The Valley next year

[Long-Hair's Lunatics]

I think Matt Salley will really step up next year and become a dominate big man in the league

[tornado]

This guy who wrote the article that got this thread started
actually picked the Valley like this........

1. Southern Illinois
2. Missouri State (significant losses in Ahearn and Chaney)
3. Illinois State (Dilligard is gone, but that's it)
4. Creighton (despite losses of Funk, Tolliver and Nick Porter, you have to have faith)
5. Wichita State (guards aplenty, who plays up front?)
6. Indiana State (almost everyone will be back)
7. Northern Iowa (Eric Coleman will have to carry the load)
8. Bradley (guards Jeremy Crouch and Daniel Ruffin return)
9. Drake (two leading scorers will be gone)
10. Evansville (top three scorers graduate)

As I pointed out, every team loses a lot next year..... Missouri State loses three guys who have led them in scoring or rebounding in every game, and who account for a huge amount of their offense (Ahearn, Bilyeu, Cheney).
Plus, they have virtually nobody coming in that will help, so how can this guy pick them to come in 2nd?
At least BU has 3 guys who'll come in as juniors (Brown, Fears, Williams).

Just as I would have last year, I'd take any bet that Bradley will finish considerably better than 8th.
By the way...even most Bradley faithful (especially on the other board) picked BU about 8th this year.

[DUBulldog]

FWIW.....most WSU fans don't think much of this writer (Lutz). I wouldn't pay any attention to his predictions.

Besides, there are still far too many unknowns for next season.....new signees in the spring, unexpected departures, coaching changes, etc.

[georgethedog]

I think Matt Salley will really step up next year and become a dominate big man in the league

I think he will do fine, but what would make you think he is going to be dominate? There is nothing about his game that speaks of dominance. He is not big, fast, strong or can jump real high. His offense is also suspect. I am not saying he is small, slow, weak and can't jump, but I am say ing he does not excel in any of those areas that makes a guy dominate.

[amckillip]

I think Matt Salley will really step up next year and become a dominate big man in the league

I think he will do fine, but what would make you think he is going to be dominate? There is nothing about his game that speaks of dominance. He is not big, fast, strong or can jump real high. His offense is also suspect. I am not saying he is small, slow, weak and can't jump, but I am say ing he does not excel in any of those areas that makes a guy dominate.

I would contest that those are not things required to dominate, I think the fact that he does all those things well, none of them great is more of an advantage than focusing on one. IMO to dominate it's alot more about knowing where to be, knowing when to take the shot, knowing when to pass up a good look for a great one. I think if Matt Salley can learn to avoid what I call his 'space out' periods that he has occasionally he will be one of the best big men in the MVC.

[tornado]

Here are the top scoring BIG MEN who will return next year
in the Missouri Valley.
Nice to see that Matt Salley will be one of the top guys coming back.
(all the seniors like Ajay Calvin, Anthony Tolliver, Kyle Wilson, etc. are left out)

And almost ALL the players who are substantially ahead of Matt Salley in scoring play 30-50% more minutes than Matt does, so i think his scoring totals are just fine!

...Player...................Team.............Point s.........Rebounds
Eric Coleman Northern Iowa ...........13.1 .............9.2
Randal Falker Southern Ill. .............13.1 .............7.5
Matt Shaw Southern Ill. ................11.3 .............5.9
Levi Dyer Illinois St. .....................11.2 .............3.3
Anthony Slack Illinois St. ................9.8 .............5.7
Deven Mitchell Missouri St. .............9.6 .............4.8
Jay Tunnell Indiana St. ..................9.3 ..............5.8
Dale Lamberth Missouri St. .............8.3 ..............3.6
Matt Salley Bradley .......................8.0 ..............4.9
Drew Richards Missouri St. ..............7.3 ..............4.7

[georgethedog]

I think Matt Salley will really step up next year and become a dominate big man in the league

I think he will do fine, but what would make you think he is going to be dominate? There is nothing about his game that speaks of dominance. He is not big, fast, strong or can jump real high. His offense is also suspect. I am not saying he is small, slow, weak and can't jump, but I am say ing he does not excel in any of those areas that makes a guy dominate.

I would contest that those are not things required to dominate, I think the fact that he does all those things well, none of them great is more of an advantage than focusing on one. IMO to dominate it's alot more about knowing where to be, knowing when to take the shot, knowing when to pass up a good look for a great one. I think if Matt Salley can learn to avoid what I call his 'space out' periods that he has occasionally he will be one of the best big men in the MVC.

There is a BIG difference between "dominate" and being "one of the best big men in the league." I would say he could end up as one of the best (I doubt it), but he will NEVER DOMINATE!