4 way tie for fourth.

[jegbomb52]

Who do you like to come out on top?

:braves:
:jays:
:panthers:
:sycamores:

I don't know what has happened to Indiana State. You can never count out Creighton. Bradley has their man back. UNI is finally starting to take care of the basketball.

I like UNI but I am just a message board homer.:lol::lol:

[ISU87]

4 teams fighting like he11 to stay out of the thursday play-in games. CU and ISU blue are sinking faster than the titanic, UNI and Bradley are on the rise.

the one saving grace for ISU blue is that they only have 3 more road games left in MVC play, along with 5 home games, where they are still undefeated.

Who do you like to come out on top?

:braves:
:jays:
:panthers:
:sycamores:

I don't know what has happened to Indiana State. You can never count out Creighton. Bradley has their man back. UNI is finally starting to take care of the basketball.

I like UNI but I am just a message board homer.:lol::lol:

[pantherhawk]

It is going to depend on who can defend home court! I know UNI and ISU blue have a lot of home games left! Creighton has to go on the road and so does Bradley. I personally seeing the standings ending like this:

1. Drake will lose, but not 4 games
2. ISU Blue, Hate to say it the schedule is in their favor
3. UNI, home games are huge
4. Bradley, Ruffin is good!
5. Ill State, mid-season drop off
6. Creighton, schedule is not in their favor
7. Mo State
8. Witchita State
9. Evansville

[chitown fanatic]

It is going to depend on who can defend home court! I know UNI and ISU blue have a lot of home games left! Creighton has to go on the road and so does Bradley. I personally seeing the standings ending like this:

1. Drake will lose, but not 4 games
2. ISU Blue, Hate to say it the schedule is in their favor
3. UNI, home games are huge
4. Bradley, Ruffin is good!
5. Ill State, mid-season drop off
6. Creighton, schedule is not in their favor
7. Mo State
8. Witchita State
9. Evansville

You're not just drinking...you're injecting the blue kool-aid if you think the Sycs will take 2nd in conference. This is the most laughable post of the year. Who cares if theyhave more home games....9-9 won't get you 2nd and neither will 10-8.....like I said...they will be lucky to stay in 6th, and then they will quickly be dispatched, likely by BU or CU in the quarterfinals. So let it be written, so let it be done. I just can't believe that anyone would post a 2nd place finish for the trees after their performance last night. Wow.:lol:

[Khan4Cats]

It is going to depend on who can defend home court! I know UNI and ISU blue have a lot of home games left! Creighton has to go on the road and so does Bradley. I personally seeing the standings ending like this:

1. Drake will lose, but not 4 games
2. ISU Blue, Hate to say it the schedule is in their favor
3. UNI, home games are huge
4. Bradley, Ruffin is good!
5. Ill State, mid-season drop off
6. Creighton, schedule is not in their favor
7. Mo State
8. Witchita State
9. Evansville

I agree with Chitown about ISU blue not getting to 2nd at better than 10-8.

One other thing, did you forget about SIU? I think they'll finish in the mix as well, no need to write them out of the Valley completely, especially since we are playing them Saturday.

[Bigcityp]

It is going to depend on who can defend home court! I know UNI and ISU blue have a lot of home games left! Creighton has to go on the road and so does Bradley. I personally seeing the standings ending like this:

1. Drake will lose, but not 4 games
2. ISU Blue, Hate to say it the schedule is in their favor
3. UNI, home games are huge
4. Bradley, Ruffin is good!
5. Ill State, mid-season drop off
6. Creighton, schedule is not in their favor
7. Mo State
8. Witchita State
9. Evansville


SIU must go on one he11 of a slide to fall to 10..

[Ictjay]

It is going to depend on who can defend home court! I know UNI and ISU blue have a lot of home games left! Creighton has to go on the road and so does Bradley. I personally seeing the standings ending like this:

1. Drake will lose, but not 4 games
2. ISU Blue, Hate to say it the schedule is in their favor
3. UNI, home games are huge
4. Bradley, Ruffin is good!
5. Ill State, mid-season drop off
6. Creighton, schedule is not in their favor
7. Mo State
8. Witchita State
9. Evansville


Creighton finishes 6-2 without alot of sweat.

