MVC on 2/5/07

[Da Coach]

Dave Reynolds has an article in Monday's PJ Star about the MVC.
It is not yet linked on the PJ Star website.
He points out the obvious, that the MVC has begun to separate itself with 6 good teams, and 4 bad teams. And that the 4 bad teams at the bottom of the standings are the same 4 that were there last season. Dave seems to have a little sympathy for these 4 bottom teams and even suggests the MVC is arranging the schedule to help the better teams and screw the 4 bad teams down the stretch with a tougher schedule.
I don't buy that at all. As Dave points out, everyone plays the same schedule overall, so there is no favoritism in the MVC.

Standings--

http://www.mvc-sports.com/standings/Standings.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7600&SPID=2901&DEF_FY=2006&DB_OEM_ID=7600&KEY=

Incidentally, these 4 bottom teams did not just get bad all of a sudden--
Illinois State, Indiana State, Evansville, and Drake--
these are the 4 teams that in 2007 sit at 7, 8, 9, 10.
and the same 4 that also finished 2006 in 7, 8, 9, 10.
And in 2005, the same 4 teams finished 6, 7, 9, 10.
And in 2004, the same 4 teams finished 7, 8, 9, 10.
And in 2003, the same 4 teams finished 5, 8, 9, 10.
And in 2002, the same 4 teams finished 3, 6, 9, 10.

So since these teams have been the bottom dwellers in the MVC and have dragged down the league RPI for many years, even if the MVC does fix the schedule to favor certain better teams, I would say they have earned it.
The worst--
Indiana State is currently 8th, but just 1/2 game ahead of Illinois State in 9th. They have finished last or tied for last each of the past 5 seasons, except 2004 when they managed to finish just 1 game out of last (they were also tied for last in 2006, last in 2005, tied for next to last in 2004, last in 2003, and tied for last in 2002).

Illinois State is currently 9th, but 1 game out of last, and they have the toughest schedule in the next 3 weeks so there is a high liklihood they will finish in last place this year. If so, it will make 4 out of the last 5 years they will have finished last or next to last in the MVC! (they were also tied for last in 2006, 10th and last all alone in 2004, and 9th in 2003)

Drake and Evansville have fared somewhat better. Though they are dead last this year, Drake's average finish over the previous 5 seasons has been 7th. Evansville's average finish over the past 5 seasons prior to this year is 8th.

Here is a trivia question-- can anyone name the last time Bradley finished either 9th or 10th in the MVC?

Answer--
They have never finished 10th.
They finished 9th only once, in 1992, Jim Molinari's first season with a 3-15 conference record.

[Average Joe]

If Bradley has never finished as low as ISU seems to finish routinely, then why are the fans seemingly always on the BU coach?
They ran Molinari out of town and tried to run Les out for the last four years?

[BradleyBrave]

If Bradley has never finished as low as ISU seems to finish routinely, then why are the fans seemingly always on the BU coach?
They ran Molinari out of town and tried to run Les out for the last four years?

Because BU has a higher standard of excellence than they do.

[squirrel]

I do kinda feel sorry for Drake. Ten years ago, this team would have been a top 3-4 team in the Valley. Even in their best year they're stuck at the bottom.

I understand without the rest of the league being where it is today, Drake probably isn't this good.

[BradleyBrave]

I do kinda feel sorry for Drake. Ten years ago, this team would have been a top 3-4 team in the Valley.

The same could be said for Jim Les' 2nd and 3rd year teams. No one felt sorry for us.

[Biff]

There have been apologists who have posted things like Drake doesn't consider their men's basketball program as important as Bradley, and they are satisfied with mediocrity as long as they uphold academics.
Than's nonsense. Drake has a pretty good basketball history and tradition. Maybe not as great as Bradley's, but there is simply no reason Drake cannot achieve the same level of success as the other private schools in the conference like Creighton and Bradley (the same could be said for Evansville). IMO, they have made a mistake with the T. Davis experiment, and if they don't correct it soon, they could be stuck with Davis, Jr. for many more years of mediocrity. Probably Bradley fans should be happy about that, but my father went to Drake, and I want to see them put a better team on the floor.
Yes, they beat Iowa State and clobbered Iowa, but they are presently 10th in the Valley. Also, 4 of their 5 starters (Stewart, Calvin, Grant, and Keita) are seniors, and other than Josh Young, I don't see much help for the future. I think you can pencil them in for 9th or 10th for the next several years.

