Who will win the Valley in 07-08?

[Woodbox Gang]

With all the turnover the Valley has had, with coaching changes and players graduating/leaving, what teams is most likely to win the Valley next season? CU, SIU, and MSU lost some very good players to graduation. EU loses Webster and Northern Iowa loses Stout. Each of these schools need younger players to step up and provide leadership and scoring for their respective teams. Creighton and SIU have very good recruiting classes. Will any of these newcomers step up and play signifigant roles this season? Who will be the focal point of Creighton's offense? Who will take the clutch shots for SIU now that Tatum and Young are gone? SIU does return Mullins, Shaw, and Falker, but who else is a proven offensive threat? With the question marks at the top two schools from last season, will any other school be able to leapfrog the Jays and Salukis in the conference standings? Half the schools in the MVC have new coaches. Will a new style invigorate a school and push them to the top of the standings? Can Witchita State come together as a team and make an impact after an ugly divorce from Turgeon? Does Drake, Illinois State, Indiana State, or Evansville have a chance? So many questions this off-season. Some people think the Valley might be down next season. I disagree. I think 07-08 will produce more than 2 NCAA tournament teams.

[TrueBlueJay]

Saint Louis U

[DawgFan]

:clap:

[bberilam]

Saint Louis U

The Valley wouldn't stand a chance against last years 8th place A-10 team!!

:lol: :clap:

[DawgieStyle]

some one from the midwest....maybe Mizzou or Illinois, heck while we're adding teams, call Kentucky, maybe they want to vie for the MVC crown.

[ValleyGuy]

With all the turnover the Valley has had, with coaching changes and players graduating/leaving, what teams is most likely to win the Valley next season? CU, SIU, and MSU lost some very good players to graduation. EU loses Webster and Northern Iowa loses Stout. Each of these schools need younger players to step up and provide leadership and scoring for their respective teams. Creighton and SIU have very good recruiting classes. Will any of these newcomers step up and play signifigant roles this season? Who will be the focal point of Creighton's offense? Who will take the clutch shots for SIU now that Tatum and Young are gone? SIU does return Mullins, Shaw, and Falker, but who else is a proven offensive threat? With the question marks at the top two schools from last season, will any other school be able to leapfrog the Jays and Salukis in the conference standings? Half the schools in the MVC have new coaches. Will a new style invigorate a school and push them to the top of the standings? Can Witchita State come together as a team and make an impact after an ugly divorce from Turgeon? Does Drake, Illinois State, Indiana State, or Evansville have a chance? So many questions this off-season. Some people think the Valley might be down next season. I disagree. I think 07-08 will produce more than 2 NCAA tournament teams.

Aren't you forgeting someone?...and did you just say "proven offensive threat" and "SIU" in the same sentence? :lol:

[MoValley John]

With all the turnover the Valley has had, with coaching changes and players graduating/leaving, what teams is most likely to win the Valley next season? CU, SIU, and MSU lost some very good players to graduation. EU loses Webster and Northern Iowa loses Stout. Each of these schools need younger players to step up and provide leadership and scoring for their respective teams. Creighton and SIU have very good recruiting classes. Will any of these newcomers step up and play signifigant roles this season? Who will be the focal point of Creighton's offense? Who will take the clutch shots for SIU now that Tatum and Young are gone? SIU does return Mullins, Shaw, and Falker, but who else is a proven offensive threat? With the question marks at the top two schools from last season, will any other school be able to leapfrog the Jays and Salukis in the conference standings? Half the schools in the MVC have new coaches. Will a new style invigorate a school and push them to the top of the standings? Can Witchita State come together as a team and make an impact after an ugly divorce from Turgeon? Does Drake, Illinois State, Indiana State, or Evansville have a chance? So many questions this off-season. Some people think the Valley might be down next season. I disagree. I think 07-08 will produce more than 2 NCAA tournament teams.