[Brave2001]

Creighton finishes 6-2 without alot of sweat.

Really?

WSU
UNI
SIU
UE
@Bradley
MSU
@IlSU
Bradley

I know of at least 1 loss on there. You telling me theres only 1 more loss among the remaining 7.

How come so much confidence from a team thats lost 3 in a row and already lost 2 home games?

Not saying it cant happen....but without a lot a sweat? Keep dreaming.

[Ictjay]

Really?

WSU
UNI
SIU
UE
@Bradley
MSU
@IlSU
Bradley

I know of at least 1 loss on there. You telling me theres only 1 more loss among the remaining 7.

How come so much confidence from a team thats lost 3 in a row and already lost 2 home games?

Not saying it cant happen....but without a lot a sweat? Keep dreaming.


Young team. Last 3 losses were all winnable in the last couple minutes. I see this team improving every game. My losses were Bradley and IllSt

[Ricky Del Rio]

It is going to depend on who can defend home court! I know UNI and ISU blue have a lot of home games left! Creighton has to go on the road and so does Bradley. I personally seeing the standings ending like this:

1. Drake will lose, but not 4 games
2. ISU Blue, Hate to say it the schedule is in their favor
3. UNI, home games are huge
4. Bradley, Ruffin is good!
5. Ill State, mid-season drop off
6. Creighton, schedule is not in their favor
7. Mo State
8. Witchita State
9. Evansville

Are you aware that Indiana State has 5 losses?

Just wondering.

[FearDaTrees]

I agree that it will be a stretch for ISU to finish 2nd but not out of the question for 3rd or 4th. All this below could easily happen.

Drake- Win at home (9-0) giving the benefit to the home record
@ SIU- Loss (bad on the road and we cant when their)
@ WSU- Win (about like winning in Evansville)
Bradley- Win (Mediocre team @ Home)
Ill St- Win (Played them to the wire last week on road)
WSU- Win
@ UNI- Loss ( Just cause of the road)
MSU- Win

If this happens they would finish at 11-7. I could see this being 2nd place or at least a tie.

[BradleyBrave]

I agree that it will be a stretch for ISU to finish 2nd but not out of the question for 3rd or 4th. All this below could easily happen.

Drake- Win at home (9-0) giving the benefit to the home record
@ SIU- Loss (bad on the road and we cant when their)
@ WSU- Win (about like winning in Evansville)
Bradley- Win (Mediocre team @ Home)
Ill St- Win (Played them to the wire last week on road)
WSU- Win
@ UNI- Loss ( Just cause of the road)
MSU- Win

If this happens they would finish at 11-7. I could see this being 2nd place or at least a tie.

The Trees are heading for 6th or 7th. UNI looks to be turning the corner, but I am not sure they can finish higher than 6th. BU-CU in the 4/5 game in a rematch of the '06 matinée.

[DoubleJayAlum]

BU-CU in the 4/5 game in a rematch of the '06 matinée.

I hope you are right and it is a "rematch" and not a "replay."

[chitown fanatic]

And Even if you tie at 11-7, you'd lose all tiebreakers with other potential 11-7 teams because you'd only have two road wins against basement dwellers. It doesn't matter if Royce is there or not, this is the same trees team that fades as the year goes on. The schedule likely keeps you out of Thursday, but here's how I see it shaping up:
1)Drake
2)SIU/BU/ISU Red
3)SIU/BU/CU/ISU RED
4)UNI/BU/ISU Red/CU/SIU
5)UNI/BU/ISU Red/CU/SIU
6)UNI/ISU BLue/MSU
7)UNI/ISU Blue/MSU
8)MSU/WSU
9)MSU/WSU
10)Evansville

