SIU....

[Big Mike]

A Big Congrats to SIU on showing how good the Valley really is.....last night they stood toe/toe with one of the biggest bcs schools on national tv and having several chances to put the game away.....even with the refs helping out the bcs........nothing last night to hang your heads over...bill selfish was thinking.....oh-no, here we go again! Thanks again making the Valley look like they belonged in the ncaa tourney! Congrats on a fine season!

[catpkt]

Amen to that.

When it comes to the in season conference schedule I really do like to route for certain MVC teams to lose, but when we get into post season play after watching so many games throughout the year it really makes the NCAA and NIT games fun!

Hope the whole league can be as competitive next year and get a few more teams in post season play.

[Big Mike]

I think that at least the Braves fans realize that the money made by Valley teams in post season play gets split evenly throughout the league......unlike some others who root against the own conference teams in post season (I think we all know who we are talking about) .....how dumb can you be? All the Valley schools need the $$'s to compete with the bigger schools and the success last year and this in postseason helps make the conference stronger as a whole in $$'s and in recruiting!

[patrick_o'brian]

I think that at least the Braves fans realize that the money made by Valley teams in post season play gets split evenly throughout the league......unlike some others who root against the own conference teams in post season (I think we all know who we are talking about) .....how dumb can you be? All the Valley schools need the $$'s to compete with the bigger schools and the success last year and this in postseason helps make the conference stronger as a whole in $$'s and in recruiting!

This is the reason I am so pi$$ed off that THE VALLEY as a whole got screwed this postseason.

[IlliBraves]

I thought that SIU got a bad call when they didn't call that charge on KU at the end of the game, but all in all, good showing. I am just disappointed at the lack of respect this league gets as a whole, so go Butler, with success, these idiots will soon have no legs to stand on. Fact of the matter is, we beat some darn good teams this year, and we were picked sixth in the league. The worst team in the league could kick the crap out of Purdue, who made the NCAA second round. But we still only get 2 teams. Just wait until next year. Bradley is going to be badass, and the Valley will hopefully get 3-4 bids again.

[Big Mike]

FOUR?............Heck with your FOUR........I say SIX!

[IlliBraves]

Did anybody happen to catch the way the announcers kept talking about all the pressure on Kansas, as if it was a complete embarassment to lose to a great Bradley team last year, and losing to Southern Illinois shouldn't happen, because god knows they can't hang with the big boys.

[Bravesfan]

Did anybody happen to catch the way the announcers kept talking about all the pressure on Kansas, as if it was a complete embarassment to lose to a great Bradley team last year, and losing to Southern Illinois shouldn't happen, because god knows they can't hang with the big boys.

Yeah, that's why I believe we need a couple of Elite Eight or Final Four runs out of our conference to really get people to realize that they have no choice but to include more teams in the tournament.

Still not a bad year this year as seven non-BCS teams won their first round games, four made it into the Sweet Sixteen, and one, Memphis is still alive. I know, most consider Memphis a major team, but they come from a pretty weak conference. I think in five years, Memphis maybe an afterthought when it comes to national contender. If Calipari stays, they will still be strong, but until they make the Final Four (which still may happent this year) for a couple of straight years, Memphis will be relagated to a "mid-major" in due time, maybe quicker if Calipari leaves.

Finally, if the Valley can continue to get at least 2 to 3 teams per year into the tournament, with a Sweet Sixteen team every year, and hopefully an Elite Eight team or higher once every few years, we will at least continue to generate national buzz, and maybe eventually raise our stature amongst the BCS pundits.

[BradleyBrave]

Did anybody happen to catch the way the announcers kept talking about all the pressure on Kansas, as if it was a complete embarassment to lose to a great Bradley team last year, and losing to Southern Illinois shouldn't happen, because god knows they can't hang with the big boys.

I guess that's one way to look at it. But let's be honest - It is Kansas. As much as we all may hate them, they are an elite program that has high expectations every year. They were highly seeded and lost in the opening round 2 years in a row. I think because of that is why the announcers may have been talking that way. I don't think it was an intentional slight at the mids or the MVC. Had KU lost to anyone, it's KU, and there would be pressure.