2018-19 MVC Predictions:

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Let's return to guessing the rotation.

1. Yarbrough
2. Fayne
3. Evans
4. Copeland
5. Tinsley
6. Jefferson
7. Bruniga
8. Idowu (interchangable with 9)
9. Chastain (^)
10. Ndiaye (if eligible)
11. Hein
12. Gassman
13. Litwiller

Hi 1Bird,

I do not know alot about Matt other than his stats at Loyola. I know from reading and listening it seems everyone is pretty high on Matt to maybe be a solid contributor.? Loking at your roster evaluation it is pretty darn interesting. Copeland being ranked #4 over Tinsley excites me. Is that why you have #'s?

HUGE Redbird fan here who just found the message board. I am in NY right now but from Bloomington. Hoping my dad gets to see his dream come true with this team! That is my one wish!

Thanks

With what we saw from Tinsley at the end of last season he probably is 4 until Copeland proves otherwise but the general concensus is Copeland is going to join the big 3 and make sure big 4. We shall see.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Teaser:

https://twitter.com/roccomiller8/status/1021481180577898496?s=21

I predict it will take 12-0 in Non-Conference & 15-3 in MVC
27-3 overall to receive an At-Large bid. Anything less would mean not beating the teams that are NCAA Tournament teams (Quality wins) and/or losing to teams that the NCAA committee would consider bad losses.

Playing Clemson in Cayman Island will be an opportunity to get a quality win. A loss means no NCAA At-Large bid. Winning the Cayman Island Classic is a must.
Illinois State will need to be 6-0 when BYU & San Diego State visit Redbird Arena. They must win both games and go to 8-0
The last Non-Conference game is @ Central Florida. This will be a NCAA type game, and a game to make a final statement that Illinois State is not only an NCAA At- Large worthy team, but a Top 25 team in the Country.
The Redbirds must go 9-0 at home in conference play.
3 road losses max.

Personally, I have confidence that if the Redbirds stay healthy they will achieve this.
However, if the Redbirds stay healthy, an at large will not be needed. For the first time since 1998, on March 10, 2019, Coach Muller and the 2018-19 Redbirds will be cutting down the nets at the Enterprise Center.

 

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Teaser:

https://twitter.com/roccomiller8/status/1021481180577898496?s=21

I predict it will take 12-0 in Non-Conference & 15-3 in MVC
27-3 overall to receive an At-Large bid. Anything less would mean not beating the teams that are NCAA Tournament teams (Quality wins) and/or losing to teams that the NCAA committee would consider bad losses.

Playing Clemson in Cayman Island will be an opportunity to get a quality win. A loss means no NCAA At-Large bid. Winning the Cayman Island Classic is a must.
Illinois State will need to be 6-0 when BYU & San Diego State visit Redbird Arena. They must win both games and go to 8-0
The last Non-Conference game is @ Central Florida. This will be a NCAA type game, and a game to make a final statement that Illinois State is not only an NCAA At- Large worthy team, but a Top 25 team in the Country.
The Redbirds must go 9-0 at home in conference play.
3 road losses max.

Personally, I have confidence that if the Redbirds stay healthy they will achieve this.
However, if the Redbirds stay healthy, an at large will not be needed. For the first time since 1998, on March 10, 2019, Coach Muller and the 2018-19 Redbirds will be cutting down the nets at the Enterprise Center.

If the Redbirds do what you say and lose in the finals their records would be 30-4. I think they a bit more leway. 29-5 will get them in provided no bad losses and 28-6 could go either way but I think they'd be in.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Teaser:

https://twitter.com/roccomiller8/status/1021481180577898496?s=21

I predict it will take 12-0 in Non-Conference & 15-3 in MVC
27-3 overall to receive an At-Large bid. Anything less would mean not beating the teams that are NCAA Tournament teams (Quality wins) and/or losing to teams that the NCAA committee would consider bad losses.

Playing Clemson in Cayman Island will be an opportunity to get a quality win. A loss means no NCAA At-Large bid. Winning the Cayman Island Classic is a must.
Illinois State will need to be 6-0 when BYU & San Diego State visit Redbird Arena. They must win both games and go to 8-0
The last Non-Conference game is @ Central Florida. This will be a NCAA type game, and a game to make a final statement that Illinois State is not only an NCAA At- Large worthy team, but a Top 25 team in the Country.
The Redbirds must go 9-0 at home in conference play.
3 road losses max.