I only see SIU losing one, if any, home games, so I can't see them dropping below 5th. BU has lots to do, but has the best guards and is starting to rebound better as well...if they can get to 8-5 with a sweep over the birds(big if), 2nd would definitely be a possibility...but more likely, they go to the 3-6 death match. UNI has impressed as of late when I thought they were left for dead, but their lack of guards and the unreliability of Coleman night to night will likely put them in the 4-5 game, though slipping to Thursday isn't out of the realm of possibility if they can't defend home court. CU has the best coach in our conference and you can never count them out- I'd like to avoid them, SIU and MSU at all costs in SLU. But they also lack the Funk of years past and their depth is pretty suspect as well. ISU RED is also being exposed missing a key player in Slack- this Saturday's game with Barry's boys will define if they can stay near the top or muddle towards the middle. They have been scary good at home- but go into long stretches during games of bad basketball and inability to score both home and away. There is still a lot of basketball left, but that's about as objective about the contenders as I can be.

[pantherhawk]

okay my previous post was based on what has happened before last night. I had no Idea Indiana State lost last night.

If I had to re-do them, then I would say:

Drake
UNI
Ill State
Creighton
Bradley
Southern Ill
In State
Mo State
Witchita State
Evansville

[Brave2001]

I agree that it will be a stretch for ISU to finish 2nd but not out of the question for 3rd or 4th. All this below could easily happen.

Drake- Win at home (9-0) giving the benefit to the home record
@ SIU- Loss (bad on the road and we cant when their)
@ WSU- Win (about like winning in Evansville)
Bradley- Win (Mediocre team @ Home)
Ill St- Win (Played them to the wire last week on road)
WSU- Win
@ UNI- Loss ( Just cause of the road)
MSU- Win

If this happens they would finish at 11-7. I could see this being 2nd place or at least a tie.

mediocre team. :lol::lol::lol::lol:

This isnt the same team as 3 weeks ago, I thought you would have learned that yesterday.

You know what....keep that opinion so when your team overlooks us, it'll be that much easier to wipe the floor with you, just like we did last night.

[WSUbballer]

And Even if you tie at 11-7, you'd lose all tiebreakers with other potential 11-7 teams because you'd only have two road wins against basement dwellers. It doesn't matter if Royce is there or not, this is the same trees team that fades as the year goes on. The schedule likely keeps you out of Thursday, but here's how I see it shaping up:
1)Drake
2)SIU/BU/ISU Red
3)SIU/BU/CU/ISU RED
4)UNI/BU/ISU Red/CU/SIU
5)UNI/BU/ISU Red/CU/SIU
6)UNI/ISU BLue/MSU
7)UNI/ISU Blue/MSU
8)MSU/WSU
9)MSU/WSU
10)Evansville

I only see SIU losing one, if any, home games, so I can't see them dropping below 5th. BU has lots to do, but has the best guards and is starting to rebound better as well...if they can get to 8-5 with a sweep over the birds(big if), 2nd would definitely be a possibility...but more likely, they go to the 3-6 death match. UNI has impressed as of late when I thought they were left for dead, but their lack of guards and the unreliability of Coleman night to night will likely put them in the 4-5 game, though slipping to Thursday isn't out of the realm of possibility if they can't defend home court. CU has the best coach in our conference and you can never count them out- I'd like to avoid them, SIU and MSU at all costs in SLU. But they also lack the Funk of years past and their depth is pretty suspect as well. ISU RED is also being exposed missing a key player in Slack- this Saturday's game with Barry's boys will define if they can stay near the top or muddle towards the middle. They have been scary good at home- but go into long stretches during games of bad basketball and inability to score both home and away. There is still a lot of basketball left, but that's about as objective about the contenders as I can be.

Speaking of overconfident, BU for 2nd?

[WSUbballer]

okay my previous post was based on what has happened before last night. I had no Idea Indiana State lost last night.

If I had to re-do them, then I would say:

Drake
UNI
Ill State
Creighton
Bradley
Southern Ill
In State
Mo State
Witchita State
Evansville

Hey NIU fan.. Wichita is spelled without two t's.