Whew! For a moment I thought you were going to break into the song "Eye of the Tiger" or some other Survivor riff.

http://riff-o-matic.com/riff-a-day/eye_of_the_tiger/06collection.jpg

[Hein72]

Just because the Valley is going to be down this year doesnt mean it wont get 2 teams in. I think the Valley has come to expect at least 2 and even in this "down year" we will still be better then we were 5-10 years ago. I think SIU takes it again, they will have to rely on their posts for most of the scoring though I think.

[brocks]

Aren't you forgeting someone?...and did you just say "proven offensive threat" and "SIU" in the same sentence? :lol:


Indeed. The team most likely to challenge SIU for the Valley title was not mentioned in that post. It rhymes with "sadly."

[MoValley John]

Indeed. The team most likely to challenge SIU for the Valley title was not mentioned in that post. It rhymes with "sadly."

Drake doesn't rhyme with sadly.

[SubGod22]

I think Duke is gonna find some way to somehow win the Valley next year. I don't know how but.....

[brocks]

Drake doesn't rhyme with sadly.

True enough! But alas, Drake was MENTIONED!:detective:

[E-Ville]

Still a long way a way and the recruiting is not over with. A ton of new players enter the valley next year, so it is up in the air, but I'm thinking something like this: Teams 1-9 could finish anywhere; Bradley, SIU, Creighton should finish near the top; Illinois St, Wichita St., Missouri St, and Northern Iowa somewhere in the middle; Indiana State and Drake most likely will finish somewhere between 6-9. The only team I'm set on is Evansville finishing last.

1. :braves:
2. :salukis:
3. :jays:
4. :redbirds:
5. :shockers:
6. :bears:
7. :panthers:
8. :sycamores:
9. :bulldogs:
10. :aces:

[AcePurpleFan]

First off, to clear the record AGAIN, Evansville is UE (as in University of Evansville). With that said here's my predictions...

1). :salukis:
2). :jays:
3). :braves:
4). :redbirds:
5). :sycamores:
6). :shockers:
7). :aces:
8). :bears:
9). :panthers:
10). :bulldogs:

[ValleyGuy]

Eric Coleman is back for UNI, correct?

If so, they aren't finishing 9th - the also have Egleseder, all they need is someone to throw the ball inside to them, they'll probably still have the best bigs in the league.

[Beaker416]

1.) :salukis:
2.) :braves:
3.) :jays:
4.) :panthers:
5.) :bears:
6.) :aces:
7.) :bulldogs:
8.) :shockers:
9.) :redbirds:
10.) :sycamores:

:valley:

[SubGod22]

:braves:
:salukis:
:shockers:
:bears:
:redbirds:
:jays:
:panthers:
:sycamores:
:bulldogs:
:aces:

[Chairman of the Boards]

:bulldogs:
:aces:
:sycamores:
:panthers:
:redbirds:
:bears:
:salukis:
:jays:
:shockers:
:braves:

Oops! Too many brews tonight... my brain is working in reverse order. :innocent:

[jays1044]

:braves:
:salukis:
:shockers:
:bears:
:redbirds:
:jays:
:panthers:
:sycamores:
:bulldogs:
:aces:

there is no way creighton finishes 6th.

[IheartBU]

Indeed. The team most likely to challenge SIU for the Valley title was not mentioned in that post. It rhymes with "sadly."


:valley: :lol: :clap: :braves: :clap: :lol: :valley:

I saw that too.

:braves:
:salukis:
:jays:
:bears:
:panthers:
:shockers:
:helpsmilie:
:helpsmilie:
:helpsmilie:
:helpsmilie:

[Tasmanian Devil]

:shockers:
:salukis:
:panthers:
:braves:
:redbirds:
:jays:
:bears:
:sycamores:
:aces:
:bulldogs:

[BearsCountry]

:salukis:
:braves:
:bears:
:jays:
:shockers:
:redbirds:
:panthers:
:sycamores:
:bulldogs:
:aces:

[Ron Mexico]

:salukis:
:braves:
tie in 3rd :bears: :jays: :redbirds:
:shockers:
:sycamores:
:bulldogs:
:panthers:
:aces:

[Aargh]

WSU doesn't even know what players are returning or whos' coming yet.

