Writer for Springfield, MO paper predicts 2008 men's BKB

[Da Coach]

A couple weeks ago this same guy picked the 2008 women's basketball finish and put Bradley 10th. Now he picks the men's finish for 2008--

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070531/BLOGS0701/70531042

He picks Bradley 5th, which I think is fair. Here is his predicted order of finish--
1. Southern Illinois
2. Wichita State
3. Illinois State
4. Missouri State
5. Bradley
6. Creighton
7. Northern Iowa
8. Indiana State
9. Drake
10. Evansville

If Wichita State finishes 2nd, Gregg Marshall deserves COY. I just don't think they will be that good. It seems the writer just accepts that the juco players at Wichita, MSU, and ISU will step right in and be solid, but the jucos at the other schools aren't given the same respect. Picking the #1 team and the #8, #9, and #10 teams is easy. 2-7 could be tough. A lot depends on how the new incoming players contribute, and nobody knows much about them yet.

[houstontxbrave]

This is my book it for the year,

Illinois State will be battling to stay out of a play in game again this upcoming season.

[brocks]

Re: Writer for Springfield, MO paper predicts 2008 men's BKB

A couple weeks ago this same guy picked the 2008 women's basketball finish and put Bradley 10th. Now he picks the men's finish for 2008--

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070531/BLOGS0701/70531042

He picks Bradley 5th, which I think is fair. Here is his predicted order of finish--
1. Southern Illinois
2. Wichita State
3. Illinois State
4. Missouri State
5. Bradley
6. Creighton
7. Northern Iowa
8. Indiana State
9. Drake
10. Evansville

If Wichita State finishes 2nd, Gregg Marshall deserves COY. I just don't think they will be that good. It seems the writer just accepts that the juco players at Wichita, MSU, and ISU will step right in and be solid, but the jucos at the other schools aren't given the same respect. Picking the #1 team and the #8, #9, and #10 teams is easy. 2-7 could be tough. A lot depends on how the new incoming players contribute, and nobody knows much about them yet.

Then why do you think this is fair? No disrespect, but BU has at least as good a recruiting class as the others, and returns two of the best guards in the COUNTRY. This ranking seems ridiculous to me. But then again, when was the last time JL was NOT underestimated? Seems to suit him just fine.

[Da Coach]

I think it is fair for this guy to have whatever opinion he wants to have concerning the teams from 2-7. Now if he put Drake or Indiana State ahead of Bradley, then I'd take a stronger issue with it. As I said, I don't see a huge difference on paper between WSU, MSU, CU, UNI, BU, and ISU. If someone thinks a couple of those teams are ahead of Bradley, I have no problem with that. I personally think the juco guys BU has will contribute a bunch, and would pick BU ahead of WSU, CU, UNI, and ISU. But at this time, it's all opinions based on quite a bit of conjecture.

My picks-
SIU
MSU
BU
CU
WSU
ISU
UNI
DU
InSU
UE

[georgethedog]

This guy lost all of his credibilty with me with this quote about Bradley "Matt Salley is an athletic post presence." I like Matt and he is a good player, but come on now. So, in my opinion this guy is clueless.

[Stryker]

I would have to say;

1) Southern
2) BU
3) MSU
4) Creighton
5) ISU
6) WSU
7) UNI
8 ) InSU
9) DU
10) UE

I don't see ISU over 5th, but who knows. Creighton could fall farther than 4th, but they still have one of the best coaches in the league, and some talent. So I doubt it. I guess this is what I would expect in the tourny, not the regular season I guess. I think by the tourny BU will be solidified and gelled, with the Juco's contributing alot, and the freshmen with a little experience. Of course the other teams will probably be playing at their best as well, but I think BU just has tons of potential.

[MacabreMob]

I am going to be the only one to say it....

Bradley wins the MVC next season.

[BuBraves55]

bradley finishes 4th

[Big Mike]

The Braves will finish 3rd or above!

[Phantom]

This is my book it for the year,

Illinois State will be battling to stay out of a play in game again this upcoming season.

Ouch! I know we're heated rivals and everything but at least TRY to give us a little credit for improving and having a shot at a top 3-5 spot (And as for battling to stay out of the play-in game, we wouldve avoided the play-in game last year if you guys wouldve taken care of business at home vs. UNI... ) But for this coming season, I think we could see you guys, us, CU, WSU, UNI and MSU being in a battle and a half for those 2-6 spots. Never know of course, but thats my early outlook.

Seriously though, I agree with the writer when he said spots 2-7 are up for grabs. People may consider the MVC as "down" this year but IMHO it will still be a very competitive bloodbath

[thefish7]

I am going to be the only one to say it....

Bradley wins the MVC next season.

I'm with MM on this one.

[DannyCooksey]

This is my book it for the year,

Illinois State will be battling to stay out of a play in game again this upcoming season.

Not sure about this. I think starting this season the BU and ISU games will be heavily contested and have much bigger meaning in the conference standings. In my opinion, this rivalry is about to take off again in a big, big way.

[OrangeandBlack74]

This is my book it for the year,

Illinois State will be battling to stay out of a play in game again this upcoming season.

Not sure about this. I think starting this season the BU and ISU games will be heavily contested and have much bigger meaning in the conference standings. In my opinion, this rivalry is about to take off again in a big, big way.

The War on 74 returns.....

[houstonbrave]

I'm also with MM on this. The two leading returning scorers in the Valley(including far and away the best point guard), more inside help (Zach as much as I like him was not on the floor much) with Austin, Collins and Egolf and an improved Singh & Salley, midrange help with Wilson (and a soph AW), guard help with Cole-Scott and Maniscalco. I don't think we will get a lot next year from AT but I have a lot of confidence later in his career. Yeah we lost Will, Zach & DA who I will dearly miss but I think we gained a lot more than we lost especially on the inside where we struggled last year and I don't think the top of the Valley is as good as it was last year.

We can win this thing and I think we will.

[Big Mike]

I guess I think different than most.......but with proper coaching and some time with Coach Wright this summer.......AT will surprise some folks this season ......watching his team play @ the CC they were not looking to get him the ball but get it to the 6'7 kid who shot at will........in the Braves system he will get the ball in position to do something with it....he will be fine!