Top Mid's to watch by ESPN

[bears1]

Look at the bottom at the mid major all american team. Alot of valley love.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insider/columns/story?columnist=bilas_jay&id=2546201

[DUBulldog]

Look at the bottom at the mid major all american team. Alot of valley love.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insider/columns/story?columnist=bilas_jay&id=2546201

For those of us who aren't subscribers to ESPN Insider......what does it say?

[bears1]

You shouldnt be shut out. Just click on the link below.

[WSUbballer]

You shouldnt be shut out. Just click on the link below.
You have to be an ESPN Insider member to access anything below Nevada.

[bears1]

Oh..sorry. It says that SIU,MSU,CU, and WSU all should make serious waves this year and that no one should be surprised come tournament time. It lists Jays mid major all american team with Ahearn,Tatum and Funk making the team. Nice write up on each of the 4 teams and why they like them. The Valley has more love than any other conference listed by far.

[DUBulldog]

Thanks!

[WSUbballer]

Double Thanks.

[bears1]

The other teams that made the list besides the 4 valley teams are as follows:
Winthrop
Nevada
Hawaii
Hofstra
George Mason
College of Charleston
Bucknell

Southern Illinois: The Salukis played their way into the NCAA Tournament last year, taking the decision away from the selection committee, and everyone is back. Chris Lowery will see that his team guards people all over the floor and plays together. Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young are more than just defensive stalwarts and Matt Shaw and MVC tourney MVP Randal Falker are outstanding rebounding and defensive forwards.

Creighton: The Bluejays just missed out on the NCAA Tournament last year, but Dana Altman gets back his best player this year. Nate Funk returns from shoulder surgery and should be a favorite for MVC Player of the Year. Funk is versatile and tough and can score. Add in Josh Dotzler and inside threat Anthony Tolliver, and Creighton will be a tough out

Missouri State: The Bears had a legitimate beef after being left out of the NCAA Tournament last year. This season, it would not be a shock to see them wind up as the top team in the MVC. Blake Ahearn, the J.J. Redick of the MVC, returns as the best shooter in the league. Barry Hinson is a terrific coach and his team will play with a chip on its shoulder this year. This is a solid, well-coached team.

Wichita State: Despite losing MVC player of the year Paul Miller, the Shockers will be near or at the top of the Valley again. P.J. Couisnard, Sean Ogirri, Kyle Wilson, Karon Bradley and Matt Braeuer return from a 26-9 team that reached the Sweet 16. Wichita State is a well-coached team. Mark Turgeon is among the nation's finest coaches.


Bilas' mid-major All-America team
Folarin Campbell, George Mason
Nate Funk, Creighton
Loren Stokes, Hofstra
Nick Fazekas, Nevada
Torrell Martin, Winthrop
Jamaal Tatum, Southern Illinois
Blake Ahearn, Missouri State
Gary Neal, Towson
Nick Welch, Air Force
Chris McNaughton, Bucknell
Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington
Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky
Blake Schilb, Loyola (Chi.)
Bobby Brown, Fullerton State
Dontaye Draper, College of Charleston
D.J. Thompson, Appalachian State

[bears1]

There are several mid-majors that will not get much run during the regular
season but should be really good by NCAA Tournament time. Don't let these teams surprise you because their scores aren't on "SportsCenter":

Winthrop: The Eagles came within a bucket of beating Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament and that would not have been an upset. Craig Bradshaw is a big man who can shoot it and Torrell Martin is the best athlete in the Big South. Winthrop should be the best team in the conference -- again -- and all non-conference foes should prepare for a fight.

Nevada: Mark Fox looks like he is turning Nevada into the Gonzaga of the WAC. Nick Fazekas will take home player of the year honors again, and he has plenty of help to get the Wolf Pack back to the NCAA Tournament. Nevada does not win games from the 3-point line; it wins games with hard-nosed defense and getting quality shots. Point guard Ramon Sessions is a heady passer and handler, Marcelus Kemp can get to the rim and the free throw line, and Kyle Shiloh can knock down shots. Nevada is solid in any league.

Hawaii: This will be, in all likelihood, the last season for coach Riley Wallace, and this could be his best team. Wallace is an outstanding coach and he has done a terrific job with the program. Hawaii has solid guards in Matt Gibson, Matt Lojeski and Bobby Nash, and an outstanding defender in Ahmet Gueye. Hawaii has a good nonconference schedule and will have to perform well against it to garner some additional recognition.