Ryan Bradley was transferring, then maybe staying, now definitely gone. Ogirri to Wyoming was rumored, never confirmed, but the rumor isn't gone either.

With the recruiting pattern Marshall is showing, it's possible Cooz might be moving to SG. If Marshall can land a JuCo post (and it appears that's the last piece he's working on), then the frontcourt is set with some depth even if Cooz moves to a G spot.

WSU might have an entire starting frontcourt made up of JuCo's with 2 RS Fr and a Sr backing them up.

:braves: Good returning talent. Les may have a probelm with being "the pick".

:salukis: Falker - POY if Mullins can get the ball to him.

:jays: Key returning component is Altman

:bears: Hinson is good enough to keep the Bears contending.

:shockers: Cooz could challenge Falker for POY.

:panthers: Not enough behind Coleman.

:redbirds: Year after next looks better

:sycamores: Will avoid the fight for the cellar - barely

:bulldogs: Keno Davis?

:aces: No comment

[Mecha_Bulldog]

1. :salukis: They're the favorites until proven otherwise.
2. :braves: Good returning talent, but things could fall apart if the team can't gel with so many new guys.
3. :jays: A good tradition and solid recruiting class keep them above the pack.
4. :redbirds: The middle of the conference looks wide open, so why can't a team with the reigning FOY and a hot new coach rise?
5. :bears: I have a feeling Hinson's status will be a distraction that could lead to a major meltdown.
6. :shockers: How well can Marshall cobble together a team?
7. :panthers: They'll go as far as Coleman can carry them.
8. :sycamores: They return most of last year's last place team. Is that a good thing?
9. :aces: Heavy losses from a play-in team mean trouble.
10. :bulldogs: They may have lost more than the Aces, but could avoid the play-in round if a quality point guard emerges.
11. :billikens: This doesn't seem to work right now.

[Mecha_Bulldog]

:bulldogs: Keno Davis?

:bulldogs: Keno Davis!

[WSUfan]

Time will tell us the answer. Our views and posts on VT, of course, determine the behavior of the entire universe AND the outcome of the NCAA championship!! :lol:

[txsaluki05]

Eric Coleman is back for UNI, correct?

If so, they aren't finishing 9th - the also have Egleseder, all they need is someone to throw the ball inside to them, they'll probably still have the best bigs in the league.

Second best. Falker/Shaw is tops.

[txsaluki05]

:salukis:
:jays:
:braves:
:redbirds:
:shockers:
:bears:
:sycamores:
:panthers:
:bulldogs:
:aces:

Falker POY

[freejay]

here goes:
:salukis:
:panthers:
:braves:
:jays:
:shockers:
:sycamores:
:bears:
:redbirds:
:aces:
:bulldogs:

[Dawgbit]

Who normally wins the Valley?

[salukibob]

Who normally wins the Valley?

For some reason, I really like that answer!!! :salukis: :clap:

[blueness]

Who normally wins the Valley?

:lol: Great post.


My picks: (#3 to #7 are swichable...it'll be an interesting finish because a team that has become accustomed (as of laste) to not playing in the play-in game will...because the Redbirds will finish out of the abyss...)

Top to bottom, not nearly as much pairity as last season...
Every team has question marks, which wasn't really the case last season (there was so much experience back, fans basically knew what they were getting from their opponents)

:salukis: - until they do something to make me think otherwise
:jays: - will have struggles in OOC (and this time Jays fans will expect it), but will be there when the valley starts
:braves: - have the tools and the coach to make a run at the top
:redbirds: - plenty of talent...if Jank can get that talent to come together...
:shockers: - pj will be hungry, if he stays healthy, he'll put them on his back
:bears: - barry always has his teams play "good"..but never "good enough"
:panthers: - can coleman carry UNI? panthers really faded last season
:sycamores: - :original:
:bulldogs: - :original:
:aces: - :original:

[IH8SIU]

:salukis: It's just not a smart bet to pick them anywhere else.
:braves:
:jays:
:redbirds:
:shockers:
:bears:
:sycamores:
:panthers:
:bulldogs:
:aces:

[Majik45]

SIU has to be the favorites for next year as they have 3 of their 5 starters back from a sweet 16 team, and until someone else steps up to the plate and takes the regular season crown, I wouldn't pick against them.

