Fire Muller...now!

[Birdfriend72]

And what happens after the Covid pandemic, when conferences get back business and looking to add new schools? Is anyone else concerned that the A10 might make a move on Loyola? Then what happens to the might valley?

Yeah, that does bother me. Specially considering all they have to worry about is their basketball program When it comes to leaving the conference.

 

[TBS_20]

Honestly, the A-10 is the perfect place for Loyola though if we're truthful. They would be around their kin. Wouldn't be surprised to see Bradley go to the A-10 either if two of Dayton, Rhode Island, or St. Louis get poached.

 

[Birdfriend72]

Totally agree! Our guards are getting a ton of minutes. We are just a few pieces away from being a solid contender!! Thanks for correcting me, I didn't see it that way with regards to the Horne comments in previous tread. However, I truly believe in this team/program and see things trending up soon, very soon (optimistically positive guy here!!). Because when you hit bottom, there's only one direction from there...UP!!! Build around Horne/Reeves/Fleming/Washington. These are a strong 4 core group IMO!!

Personally, Horn is the only one that is Shooting lights out. Bobby Hunter was above 50 percent a few years back around January and his percentage came back to normal. You can box and 1 Horn and let the others fire away since you don’t have anyone in the paint to worry about. But, there is a reason Dana said he played zone all day...and bragged about it allowing him the time to rest his best players.

 

[Birdfriend72]

Transfers are the norm these days, which supports my point on why Horne and Reeves to me should find a better situation for their talents. Let’s be honest, they are wasting their careers at ISU with Dan at the helm. They will never win anything of significance and likely never see Saturday in St. Louis. Both guys could play at better programs and showcase their abilities in a more competitive environment.

Sorry but I struggle where you’re seeing these signs of winning coming right around the corner. They are getting beat by some really poor teams. You can reference taking Drake to OT, but Valpo exposed Drake in a beatdown yesterday, so that doesn’t hold much weight. Every trend with ISU b-ball is negative. Losing more, getting blown out more, recruiting worse players - I find it hard to see positives.

I was in Chicago a year ago and a recruiting coordinator with the Illinois Wolves said no one in the Chicago AAU circuit cares for Muller. He said that they don’t answer his calls. Hence, why he struggles to recruit Chicago! Just saying.

 

[gobirds85]

Many teams have left the Valley over the years and it is still here. Yup, Loyola might move on but another team will replace them. If we could go back it would be funny to read the hate people put on this board about the Valley and Loyola when they joined. It went something like this; The Vally sucks, Loyola is a joke, they have crap facilities, they will hurt the valley, they are not even get the best progam from another conference. Conferences are always changing, the Valley has stood the test of time. Will it fold someday possibly but it continues to produce solid basketball just not from our team this year!

Many people here did say that Loyola, at the time, wasn't a great addition, but it's amazing what great coaching can do for a school. I could have sworn they had a pretty decent run just a few years ago. I forget.

Loyola is just another illustration of a school coming into the Valley and blowing by us within a few, short years.

What I'm attempting to say is the Valley has been raided of it's top two teams in the last decade. Loyola might be next. As the league takes on water and continues to sink and lose it's historic luster, we continue to sink even further. The Valley will always be around, but so will the SWAC, MEAC, MAC, Summit, Horizon, etc...

 

[Seven]

11th ranked conference with 2 teams who've hit the AP Top 25. Sure looks like the MEAC, SWAC, Summit, & Horizon. Just more hare-brained fear-mongering.

 

[Birdfriend72]

11th ranked conference with 2 teams who've hit the AP Top 25. Sure looks like the MEAC, SWAC, Summit, & Horizon. Just more hare-brained fear-mongering.

How does this help ISU buried in the bottom?

 

[redbirdfan04]

Many people here did say that Loyola, at the time, wasn't a great addition, but it's amazing what great coaching can do for a school. I could have sworn they had a pretty decent run just a few years ago. I forget.

Loyola is just another illustration of a school coming into the Valley and blowing by us within a few, short years.

What I'm attempting to say is the Valley has been raided of it's top two teams in the last decade. Loyola might be next. As the league takes on water and continues to sink and lose it's historic luster, we continue to sink even further. The Valley will always be around, but so will the SWAC, MEAC, MAC, Summit, Horizon, etc...

LOL, you and I have different views and I respect your opinion on most topics but the Valley being compared to the list you put up is funny. You know the valley has just been an illustration of teams blowing by ISU since the start of conference:

Kansas 1928, Kansas State 1928, Louisville 1974, Missouri 1928, Nebraska 1919/1928, Oklahoma 1956, St. Louis 1942, Tulsa 1996, Washignton 1942, Butler 1934, Cinci 1969, Creighton 1948/2013, Houston 1959, Iowa 1908, Witchita State 2017. The year is the year they left the Valley.

Now ISU didn't join until 1981 but it seems if we are using your thoery the Valley has a history of losing its top programs. In that case ISU should move to one of your above mentioned conferences soon.

By all means go to a Western Illinois or Northern Illinois baskeball game (when we can) and you will sprint back to Redbird arena.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Sounds great. I wish this was a 6 feet and under league.

DJ Horne 6’1”
Josiah Strong 6’3”
Dedrick Boyd 6’4”
Antonio Reeves 6’5”
Howard Fleming Jr 6’5”
Emon Washington 6’5”
Have you even watch this team play? None of these guys would qualify for the under six feet league. And they are fun to watch their game getting better.

 

[gobirds85]

11th ranked conference with 2 teams who've hit the AP Top 25. Sure looks like the MEAC, SWAC, Summit, & Horizon. Just more hare-brained fear-mongering.

