vs Bradley (8-3) - Saturday 2/3/2024 - 1 pm - MVC Sports Network

[Redbird28]

It's easy to lose sight of the positives when we as fans always seek to witness dominance.

Thank you, @Reggie Redbird, for reminding the board that we are in fact trending ever so slightly upward despite how some of these losses might feel.

On to the next one, and beat UIC.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

This is weird to say, but “win.” We were 11-21 overall and 6-14 in the MVC. Right now, we’re 11-12 and 5-7 in the MVC. As long as we don’t go worse than 1-7 the rest of the way, we will win more than we did last year. Ultimately, that’s a goal for this year. Then next year, win more than we did this year.

Whether that’s because of a “down MVC” or whatever, the fact still remains that we are winning at a much better pace than last year with most of our wins over the teams with us in the middle.

The offense is maddening to me, and I agree with a lot of points on this board. However, we’re winning more.

Yes to this, but my problem is we haven’t shown that we even belong on the same court as Drake or Bradley. I fear what Indiana State does to us in Terre Haute.

 

[WoodlandWarrior]

It's easy to lose sight of the positives when we as fans always seek to witness dominance.

Thank you, @Reggie Redbird, for reminding the board that we are in fact trending ever so slightly upward despite how some of these losses might feel.

On to the next one, and beat UIC.

I project a maximum win total of 14 games. Hope that I’m wrong, but that count seems realistic. Better than last year yes, but I think most of us wanted more. Earlier in the year I was hoping for a 19 win season. That’s not going to happen. We can’t lose at home to teams like Norfolk State and Valpo. As of now I’m all in for poaching D2 stars or JUCO talents over bench riding major conference transfers. Next year will be a critical juncture for Pedon. No true fan wants to see a continuation of mediocrity.

 

[Birgs]

I project a maximum win total of 14 games. Hope that I’m wrong, but that count seems realistic. Better than last year yes, but I think most of us wanted more. Earlier in the year I was hoping for a 19 win season. That’s not going to happen. We can’t lose at home to teams like Norfolk State and Valpo. As of now I’m all in for poaching D2 stars or JUCO talents over bench riding major conference transfers. Next year will be a critical juncture for Pedon. No true fan wants to see a continuation of mediocrity.

Even way back in the good ol' glorious pre-Portal, the JUCO route was clutch. I harken to that bad-ass crop of KS:

Started with Santa Cason

Mo Trotter (who I swear was on every intramural team we played against)
Marcus "flava in yo ear" Franklin
K-Train Wright
Lunceford for a cup of coffee

Instant impact paired with the once-in-a-lifetime Jamar/Dan frosh class.

Rapid relevance and ridiculous foundation for four years of fun.

 

[Birdfriend72]

I project a maximum win total of 14 games. Hope that I’m wrong, but that count seems realistic. Better than last year yes, but I think most of us wanted more. Earlier in the year I was hoping for a 19 win season. That’s not going to happen. We can’t lose at home to teams like Norfolk State and Valpo. As of now I’m all in forUIC poaching D2 stars or JUCO talents over bench riding major conference transfers. Next year will be a critical juncture for Pedon. No true fan wants to see a continuation of mediocrity.

We hopefully don't lose to a 1-11 UIC on our home floor. This is beyond unacceptable.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

We hopefully don't lose to a 1-11 UIC on our home floor. This is beyond unacceptable.

Bump.

 

[Michigan Red]

Even way back in the good ol' glorious pre-Portal, the JUCO route was clutch. I harken to that bad-ass crop of KS:

Started with Santa Cason

Mo Trotter (who I swear was on every intramural team we played against)
Marcus "flava in yo ear" Franklin
K-Train Wright
Lunceford for a cup of coffee

Instant impact paired with the once-in-a-lifetime Jamar/Dan frosh class.

Rapid relevance and ridiculous foundation for four years of fun.

Solid post. That team and 4-year run were good times to be a Redbird fan. If I remember correctly, KS referred to it as “ Catching lightning in a bottle” at some point post- Normal.

 

[DougSutton]

Solid post. That team and 4-year run were good times to be a Redbird fan. If I remember correctly, KS referred to it as “ Catching lightning in a bottle” at some point post- Normal.

Yeah, great post and time to be an Illinois State fan. One thing that really helped coach Stallings was bringing in King Rice as an assistant. He was a powerhouse at recruiting and played an integral role in bringing in recruits. Coach Pedon doesn't have a King Rice and I don't believe we've had an assistant at his level (recruiting wise) since he was here. Any leader is only as strong as the team they build around them.

On another note, I believe NIL changes the game completely toward a massive disadvantage. I spoke with coach Judson last time I was back in town (earlier this season) and he highlighted that last year's first team all Valley last season all transferred to Power 5 conferences (4 to the Big 10, 1 to the Big 12). Schools with our level of budget and resources have in essence become jucos and instead of only 2 years to play at a juco, bigger programs can observe and pick off kids of any class to transfer. So our young, promising talent may be on the radar for a bigger program, and they won't go after them (with NIL money) until they feel they're ready to contribute at their program.

 

[Adunk33]

Yeah, great post and time to be an Illinois State fan. One thing that really helped coach Stallings was bringing in King Rice as an assistant. He was a powerhouse at recruiting and played an integral role in bringing in recruits. Coach Pedon doesn't have a King Rice and I don't believe we've had an assistant at his level (recruiting wise) since he was here. Any leader is only as strong as the team they build around them.

Torrey Ward and Dana Ford were incredible.

 

[Birgs]

Torrey Ward and Dana Ford were incredible.

Superb you'd mention them. All the assistant coach talk, I immediately started thinking about Coach Ward.

 

[DougSutton]

Torrey Ward and Dana Ford were incredible.

I think both were very good and great people but with all due respect, I believe King Rice was on another level. King played at North Carolina and had deep relationships that family, and being from New York, had a lot of influence on the east coast. King was the lead recruiter on the last team that made the NCAA tournament and instrumental in recruiting and mentoring David Cason, Jamar Smiley, Rico Hill, Tarise Bryson, LeRoy Watkins, Kyle Cartmill (over Arizona), Victor Williams, and many others. No other assistant we've had since has been instrumental in building a roster that got us to the NCAA tournament.