MVC Preseason Poll

[Hamdonger]

Think non-conference is going to be very very unkind to our Redbirds. I think it is very possible that we could get blown out badly in some of our first few games.

Nevada is going to be really good. So is Ole Miss. Without Copeland and with Clarance missing basically the entire preseason, our backcourt is going to really struggle at the beginning of the year. We are going to turn the ball over a lot. Evans, Madison and J. Martin are going to be under a lot of pressure. So will Clarance when he gets in there eventually.

Now.....by the time we get about one-third of the way through the conference season.....after our team is used to playing with each other.....I could see our size and athleticism start to cause problems for everyone except Mo St.

I would expect us to be middle of the pack in the Valley with an outside shot of stealing St. Louis if Keyshawn Evans, Clarance and Tinsley can score.

I think the real question is whether Muller and staff will be able to hold this roster together in 2019, when we will be the clear-cut favorite to win the league. This year, we will be like Mo St. was last year. Fun to watch.....capable on any night.....inexperienced and inconsistent enough to drive us crazy. Probably close to .500 in the league.

I think this is a solid assessment.

 

[Redbird222]

Think non-conference is going to be very very unkind to our Redbirds. I think it is very possible that we could get blown out badly in some of our first few games.

Nevada is going to be really good. So is Ole Miss. Without Copeland and with Clarance missing basically the entire preseason, our backcourt is going to really struggle at the beginning of the year. We are going to turn the ball over a lot. Evans, Madison and J. Martin are going to be under a lot of pressure. So will Clarance when he gets in there eventually.

Now.....by the time we get about one-third of the way through the conference season.....after our team is used to playing with each other.....I could see our size and athleticism start to cause problems for everyone except Mo St.

I would expect us to be middle of the pack in the Valley with an outside shot of stealing St. Louis if Keyshawn Evans, Clarance and Tinsley can score.

I think the real question is whether Muller and staff will be able to hold this roster together in 2019, when we will be the clear-cut favorite to win the league. This year, we will be like Mo St. was last year. Fun to watch.....capable on any night.....inexperienced and inconsistent enough to drive us crazy. Probably close to .500 in the league.

Here's my picks:

1. Mo St 14-4
2. Loyola 12-6
3. UNI 12-6
4. Valpo 10-8
5. ISU 10-8
6. SIU 9-9
7. Bradley 7-11
8. Indy St 6-12
9. Eville 5-13
10. Drake 5-13

Spot on with the analysis. I think we will end of with about 11 wins in conference and hopefully will be one of the best teams entering March. The winner will be 13 or 14 wins in a competitive league. I see your top 6 teams with legitimate shot to make noise. Bradley will win some games but I don't believe they are ready. I don't see the last three with any legitimate shot unless they have newcomers we don't know. I will reserve final prediction until I see nonconference games.

 

[cpacmel]

Enjoy

Evansville writer:

http://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/college/evansville/2017/10/13/hickey-my-mvc-mens-basketball-preseason-ballot/752343001/

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

We will have the best player on the court in 8 of our 9 matchups (Missouri State being the outlier unless he somehow regresses).

We'll be favored in Vegas in at least 12 or 13 of the 18 games we play this year.

Yeah, that sound like a Play In team.

He has every right to rank us wherever he wants to, but you lose any credibility in your conference you might of had when you produce a ballot like this. Take ISU out of it for a moment... Valpo easily underranked, and UNI way overranked. He's just all over the place with this one.

Bulletin board is right.

I am not certain who the best player is on this ISU team. I am guessing Fayne is your referenced guy but it could also be Malik or someone else. I am not sold on Fayne being the best Redbird.

 

[Hamdonger]

We will have the best player on the court in 8 of our 9 matchups (Missouri State being the outlier unless he somehow regresses).

We'll be favored in Vegas in at least 12 or 13 of the 18 games we play this year.

Yeah, that sound like a Play In team.

He has every right to rank us wherever he wants to, but you lose any credibility in your conference you might of had when you produce a ballot like this. Take ISU out of it for a moment... Valpo easily underranked, and UNI way overranked. He's just all over the place with this one.

Bulletin board is right.

I am not certain who the best player is on this ISU team. I am guessing Fayne is your referenced guy but it could also be Malik or someone else. I am not sold on Fayne being the best Redbird.

I don't know if Fayne is the best player (I don't think there's any question that he could be) either...but his energy and knack for finding himself around the ball makes him our most valuable component, I believe. He's the guy when not in the lineup, we're not as good.

