Conference standing predictions

[DoubleDeuce]

Three-man-weave prediction.

Missouri Valley 2021-22 Preview — Three-Man-Weave

The Valley is in the midst of an historical uprising, even in the wake of watching Wichita State bolt for the AAC in 2018. There’s three, maybe four, squads with legitimate at-large aspirations heading into 2022.

www.three-man-weave.com

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Three-man-weave prediction.

Missouri Valley 2021-22 Preview — Three-Man-Weave

The Valley is in the midst of an historical uprising, even in the wake of watching Wichita State bolt for the AAC in 2018. There’s three, maybe four, squads with legitimate at-large aspirations heading into 2022.

www.three-man-weave.com

I feel like that is very fair and about as accurate as we will see. I am firmly in the camp of this team will be much better than last years, but the league is better so we won’t see a big jump in standings.

Kind of weird to say they’ll be better after losing best player in DJ and losing Dusan though.

 

[MadBird]

I feel like that is very fair and about as accurate as we will see. I am firmly in the camp of this team will be much better than last years, but the league is better so we won’t see a big jump in standings.

Kind of weird to say they’ll be better after losing best player in DJ and losing Dusan though.

• Coach Norman Dale : Five players on the floor functioning as one single unit: team, team, team - no one more important than the other.
  
  
  
  

 

[DoubleDeuce]

• Coach Norman Dale : Five players on the floor functioning as one single unit: team, team, team - no one more important than the other.
  
  
  

This sums up some of the Birds biggest problems the last few years. Selfishness.

My son likes to lay down next to me on the couch at night and have me to turn on Hoosiers. It puts him out in a few minutes everytime.

 

[MadBird]

This sums up some of the Birds biggest problems the last few years. Selfishness.

My son likes to lay down next to me on the couch at night and have me to turn on Hoosiers. It puts him out in a few minutes everytime.

Hoping Reeves comes out of the NBA workouts with the attitude of bringing along the rest of the boys, being their "leader", and not hey watch me, I'm getting ready to be a star. We'll see.

Big fan of Hoosiers, Gene Hackman, small town hoops, etc. etc.!

 

[SgtHulka]

This sums up some of the Birds biggest problems the last few years. Selfishness.

My son likes to lay down next to me on the couch at night and have me to turn on Hoosiers. It puts him out in a few minutes everytime.

He's 65 now, probably time to give that up

 

[Adunk33]

Three-man-weave prediction.

Missouri Valley 2021-22 Preview — Three-Man-Weave

The Valley is in the midst of an historical uprising, even in the wake of watching Wichita State bolt for the AAC in 2018. There’s three, maybe four, squads with legitimate at-large aspirations heading into 2022.

www.three-man-weave.com

I'd be surprised if Freeman isn't on the All-Newcomer team. I'd be shocked if Lewis is...he wasn't brought in for his scoring ability. Its rare you see defensive specialists make those teams. The depth chart also doesn't make sense. If they're starting Lewis at the 5 and not bringing in another "big" until the third or fourth guy off the bench, it's going to be an even longer season than we anticipate and if these bets exists, bet the points over against the Birds for Prim, Phyfe, Broadie, Filewich, etc.

 

[MadBird]

I'd be surprised if Freeman isn't on the All-Newcomer team. I'd be shocked if Lewis is...he wasn't brought in for his scoring ability. Its rare you see defensive specialists make those teams. The depth chart also doesn't make sense. If they're starting Lewis at the 5 and not bringing in another "big" until the third or fourth guy off the bench, it's going to be an even longer season than we anticipate and if these bets exists, bet the points over against the Birds for Prim, Phyfe, Broadie, Filewich, etc.

Yeah, they list Lewis in the starting 5 but then the story talks about Abdou and Sy "gobbling up a hearty share of frontcourt minutes" over Schmitt and McChesney. Plus one paragraph attributes the quote to Wardle instead of Muller. Is this three man weave reputable?

Actually I kind of liked Sissoko, among last year's choices, most of the time. Wouldn't bother me to see and upgrade tho.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Is this three man weave reputable?

They do a better job of getting familiar the teams than most who cover the national landscape. They seem to put in a lot more legwork and not just pull some talking points. It does hurt that they referred to Muller as Wardle.

 

[cubird]

Sissoko is definitely a physically strong specimen. Remains to be seen if he has fine tuned any offensive skills. Rebounding and defense should be a given if he wants to get playing time.

 

[ILLST25]

Preseason poll comes out today

 

[Phantom]

Most of the magazines I've seen have us 9th-10th for what that's worth. I think we'll be better, but staying out of Thursday is most likely not gonna happen. If we can finish somewhere near .500 overall and maybe a scrappy 7th-8th? and at least play good D and a semblance of entertaining ball, it'll feel like a rather successful year.

That's how low the bar is right now. And then we'll have to worry about who enters the friggin' portal in the offseason.

