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Outside of bracketbusters, all 10 Valley teams are done with their non-conference schedules unless I missed a stray game somewhere. RPIs are in parenthesis.
I'm curious what everyone's opinion of what the final standings might look like on March 3.
There are a lot of changes since we guessed a couple of months ago. Creighton lost Josh Jones but doesn't seem to have missed a beat. 11-1 (15) and NONE of the 11 wins by fewer than 10 points. They are not only winning but winning easily.
At 11-1 (13), WSU is one of 3 pleasant surprise teams in the Valley, but the Shocks are now down 3 starters and only 2 of the 12 available players haven't sustained some kind of injury this season, and it's not even 2013. They own the best win in the conference (@ VCU), 4 wins away from home, and play stifling defense.
Illinois State, 9-3 (40), has been strong if not impressive. Would feel a lot better if they had won one of the three against Northwestern, Louisville or Wyoming (combined 32-5). They've lost a deep reserve to legal issues. Most of their wins have been blowouts against (mostly) inferior teams.
UNI, 6-5 (163) has played a tough schedule but has little to show for it. They are a final minute collapse from Toledo from being 5-6. Dion Mitchell appears to be the real deal.
Indiana State has flown under the radar but picked up a couple decent wins in their Hawaii Christmas Tourney against Ole Miss and Miami. 6-4 (48) doesn't seem impressive, but 3 of the 4 losses are to ranked teams. It's obvious the Trees are improved and improving. Justin Gant lost a tooth in the game tonight but I can't think he'll miss anytime from that.
Bradley is 1 of 2 pleasant surprises. 8-4 (185) and no bad losses. Very competitive against the #2 team in the nation (Michigan at home) and easily could have won the last two tournament games. Peoria won't be a pushover, to say the least, this season.
SIU is the other surprise team at 6-4 (149). While their schedule is devoid of any real meat, they've managed to win 3 road games. I suspect few believed the Salukis would win any road games at the start of the year.
Evansville is 6-5 (162) with all losses being competitive. Colt was down for a bit but seems at full strength now. D.J. Balentine looks to be a threat for years to come.
At 5-5 (157) I'm not sure about the Geese. They can score, but don't rebound at all and appear limited defensively. They don't look to be at the level of most other teams right now, but they are capable of ruining someone's season.
Missouri State has been an unmitigated disaster this year. They are 0-10 (and an unfathomable 327 RPI) (2 non D1 wins that don't count) and most of the 10 have been blowouts. Yes they are young, but they seem to be getting worse not better. They are at a cliff and need to get a win soon to keep from losing the team.
My predictions (sans the good guys, feel free to do what you want with WSU) are as follows:
CU-Still head and shoulders above the rest.
ISUR-Great talent and I expect they will continue to improve under 1st year Coach Muller.
ISUB-Here is where things get tricky. The Trees will ugly up some wins I think.
UNI-Only reason they are this high is experience and coaching. The Panthers are a lock to be picked bottom 4 next season, but they will still talk about at large possibilities as likely.
Evansville-Can they play enough D to win 50% or better?
Bradley-History says much higher seems too much to expect.
SIU-Barry is a huge step up for the ugly dawgs.
Drake-skeptical about the Geese, mostly their coach. This could easily be a poor selection.
MSU-Awful. Few finishing positions seem more likely than the basement for the Bears.
I'm curious what everyone's opinion of what the final standings might look like on March 3.
There are a lot of changes since we guessed a couple of months ago. Creighton lost Josh Jones but doesn't seem to have missed a beat. 11-1 (15) and NONE of the 11 wins by fewer than 10 points. They are not only winning but winning easily.
At 11-1 (13), WSU is one of 3 pleasant surprise teams in the Valley, but the Shocks are now down 3 starters and only 2 of the 12 available players haven't sustained some kind of injury this season, and it's not even 2013. They own the best win in the conference (@ VCU), 4 wins away from home, and play stifling defense.
Illinois State, 9-3 (40), has been strong if not impressive. Would feel a lot better if they had won one of the three against Northwestern, Louisville or Wyoming (combined 32-5). They've lost a deep reserve to legal issues. Most of their wins have been blowouts against (mostly) inferior teams.
UNI, 6-5 (163) has played a tough schedule but has little to show for it. They are a final minute collapse from Toledo from being 5-6. Dion Mitchell appears to be the real deal.
Indiana State has flown under the radar but picked up a couple decent wins in their Hawaii Christmas Tourney against Ole Miss and Miami. 6-4 (48) doesn't seem impressive, but 3 of the 4 losses are to ranked teams. It's obvious the Trees are improved and improving. Justin Gant lost a tooth in the game tonight but I can't think he'll miss anytime from that.
Bradley is 1 of 2 pleasant surprises. 8-4 (185) and no bad losses. Very competitive against the #2 team in the nation (Michigan at home) and easily could have won the last two tournament games. Peoria won't be a pushover, to say the least, this season.
SIU is the other surprise team at 6-4 (149). While their schedule is devoid of any real meat, they've managed to win 3 road games. I suspect few believed the Salukis would win any road games at the start of the year.
Evansville is 6-5 (162) with all losses being competitive. Colt was down for a bit but seems at full strength now. D.J. Balentine looks to be a threat for years to come.
At 5-5 (157) I'm not sure about the Geese. They can score, but don't rebound at all and appear limited defensively. They don't look to be at the level of most other teams right now, but they are capable of ruining someone's season.
Missouri State has been an unmitigated disaster this year. They are 0-10 (and an unfathomable 327 RPI) (2 non D1 wins that don't count) and most of the 10 have been blowouts. Yes they are young, but they seem to be getting worse not better. They are at a cliff and need to get a win soon to keep from losing the team.
My predictions (sans the good guys, feel free to do what you want with WSU) are as follows:
CU-Still head and shoulders above the rest.
ISUR-Great talent and I expect they will continue to improve under 1st year Coach Muller.
ISUB-Here is where things get tricky. The Trees will ugly up some wins I think.
UNI-Only reason they are this high is experience and coaching. The Panthers are a lock to be picked bottom 4 next season, but they will still talk about at large possibilities as likely.
Evansville-Can they play enough D to win 50% or better?
Bradley-History says much higher seems too much to expect.
SIU-Barry is a huge step up for the ugly dawgs.
Drake-skeptical about the Geese, mostly their coach. This could easily be a poor selection.
MSU-Awful. Few finishing positions seem more likely than the basement for the Bears.
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