How far has the Missouri Valley Conference fallen?

[Da Coach]

Several items that indicate the Missouri Valley Conference may have fallen to it's lowest point ever.

The final Conference RPI shows the MVC as the 13th ranked conference, just barely ahead of the West Coast Conference and the Big West.

http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2016/conferencerpi

The MVC record against D1 competition was only 58-58 (.500), the worst record in recent memory, and the only conference among the top 14 conferences without a winning non-conference D1 record.

And though the MVC does have 2 teams in the NCAA Tournament, no team is seeded higher than an #11 seed- has there ever been a season where the top MVC team was seeded that low? The regular season champion of the MVC, is playing in the play-in tournament! That is insulting.

Other than #11 seeds WSU and UNI in the NCAA, no other MVC team will be playing in the postseason, despite the proliferation of post-season tournaments. There was no MVC given an NIT bid, and no MVC team playing in the CBI, CIT, or new Vegas 16 tournaments. Basically, the MVC seems to have been relegated to the status of a lower-tier conference like the SWAC.

And it doesn't look like the MVC will be bouncing back real soon. The great majority of talent on the All-MVC teams are seniors.

Hopefully, this can give a rebuilding team like Bradley a chance to move into contention for the top of the league quickly, hopefully next season.

[tornado]

The MVC record against D1 competition was only 58-58 ....

actually - if the A-Sun hadn't added an 11th team (300RPI)) and had just 10 teams like the MVC, then their RPI would have been above the MVC and we'd be 14th

but this is what happens when we decvelop a silly down-sizing mindset to schedule teams like Eureka and other non-DI's...and play in a girls gym
..we don't get stronger, we actually get a mindset that leads to weakness....
Remember the former admin that tried to argue it was a really good idea to schedule DII and DIII games?

I admire all the hard work Chris Reynolds & Brian Wardle have done, but it's gonna be a long hard road to undo the mess we had.
Never before in the 112 year run of Bradley basketball - had ANY move of any kind resulted in the near-overnight loss of HALF of our fanbase, as well as more than HALF of our long time supporters and our outstanding donors. Heck - the only time recently we've been able to get the fanbase interested or willing to pony up has been when we needed their help to fire Glasser & Cross. Even in the worst stretch of scandal in the 50's, or the ho-hum teams we often had in the decaying Fieldhouse in the 70's, or the dismal latter half of Albeck's reign - we STILL never lost more than 20-25% of our fans or support. But JG & MC drove more than half (if truth be known if was really more like 75% when you count all the empty seats and drop in BSS etc.) down the drain.

[Vent]

Several items that indicate the Missouri Valley Conference may have fallen to it's lowest point ever.

The final Conference RPI shows the MVC as the 13th ranked conference, just barely ahead of the West Coast Conference and the Big West.

http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2016/conferencerpi

The MVC record against D1 competition was only 58-58 (.500), the worst record in recent memory, and the only conference among the top 14 conferences without a winning non-conference D1 record.

And though the MVC does have 2 teams in the NCAA Tournament, no team is seeded higher than an #11 seed- has there ever been a season where the top MVC team was seeded that low? The regular season champion of the MVC, is playing in the play-in tournament! That is insulting.

Other than #11 seeds WSU and UNI in the NCAA, no other MVC team will be playing in the postseason, despite the proliferation of post-season tournaments. There was no MVC given an NIT bid, and no MVC team playing in the CBI, CIT, or new Vegas 16 tournaments. Basically, the MVC seems to have been relegated to the status of a lower-tier conference like the SWAC.

And it doesn't look like the MVC will be bouncing back real soon. The great majority of talent on the All-MVC teams are seniors.

Hopefully, this can give a rebuilding team like Bradley a chance to move into contention for the top of the league quickly, hopefully next season.

I have to agree with you. The quality of basketball in the MVC, from top to bottom has been dropping for the past few years. Over the past few seasons, the league has had the top 3 to 4 teams (Wichita, UNI, Creighton and maybe ISU), and then everyone else. Bradley, Drake, Missouri State, SIU (until this year), Indiana State have consistently battled to see who will stay out of the Thursday night pillow fight in St. Louis as opposed consistently competing for 2nd or 3rd place and maybe an NIT bid. Evansville has been decent the last couple of seasons, but as a rule, has been in the middle to lower half of the standings. We will see how good they are after this season.