 

[Redbird222]

 

[MadBird]

Wisconsin very young. Loyola lost a fair number of "stars" obviously. Badgers return 3 of top 7 scorers, lots untested after that. So who knows?

 

[Bird Friend]

Wisconsin very young. Loyola lost a fair number of "stars" obviously. Badgers return 3 of top 7 scorers, lots untested after that. So who knows?

So we should be able to keep it within 30?

 

[Redbird Alum 2004]

Ok, here goes my thoughts on the upcoming season. I think we finish 6th. Now before you scream Kool-Aid hear me out. I believe that Valparaiso, Bradley, Indiana State and Evansville all got worse from last season. I also believe that ISU improved. Here is where and how.

1. How long have we all been saying this is a guard league and you need a point guard? Well now we have a true point guard in Freeman. Don't get me wrong, I loved DJ but he was more of a combo or 2 guard in my opinion.
2. Our guards this year can play defense and not allow as much penetration into the paint.
3. Our bigs are going to be weaker than the rest of the valley, but we will have the numbers to play hack a Shaq. Depth won't be an issue there.
4. Reeves has something to prove. He looks physically like a different person. He is going to be playing for money so the motivation is there. It is his team and he will step up to the challenge.
5. We aren't a young team anymore.
6. Guys that started last year will be coming off the bench. This makes us a deeper team.

So that's why I think we are better than last year. Are we a lot better? No but we are and the other four teams fighting to stay out of Thursday got worse.

Now for the wishful thinking. As ADunk noticed Jones didn't use the whiteboard during the exhibition game and we ran our normal offense that we have seen the last few years. What if the offense has been pulled from Jones? You could then run that weave offense in the exhibition and save the real offense for the season. Schmitt is a traditional 5 so it would be nice to recruit a guy that fits the offense you are planning on running. Dan is trying to save his job so perhaps we finally stop trying to show the square peg into the round hole.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

I think we finish 6th.

This is what I'm thinking too. At halftime of the exhibition I was frustrated and ready to tag us as a last place shoe-in...but after the second half and sitting back to access the team as a whole I think avoiding Thursday night is a reasonable goal/expectation.

 

[BTbird]

Ok, here goes my thoughts on the upcoming season. I think we finish 6th. Now before you scream Kool-Aid hear me out. I believe that Valparaiso, Bradley, Indiana State and Evansville all got worse from last season. I also believe that ISU improved. Here is where and how.

1. How long have we all been saying this is a guard league and you need a point guard? Well now we have a true point guard in Freeman. Don't get me wrong, I loved DJ but he was more of a combo or 2 guard in my opinion.
2. Our guards this year can play defense and not allow as much penetration into the paint.
3. Our bigs are going to be weaker than the rest of the valley, but we will have the numbers to play hack a Shaq. Depth won't be an issue there.
4. Reeves has something to prove. He looks physically like a different person. He is going to be playing for money so the motivation is there. It is his team and he will step up to the challenge.
5. We aren't a young team anymore.
6. Guys that started last year will be coming off the bench. This makes us a deeper team.

So that's why I think we are better than last year. Are we a lot better? No but we are and the other four teams fighting to stay out of Thursday got worse.

Now for the wishful thinking. As ADunk noticed Jones didn't use the whiteboard during the exhibition game and we ran our normal offense that we have seen the last few years. What if the offense has been pulled from Jones? You could then run that weave offense in the exhibition and save the real offense for the season. Schmitt is a traditional 5 so it would be nice to recruit a guy that fits the offense you are planning on running. Dan is trying to save his job so perhaps we finally stop trying to show the square peg into the round hole.

I pretty much agree with all of this. I'm going to say that translates to 7th place for us. I think we are better off at guard than I thought and we seem vulnerable in the paint based on everyone's recaps. I haven't seen Schmitt play but was hoping he would be minimally a body down low on defense.

 

[Dmills]

Tyreke Key is out for the season after deciding to get surgery on his shoulder. Indiana State probably drops from being in the conversation for a 6/7 spot down to the 8-10 spot. They still could surprise with a new coach, but for now I have Indiana State and Valpo at 9 and 10, order to be determined. I could also see Valpo rebounding from their exhibition disappointments, but for now I think they have to be at the bottom. That leaves Bradley, Evansville, and us to fight for the 6 spot.

 

[Redbird Alum 2004]

Tyreke Key is out for the season after deciding to get surgery on his shoulder. Indiana State probably drops from being in the conversation for a 6/7 spot down to the 8-10 spot. They still could surprise with a new coach, but for now I have Indiana State and Valpo at 9 and 10, order to be determined. I could also see Valpo rebounding from their exhibition disappointments, but for now I think they have to be at the bottom. That leaves Bradley, Evansville, and us to fight for the 6 spot.

That is a huge loss for them. Huge