Hofstra: Tom Pecora has the top scoring returning backcourt in the country. Do-it-all guard Loren Stokes teams with sharpshooter Antoine Agudio and defensive-minded Carlos Rivera to provide scoring, defense and experience. Hofstra won 26 games last year, beat George Mason twice, and still went to the NIT. With good inside play to complement his guards, Pecora could be NCAA-bound in '07.

George Mason: The Patriots still should be on a high on October 15, but Jim Larranaga will not let the Final Four decrease his team's hunger, because Mason can be good again. Folarin Campbell is a versatile player with star potential and Will Thomas is an undersized workhorse who is very productive. If Jesus Urbina and John Vaughan return strong after redshirt years, George Mason will be a factor.

College of Charleston: Bobby Cremins inherits a nice squad to work with at C of C. Dontaye Draper led the team in scoring and assists at the off-guard spot, but Cremins probably will move him back to the point. David Lawrence and Jermaine Johnson are fine rebounders and defenders who also can score, and the Cougars will have some depth. With some better defense and end-of-game execution, Charleston will be very good.

Bucknell: Patriot League player of the year candidate Chris McNaughton returns, as does four-year starter Abe Badmus, Darren Mastropaolo and the athletic Donald Brown. McNaughton plays his best against the best competition, and Bucknell has shown it is unafraid of playing, and often beating, the best. Pat Flannery is an outstanding coach who always has had to do more with less, but the last couple of years, he has had plenty to work with at Bucknell.


Above is the profile on the others.

[LincolnJay]

There are several mid-majors that will not get much run during the regular
season but should be really good by NCAA Tournament time. Don't let these teams surprise you because their scores aren't on "SportsCenter":

Winthrop: The Eagles came within a bucket of beating Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament and that would not have been an upset. Craig Bradshaw is a big man who can shoot it and Torrell Martin is the best athlete in the Big South. Winthrop should be the best team in the conference -- again -- and all non-conference foes should prepare for a fight.

Nevada: Mark Fox looks like he is turning Nevada into the Gonzaga of the WAC. Nick Fazekas will take home player of the year honors again, and he has plenty of help to get the Wolf Pack back to the NCAA Tournament. Nevada does not win games from the 3-point line; it wins games with hard-nosed defense and getting quality shots. Point guard Ramon Sessions is a heady passer and handler, Marcelus Kemp can get to the rim and the free throw line, and Kyle Shiloh can knock down shots. Nevada is solid in any league.

Hawaii: This will be, in all likelihood, the last season for coach Riley Wallace, and this could be his best team. Wallace is an outstanding coach and he has done a terrific job with the program. Hawaii has solid guards in Matt Gibson, Matt Lojeski and Bobby Nash, and an outstanding defender in Ahmet Gueye. Hawaii has a good nonconference schedule and will have to perform well against it to garner some additional recognition.

Hofstra: Tom Pecora has the top scoring returning backcourt in the country. Do-it-all guard Loren Stokes teams with sharpshooter Antoine Agudio and defensive-minded Carlos Rivera to provide scoring, defense and experience. Hofstra won 26 games last year, beat George Mason twice, and still went to the NIT. With good inside play to complement his guards, Pecora could be NCAA-bound in '07.

George Mason: The Patriots still should be on a high on October 15, but Jim Larranaga will not let the Final Four decrease his team's hunger, because Mason can be good again. Folarin Campbell is a versatile player with star potential and Will Thomas is an undersized workhorse who is very productive. If Jesus Urbina and John Vaughan return strong after redshirt years, George Mason will be a factor.

College of Charleston: Bobby Cremins inherits a nice squad to work with at C of C. Dontaye Draper led the team in scoring and assists at the off-guard spot, but Cremins probably will move him back to the point. David Lawrence and Jermaine Johnson are fine rebounders and defenders who also can score, and the Cougars will have some depth. With some better defense and end-of-game execution, Charleston will be very good.

Bucknell: Patriot League player of the year candidate Chris McNaughton returns, as does four-year starter Abe Badmus, Darren Mastropaolo and the athletic Donald Brown. McNaughton plays his best against the best competition, and Bucknell has shown it is unafraid of playing, and often beating, the best. Pat Flannery is an outstanding coach who always has had to do more with less, but the last couple of years, he has had plenty to work with at Bucknell.


Above is the profile on the others.