Most of us are biased towards the MVC, because we have had a vested interest in it for years, being Bradley fans. Until the teams in the league start recruiting and scheduling better, the league will continue to decline in quality.

It's not just men's basketball, it is all men's sports and women's sports. Maybe it is time for a new commissioner of the MVC. He's personable and seems to say all of the right things, but has he gotten results? The MVC does not have the luxury of major media markets or big time football to attract student athletes. There was a time when we were much stronger from top to bottom than Conference USA, MAC, Ohio Valley, Sun Belt, Southland, Colonial, Atlantic 10, Big West and even the Horizon. With the exception of Conference USA, Atlantic 10 and Big West, the other leagues listed can't compete with the top 2 or 3 teams in the MVC year in and year out. However, the problem comes in when the rest of teams in those leagues can play with the rest of the teams in the MVC.

[Da Coach]

The MVC, with several good quality wins, is making a comeback. Some of it is due to other conferences dropping, but the MVC now ranks as the #9 ranked conference-

http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2017/conferencerpi/

[pfcmsh]

Were We Ever #1 Conference Men's BB

,

The MVC, with several good quality wins, is making a comeback. Some of it is due to other conferences dropping, but the MVC now ranks as the #9 ranked conference-
http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2017/conferencerpi/

How high were we at our zenith and when was that?

Also, Coach Wardle is rebuilding our program with freshmen coming in each year, right? With our program falling so low due to the lousy administration before Coach Wardle, isn't that hurting his recruiting power? Who wants to come to a team that only had 5 wins last year and most of the existing team quit? His first recruiting class is not a fair judge of progress because he only had a few months before the first signing NLI deadline. Sure, the new class is playing more so they must be better. I just wonder what is a fair evaluation period for Coach Wardle? For reasons mentioned above, it has to be 3-4 years. At Green Bay, he won more games each year that he was there and we can expect the same here. It is just going to take a little longer than we would like. Maybe I sound too much like a homie, but I still have faith that he is on the right track. I just wish it could happen faster. All the talk about doom and gloom for Bradley Basketball, such as going to D2, is a little unsettling for me. We have hope now, where before, we had despair. Go Braves!!

[Da Coach]

In 2005-2006 the MVC was the 6th highest conference-

http://realtimerpi.com/2005-2006/rpi_conf_Men.html

And they maintained that 6th ranking in 2006-2007-

http://realtimerpi.com/2006-2007/rpi_conf_Men.html

I believe those were the 2 highest rankings since the RPI was instituted in 1981.

[Chico]

I know some may get tired of my comments, but firing a coach after a 32-3 season and a coach who's teams still drew 9,000 fans, didn't help the program or help keep the fan base.

[lefty]

Who was the last BU coach that left on his own?

[pfcmsh]

I know some may get tired of my comments, but firing a coach after a 32-3 season and a coach who's teams still drew 9,000 fans, didn't help the program or help keep the fan base.

I'm with you, Chico. Versace was the best, in my opinion. We've never been the same since.

[pfcmsh]

In 2005-2006 the MVC was the 6th highest conference-

http://realtimerpi.com/2005-2006/rpi_conf_Men.html

And they maintained that 6th ranking in 2006-2007-

http://realtimerpi.com/2006-2007/rpi_conf_Men.html

I believe those were the 2 highest rankings since the RPI was instituted in 1981.

Da Coach, Thank You!!

[Vent]

Who was the last BU coach that left on his own?

I believe it was Chuck "Ozzie" Orsborn after the 1964-65 season. Joe Stowell, his assistant then became head coach.

[Bradleyfan1]

,

How high were we at our zenith and when was that?

Also, Coach Wardle is rebuilding our program with freshmen coming in each year, right? With our program falling so low due to the lousy administration before Coach Wardle, isn't that hurting his recruiting power? Who wants to come to a team that only had 5 wins last year and most of the existing team quit? His first recruiting class is not a fair judge of progress because he only had a few months before the first signing NLI deadline. Sure, the new class is playing more so they must be better. I just wonder what is a fair evaluation period for Coach Wardle? For reasons mentioned above, it has to be 3-4 years. At Green Bay, he won more games each year that he was there and we can expect the same here. It is just going to take a little longer than we would like. Maybe I sound too much like a homie, but I still have faith that he is on the right track. I just wish it could happen faster. All the talk about doom and gloom for Bradley Basketball, such as going to D2, is a little unsettling for me. We have hope now, where before, we had despair. Go Braves!!