After SIU, there are a lot of question marks out there.

[Canevision]

The Bears have a lot of talent coming back, I'm surprised so many are picking them for 6th or worse. I don't see it.

SIU wins again (of course), with Bears in a tie for second with Creighton. WSU and Bradley tie for fourth.

After that, does it really matter?

[smsandmsuson]

Good lord. I love Valleytalk in May!!!

All this is as crazy as some Memphis poster over on Collegehoopsnet.com saying that they have a chance to go 40-0 next year...

But...

What the heck...

:salukis:
2-10(toss up)

After the Ugly Dawgs...

Its a toss up...

I mean...

Seriously...

Who besides them...

Really has anything to fall back on...

Some say BU will contend...

But they had a lot of moving around...

CU is always there...

WSU...

Well WSU may have to wait a few years again...

ISU(red) certainly has talent...

But can they put it together...

The Bears...

Barry Hinson...

Enough said...

So...

After all that...

I still have this

:salukis:
2-10(toss up)

[Clawinball]

salukis: :shockers: :bears: :jays: :braves: :redbirds: :panthers: :bulldogs: :aces: :sycamores: :valley: :bash:

[brocks]

:salukis: til someone else proves otherwise
:braves: Les is fully matured as a coach; lots of new faces, but man are they GOOD!
:jays: Altman
:bears: Could move higher
:panthers: Not convinced they can contend for depth reasons
:redbirds: Talent is there. We'll see about Jank.
:shockers: Lots of work to do . . . mat take GM a season or two.
:sycamores: I like McKenna; will take time.
:bulldogs: Underwhelmed with Keno.
:aces: Good hire with MS, but like Sycs, lots of rebuilding to do.

[MoValley John]

I took all of the Valley teams, downloaded their rosters, added every recruit they had coming in and fed tehm into my dayabase. Thank God I upgraded, that was alot of info, almost all my PS 3000 could take.
http://www.valleytalk.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=90&stc=1&d=1170118178
Anyway, I came up with the definitive answer, the team that will win the Valley will be the team with the most conference victories.

[brocks]

I took all of the Valley teams, downloaded their rosters, added every recruit they had coming in and fed tehm into my dayabase. Thank God I upgraded, that was alot of info, almost all my PS 3000 could take.
http://www.valleytalk.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=90&stc=1&d=1170118178
Anyway, I came up with the definitive answer, the team that will win the Valley will be the team with the most conference victories.


Oh sure, using all kinds of LOGIC and REASON, like that's gonna stop us! You're probably that type who thought Iraq didn't have any WMD just because we didn't have any EVIDENCE! Do you have to spoil ALL the fun??!!

[RedbirdWarrior]

Why is it so unlikely that Illinois State will finish the season 3rd, second, or even first. Southern lost all but one major player on thier roster and had a C+ recruiting class at best, WSU, while having an outstanding fan base, is seriously downhill from 2 years back, Bradley looks very ligit next season (Potential valley champion), but Illinois State returns Levi Dyer (MVC Scoring leader) Osiris Eldridge (MVC FOY) Boo Richardson, Dom Johnson, and Anthony Slack, as well as a person with supposed unlimedted range in Odzic from USC. Alex Rubin, a very tallented guard joins the team along with JC transfer Holloway to make a VERY solid team- possibly the most solid team to play in Normal since the mid 90s.

Just something to think about.

:redbirds:

[SubGod22]

WSU isn't in near as bad a shape as many seem to think. Our post play should be better this year than last and we really return plenty. Last year we underachieved. But Marshalls system and attitude will get more out of these guys and I'd be suprised if we finished any worse than 5th. I'll be very disappointed with that finish though.

SIU has a system that seems to work no matter who they lose. They return the best frontcourt in the MVC. Mullins is a good gaurd but I'm not sure what else they have. But we usually say that and they do fine.