LOL.. UNI for 2nd?

[Brave2001]

Speaking of overconfident, BU for 2nd?

It's not out of the question. We are 5-5. I looked at kenpom and the remaining schedules for each team. I think 12-6 gets 2nd in the valley this year. That means Bradley would have to finish 7-1 the rest of the way out. Not likely, but possible.

So showing BU anywhere from 2nd to 5th isn't exactly overconfidence.

[TreeHugger]

Let's simply cancel the remaining games and start the MVC tourney based on the great and self-appointed soothsayer, clairvoyant and seer....chitown fanatic.

[cufan]

I don't see how anyone says the schedule doesn't help CU finish strong.

WSU
UNI
SIU
UE
@Bradley
MSU
@IlSU
Bradley

CU already beat WSU and UE handily. No way either of them wins in Omaha. No way MSU, UNI or SIU come in to Omaha and win, either. CU has UNI's number plain and simple, and (looking closely through my blue-glasses) CU will not go through the 14 minute brain fart it had at SIU and MSU again. It still beat MSU and would have easily pulled away from SIU without those collapses. So for CU it boils down to @ Bradley, @ Ill. St. and Bradley at home. Win one of those, its a 11-7 finish. Win a second for good measure and its a 12-6 finish. win none and they finish 10-8

Bradley has won 4 in a row, but it also got the 9 and 10 place teams and the bad road team in Ind. St. in those four games, along with a home game against Ill. St, which it barely won. Bradley probably gets one more road win at UE, but the road gets much tougher from there out-including games at Ill. St., Ind st. (where they have been tough), Drake and CU. Bradley finishes 11-7 or 12-6, depending on the CU series.

I see two more sure wins for SIU, at Wichita and UNI at home. Throw in a couple more random wins in there somewhere, but their schedule is by far the toughest of the teams below Drake and Ill St, IMO. They finish 10-8.

UNI probably beats SIU, Ind. St. and Wichita State at home, and probably either UE or MSU on the road. But, I don't see any more wins for UNI. I think they finish 8-10; 9-9 if they can get both UE and MSU.

Ind. St. has 3 road games left - all losses given their road performances. Then you have Bradley, Ill. St. and Drake all still to play at home. Ind. St. probably drops 2 of those three. So, even if Ind. St. can beat MSU and WSU at home, you are looking at a minimum 5 losses and a 8-10 finish. If you pull out a win against either Bradley, Ill. St. or Drake you still finish 9-9.

So, IMO Drake wins, Ill. St. hangs on for second, then its either CU or BU in the 3-4 spots, followed by SIU probably ending up 5th and and UNI at 6th, but battling for the 5 spot. I see Ind. St. falling to the 7 spot and playing Thursday along with WSU, UE and MSU.

I'm just saying it could happen.

[Khan4Cats]

UNI hit their low water mark against Creighton. They've made changes and settled on a rotation after seeing what we had early in the year and what our injured player that wasn't healthy until conference play can or, as it is, can't give us.

They are playing with confidence and energy. I don't think we lose more than three games the rest of the way. Not sure where 10-8 will land us for a seed, but it won't be on Thursday and I'll take my chances with these kids continuing to improve and being able to take three in St. Louis. This season has had a feel a lot like 2003-04 did, and I'm hoping for a repeat.

[ISU97]

mediocre team. :lol::lol::lol::lol:

This isnt the same team as 3 weeks ago, I thought you would have learned that yesterday.

You know what....keep that opinion so when your team overlooks us, it'll be that much easier to wipe the floor with you, just like we did last night.

The Syc's definately did not perform well last night; no question. But, I think you'll find they are a completely different team on the road, just ask anyone coming to the HC expecting to win. You are correct, Royce is not there and the team is made up of many of the same players. However, these players were undercoached in years past and McKenna has them playing much better ball. But, I wouldn't worry too much about the Sycamores in TH on 2/12; no need to even prepare. :sycamores: You should already be looking forward to the Creighton game in 2/16. :jays:
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[IH8SIU]

OK. It's worked for Drake so far and I'm now a believer. I know you guys already have a strong relationship with the Karma gods but we are done with you until STL, so maybe we can play second favorite.