Personally, I have confidence that if the Redbirds stay healthy they will achieve this.
However, if the Redbirds stay healthy, an at large will not be needed. For the first time since 1998, on March 10, 2019, Coach Muller and the 2018-19 Redbirds will be cutting down the nets at the Enterprise Center.

If the Redbirds do what you say and lose in the finals their records would be 30-4. I think they a bit more leway. 29-5 will get them in provided no bad losses and 28-6 could go either way but I think they'd be in.

If 29-5, that fifth loss better be to Clemson or @ Central Florida.

 

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

I predict it will take 12-0 in Non-Conference & 15-3 in MVC
27-3 overall to receive an At-Large bid. Anything less would mean not beating the teams that are NCAA Tournament teams (Quality wins) and/or losing to teams that the NCAA committee would consider bad losses.

Playing Clemson in Cayman Island will be an opportunity to get a quality win. A loss means no NCAA At-Large bid. Winning the Cayman Island Classic is a must.
Illinois State will need to be 6-0 when BYU & San Diego State visit Redbird Arena. They must win both games and go to 8-0
The last Non-Conference game is @ Central Florida. This will be a NCAA type game, and a game to make a final statement that Illinois State is not only an NCAA At- Large worthy team, but a Top 25 team in the Country.
The Redbirds must go 9-0 at home in conference play.
3 road losses max.

Personally, I have confidence that if the Redbirds stay healthy they will achieve this.
However, if the Redbirds stay healthy, an at large will not be needed. For the first time since 1998, on March 10, 2019, Coach Muller and the 2018-19 Redbirds will be cutting down the nets at the Enterprise Center.

If the Redbirds do what you say and lose in the finals their records would be 30-4. I think they a bit more leway. 29-5 will get them in provided no bad losses and 28-6 could go either way but I think they'd be in.

If 29-5, that fifth loss better be to Clemson or @ Central Florida.

As long as it's not a UIUC type. UCF, SDSU, Creighton, and BYU are all good losses. UCF is ranked higher than ISU. So is Creighton. BYU and SDSU slightly below ISU. I really think 28-6 will get them an at large but 29-5 definitely would. 30-4 would definitely get them in even with a bad loss

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

NCAA doesn’t consider good losses when looking at the second NCAA Tournament team in the MVC. They are looking at quality (Q1) wins & bad losses (Q3/Q4)
How many Q1 teams are on Illinois State’s schedule? Better beat them.

 

[RedBirdYogaGirl4Life]

If the Redbirds do what you say and lose in the finals their records would be 30-4. I think they a bit more leway. 29-5 will get them in provided no bad losses and 28-6 could go either way but I think they'd be in.

If 29-5, that fifth loss better be to Clemson or @ Central Florida.

As long as it's not a UIUC type. UCF, SDSU, Creighton, and BYU are all good losses. UCF is ranked higher than ISU. So is Creighton. BYU and SDSU slightly below ISU. I really think 28-6 will get them an at large but 29-5 definitely would. 30-4 would definitely get them in even with a bad loss

Central Florida is gonna be last years Texas Tech. They had big injuries last year and still finished the year #8 in defensive efficiancy. This year the stars are aligning for UCF to be in the top 3 in the country defensively. Plus they are healthy. UCF is so under the radar its scary. Everyone pretty much sleeping on them nationally. They will be LEGIT! A sleeper Final 4.

 

[Adunk33]

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2018/9/6/17827774/ncaa-tournament-2019-at-large-mid-major-loyola-chicago-nevada-byu-gonzaga

10 Games that will make/break MM at-large picture.

San Diego State at Illinois State, Dec. 1

The Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge gives us another gem, this one coming a few days later. Illinois State has three of the best players in the MVC in Phil Fayne, Malik Yarbrough, and Keyshawn Evans. For the Aztecs, Devin Watson is the leading returning scorer, though Jalen McDaniels made a name for himself inside with an awesome freshman year. Given how we get this game and the Loyola-Nevada contest, it should be a federal crime to end the MW/MVC challenge. Friends, please rethink this.

