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here's what I think is necessary for each MVC Coach to put his name into the discussion of Coach of the Year..
Wichita- Gregg Marshall - he already has the team that is unanimous top pick & best team in the MVC and two potential All Americans...
If Wichita does anything less than win the league by four games then Marshall's name might not even come up.
Northern Iowa - Ben Jacobson - Jake loses some talent - including the Player of the Year - so if he can come back this season and compete for the title like he did last year, he'll be in the discussion for Coach of the Year.
ISU - Dan Muller - will have to do better than 3rd place in the MVC - since that's kinda where they've been picked and the always seem to burn out late in the season and then lose in the NIT or other EIEOU Tourney. They also have gobs of player turnover and surprising bad losses and that doesn't always win COY votes
Evansville - Marty Simmons - they will be picked by everyone to finish 2nd or 3rd because they have two really good senior stars in Mockevicius & Ballentine. In order for Marty to win COY, I think he's gonna have to make the MVC at least tight enough that it won't be decided 'til the final week. They actually have the potential to even win it with their lineup but Marty Simmons simply cannot afford to take his team with vastly superior talent to a place like Bradley as he did last February - and lose pitifully to a miserable last place team.
Indiana State - Greg Lansing - Lansing's done a good enough job that he will get some consideration for his past performances - as long as he's in the upper half of the Valley this year. But, to win Coach of the Year, the Sycamores need to be 2nd or fighting for the MVC lead. With the players he has returning, it will be a stretch.
Loyola - Porter Moser - Moser's team had a nice streak both early last season (started 11-2) and late (finished on an 8-1 run) but both streaks had a lot to do partly with a run of weak opponents - and their 5-10 stretch smack in the middle of the MVC season is really more of what I think they are gonna look like again this year.
BUT if, as I said about Lansing, Porter can engineer a surprise and get them to 2nd place - then he'd be in the talk for Coach of the Year.
Then I will discuss Barry Hinson (SIU), Paul Lusk (Missouri State), and Ray Giacoletti (Drake) all with the same line...
These guys have bad teams with so many losses of good players recently and influx of unproven guys.
So if any of these guys can get to 3-4th place and win some key games, then their names will be in the discussion and they'll at least get votes for Coach of the Year - just as Barry Hinson got in 2013 even though his team was LAST PLACE!
Then we come to Bradley - Brian Wardle - I will be very surprised if even ONE of the many, many predictions and preseason previews of the Valley pick Bradley anywhere but 10th - and most will go overboard saying how easy it is to put them 10th and that they will be a deep, deep 10th with no hope of being anything but 10th.
I expect it and I am ready for it....and so is Coach Wardle and his entire team.
So, is there any reason to think things will turn out any differently?
My answer is YES, and it is a very strong YES. It will take some time for others to see, but our bench-load of completely new and inexperienced guys - and unimpressive returnees will have a totally different look from what people are expecting. Now we have a coach and team leaders who will instill discipline, pride, and a sense of work ethic that's been lacking. No more long columns about lack of leadership and how the coach is doing a great job but the players are sub-par...
But what would it take for Wardle to get into the COY discussion - well, like Barry in 2013 - I don't think he even needs to finish out of 10th - I think Wardle will get some accolades even for his close losses because I think people will see a brand of hustle, teamwork and smart basketball that will be new to BU fans recently.
I know I am sticking my neck out - but I am optimistic that Bradley will do better than expected and I have reason to think it'll be a lot better.
Wichita- Gregg Marshall - he already has the team that is unanimous top pick & best team in the MVC and two potential All Americans...
If Wichita does anything less than win the league by four games then Marshall's name might not even come up.
Northern Iowa - Ben Jacobson - Jake loses some talent - including the Player of the Year - so if he can come back this season and compete for the title like he did last year, he'll be in the discussion for Coach of the Year.
ISU - Dan Muller - will have to do better than 3rd place in the MVC - since that's kinda where they've been picked and the always seem to burn out late in the season and then lose in the NIT or other EIEOU Tourney. They also have gobs of player turnover and surprising bad losses and that doesn't always win COY votes
Evansville - Marty Simmons - they will be picked by everyone to finish 2nd or 3rd because they have two really good senior stars in Mockevicius & Ballentine. In order for Marty to win COY, I think he's gonna have to make the MVC at least tight enough that it won't be decided 'til the final week. They actually have the potential to even win it with their lineup but Marty Simmons simply cannot afford to take his team with vastly superior talent to a place like Bradley as he did last February - and lose pitifully to a miserable last place team.
Indiana State - Greg Lansing - Lansing's done a good enough job that he will get some consideration for his past performances - as long as he's in the upper half of the Valley this year. But, to win Coach of the Year, the Sycamores need to be 2nd or fighting for the MVC lead. With the players he has returning, it will be a stretch.
Loyola - Porter Moser - Moser's team had a nice streak both early last season (started 11-2) and late (finished on an 8-1 run) but both streaks had a lot to do partly with a run of weak opponents - and their 5-10 stretch smack in the middle of the MVC season is really more of what I think they are gonna look like again this year.
BUT if, as I said about Lansing, Porter can engineer a surprise and get them to 2nd place - then he'd be in the talk for Coach of the Year.
Then I will discuss Barry Hinson (SIU), Paul Lusk (Missouri State), and Ray Giacoletti (Drake) all with the same line...
These guys have bad teams with so many losses of good players recently and influx of unproven guys.
So if any of these guys can get to 3-4th place and win some key games, then their names will be in the discussion and they'll at least get votes for Coach of the Year - just as Barry Hinson got in 2013 even though his team was LAST PLACE!
Then we come to Bradley - Brian Wardle - I will be very surprised if even ONE of the many, many predictions and preseason previews of the Valley pick Bradley anywhere but 10th - and most will go overboard saying how easy it is to put them 10th and that they will be a deep, deep 10th with no hope of being anything but 10th.
I expect it and I am ready for it....and so is Coach Wardle and his entire team.
So, is there any reason to think things will turn out any differently?
My answer is YES, and it is a very strong YES. It will take some time for others to see, but our bench-load of completely new and inexperienced guys - and unimpressive returnees will have a totally different look from what people are expecting. Now we have a coach and team leaders who will instill discipline, pride, and a sense of work ethic that's been lacking. No more long columns about lack of leadership and how the coach is doing a great job but the players are sub-par...
But what would it take for Wardle to get into the COY discussion - well, like Barry in 2013 - I don't think he even needs to finish out of 10th - I think Wardle will get some accolades even for his close losses because I think people will see a brand of hustle, teamwork and smart basketball that will be new to BU fans recently.
I know I am sticking my neck out - but I am optimistic that Bradley will do better than expected and I have reason to think it'll be a lot better.
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