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I am a stupid Cub fan, so I am really used to talking about "next year". From what I can see, we will be lucky to be .500 next year. All we really have are Wilson, Warren and Sam M. The rest are unproven to put it mildly. Sam M. does a nice job with the ball and can shoot and drive some, but gets murdered on the defensive end. Collins is a waste of size(probably a great guy and God bless him and I wish him the best) but on the basketball floor... He is the Tom Prussotter (Can't remeber the spelling-old guys help) of today. It would be nice to sign a BIG that can play right away. Like a Coleman type. Too bad we can't put Coleman's heart and desire into Collins. Little chance I suppose of landing a big who can step in. Looks like another year of guards jacking up threes and finishing in the middle of the league. Don't get me wrong, I like Coach Les, but does anyone have a list of how BU has finished in the league each year under Les? Just curious... I thought I read it somewhere, but could not find it. Now that list can add a 5th place to it for this year. At least we stayed out of the play-in round!
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Since you asked, here it is -Originally posted by georgethedog View Post
'03 - 8-10, 6th
'04 - 7-11, 7th
'05 - 6-12, 8th
'06 - 11-7, T4th
'07 - 10-8, 4th
'08 - 9-9, T5th
With what we have returning, and what other teams have returning, anything less than top 3 is unacceptable. We have 2 all-conference caliber perimeter players (Warren, Wilson) and one of the top point guards in the league (Maniscalco) coming back. Our frontcourt has a year of experience under their belts. If we can defend the home court, and play any type of defense next year, a top 3 finish is more than attainable.Onward and Upward!
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I think we have a chance to be decent next year, but I think 3rd is a bit of a stretch. I think Creighton, ISU, and Drake will probably be picked as the top 3 next year...with SIU, Indiana State, and BU falling in some combination in the next tier...Originally posted by BradleyBrave View Post
If I had to guess, I think we'll be picked to finish 5th or 6th...but I would agree that it would be a huge disappointment if we didn't finish 4th or better...I think it will be another down year in the Valley overall, so if we are hoping to sneak out a title before Creighton and SIU's newest batches of young stud recruits grow up, next year would be the year to do it...Comment
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I do think Bradley has a great shot to be top 3 in the MVC next season. Maniscalco, Warren, and Wilson might be the best returning trio in the conference. Dodie Dunson should be able to contribute in the backcourt right away. For the rest of the rotation, there will be a lot of big guys to choose from (Collins, Singh, Austin, Egolf, Thompson). If two of those bigs can emerge as solid contributors, you've got a pretty nice rotation.
As far as the rest of the league...
Illinois State should be tough with Eldridge and Odiakosa joined by Chamberlain Oguchi, the transfer from Oregon. Holloway and Sampay should be solid role players.
Creighton should be tough as always, with P'Allen Stinnett leading the way.
Drake is losing three very productive seniors in Emmenecker, Houston, and Korver. Cox and Young are excellent players, so it will be interesting to see how the team develops around them. They definitely don't appear that they'd be a top 25 team again next season, but then again nobody expected them to be this good this season.
I think those are the only three teams that have a chance to be better than Bradley next season, and if things break right I could see Bradley winning the MVC. Obviously, we'll have a whole summer to talk about next season.Comment
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how are you all forgetting about siu!?!?! they are good every year! they have the best point guard in the valley (mullins) returning, two other good guards in bone and clemmons returning, the overshadowed tony boyle stepping into the starting lineup, and one of the best power forward recruits in the nation who is expected to contribute right away! they will certainly be contending for one of the top spots next year. i can't believe you left them out!Comment
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So, during Les' coaching career at BU, the team has averaged a finish of 5.67 (you could round that to 6th place). With that kind of success, I think he needs a bonus and a contract extension. He said when he was hired he would put BU back on the map. Just what map was he talking about? (By the way, before I get attacked--stop--I still support Coach Les and want to give him more time to get the train rolling and see what the new facilities will do to help recruiting). I think an average of 6th place deserves a little ribbing and sarcasm...Comment
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It's all about "efficiency"... and I don't recall Bradley ever being all that "efficient".
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I didn't forget about SIU, I just think they'll take a step back next season. Their defense should be solid again, although they lose their only shotblocker (Falker) and their two best defensive rebounders (Falker and Shaw). Even if we assume that their defense will be just as good as this year, their offense looks like it will take a step back. Mullins is the only returning player that I would say is a positive on the offensive end. Maybe Bone takes a step forward, and they do have a nice recruiting class, but you can't really expect most freshmen to step in and be a go-to scorer right away. It's obviously hard to say when the season is 8 months away, but right now I don't see SIU as one of the favorites next season.Comment
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VERY well stated Mob! I can't improve on that comment!Originally posted by MacabreMob View PostIt's all about "efficiency"... and I don't recall Bradley ever being all that "efficient".
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Exactly. With all of the experience our returning players have due to the Ruffin injury/suspension, this team will need a lot less time to gel next year. This is the big positive we can take from this season. This year's adversity is a blessing in disguise, and yes I think we will be a lot stronger than many people expect.Originally posted by BradleyBrave View Post
I am worried though that it will be difficult to win the Valley next year. Creighton played great with such a young team, and Illinois St will have a senior laden team next year. Therefore, those two teams probably will be battling for the top two spots. Obviously Drake and SIU will be factors as well, so we may be stuck in that 5th spot again. However, if we tighten up the defense and work on our post presence, I don't see why we can't finish at least in 3rd place and position ourselves into at-large contention. It will be tough, but doable. This offseason will be critical though, that's for sure.Comment
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All of this is 'on paper', which is all we have to go by right now.Originally posted by audacious_aficionado View Post
SIU should be down a bit. They are losing the preseason POY and another top forward in Shaw. Mullins is great defensively, but is very limited offensively. We saw this year how important experience is, especially with interior players. SIU will contend for a top half finish, but I wouldn't pick them above 4th or 5th.
Drake loses quite a bit too. I think they'll have enough to be a top 5-6 team, but I wouldn't underestimate the value of Emmenecker, Houston, and Corver.
If I had to make a preseason prediction based on returning players, it would go like this
1. CU
2. BU
3. ISU
4. DU
5. SIU
6. INSU
7. WSU
8. UNI
9. MSU
10. UE
I can elaborate if necessary, but I think if you look on paper with what each school has returning, BU has an advantage over most of the league outside of CU.Onward and Upward!
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Well, I don't know why you think the Valley will be down again next year. I think this is our "down" year, and if this is a down year, it's scary (in a good way) to think how good the Valley will be in the next year or two!Originally posted by ER3 View Post
Creighton and ISU will actually be better next year! Drake might slip back slightly, but still be a big factor. SIU is hard to read, but Lowery certainly won't stand for another year like this one. And the bottom tier of teams, Indiana St in particular will be better.
I think Bradley better be alert next year because the Valley will be an amazing conference during the next few years!Comment
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That's a pretty good prediction. I unfortuately may have to flip BU and ISU, but.....wait a second. I can't predict ISU ahead of BU! What was I thinking?!Originally posted by BradleyBrave View Post
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Kool-Aide Drinkers
BU has not finished better than 4th since Les took over and we lose our best 2 players (one of which proved to be so valuable we almost lost all of our games without him and the other put us on his back after we lost Warren) and there are people who think BU will finish 2nd. Wow, I want whatever you are drinking. All I can say is our recruits better be ready to contribute big time and guys like Egolf, Collins, Cole-Scott and Austin have to figure things out. Finally, if we can keep Wood and Prior healthy, we should win the World Series too.Comment
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I think Prior graduated and Wood is returning as a walkon.
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