 

[chuckie1980]

I am just happier that someone actually picked the Birds to win! I expect victories from this team. I am ready for these guys to excel.

 

[Sanantoniobird]

No reason to think ISU won't be 8th, IMO. Lost so much including Copeland and Clarence. Very thin up front, lacking a clear leader. Madison hasn't come on yet. Key won't be as open as he was last year. Unless we take some pride in stifling defense, we will be overmatched every night. I'm preparing myself for a very big let down.

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

Heard some news that Loyola is about to add to their men's basketball staff what i consider to be a great hire. Loyola short term and long term looks well positioned to be consistently in the top tier of the MVC.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Heard some news that Loyola is about to add to their men's basketball staff what i consider to be a great hire. Loyola short term and long term looks well positioned to be consistently in the top tier of the MVC.

They still have a lackluster head coach

 

[Retire 12]

I'm sorry if you're prepared to be let down with this team. It's going to be very, very dangerous.

 

[Source]

Madison hasn't come on yet.

You've seen him play since last season?

 

[Baltimore Bird]

I am a glass is half full guy. I see us as being dangerous in the MVC and finishing 13-5 and right near the top of the league. Non-conference is going to be rough due to the schedule, lots of new guys, an injury and an academic casualty. As stated above, we are going to be a dangerous team.

 

[isuquinndog]

MVCfans.com poll:

https://twitter.com/MVCfans/status/919174316079702017

 

[Sanantoniobird]

Madison hasn't come on yet.

You've seen him play since last season?

no, I haven't seen anyone play since last season...and everything I write is purely speculation and opinion based on the last public exhibition of Redbird basketball unless otherwise stated. With that said, based on the most available information i have no reason to believe that Madison will be OFFENSIVELY efficient/effective. I think he brings valuable defensive energy; however he's been somewhat mediocre offensively based on his 13 offers and 14 points per game out of high school.

 

[BIRDFANATIC78]

I want to like this team and believe they will "overachieve"...if...they develop a "killer instinct". I am happy that we have HCDM but feel that the finishing off an opponent determination has not been instilled as yet. Hey, new coaches, new personalities driving each other, who knows.

 

[DannyCooksey]

Dan will need to be the best coach in the Valley by miles for this team to be Top 5. I was optimistic until the losses of Copeland, Clarence and now Romine.

Too many losses to overcome. I think we will lose by 10+ in many many games this year. I love our schedule but I think we will get smoked bad in our non conference slate.

I'm afraid this will be a bad year but we will still smoke Bradley twice.

 

[DannyCooksey]

Dan will need to be the best coach in the Valley by miles for this team to be Top 5. I was optimistic until the losses of Copeland, Clarence and now Romine.

Too many losses to overcome. I think we will lose by 10+ in many many games this year. I love our schedule but I think we will get smoked bad in our non conference slate.

I'm afraid this will be a bad year but we will still smoke Bradley twice.

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

Dan will need to be the best coach in the Valley by miles for this team to be Top 5. I was optimistic until the losses of Copeland, Clarence and now Romine.

Too many losses to overcome. I think we will lose by 10+ in many many games this year. I love our schedule but I think we will get smoked bad in our non conference slate.

I'm afraid this will be a bad year but we will still smoke Bradley twice.

:text-+1: My exact thoughts. Would have been challenging, although exciting, with the team we thought we were going to have back in July. We are now playing without 3 of out top 6 players and depleted at guard big time especially when you factor in that Evans is coming off an injury too. We are likely to get pounded early on. Thin at guard and lacking depth overall not a good combo. Muller has a HUGE challenge in front of him. I can handle getting beat up by real non-conference competition but getting beat up by a bunch of mediocre midmajor teams in the MVC will be hard to watch. Really need Malik to take his game to another level in terms of leadership, scoring, defense and rebounding. Oh, and by the way he needs to stay out of foul trouble every game and average 36 minutes a game. You hear that Malik?..hope that is not too much to ask.

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

I want to like this team and believe they will "overachieve"...if...they develop a "killer instinct". I am happy that we have HCDM but feel that the finishing off an opponent determination has not been instilled as yet. Hey, new coaches, new personalities driving each other, who knows.

I think your comment about Muller learning how to close out games is the one area that Muller truly needs to improve. I do believe he will get that portion of coaching figured out which is no small feat. Some coaches never do figure it out.

 

[Adunk33]

Just bumping because tomorrow is media day.