CU has one of the better coaches in the conference. There is a question as to how they'll do with the loss of Funk, Tolliver and Porter. I'd expect them to be down some but still very competitive.

BU returns a lot of talent from a very good team. Les and his staff have been getting better and will be very competitive.

MSU returns just as much as anybody else. They'll be very competitve as well.

ISU has a lot of talent. They were very inconsistent last year but you'd hope that with a year together they'd be better. I wouldn't say they couldn't compete for the title if things went right, but would expect them to finish more in the 6-3 range.

The thing is there's a lot of talent in the conference and there's probably 6 or 7 teams that could finish just about anywhere and it's hard to judge. The conference is strong and that's going to make things quite interesting

[brocks]

Why is it so unlikely that Illinois State will finish the season 3rd, second, or even first. Southern lost all but one major player on thier roster and had a C+ recruiting class at best, WSU, while having an outstanding fan base, is seriously downhill from 2 years back, Bradley looks very ligit next season (Potential valley champion), but Illinois State returns Levi Dyer (MVC Scoring leader) Osiris Eldridge (MVC FOY) Boo Richardson, Dom Johnson, and Anthony Slack, as well as a person with supposed unlimedted range in Odzic from USC. Alex Rubin, a very tallented guard joins the team along with JC transfer Holloway to make a VERY solid team- possibly the most solid team to play in Normal since the mid 90s.

Just something to think about.

:redbirds:

You could be right. I don't see them leapfrogging over BU or SIU, although next season will mark the first time in a while I'll be worried about Bradley's chances at Redbird Arena. My biggest question about ISU is the coaching change. I said this in an earlier post about Keno Davis, but the same applies to Jank: I am totally underwhelmed with that hire. I could prove wrong, but that guy just seems like a guy ISU settled for. You look at fiery coaches like Les and Lowery and even new guys like McKenna and Simmons, and Jank just doesn't seem like he's going to keep up. I think KU has under-achieved under this regime, and Jank's HC experience sends up red flags.

ISU absolutely has the talent to compete; if they finish top 3 or 4, I'll be sold on Jank, too.

[dakyne]

redbirdwarrior,

Southern lost all but one major player on thier roster and had a C+ recruiting class at best,

this sentence alone is so wrong on many different levels I don't know where to begin.

Have you read this thread--or any recent offseason news at all?

So which "one major player" from SIU is coming back? Could it be MVC POY favorite Falker? Or how about Shaw? Or Mullin?

And Fay is the best post prospect in Illinois--period--even higher ranked than the Illini's two post prospects Tisdale and Cole.

Bocot is recognized as the most talented offensive guard in the state of Illinois--a better scorer than than best pg in America, Derrick Rose.

Evans is a 6'11" behemoth who was the fastest player on his Carbondale high school team. You know, the same program that recently produced div. 1 talent like Maurice Gibbs (UAB), Justin Dentmon (Washington), Josh Tabb (Tennessee), Lawrence Blackledge (Marquette), Manuel Cass (DePaul, UTEP), and Philip Fayne (DuQuesne) among others. Not exactly a stiff...

Brandon Wood only scored 25 ppg in the toughest league in Indiana.

Yeah, their recruiting class is C+ at best....

I guess you would rate SIU's performance in the last 6 years as C+ at best also...and if that is true, what do you call IlSU's?

Man, now I know why bettors lose money in Vegas--they're the same ones who have been betting against SIU all these years.

[bugregshu]

redbirdwarrior,

Bocot is recognized as the most talented offensive guard in the state of Illinois--a better scorer than than best pg in America, Derrick Rose.





Justin Bocot will not attend SIU next year. Bad Grades.

[MSNSaluki]

Justin Bocot will not attend SIU next year. Bad Grades.

A source very close to the SIU basketball program told me Monday that Bocut failed in his most recent attempt to achieve the necessary ACT score to be eligible for next season.

However, the same source said Bocot has told SIU more than once that he intends to enroll in school at SIU this summer or fall, pay his own way and join the team in 2008-09 as a non-qualifier, meaning he'd have three years of eligibility and could earn a fourth if he's making sufficient progress towards a degree.

