The valley sucks.

[Redbird222]

Drake has virtually everyone back from a team that won a game in the NCAA tournament last year. That will help them as well at selection time.

 

[jamminjamarsmiley]

Belmont was 26-4 last year and return 97% of their scoring. Four of their starters are seniors. They were also 3rd nationally last year at 2 point field goal percentage at almost 60%.

Thats nice, tell me who the best win was out of that 26? They did not make the NCAA tournament with a 26-4 record so that should tell you something. They also lost to Ohio U, THIS YEAR. They are hardly Gonzaga and for any MVC team to lose to them by 38 is embarrassing. Happy to have them join the league, since they will likely roll in and be competing for a top 3 seed from Day 1.

 

[Bird Friend]

I agree with you as far as Valley team getting in. Look at what the NCAA did last year leaving out a 26 and 4 Belmont. However, I think Loyola may now be the exception to the rule because of their recent NCAA tournament success. Expect an unfavorable seed though.

And don't forget they have Sister Jean . . .

 

[gobirds85]

And don't forget they have Sister Jean . . .

And a player named Saint Thomas.

 

[gobirds85]

Ok, so maybe Loyola and Drake have a little something in the tank, but after that, there seems to be a deep drop off and if the conference is rated poorly, any opportunity for an at large bid will be greatly diminished.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Still too early to draw too many conclusions. Early season hiccups are part of college basketball. The one exception is bradley...they clearly suck.

 

[Chambotwenty5]

Still too early to draw too many conclusions. Early season hiccups are part of college basketball. The one exception is bradley...they clearly suck.

As the Valley shows every year in the tournament, a good/hot valley team can beat a lot of teams in the country outside of the top 5 or so. However, that doesn’t seem to mean anything on selection day, as the valley constantly gets stiffed by the committee. By a “multi bid conference” I mean that 2 or more teams are at least on the bubble when it’s tourney time in St. Louis. Sure, Loyola can run the table and lose the in the MVC Championship on a fluke game and MVC will get 2 teams in. But as far as the MVC having 2+ bubble teams come March, that ship has all but sailed. Greener pastures ahead though. Especially if Redbirds return most of their roster next year. I am encouraged by what I have seen from isu through 2 games, but very discouraged by the valley as a whole.

 

[stats]

Thats nice, tell me who the best win was out of that 26? They did not make the NCAA tournament with a 26-4 record so that should tell you something. They also lost to Ohio U, THIS YEAR. They are hardly Gonzaga and for any MVC team to lose to them by 38 is embarrassing. Happy to have them join the league, since they will likely roll in and be competing for a top 3 seed from Day 1.

- I guess Belmont's best win last year was over Boston College who beat Miami, Florida who beat Purdue who beat Kansas who beat Baylor who won the National Championship.
Now the next question is what every good mid-major faces, "What top 25 team would dare step into Belmont's gym or give them a home and home?" We all know the answer is none (at least until next year when their seniors graduate).

 

[jamminjamarsmiley]

- I guess Belmont's best win last year was over Boston College who beat Miami, Florida who beat Purdue who beat Kansas who beat Baylor who won the National Championship.
Now the next question is what every good mid-major faces, "What top 25 team would dare step into Belmont's gym or give them a home and home?" We all know the answer is none (at least until next year when their seniors graduate).

I believe the BC win was 2 years ago. The transitive property is definitely 100% foolproof anyways!! Still waiting on the MVC to post a quality win

 

[stats]

I believe the BC win was 2 years ago. The transitive property is definitely 100% foolproof anyways!! Still waiting on the MVC to post a quality win

I hear what you were saying. Just trying to have a little fun on the transitive. Pre-season I saw the Valley picked as the 9th best conference out of 32. in my opinion, they might be as low as 12th. There was a stretch when the Valley had about 2 or 3 pretty good teams and a bunch of average teams in the conference. Now it seems like some of those average teams have turned to bad teams.
Last night I watched Northern Iowa play a see-saw game at #16 Arkansas until the last 4 minutes, when talent took over for Arkansas.
Missouri State was a 4 point favorite against Sam Houston State and won by 22.
Stanford was nice to Valpo and only won by 14.

 

[Redbird222]

Indiana St is kicking the crap out of Old Domion. They are up 45 points half way through the second half. They will get to play Oklahoma and Porter next in their tournament

 

[Adunk33]

Indiana St is kicking the crap out of Old Domion. They are up 45 points half way through the second half. They will get to play Oklahoma and Porter next in their tournament

I didn't get a chance to watch the game but was keeping an eye on the score. They were in the drivers seat the whole time. Looking at the box score, the thing that really stood out to me was the distribution of minutes. They were up 20+ most of the game, yet had 6 players play 20+ minutes, 3 of those over 25, 2 of those over 30, with one playing 39. You'd think in a tournament where you play the next day against a tough opponent, you'd want to give your guys some rest. Game finished around 10 pm last night and they tip today at 4.

 

[stats]

CBS Pre-season had Old Dominion picked ahead of Indiana State in their ranking of all the teams.

 

[gobirds85]

CBS Pre-season had Old Dominion picked ahead of Indiana State in their ranking of all the teams.

So is this the best valley win of the young season?

 

[stats]

So is this the best valley win of the young season?

Not a big win at all, just the most surprising in how dominant it was. I just assumed Indiana State would be bad this year. I don't think there have been any big wins yet. Northern Iowa going back and forth with #16 Arkansas at Arkansas for the first 36 minutes was pretty surprising as well.

 

[gobirds85]

Not a big win at all, just the most surprising in how dominant it was. I just assumed Indiana State would be bad this year. I don't think there have been any big wins yet. Northern Iowa going back and forth with #16 Arkansas at Arkansas for the first 36 minutes was pretty surprising as well.

Exactly the point I was trying to make. The valley has not had any big wins this year to date. Granted the season if just getting started but all these losses valley teams are racking up will come back to haunt us in March as it will have an overall effect on the conference ranking.

 

[Adunk33]

Bradley up 27-21 at half vs Colorado State. BU does not look good and CSU looks worse right now. Niko went zone the last few possessions to spark his defense and it forced a couple shot clock violations. I think CSU is the better team. Both teams are cold as ice. I believe they combined for 2 first-half 3's.

 

[jwa123]

I moved to northwest Arkansas a few years ago just a bit up the road from Fayetteville and we get all of the Arkansas games on tv. Arkansas is highly rated this year and Northern Iowa gave them a fight down to the end of the game Wednesday night. I suspect UNI will be a good team this year. Much better than what I watched Tuesday night.

 

[stats]

Bradley up 27-21 at half vs Colorado State. BU does not look good and CSU looks worse right now. Niko went zone the last few possessions to spark his defense and it forced a couple shot clock violations. I think CSU is the better team. Both teams are cold as ice. I believe they combined for 2 first-half 3's.

Colorado State is a top 40 team in any poll you can find. They are picked to win the Mountain West ahead of San Diego State, Nevada, Boise State, Utah State, Fresno State and UNLV. Not a bad loss today by Bradley.

 

[Redbird222]

I didn't get a chance to watch the game but was keeping an eye on the score. They were in the drivers seat the whole time. Looking at the box score, the thing that really stood out to me was the distribution of minutes. They were up 20+ most of the game, yet had 6 players play 20+ minutes, 3 of those over 25, 2 of those over 30, with one playing 39. You'd think in a tournament where you play the next day against a tough opponent, you'd want to give your guys some rest. Game finished around 10 pm last night and they tip today at 4.

The announcers were saying that they would have pulled the starters sooner. They started with about 10 to play however they had one in there at the end still with 4 other subs