SIU v W. Michigan

[BradleyBrave]

You know Coach, I've been the biggest defender on these boards regarding the Valley's chances of receiving multiple bids. But you may be right. However, I still think someone will step up and have a great year that would still warrant at-large consideration. And there's no reason why it can't be Bradley, and Creighton until proven otherwise that their young team can't deal with the pressure of the conference season. I think now Bradley, Creighton and some "newbie" be it Illinois St or Drake will step up and play themselves into a pool of three or four teams that may be strongly considered for an at-large bid.

Of course, leave it to SIU for probably going 16-2 in the Valley this year thus screwing up that scenerio!

The MVC won't be a 1 bid league. If they are, we're the 1 bid. But it won't be a 1 bid league unless the same team wins the regular season and conference tournament.

[Da Coach]

I know other people said this same thing, so I wasn't the only one.
But despite the unwarranted preseason love-fest by media and other uninformed for SIU, we have been predicting this letdown for SIU without Tatum and Young since well before the season began--

http://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=43957#post43957

[Bravesfan]

The MVC won't be a 1 bid league. If they are, we're the 1 bid. But it won't be a 1 bid league unless the same team wins the regular season and conference tournament.

Yeah, and as long as Kevin Stallings isn't coaching Illinois St this year (1998 the last time this scenerio happened), hopefully that won't happen!

[Bravesfan]

I know other people said this same thing, so I wasn't the only one.
But despite the unwarranted preseason love-fest by media and other uninformed for SIU, we have been predicting this letdown for SIU without Tatum and Young since well before the season began--

http://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/showth...3957#post43957

Well, maybe so. But Bradley's lost a lot more players than SIU has the last couple of years, and we're still playing well. One would have thought that a couple of their players would have stepped up to replace Tatum and Young, but apparently that has not panned out as of yet. Obviously SIU's offense has to get better because even a great defense won't make up for their offensive shortcomings.

Hmmmm. Sounds a lot like the Chicago Bears' problems as well!

[MacabreMob]

The MVC won't be a 1 bid league. If they are, we're the 1 bid. But it won't be a 1 bid league unless the same team wins the regular season and conference tournament.

BradleyBrave - I just wanna be on record as saying we win 'em both.

And if the league only gets one bid... then we (Bradley) better make the most of it.

[MacabreMob]

Good all mighty is SIU a horrible team LOL. 41 points, an average of 20.5 points a period is among the worst offense wise. I don't think SIU will be much better at home, they've consistently showed that they can't score at home and on the road. Bradley can easily score 50 points on a horrible "BU" shooting night. This is almost worse than the Wichita State #8 ranking meltdown last season. Also, just because SIU is doing horrible, doesn't mean the whole conference will be horrible and will make a 1 bid. Bradley, Creighton, N. IA and even Drake have shown early season success this year. I would think at least 2 of them would make it if they continue there success.

Jason

Mullins was the leading scorer at the 1/2 for SIU with 4 - LOL!

But hey... if SIU can't win at home and can't win on the road... where are they needing to schedule games to win - haha, LOL!

[bert notorius]

It's almost as if they snapped after playing USC, kinda like they realized they weren't in the same league and stuff...

[Da Coach]

As of this moment, Bradley's RPI up to 60, and SIU's down to 101--

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_mvc_Men.html

[Dallas Brave]

Sheesh .... Puts pressure on BU ... we can't afford to drop the game in Carbondale.

BTW ... did anyone see the CNN report today on the serial killer that graduated from SIU?

[BradleyBrave]

As of this moment, Bradley's RPI up to 60, and SIU's down to 101--
http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_mvc_Men.html

Now it's up to 57, based on SEMO's road win at Samford! BU's SOS is up to 53! A win tomorrow could put us into the top 40!

[Lakeview Brave]

Well, maybe so. But Bradley's lost a lot more players than SIU has the last couple of years, and we're still playing well. One would have thought that a couple of their players would have stepped up to replace Tatum and Young, but apparently that has not panned out as of yet. Obviously SIU's offense has to get better because even a great defense won't make up for their offensive shortcomings.

Hmmmm. Sounds a lot like the Chicago Bears' problems as well!

We lost some players but we also have not come close to the accomplishments of SIU. Lets make it to the dance for the next six years, win the regular season or finish in the top 3 for that matter and win in St. Louis before we completely disparage SIU. I am as happy as anyone that they stink, I think its great even if it is bad for the Valley but they have been the class of the league the last 6 years and still are until proven otherwise during the season.

[TheAsianSensation]

Sheesh. We might be at-large contenders by default with 2 more non-con wins.

[BradleyBrave]

Sheesh. We might be at-large contenders by default with 2 more non-con wins.

With wins @ Butler and VCU, we would be at-large contenders no matter what anyone else does or doesn't do.

[MacabreMob]

Bradley on the road is not a good basketball team.

--basically expecting a Loss at Butler--

I am not looking at X-mas cookies to eat til after they are cooked.

[Da Coach]

A score I noticed from tonight--
So. Carolina Upstate 58
So. Methodist 56
http://upstatespartans.cstv.com/spor...121807aaa.html

South Carolina Upstate gets it's first win over a Division I opponent, and it's a win on the road at SMU. They are a first year D1 school (also called So. Carolina-Spartanburg). They are a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

You can't convince me that the incredibly easy, cupcake-filled preconference schedule that Matt Doherty plays every year doesn't hurt his team. His team won their last 4 games going into this "gimme" with SC Upstate (to go to 4-4), but they were over Paul Quinn (be honest, does anyone know where that is? They are NAIA), UTSA (RPI 289), TCU (RPI 208 ), and Houston Baptist (2-12, provisional D1, and no wins against D1 teams).

After this loss, SMU's RPI is 327 with a SOS of 315. Pathetic for a school that has such a rich athletic history, although some of it tarnished.
Matt Doherty is in his 2nd season at SMU. And I also recall there were people who thought Bradley should go after him when they thought it was time a couple seasons ago to dump Jim Les.
I know they are a young team, but with the wealth of talent in Texas, and considering Doherty has the ruputation as a super-recruiter, I can't believe their fans are too happy with the way things are going there.

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/doherty_matt00.html