Try to keep up. I prefaced this by asking "what happens is Loyola jumps?" These other conferences have one thing in common with the Valley. One bid. In the last post season not one valley team won a single game. ncaa, nit, cbi, cit. Not a single win. bu represented the valley in the ncaa with a 15 seed. There have been recent years where we don't even send a team to the nit. Loyola had that magical run and that's pretty much it. The good teams end up leaving. See Creighton and WSU.

Color me impressed with the 11th ranked conference nonsense. What does that get us? Answer...one auto bid.

 

[Birdfriend72]

DJ Horne 6’1”
Josiah Strong 6’3”
Dedrick Boyd 6’4”
Antonio Reeves 6’5”
Howard Fleming Jr 6’5”
Emon Washington 6’5”
Have you even watch this team play? None of these guys would qualify for the under six feet league. And they are fun to watch their game getting better.

None of them can play the 4 or 5. I have watched practically every game...and our record says they are average at best.

 

[gobirds85]

LOL, you and I have different views and I respect your opinion on most topics but the Valley being compared to the list you put up is funny. You know the valley has just been an illustration of teams blowing by ISU since the start of conference:

Kansas 1928, Kansas State 1928, Louisville 1974, Missouri 1928, Nebraska 1919/1928, Oklahoma 1956, St. Louis 1942, Tulsa 1996, Washignton 1942, Butler 1934, Cinci 1969, Creighton 1948/2013, Houston 1959, Iowa 1908, Witchita State 2017. The year is the year they left the Valley.

Now ISU didn't join until 1981 but it seems if we are using your thoery the Valley has a history of losing its top programs. In that case ISU should move to one of your above mentioned conferences soon.

By all means go to a Western Illinois or Northern Illinois baskeball game (when we can) and you will sprint back to Redbird arena.

I have no idea what your point is here as you pretty much proved my point. The top teams do leave the Valley and it's been that way for decades. If offered an opportunity, Loyola will go the way of Creighton and Wichita State...and Kansas and Iowa and Oklahoma, etc...

 

[redbirdfan04]

I have no idea what your point is here as you pretty much proved my point. The top teams do leave the Valley and it's been that way for decades. If offered an opportunity, Loyola will go the way of Creighton and Wichita State...and Kansas and Iowa and Oklahoma, etc...

The point is teams leave and the Valley does just fine. Last year people were up in arms that the Valley would never get two teams in the dance ever again. Drake and LU have very good chances of making it this year. The conferences you mention suck at basketball. Our current team would be a top team in any of those conferences. I think people are just fed up with the last few years, which I understand. The Valley is top Mid Major conference and I do not see that changing even if teams leave.

 

[Birdfriend72]

Our record indicates they are young, lack a power forward, and lack senior leadership.

We have been hearing that since 2013. Keep using the same excuse.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

We have been hearing that since 2013. Keep using the same excuse.

You are not required to donate to Illinois State University, nor are you required to watch their basketball games. If they upset you so much, maybe you should find something else to do with your time & money. Bitching on a fan forum gets you nothing. Muller is not going anywhere soon, so get over it.

 

[ISU86]

Not OVERLY concerned if/when LUC jumps. The Valley has dealt with turnover before.

When ISU became "D-I", there were eighteen conferences and 190 schools (61 of which were independent). When ISU joined the MVC, there were twenty-eight conferences and 264 schools (24 were independent).

Here was the MVC circa-1970 (when ISU left "D-II"):

• Tulsa
• Saint Louis
• Wichita State
• Bradley
• Drake
• Cincinnati
• North Texas State
• Louisville
• Memphis State

Here was the MVC circa-1981 (when ISU left being an independent):

• Tulsa
• Wichita State
• Bradley
• Drake
• New Mexico State
• West Texas State
• Southern Illinois
• Creighton
• Indiana State

So, in the course of eleven years, over half of the membership turned over. Were Tulsa, Wichita State, Bradley or Drake excited about any of them? Indiana State went to a championship a few years later. Conferences will poach, new conferences will pop-up. What is deemed important in terms of membership changes over time.

What would be a realistic upward landing place for the Redbirds, and how do you get there?

 

[ricohill]

You are not required to donate to Illinois State University, nor are you required to watch their basketball games. If they upset you so much, maybe you should find something else to do with your time & money. Bitching on a fan forum gets you nothing. Muller is not going anywhere soon, so get over it.

So we should just accept poorly coached basketball from the highest paid University employee?

Also, if you can’t express your opinions on a fan forum what is the point of it?

 

[redbirdfan04]

You are not required to donate to Illinois State University, nor are you required to watch their basketball games. If they upset you so much, maybe you should find something else to do with your time & money. Bitching on a fan forum gets you nothing. Muller is not going anywhere soon, so get over it.

I don't think I have ever said this but Sox fan I would like to buy you a beer at the Pub2 someday. Can we just not bring up the Sox!!

 

[ricohill]

The point is teams leave and the Valley does just fine. Last year people were up in arms that the Valley would never get two teams in the dance ever again. Drake and LU have very good chances of making it this year. The conferences you mention suck at basketball. Our current team would be a top team in any of those conferences. I think people are just fed up with the last few years, which I understand. The Valley is top Mid Major conference and I do not see that changing even if teams leave.

I think the bigger point is we’ve gotten destroyed by Loyola and Valpo. Both programs that play in high school facilities. Add Drake to that list.

I don’t care if Loyola is good or leaves, we as a program shouldn’t be getting beat by them in recruiting in the state and on the court.

 

[redbirdfan04]

So we should just accept poorly coached basketball from the highest paid University employee?

Also, if you can’t express your opinions on a fan forum what is the point of it?

Rico, I agree this is the place for all our worthless ISU opinions it just seems the haters are out in force due to a lack of winning. Losing sucks but I think we are all fans of the same team.