Here is how I judged Geno and how I am Judging Brian.

Yr 1: Is he personable/ optimistic about the future and knowledgeable about the history of our program, handle pr well , do I like the system, the potential in recruits and risk vs reward in recruits, type of recruits. Your probably not I control to much of schedule so ya. Play your best ball at the end of the year.

Yr 2: Show you believe in your system. It's only yr 2 . Sophs slump, so your freshman in year two and remaining players from previous regime are very important Especially in November and December . Schedule the most difficult and road tested schedule you can ,It can take some time to really be in control here depending on agreements from prior staff . Play your best ball at the end of the yr.

Year 3: See real improvement, Your first class are now Jrs , you should have a couple gems you've developed. Stop losing at home. A promising young group yr after yr. Have a established successful pipeline. Schedule down a little collect W's Play your best ball at the end of the year

Year 4 : Really depends on first 3 years ..... you could be coaching for your job, wondering how you did this so fast, or a average joe . Show your on your way . Pipe line is flowin. Your probably to blame for the direction of the program schedule and all at this point. Play your best ball at the end of the year.

[tornado]

Who was the last BU coach that left on his own?

well, technically, it was Dick Versace.
There were issues, as we all know but he was offered a ONE YEAR extension at the end of 1984-85...despite a good season and NIT appearance.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-03-12/sports/8501140278_1_bradley-coach-dick-versace-nit-title-illinois-state-coach

then given another ONE YEAR extension at the end of 1985-86 after a truly great season and being named National Coach of the Year.... but after agreeing to the terms of the 1-year extension in July of 1986, on August 6, 1986 Versace took a job with the Detroit Pistons....thus he left on his own while he still had a year left under contract with Bradley. It was kind of an insult to Versace to offer him a crappy 1-year deal after the season he produced.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-08-06/sports/8602260629_1_stan-albeck-bradley-basketball-coach-mark-freidinger

Remember - the worst of the allegations was that Bradley paid for a phone call and a taxi ride and helped find a job for Anthony Webster's father during his recruitment - and then NCAA accused Versace of "unethical conduct" when he did not give the arrogant, pushy NCAA field agent the answers she wanted to hear.

"Versace denied he lied to the NCAA or tried to cover up his involvement in any violations."
....and Chuck Daly likewise defended Versace.
"If you investigated 90 percent of the schools in the country, you'd find the same violations." - it was a witch hunt by NCAA and everyone knows it - it was the classic story of Bradley getting too good, too fast and the "big boys" didn't like it.

[pfcmsh]

well, technically, it was Dick Versace.
There were issues, as we all know but he was offered a ONE YEAR extension at the end of 1984-85...despite a good season and NIT appearance.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-03-12/sports/8501140278_1_bradley-coach-dick-versace-nit-title-illinois-state-coach

then given another ONE YEAR extension at the end of 1985-86 after a truly great season and being named National Coach of the Year.... but after agreeing to the terms of the 1-year extension in July of 1986, on August 6, 1986 Versace took a job with the Detroit Pistons....thus he left on his own while he still had a year left under contract with Bradley. It was kind of an insult to Versace to offer him a crappy 1-year deal after the season he produced.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-08-06/sports/8602260629_1_stan-albeck-bradley-basketball-coach-mark-freidinger

Remember - the worst of the allegations was that Bradley paid for a phone call and a taxi ride and helped find a job for Anthony Webster's father during his recruitment - and then NCAA accused Versace of "unethical conduct" when he did not give the arrogant, pushy NCAA field agent the answers she wanted to hear.

"Versace denied he lied to the NCAA or tried to cover up his involvement in any violations."
....and Chuck Daly likewise defended Versace.
"If you investigated 90 percent of the schools in the country, you'd find the same violations." - it was a witch hunt by NCAA and everyone knows it - it was the classic story of Bradley getting too good, too fast and the "big boys" didn't like it.

This is invaluable history on what happened to Coach Versace. Who knows where we could have gone, if he'd have stayed with Bradley!! Thank you, Tornado!

[Chico]

IMO, if what you say is fact, being offered a 1 year contract after a 32-3 season is the same as being fired.