Well, hell, George Mason, another Creighton home game and Hawaii, the favorite on the other side of the bracket in the Rainbow Classic with CU favored on the other. Damn cream puff schedule!:ranting:

[rjl]

Well, hell, George Mason, another Creighton home game and Hawaii, the favorite on the other side of the bracket in the Rainbow Classic with CU favored on the other. Damn cream puff schedule!:ranting:

Way to schedule teams you'll be expected to beat by a decent margin, Creighton! Way to schedule for stagnation!!!

[DoubleJayAlum]

Way to schedule teams you'll be expected to beat by a decent margin, Creighton! Way to schedule for stagnation!!!

If I'm not mistaken, George Mason was favored when CU played them last year. CU then proceeded to beat them by 20 on their own floor.

[MikeKennedyRulz]

Mark Turgeon is among the nation's finest coaches.


Oh, what do you know Jay? Hmmm...

I bet those games against GM and Xavier will help out the BJ RPI as much or more than games against LSU and Syracuse. :sleeping:

[rjl]

If I'm not mistaken, George Mason was favored when CU played them last year. CU then proceeded to beat them by 20 on their own floor.

But we're talking about this year, aren't we?

[WSUbballer]

For the record....another thread hijacked by a CU fan..

[bears1]

Can the Shocker and Bluejay fans create your own board to slam each other? This is Valley talk with many other teams involved then just those 2. So please spare us with your barbs and personal jabs at each other on this board. Every single thread has been like this for the last 2 weeks and nobody wants to read it any longer.

[MikeKennedyRulz]

Can the Shocker and Bluejay fans create your own board to slam each other? This is Valley talk with many other teams involved then just those 2. So please spare us with your barbs and personal jabs at each other on this board. Every single thread has been like this for the last 2 weeks and nobody wants to read it any longer.

:crying:

[LincolnJay]

Can the Shocker and Bluejay fans create your own board to slam each other? This is Valley talk with many other teams involved then just those 2. So please spare us with your barbs and personal jabs at each other on this board. Every single thread has been like this for the last 2 weeks and nobody wants to read it any longer.

You're right - I apologize.

[Shox21]

Can the Shocker and Bluejay fans create your own board to slam each other? This is Valley talk with many other teams involved then just those 2. So please spare us with your barbs and personal jabs at each other on this board. Every single thread has been like this for the last 2 weeks and nobody wants to read it any longer.


I will go on record to agree with you. I will start to read a post and if it is a CU or WSU poster and it starts slamming the other school, I move on quickly. God, how I hope the posts start to have a different flavor once play starts.

[outpost]

Question - is Northern Iowa supposed to fall that far this year? They aren't mentioned anywhere in this thread.....

[WSUfan]

Can the Shocker and Bluejay fans create your own board to slam each other? This is Valley talk with many other teams involved then just those 2. So please spare us with your barbs and personal jabs at each other on this board. Every single thread has been like this for the last 2 weeks and nobody wants to read it any longer.

I think it is funny that the argument was between SIU fans and WSU fans in previous years. These fights get rather boring. Of course, once basketball starts, we'll all love one another. Right?

[DUShock]

Can the Shocker and Bluejay fans create your own board to slam each other? This is Valley talk with many other teams involved then just those 2. So please spare us with your barbs and personal jabs at each other on this board. Every single thread has been like this for the last 2 weeks and nobody wants to read it any longer.

Very well said, thank you!

Go Valley!!

Go Shocks!!!!

[DUBulldog]

Question - is Northern Iowa supposed to fall that far this year? They aren't mentioned anywhere in this thread.....

Well, they lost Ben Jacobson, Eric Crawford and John Little.....so the backcourt is very unproven.....and of course losing McDermott can't help. I think UNI will be good, but a step below the contenders.

[outpost]

I think it is funny that the argument was between SIU fans and WSU fans in previous years. These fights get rather boring. Of course, once basketball starts, we'll all love one another. Right?

After reading today's action on the board, it's almost like there has been a ceasefire declared. The posting of the past couple of days (well, Friday and Saturday at least) seemed like it was as fast and furious as it's ever been on VT. At least Omaha and Wichita (yeah, and Carbondale too!!) are still standing.

I hope nobody tries to declare victory here. Who wants to step up and be the Nasrallah of VT and do this?

Please....nobody take me up on this.

[SubGod22]

Have I missed something? Nasrallah declared victory? That's just funny!

[Jayfan]

Can the Shocker and Bluejay fans create your own board to slam each other? This is Valley talk with many other teams involved then just those 2. So please spare us with your barbs and personal jabs at each other on this board. Every single thread has been like this for the last 2 weeks and nobody wants to read it any longer.


so true :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: