Preseason Polls/Awards

[Adunk33]

Media day for the MVC. I'm sure there will be a teleconference at some point this morning.

At a surprise to no one, Birds were tabbed to finish 10th and it wasn't close. No reason they shouldn't be. They've got a lot to prove.

Drake Tabbed as MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Favorite

For the first time on record, Drake has been picked as the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball race by a voting panel consisting of coaches, sports information directors and media.

mvc-sports.com

No real surprises here.

1. Drake
2. Loyola
3. UNI
4. Mo State
5. SIU
6. Bradley
7. Valpo
8. Evansville
9. INST
10. ILST

 

[Adunk33]

Here's a list of OLD players for the preseason all-conf teams (except the third team, really).

1st Team Preseason All-Conference:
A.J. Green
Tyreke Key
Isiaih Mosley
Roman Penn
Gage Prim

2nd Team:
Marcus Domask
Shaq Hemphill
Ben Krikke
Austin Phyfe
Lucas Williamson

3rd Team
Shamar Givance
Ja'Shon Henry
Lance Jones
Reink Mask
Braden Norris

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Who had Evansville and Indiana State getting double the votes of ISU? This program is such an embarrassment. I feel bad for the kids and will support them 100%, but Dan has to go and should’ve been gone last year.

 

[Manchester Matt]

I can't recall a bigger discrepancy in vote totals from second to last to last in any poll for any conference I've seen, maybe ever. Ouch.

 

[isuquinndog]

I can't recall a bigger discrepancy in vote totals from second to last to last in any poll for any conference I've seen, maybe ever. Ouch.

Last year

Rank	Team
1.	Northern Iowa (30) 426
2.	Loyola–Chicago (13) 405
3.	Bradley (1) 341
4.	Indiana State 282
5.	Southern Illinois 235
6.	Missouri State 210
7.	Drake 207
8.	Valparaiso 148
9.	Illinois State 112
10.	Evansville 54

 

[gobirds85]

I will always be a Redbird fan no matter what happens and I will not denigrate the young men on this team. I hope we can pull something together this year and fool all the "experts".

Our issue remains at the HC position. We are in our 10th year under his leadership and have fallen even farther behind than I thought possible. If this season goes the way it's been predicted Dan needs to be released. Some will say we cannot afford to fire him. I say we can't afford to keep him.

This is Redbird basketball...oh, and thank you Larry Lyons.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Media day for the MVC. I'm sure there will be a teleconference at some point this morning.

At a surprise to no one, Birds were tabbed to finish 10th and it wasn't close. No reason they shouldn't be. They've got a lot to prove.

Drake Tabbed as MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Favorite

For the first time on record, Drake has been picked as the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball race by a voting panel consisting of coaches, sports information directors and media.

mvc-sports.com

No real surprises here.

1. Drake
2. Loyola
3. UNI
4. Mo State
5. SIU
6. Bradley
7. Valpo
8. Evansville
9. INST
10. ILST

Even with Muller voting us #1?

 

[Hrtnfldhse]

I remember when we were upset we always lost in the championship game. Embarrasing that we are so bad and have been for a few years now. Bye Dan

 

[Dmills]

Here's a list of OLD players for the preseason all-conf teams (except the third team, really).

1st Team Preseason All-Conference:
A.J. Green
Tyreke Key
Isiaih Mosley
Roman Penn
Gage Prim

2nd Team:
Marcus Domask
Shaq Hemphill
Ben Krikke
Austin Phyfe
Lucas Williamson

3rd Team
Shamar Givance
Ja'Shon Henry
Lance Jones
Reink Mask
Braden Norris

It is crazy that Hemphill, Domask, and Williamson are on second team. Not because they are more deserving than the first teamers, but because the league has so much veteran returning talent.

 

[isuquinndog]

I will say, I think the top 4 are just going to destroy every one else. This year 9-9 might be Thursday night.

 

[PurpleRedbird]

I guess I'm the only one who really doesn't care about pre-season polls. Even more this year when everybody who had seniors got most of them back. Lets play real games and then see.

 

[Redbirdfan76]

I agree PurpleRedBird. Preseason polls and preseason conference teams are done to generate interest among fan bases. The projected order of teams take into account past performance. An injury or not playing to potential, or in this year a COVID issue , can jumble the projections. Here is hoping all teams stay healthy and the MVC has a great non-con record.

 

[Phantom]

No surprise at all to see these predictions, but they are just that...predictions. That said, it sounds about right. We've fallen quite far in a short period of time. It wasn't too long ago when we realistically expected to win 17-20 and be a top 3-5 team with a chance to get hot in STL.

We'd all love that right now. This feels like 2003-2004 (and 2006) in a way. Most of the conference is 3 steps ahead of us. As I said in another thread, finishing in the neighborhood of .500 overall and eeking up to 8th will feel like a big success.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

I said in another thread, finishing in the neighborhood of .500 overall and eeking up to 8th will feel like a big success.

This would not feel like success to me.. I fully get why we are predicted to finish near the bottom...my expectations are higher. I know it's a fools game to buy into what the coach and players say, but they are setting the bar much higher and I'm willing to let them prove it.

Playing Thursday night in St Louis is never successful. The last 3 years....ugh.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Here's a list of OLD players for the preseason all-conf teams (except the third team, really).

1st Team Preseason All-Conference:
A.J. Green
Tyreke Key
Isiaih
Reink

3rd Team

Reink Mask

I sure hope one of our bigs can outperform Reink Mast.

 

[V Boy]

Two biggest takeaways:

1) Muller isn't recruiting competitively even with other Valley programs let alone other good mid-major programs. He's getting basically nobody from Illinois.

2) The small handful of decent recruits he is able to lure to ISU leave, leaving him with huge talent gaps and basically no leadership on the team year in and year out.

 

[TBS_20]

Drake 7th? They have nearly everyone back and the best coach. Should be no worse than 3rd. They're coming off a NCAA appearance, too.

 

[Manchester Matt]

Drake 7th? They have nearly everyone back and the best coach. Should be no worse than 3rd. They're coming off a NCAA appearance, too.

That was last year's poll. Drake was picked first this season.

 

[jamminjamarsmiley]

I must say my excitement levels are at an all time high. If these projections ring true, ole pretty shoes Brennan will have no choice but to cut Danny boy loose. Let’s enjoy the moment!

 

[Bird Friend]

I must say my excitement levels are at an all time high. If these projections ring true, ole pretty shoes Brennan will have no choice but to cut Danny boy loose. Let’s enjoy the moment!

You're looking forward to ISU losing? Nice to know.