Jerry Palm on the MVC

[BradleyBrave]

He's surprised at our league RPI (he says league RPI's start to have significance this time of year), but says our lack of noteworthy out-of-conference wins could make us a 1 bid league.

Right below them is the Atlantic 10, not surprising since it has four top 20 teams, and the Missouri Valley, which is surprising since that league has done very little of note out of conference.

The Missouri Valley is usually the league that comes up with the big name wins, but that hasn't been the case this year. Drake has been a pleasant surprise at 9-1, but that's nine wins over mediocre-to-awful teams and a loss to St. Mary's. Southern Illinois is the team to hand the Gaels their only loss of the season, but that has been a lonely bright spot in what has been a very disappointing start. The Salukis are 4-4 with losses to USC and Indiana which were bad more in margin than prestige, and at Charlotte and Saint Louis, who aren't exactly awful, but not the caliber of team that we would expect to beat SIU. Creighton seems to be playing well, as is Northern Iowa, but neither them, nor anyone else in this league has the big, attention-grabbing win that will impress the committee in March. The way things are going so far, this could end up a one-bid league.

[MacabreMob]

What makes me laugh is all the talk about the "Big Win"....

Mo St beat Wisky last year but it didn't do anything for them.

WHAT DOES THE MVC HAVE TO DO???

[BradleyBrave]

What makes me laugh is all the talk about the "Big Win"....

Mo St beat Wisky last year but it didn't do anything for them.

WHAT DOES THE MVC HAVE TO DO???

It's a question I would like to have answered. BU's non-con highlight in '05-'06 was Western Kentucky, so I don't put much credence in this article. We'll see in March that about half of it was spot-on, and about half of it was way, way off. The conference season will tell the tale.

[squirrel]

It's not necessarily a matter of the league, but individual teams. As one analyst stated (I think it was Doyel, but not certain). . .the 2006 NCAA Tourney brought college basketball "out of the dark ages", so the committee has to take teams from non-traditional power leagues a little more seriously.

What this means is that if the Patriot League had its 2005 season after 2006, Holy Cross probably gets a 2nd bid.

The Southland is threatening to get 2 this year with UTA and Sam Houston St.

Valpo or Wright could steal the Horizon tourney away from Butler and force 2 bids for them.

The WCC gets 2 most likely.

Despite popular belief, Memphis is not invincible in CUSA and Houston, Tulsa, UTEP, UCF, UAB, and even Southern Miss have the capability to make some noise and/or win the CUSA tourney, and I can still see them get as many as 3 bids.

And that's without even considering any potential BCS conference tournament surprises.

This year, everybody is focusing on the quality of our teams, and outside of Drake. . .CU, BU, UNI, and ISU still have some proving to do.

It's not doom and gloom prophecy, its just that the numbers and bid math does not add up to our favor.

But if Drake, BU, CU, and ISU win at a good clip or even SIU gets back on track, they'll be in the running.

Just prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.

[Guinness]

This year, everybody is focusing on the quality of our teams, and outside of Drake. . .CU, BU, UNI, and ISU still have some proving to do.

Uh Drake hasnt done much of anything in terms of impressive wins. They play mostly 200+ RPI teams. We're going to rape them, and everyone who is saying that Drake is the "surprise" will have embarrassed themselves.

[BUBraves06]

Uh Drake hasnt done much of anything in terms of impressive wins. They play mostly 200+ RPI teams. We're going to rape them, and everyone who is saying that Drake is the "surprise" will have embarrassed themselves.

Wow, I'd give them a bit more credit then that, but tell us how you really feel.

[Bravesfan]

Uh Drake hasnt done much of anything in terms of impressive wins. They play mostly 200+ RPI teams. We're going to rape them, and everyone who is saying that Drake is the "surprise" will have embarrassed themselves.

Well, the fact that Drake is beating the teams they are supposed to be beating (something they have not done in years past) is a definitive step in the right direction for them. So at least for now they have kept the Valley from freefalling lower than they have so far this year.

[BradleyBrave]

If you look at the conference RPI numbers, we're just .0027 behind the A-10 for 7th and .0028 behind the Big 10 for 6th. A strong weekend and we could jump right back in there.

[DUBulldog]

Well, the fact that Drake is beating the teams they are supposed to be beating (something they have not done in years past) is a definitive step in the right direction for them. So at least for now they have kept the Valley from freefalling lower than they have so far this year.

I think most Drake fans realize that the Bulldogs haven't beaten anybody of note (but who in the MVC has this year?). What has DU fans thinking positive is the way Drake has been beating teams. Iowa State (with Wesley Johnson) by 35, and it could have been worse than that if Drake didn't back off the last 15 minutes of the game. Drake played their worst game of the year at Iowa, and still won....and it was the first time all year that Iowa had all their scholarship players available. Beat UW-Milwaukee on the road by 21.....before their team imploded.

I think there are still several question marks regarding Drake and there's a lot of season left.