Illinois State at Loyola University Chicago, Jan. 12

In all likelihood, one of these two teams is going to win the MVC Tournament and the other will be fighting for an at-large bid. This will end up being a quad 1 (is that how we should write it? quad 1? Quad 1? quad one? Let us know, this is important) win for either team so it will become an important data point for the committee. Hopefully ESPN sees this game for what it is and puts it on one of its major channels. You know, unless Tulane is playing East Carolina or something.

 

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

You know, unless Tulane is playing East Carolina or something.

[/quote]

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Another new Redbird preview:

https://bustingbrackets.com/2018/09/12/illinois-state-basketball-2018-19-season-preview-for-the-redbirds/

 

[Adunk33]

Another new Redbird preview:

https://bustingbrackets.com/2018/09/12/illinois-state-basketball-2018-19-season-preview-for-the-redbirds/

This is one of the better preseason previews I've seen. Only gripes is that he lists Gassman as a potential starter, says Abdou will play sparlingly and says UCF is in a power conference. Also mentions this could be out last season with Muller at the helm. Losing 4 starters after this season and probably a 50/50 shot to make the NCAAs it could be Mullers time. But let's focus on this season! About 6 weeks until the first exhibition!

 

[SgtHulka]

Another new Redbird preview:

https://bustingbrackets.com/2018/09/12/illinois-state-basketball-2018-19-season-preview-for-the-redbirds/

This is one of the better preseason previews I've seen. Only gripes is that he lists Gassman as a potential starter,

By the time suspension season is in full swing this may be the case

 

[Adunk33]

https://twitter.com/ChrisSchutte3/status/1040600937742647296

He says this includes Yarbs

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

If 29-5, that fifth loss better be to Clemson or @ Central Florida.

As long as it's not a UIUC type. UCF, SDSU, Creighton, and BYU are all good losses. UCF is ranked higher than ISU. So is Creighton. BYU and SDSU slightly below ISU. I really think 28-6 will get them an at large but 29-5 definitely would. 30-4 would definitely get them in even with a bad loss

Central Florida is gonna be last years Texas Tech. They had big injuries last year and still finished the year #8 in defensive efficiancy. This year the stars are aligning for UCF to be in the top 3 in the country defensively. Plus they are healthy. UCF is so under the radar its scary. Everyone pretty much sleeping on them nationally. They will be LEGIT! A sleeper Final 4.

Central Florida & Clemson are Illinois State's only two chances for a Q1 win. They will probably need to win both of those to receive an at-large bid. Both will be very tough games. Win those two games and there is no reason (barring injuries or suspensions) this team cannot go 27-3 and be playing Sunday in St Louis

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Another preview...I love the title.

http://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/redbirds-best-ever/

 

[Retire 12]

Another preview...I love the title.

http://www.valleyhoopsinsider.com/redbirds-best-ever/

Love the presentation of this.

Hard not to get excited about this season after reading/watching this preview. This is going to be a REALLY fun team.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Here is cbs's take on rankings. They have Illinois State ahead of Loyola.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-rankings-1-353-from-kansas-to-no-353-and-an-interesting-fact-on-every-team/

 

[IHateWSU]

Here is cbs's take on rankings. They have Illinois State ahead of Loyola.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-rankings-1-353-from-kansas-to-no-353-and-an-interesting-fact-on-every-team/

Still no respect for the MVC. Only 2 teams in the top 90 (ISU 54, Loyola 63), and then SIU at 97. But the best thing about it is that Wichita is 99th!

 

[Adunk33]

Put this in another thread, but here:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-rankings-1-353-from-kansas-to-no-353-and-an-interesting-fact-on-every-team/

Notables
30 Clemson
31 UCF
45 SDSU
51 BYU
54 #REDBIRDhoops
63 Loyola
97 SIU
103 Belmont
107 Georgia
118 Bradley
132 INST
139 UIC
153 UNI
156 Akron
160 Valpo
166 Mo State
186 Drake
189 Ole Miss
207 Evansville
228 FGCU
277 Cleveland St
347 Chicago St

 

[Adunk33]

http://insider.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/25085165/college-basketball-ranking-every-team-1-353

If you have ESPN+ you can read this. This reporter John Gasaway did not put the thought into this piece that Norlander did. Only has blurbs on the Top 25.

I don't know exactly what I can and cannot share since it's behind a pay wall but the Birds are in at 85.