Post-season bids- is Illinois State an NIT team?

[Vent]

ISU red has talent but no more talent than, say UNI has. It took them some time to jell as a team and learn how to play with each other.

Now, as far as I am concerned, they really are the Valley's second best team. Wichita, to be frank, is overrated this year. On offense they are basically Baker and not much else. I'd be surprised if they win their NCAA game.

UNI: possibly a Sweet 16 run.

The good news is that ISU might be poised to make some noise in the NIT; I can see them winning 2-3 games in that tournament.

You've gotta give credit where credit is due. A lot of people have been critical of Mueller. I am not an ISU fan, but I do think he will do a fine job there. He is a very good judge of talent and established himself as a good recruiter with Stallings at Vanderbilt, in the SEC. His team has gotten better as the season went along. He has a pretty young team and should be very competitive in the upcoming seasons.

[tornado]

It must be nice to have bad shot selection and a strong tendency to play street ball. If it wasn't for those things, they'd dominate the MVC. They beat the #8 team in the country yesterday and played with the #11 team in the country today, in the championship game of the MVC tournament. I also believe they only have an RPI in the to top 70.

but that's what hurts them and steals an at-large bid from them...
they have had the tendency to play very badly at times - losing at SIU, losing twice to Indiana State, and giving away their home game against UNI when they had 'em by 12 in the 2nd half then lost - kinda just like today

[CubbieBear]

ISU red has talent but no more talent than, say UNI has. It took them some time to jell as a team and learn how to play with each other.

Now, as far as I am concerned, they really are the Valley's second best team. Wichita, to be frank, is overrated this year. On offense they are basically Baker and not much else. I'd be surprised if they win their NCAA game.

UNI: possibly a Sweet 16 run.

The good news is that ISU might be poised to make some noise in the NIT; I can see them winning 2-3 games in that tournament.

I agree---UNI's 3 seniors were better in the 2nd half today--and I can see them getting to the sweet 16 or maybe even further. But--ISU has some really good young talent and are getting better late--and could make on NIT run this year--and could be really good next year

[Vent]

but that's what hurts them and steals an at-large bid from them...
they have had the tendency to play very badly at times - losing at SIU, losing twice to Indiana State, and giving away their home game against UNI when they had 'em by 12 in the 2nd half then lost - kinda just like today

Whatever....ISU is not going to the NCAA tournament, because they play in the Valley. The only way the league gets more than two teams in is if there is an upset in the valley tournament. ISU is better than a lot of teams that will be in the NCAAA.

I was just trying to say something positive about a fellow conference school that had a strong finish in the Valley tournament.

You just seem to have to put your negative spin on just about everything.

[Da Coach]

I have believed all year that ISU had the 3rd best talent in the MVC, and it appeared that way today. They will lose only one significant player in Daishon Knight (their leading scorer), and a decent role player in Bobby Hunter.
They have a ton of talent returning next year, plus some pretty good talent coming in. They are a cinch for the NIT now, and I wouldn't be surprised if they are Picked #2 next year behind Wichita State.

On the other hand, UNI loses a lot to graduation- Seth Tuttle, Nate Buss, Deon MItchell, and Marvin Singleton- that's 3 of their top 4 scorers, and 3 of their top 4 rebounders. But unlike Bradley, I also guarantee they will reload with another crop of unheralded players who know how to play, and who get better every year in the UNI program.

It will be interesting how next year's preseason poll looks.
Here is my early guess-
1) Wichita State
2) Illinois State
3) UNI
4) Evansville (they lose only Jaylon Moore- their 8th leading scorer)
5) Indiana State (they lose only Justin Gant and Jake Kitchell)
6) Loyola (they lose Christian Thomas and Joe Crisman)
7) SIU (they have no scholarship seniors)
8 )Drake (they lose Jordan Daniels, Gary Ricks, Karl Madison, Trevor Berkley, and Chris Caird)
9) Missouri State (they lose only Christian Kirk and Ron Mvouika)

10) Bradley- will be picked a distant 10th unless drastic changes are made; Just more of the predicted massive fallout from the woefully bad decision-making by our administration.

[Vent]

I think Da Coach is right on target regarding next season. I don't know what ISU has coming in next year, but they were awfully young this year and did get better as they got healthier and as the season went along. UNI always seems to get the right pieces for their puzzle and Wichita, well they're Wichita.

The rest of the league should not be that difficult to catch up to, if and when we finally make a move for the better. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

[tornado]

Whatever....ISU is not going to the NCAA tournament, because they play in the Valley. The only way the league gets more than two teams in is if there is an upset in the valley tournament. ISU is better than a lot of teams that will be in the NCAAA.

I was just trying to say something positive about a fellow conference school that had a strong finish in the Valley tournament.

You just seem to have to put your negative spin on just about everything.

maybe I am being honest - but for 25 years I have been told endlessly I have rose colored glasses and I am too positive & optimistic...

but I think I have had ISU pegged just about right from before the Valley race started...
.. here was my prediction in a thread from early January,
remember, the preseason poll had them finishing behind Missouri State & Evansville.

ISU & Evansville have the horses to finish >.500 in MVC & compete for post-season opportunity - probably NIT/CBI

...

[tornado]

Illinois is the poster child state for futility...

Illinois - 13 D-I teams - quite possibly zero NCAA bound
Iowa - four D-I teams - three are NCAA bound
Indiana - ten D-I teams - prob five are NCAA bound (Butler, IU, Valpo, Notre Dame, Purdue)