[MacabreMob]

Re: MVC on 2/5/07

Dave seems to have a little sympathy for these 4 bottom teams and even suggests the MVC is arranging the schedule to help the better teams and screw the 4 bad teams down the stretch with a tougher schedule.
I don't buy that at all. As Dave points out, everyone plays the same schedule overall, so there is no favoritism in the MVC.

One thing I would hope the MVC is doing.... I hope they give EXPECTED top teams as soft as schedule as they can down the stretch to help manipulate the "Last 10 Record" teams have - something the NCAA selection committee takes into consideration.

[patrick_o'brian]

There have been apologists who have posted things like Drake doesn't consider their men's basketball program as important as Bradley, and they are satisfied with mediocrity as long as they uphold academics.
Than's nonsense. Drake has a pretty good basketball history and tradition. Maybe not as great as Bradley's, but there is simply no reason Drake cannot achieve the same level of success as the other private schools in the conference like Creighton and Bradley (the same could be said for Evansville). IMO, they have made a mistake with the T. Davis experiment, and if they don't correct it soon, they could be stuck with Davis, Jr. for many more years of mediocrity. Probably Bradley fans should be happy about that, but my father went to Drake, and I want to see them put a better team on the floor.
Yes, they beat Iowa State and clobbered Iowa, but they are presently 10th in the Valley. Also, 4 of their 5 starters (Stewart, Calvin, Grant, and Keita) are seniors, and other than Josh Young, I don't see much help for the future. I think you can pencil them in for 9th or 10th for the next several years.

I agree totally. Although I could care less about Drake's future or it's past, it just seems like they could get a much better coach than Tom Davis's son. It seems like they have a pretty solid fanbase, the jopint looked pretty packed when we were there and what up and comer wouldn't want to coach in the valley. I just don't like the passing of the reins to the son situation that happens at some schools. I have really never seen many situations where it works. Tony Bennett isn't doing bad at Washington State, but I think that is the best example that I can come up with. Can anyone else think of any good examples of this working? Well anyways GO BU!

[Bravesfan]

There have been apologists who have posted things like Drake doesn't consider their men's basketball program as important as Bradley, and they are satisfied with mediocrity as long as they uphold academics.
Than's nonsense. Drake has a pretty good basketball history and tradition. Maybe not as great as Bradley's, but there is simply no reason Drake cannot achieve the same level of success as the other private schools in the conference like Creighton and Bradley (the same could be said for Evansville). IMO, they have made a mistake with the T. Davis experiment, and if they don't correct it soon, they could be stuck with Davis, Jr. for many more years of mediocrity. Probably Bradley fans should be happy about that, but my father went to Drake, and I want to see them put a better team on the floor.
Yes, they beat Iowa State and clobbered Iowa, but they are presently 10th in the Valley. Also, 4 of their 5 starters (Stewart, Calvin, Grant, and Keita) are seniors, and other than Josh Young, I don't see much help for the future. I think you can pencil them in for 9th or 10th for the next several years.

I agree totally. Although I could care less about Drake's future or it's past, it just seems like they could get a much better coach than Tom Davis's son. It seems like they have a pretty solid fanbase, the jopint looked pretty packed when we were there and what up and comer wouldn't want to coach in the valley. I just don't like the passing of the reins to the son situation that happens at some schools. I have really never seen many situations where it works. Tony Bennett isn't doing bad at Washington State, but I think that is the best example that I can come up with. Can anyone else think of any good examples of this working? Well anyways GO BU!

Wow! Tony Bennett went from Bradley senior to coach in one season? Wow!....oh wait, THAT Tony Bennett (and I don't mean the singer, either).

[Fetz86]

The Sutton's at Oklahoma St isnt going to bad for them so far.