My source is very, very good, and also said the SIU staff is almost relieved because if Bocot had qualified there's a good chance another program would have come in and stole him away.

If he enrolls at SIU, the Salukis will have stole a kid who could have played just about anywhere.

[Canevision]

redbirdwarrior,



this sentence alone is so wrong on many different levels I don't know where to begin.

Have you read this thread--or any recent offseason news at all?

So which "one major player" from SIU is coming back? Could it be MVC POY favorite Falker? Or how about Shaw? Or Mullin?

And Fay is the best post prospect in Illinois--period--even higher ranked than the Illini's two post prospects Tisdale and Cole.

Bocot is recognized as the most talented offensive guard in the state of Illinois--a better scorer than than best pg in America, Derrick Rose.

Evans is a 6'11" behemoth who was the fastest player on his Carbondale high school team. You know, the same program that recently produced div. 1 talent like Maurice Gibbs (UAB), Justin Dentmon (Washington), Josh Tabb (Tennessee), Lawrence Blackledge (Marquette), Manuel Cass (DePaul, UTEP), and Philip Fayne (DuQuesne) among others. Not exactly a stiff...

Brandon Wood only scored 25 ppg in the toughest league in Indiana.

Yeah, their recruiting class is C+ at best....

I guess you would rate SIU's performance in the last 6 years as C+ at best also...and if that is true, what do you call IlSU's?

Man, now I know why bettors lose money in Vegas--they're the same ones who have been betting against SIU all these years.

All hail SIU's recruiting class, the greatest the world has ever known...

[Bird]

CU has the best coach in the conference

Fixed

[DawgieStyle]

All hail SIU's recruiting class, the greatest the world has ever known...

no one said it was the best. We're saying its pretty good, way above C+.

I don't get into picking conf. ranks in May, its stupid. We don't know for sure who is on the team, who will be, who will get kicked off or injured. We don't know the entire out of conf. schedule, etc. etc. etc.

In other words, we don't know jack.

Am I gonna predict where SIU will finish, no, for the reasons stated above. But I will say that they will still be pretty good next year and that you would think people would have learned their lessons about writing SIU off year in and year out. But I guess not.

[Dawgbit]

redbirdwarrior,



this sentence alone is so wrong on many different levels I don't know where to begin.

Have you read this thread--or any recent offseason news at all?

So which "one major player" from SIU is coming back? Could it be MVC POY favorite Falker? Or how about Shaw? Or Mullin?

And Fay is the best post prospect in Illinois--period--even higher ranked than the Illini's two post prospects Tisdale and Cole.

Bocot is recognized as the most talented offensive guard in the state of Illinois--a better scorer than than best pg in America, Derrick Rose.

Evans is a 6'11" behemoth who was the fastest player on his Carbondale high school team. You know, the same program that recently produced div. 1 talent like Maurice Gibbs (UAB), Justin Dentmon (Washington), Josh Tabb (Tennessee), Lawrence Blackledge (Marquette), Manuel Cass (DePaul, UTEP), and Philip Fayne (DuQuesne) among others. Not exactly a stiff...

Brandon Wood only scored 25 ppg in the toughest league in Indiana.

Yeah, their recruiting class is C+ at best....

I guess you would rate SIU's performance in the last 6 years as C+ at best also...and if that is true, what do you call IlSU's?

Man, now I know why bettors lose money in Vegas--they're the same ones who have been betting against SIU all these years.

Whatever that Cardinal is smoking, pass it over!

Wow.

[dakyne]

Yeah, and now SIU got Dillard, only the best pg in the 2008 Illinois class, better than Verdell Jones in some scouting services, who will probably end up at KU, the Illinois, or some other high-major.

CLo's only problem now is how to mitigate the influx of verbals against the number of available schollies.

[troutangler]

All hail SIU's recruiting class, the greatest the world has ever known...

Well we know they can't outrecruit Barry and get guys like Fury and Shane Laurie....