Creighton finishes 0-8. I hear Thursdays are nice In the Lou. :jays:

[shockball]

You call that Karma? I'd call it Christmas!

[MSNSaluki]

No way MSU, UNI or SIU come in to Omaha and win, either.

SIU has fared pretty well over the years in Omaha.
I know Southern lost there in 2001 ... has there been another Saluki loss there since?

[AcePurple]

I don't see how anyone says the schedule doesn't help CU finish strong.

WSU
UNI
SIU
UE
@Bradley
MSU
@IlSU
Bradley

CU already beat WSU and UE handily. No way either of them wins in Omaha.

You're right, UE definitely won't be winning in Omaha... we already played there! Maybe we'll get lucky and beat you here, though.

[bleach]

I don't see how anyone says the schedule doesn't help CU finish strong.

WSU
UNI
SIU
UE
@Bradley
MSU
@IlSU
Bradley

CU already beat WSU and UE handily. No way either of them wins in Omaha. No way MSU, UNI or SIU come in to Omaha and win, either. CU has UNI's number plain and simple, and (looking closely through my blue-glasses) CU will not go through the 14 minute brain fart it had at SIU and MSU again. It still beat MSU and would have easily pulled away from SIU without those collapses. So for CU it boils down to @ Bradley, @ Ill. St. and Bradley at home. Win one of those, its a 11-7 finish. Win a second for good measure and its a 12-6 finish. win none and they finish 10-8

Bradley has won 4 in a row, but it also got the 9 and 10 place teams and the bad road team in Ind. St. in those four games, along with a home game against Ill. St, which it barely won. Bradley probably gets one more road win at UE, but the road gets much tougher from there out-including games at Ill. St., Ind st. (where they have been tough), Drake and CU. Bradley finishes 11-7 or 12-6, depending on the CU series.

I see two more sure wins for SIU, at Wichita and UNI at home. Throw in a couple more random wins in there somewhere, but their schedule is by far the toughest of the teams below Drake and Ill St, IMO. They finish 10-8.

UNI probably beats SIU, Ind. St. and Wichita State at home, and probably either UE or MSU on the road. But, I don't see any more wins for UNI. I think they finish 8-10; 9-9 if they can get both UE and MSU.

Ind. St. has 3 road games left - all losses given their road performances. Then you have Bradley, Ill. St. and Drake all still to play at home. Ind. St. probably drops 2 of those three. So, even if Ind. St. can beat MSU and WSU at home, you are looking at a minimum 5 losses and a 8-10 finish. If you pull out a win against either Bradley, Ill. St. or Drake you still finish 9-9.

So, IMO Drake wins, Ill. St. hangs on for second, then its either CU or BU in the 3-4 spots, followed by SIU probably ending up 5th and and UNI at 6th, but battling for the 5 spot. I see Ind. St. falling to the 7 spot and playing Thursday along with WSU, UE and MSU.

I'm just saying it could happen.Makes more sense than anything the rest of the homers have said.

[JCPanthers]

UNI probably beats SIU, Ind. St. and Wichita State at home, and probably either UE or MSU on the road. But, I don't see any more wins for UNI. I think they finish 8-10; 9-9 if they can get both UE and MSU.Check your math. If UNI beats Ind. St and WSU and either UE or MSU on the road, that gets them to 9-9. Beat UE AND MSU, then they finish 10-8.

[creightonfever]

SIU has fared pretty well over the years in Omaha.
I know Southern lost there in 2001 ... has there been another Saluki loss there since?

Sadly... the damn dawgs have never lost at the Qwest.. EVER. Hopefully this changes this year.. but you never know. SIU always shoots lights out and plays freakishly well against us.