Early Valley Predictions

by **siufan4life** » April 28th, 2013, 9:27 pm

1. Wichita State
2. UNI
3. Indiana State
4. Bradley
5. Evansville
6. SIU
7. Missouri State
8. Drake
9. Loyola
10. Illinois State

**Sponsor**

by **pafan** » April 28th, 2013, 10:03 pm

Can't argue with a whole lot here. I'd put InSU 2nd and UNI 3rd, and swap Drake and Illinois State on your list.

by **2livewu** » April 28th, 2013, 10:07 pm

1. Wichita State
2. Indiana State
3. Bradley
4. Evansville
5. Missouri State
6. UNI
7. Illinois State
8. SIU
9. Drake
10. Loyola

I think the Valley is really going to be down next season. So many seniors are gone. A ton of rebuilds, many from scratch. I am a fan of what Ford, Lusk and Marty are doing. Taking a big wait and see with UNI, DU and Loyola. Barry has so much work to do, I just don't believe they'll make much improvement this year. If they do, he should get coach of the year. Indiana State has a lot of pieces. I believe they will contend for the title, unless WSU prepares for the season like a team that belonged in the Final Four. If they do that, then the title is all theirs.

by **rlh04d** » April 28th, 2013, 11:08 pm

2livewu wrote:I think the Valley is really going to be down next season. So many seniors are gone.

Might be good for the conference. Should be easier for WSU, Indiana State, and UNI to separate from the rest of the conference and build better at-large resumes next season.

by **jackwagon** » April 29th, 2013, 7:49 am

Wsu

Ind st
Uni

Msu
Bradley

Loyola
DrAke
Evansville

Siu
Illinois. St

That tells you how down I think it is next yr. A below average Loyola team comes in and is mid pack.

by **TheDrake** » April 29th, 2013, 9:37 am

Based purely on their recruiting class, I think Illinois State will be a lot better than people are giving them credit for.

by **Wufan** » April 29th, 2013, 11:11 am

TheDrake wrote:Based purely on their recruiting class, I think Illinois State will be a lot better than people are giving them credit for.

Illinois State has the most potential to make a run. Kaza Keane was a good freshman PG and Bryant is a good SG. After that it is a ton of newcomers.

by **rlh04d** » April 29th, 2013, 12:18 pm

TheDrake wrote:Based purely on their recruiting class, I think Illinois State will be a lot better than people are giving them credit for.

Certainly could happen. When you have a lineup made up almost entirely of newcomers, it's tough to predict anything about them. They could mesh perfectly and go on a big run ... it's certainly possible. However, that's pretty unusual, and it's far more common for teams to struggle to find an identity. Recruiting class talent didn't help Kentucky last year, with far more talent and a far better coach.

by **jackwagon** » April 29th, 2013, 1:48 pm

Sorry but any team that loses Jackie and Tyler is not going to be better the following season. Couple that with losing every role player but Johnnie Hill and your looking at a dreadful season. A couple of the JC kids look decent but even if they pan out as solid MVC players it will be a rough year. Not to mention the head is far from proven.

by **Veritas** » April 29th, 2013, 2:00 pm

1. Wichita State

2. UNI
3. Bradley
4. InSU

5. SIU
6. UE
7. Missouri State

8. IlSU
9. Drake
10. LuC