Seriously, their recruiting class is better than MSU's this year, and it certainly is better than C+. Bearvision, you are entering the eternal optimist stage again. Drink that Kool Aid.

[underdawg2]

Well we know they can't outrecruit Barry and get guys like Fury and Shane Laurie....

Seriously, their recruiting class is better than MSU's this year, and it certainly is better than C+. Bearvision, you are entering the eternal optimist stage again. Drink that Kool Aid.

:lol: :valley:

[underdawg2]

Our recruiting is over till 2009---I'd give a A-
:lol: :valley: Seriously you guys are going to Sh** when you get a load of Fay clearing your guys out for rebounds
:lol:

[MSNSaluki]

I'm not getting fired up over guys who dominated Class A high-school competition in Illinois last year but with Falker, Shaw and Mullins returning - along with several key reserves coming back from a Sweet 16 team - I think SIU has to be deemed the favorite.

[dakyne]

msn,

I applaud your cautious optimism over SIU's recruiting, but if you believe in the law of numbers and statistics, you've gotta be happy with SIU's recruits for the next 2 years.

Sure, unexpected events can dampen the upside, but so can unexpected improvement increase the likelihood of upside. Injuries, academics, de-motivation, legal troubles, etc. can reduce upside, but so can good coaching, good talent evaluation, and good motivation increase the probabilities of upside.

I'm pretty sure there will be some disappointments regarding recruits not reaching their alleged potential, but there will also be pleasant surprises on the upside. And even if they only meet heightened expectations, the 07 and 08 recruiting classes will enable SIU to extend their current NCAA appearance streak.

CLo has been able to coach up good players into a great team. Now he's got players with great talent who have the potential to be perennially great teams. I firmly believe recruiting is one of the biggest determinants of fielding a great team. It's much harder to mold a great team with only average to good players (which SIU has been able to do)--it takes more than just X's and O's. Hell, if it all depended on game coaching, Bobby Knight and Coach K would alternate between winning every NCAA championship. It's easier (tho still difficult) to mold a group of talented players into a great team.

As long as SIU continues to play hard as a team (not a given, but with CLo's track record, not unfathomable), SIU is guaranteed at least contention for an NCAA appearance.

[salukibob]

Whatever that Cardinal is smoking, pass it over!

Wow.

Could be lethal; I wouldn't do that! :helpsmilie:

[MSNSaluki]

msn,

I applaud your cautious optimism over SIU's recruiting, but if you believe in the law of numbers and statistics, you've gotta be happy with SIU's recruits for the next 2 years..

Don't get me wrong ... I'm glad to see we're doing so well on the recruiting trail.

But how many true freshmen come to SIU and immediately become contributors? Not many. As I've been told ad nauseum on Saluki Talk it's our SYSTEM, not the individual cogs.

Since I've had that beat into my head, it's hard for me to get excited about highly touted individuals until I see them in action.:original:

[shockerfan13]

Seriously you guys are going to Sh** when you get a load of Fay clearing your guys out for rebounds
:lol:

Wow, where have I heard this before? Is he related to Shaw?

[MoValley John]

http://users.bergen.org/dondew/SCIFI/TheAbyss.jpg

[LincolnJay]

No doubt, The Wichita State University - just ask their fans. Anything less than 18-0 would no doubt be a disappointment.

[Ricky Del Rio]

No doubt, The Wichita State University - just ask their fans. Anything less than 18-0 would no doubt be a disappointment.

I don't keep up too well on conference champions, except I think SIU has won 5 out of the last 9 championships.

When did the Blue Birds last win the conference title? Did the B Birds tie with SIU in a recent year?

[LincolnJay]

I don't keep up too well on conference champions, except I think SIU has won 5 out of the last 9 championships.

When did the Blue Birds last win the conference title? Did the B Birds tie with SIU in a recent year?

Which title are you talking about, regular season or the tournament? If regular season, only two in the new decade {one was a tie} and it HAS been too long. If you're talking about St Louis, it's easier to talk about when HAVEN'T they won it.

[SubGod22]

I believe most people put a lot more stock in the conference title than the tournament title.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I believe most people put a lot more stock in the conference title than the tournament title.

