities)

[AZ BU Fan]

Assuming most other MVC Teams' returning players will also be better with a year's experience, and another off season to practice, BU's ability to move up in the conference will depend on the relative quality of new players coming in for each MVC Team, and how much offense and rebounding each team lost from last year...

BU gets somewhat of a break since they will have one year under their new coach and other MVC teams with new coaches will get somewhat of a minus as their rosters turn over and adjust to new coaches.

Anyone with more knowledge than I possess on this, care to take a stab at how much more BU will improve this coming season VS the other MVC teams they want to pass?

[Rusty 54]

I would imagine SIU would be last. I'm sure under Barry they will play hard, but he needs to reload.

Indiana State lost a lot too. I would hope we would finish ahead of them.

Drake is a wild card in my eyes because of Rice leaving, and MSU no longer has Weems. I expect to duke it out with MSU and Drake for the 6-7-8 seeds.

[Tulsa Brave]

Geno should be Coach of the Year if we avoid Thursday night in St. Louis...

[bradleybraves1]

Geno should be Coach of the Year if we avoid Thursday night in St. Louis...

We said that last year... I actually think there are several coaches that will have a shot at COY since several programs have suffered significant losses.

[LittleBrave]

We said that last year...

Yeah, and whoever said that (TulsaBrave?) was right on...while I was way off thinking it would be a major disappointment to play in the Thursday game. Another season of not meeting expectations.

For this season, if we finish last again, I will of course be disappointed, but I'm not seeing us finish better than 8th. I'm not counting on Pickett and Bell to make major impacts, but minor. BUT, if they do make major impacts, along with contributions from our bench, we could fight for 6th or 7th.

I do think we'll handle Drake better next season - splitting games with them. But I don't see us having the chemistry and talent that they possess, even with the loss of Rice.

I believe we have the players and depth to finish ahead of SIU and ISU-Blue, and possibly Missouri St. with the loss of 2 key guys (Weems & Patterson).

[DUBulldog]

Drake is a wild card in my eyes because of Rice leaving, and MSU no longer has Weems. I expect to duke it out with MSU and Drake for the 6-7-8 seeds.

FWIW, even without Rice, I think Drake will be better next season than they were this season. Clearly improved at 4 of the 5 positions.

[Rusty 54]

FWIW, even without Rice, I think Drake will be better next season than they were this season. Clearly improved at 4 of the 5 positions.

I'll take your word for it, you would know better than I would.

Can't you at least let me hope for a little while that BU will escape Thursday?

[DUBulldog]

I'll take your word for it, you would know better than I would.

Can't you at least let me hope for a little while that BU will escape Thursday?

We're in the same boat on that one....Drake hasn't escaped Thursday in any of Phelps' first four seasons.

[real fan]

BU had better show improvement from last season because we return a lot of experience , the staff has had more time to work individually with these players, I think we have only lost 2 players that did not seem to be total team players so our team chemistry should be better.
I expect us to challenge for 6th , not saying we will stay out of playin games but we should at least have a chance at it.

[Beninator]

...... the staff has had more time to work individually with these players.....

Does anyone know if any of our players are going to any specialized basketball camps during the summer?

Personally, I am writing off next year. Any improvement will be a bonus.

[AZ BU Fan]

How do BU's new eligible players for 2012-13 (frosh recruits, JC trsfr, trsfr, RS) compare to other MVC Teams new eligible players for 2012-13?

[Old Coach]

How do BU's new eligible players for 2012-13 (frosh recruits, JC trsfr, trsfr, RS) compare to other MVC Teams new eligible players for 2012-13?

Compare based on what?

I'll probably wait until I see them play some games. On paper, I don't know how they compare. Probably not as favorably.

[molar50]

I hate to be a pessimist, but I believe Bradley will finish in last place again. I think there is a 30% chance Bradley will finish 8 or 9. By Geno's 4th year, we may be in the top 5 in the Valley. Sorry, I do not see much talent.

[SFP]

Does anyone know if any of our players are going to any specialized basketball camps during the summer?

Personally, I am writing off next year. Any improvement will be a bonus.

I'm in this camp! Where do people really see a dramatic improvement? The only way I see it happening is if DSE and WL really step up their game on a consistent basis. As I said all along we need a difference maker and with this team's makeup those are the only two that perhaps can step it it up!

[Old Coach]

I'm in this camp! Where do people really see a dramatic improvement? The only way I see it happening is if DSE and WL really step up their game on a consistent basis. As I said all along we need a difference maker and with this team's makeup those are the only two that perhaps can step it it up!

I'd look for a big uptick from Shayok.