Perhaps, but a tourney title provides the guaranteed NCAA bid AND makes the yearly St Louis trip an awful lot of fun. :grin:

[LincolnJay]

I believe most people put a lot more stock in the conference title than the tournament title.

I am 100% sure that is true of fans of a team that has never tasted the sweet taste of St Louie victory...........like Wichitard State.

[NewEra]

I am 100% sure that is true of fans of a team that has never tasted the sweet taste of St Louie victory...........like Wichitard State.

Wichitard State? good one!

Why are you so bitter?

[SubGod22]

So you're saying you'd rather win in STL than win the conference title? Nobody is saying that winning is STL is nothing, but just about everyone in the nation says that winning the conference title is more impressive and means more.

[MikeKennedyRulz]

Also, when was the last time a team won the regular season (real) championship and didn't make the NCAA tourney? It is basically an automatic bid anymore.

[MSNSaluki]

Also, when was the last time a team won the regular season (real) championship and didn't make the NCAA tourney? It is basically an automatic bid anymore.


It's been a while.
SIU received an at-large bit in five of the last six years and coincidentally, the Salukis, won or shared the regular-season title in those five years.
Mike is right ... the regular-season title pretty much guarantees an automatic bid.

[WSUbballer]

I am 100% sure that is true of fans of a team that has never tasted the sweet taste of St Louie victory...........like Wichitard State.

Ever had a "sweet" feeling of a sweet 16? It's pretty sweet in case you haven't been there... (which by my count you haven't :original: )

[dakyne]

msn,

True that at this level (of recriuits), freshmen normally don't contribute immediately. But SIU has had a history of freshmen (redshirt and true) contributing immediately (Williams, Tatum, Brooks, Hairston, Shaw, Mullins). I think that trend will accelerate going forward with Fay, Bocot (whenever he becomes eligible), Roundtree, and Dillard as a minimum. As you know, there is talk that Wood may contribute right away as well.

It speaks to the higher level of recruits, so to compare the past to the present recruits is unfair. Remember, and not to bash past players, but Josh Warren was SIU's starting center at one time--one of SIU's NCAA teams. I seriously doubt he would be offered a schollie today in SIU's current situation.

And not to bash some WSU posters--or to jinx SIU--but SIU really is stepping into a new era--at least in regards to the type of recruits CLO is getting. Whether that translates into more Sweet 16's is the question, as WSU and other teams have proven that reaching the Sweet 16 and staying there, isn't that easy. Just ask Duke.

[DawgieStyle]

I believe most people put a lot more stock in the conference title than the tournament title.
:yes:

[shockerfan13]

Ever had a "sweet" feeling of a sweet 16? It's pretty sweet in case you haven't been there... (which by my count you haven't :original: )

No they haven't, but ask any Blue Jay fan...they'll tell you they love getting to the NCAA tourney so much only to go one and done most years, it's MUCH better than any Sweet 16!!! LMAO!!

[kyyle23]

At the end of every season there should be a "Who will win the Valley in 20XX-20XX?" sticky thread.

How many times has this poll been posted since the Salukis lost to Kansas? It is funny to go into the threads and read the thoughts on the first page, the budding arguments in the second page, and the all-out civil warfare from page 3 and beyond.

[MoValley John]

So what is better? Is it better to take a girl to the dance almost every year, only to get kissed a couple of times, or is it better to go to the dance only once, and walk away with a little stinkfinger? Either way, you didn't go all the way, there is still that wonder of what going all the way would be like and like it or not, both scenarios end up with you finishing the job, alone, at home. So what is better, the Bluejays went to lots of dances, got kissed a few times, and year in, year out, had a hottie on their arm. Wichita State's hottie gave them a little more, but it was a one time thing, neither outcomes give either team paradise by the dashboard light.
http://www.rockyarchive.org/img/celebrityphotos/MeatLoaf-Paradise-EllenFoley1978L.jpg

[Go Southern Go!!!]

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/jfoster1990/Word_Puzzle.jpg