Around the Valley Non Con

[Shocker-maniac]

The response made me curious how the MVC has done each year for the past 10 years or so. I couldn't find data on NCSOS, but I found rankings based on NC record based on RPI rankings:

NCAA BB Non-Conf Power Rtg Conference Ratings:

MVC ranking by year:

13/14 - 11
12/13 - 8
11/12 - 9
10/11 - 12
09/10 - 8
08/09 - 10
07/08 - 7
06/07 - 7
05/06 - 7
04/05 - 7
03/04 - 12

Avg ranking 8.9

http://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-bas...anking-by-conf

[WuDrWu]

And where is Doug Elgin in all of this? I swear I heard he was bringing back the scheduling mandate and it would be enforced this season?

Maybe his hands are tied and the majority of schools voted it down?

Like Doc said, WSU should not have to go 34-0 to be able to get a one seed in the ncaa. But that is exactly what is going on again this season.

Any loss in the conference last season was going to be a bad loss. It looks like it is going to be the same this season...

The Elgin question, again, is a fair question. It's time for some leadership and perhaps some heavy-handedness.

I'm beginning to believe you're right about any loss being a bad loss. I still think UNI has potential, but it's not 2009-2010 and let's remember they return everyone from a team that was 16-15 last year and haven't won a game in St. Louis in 5 years. To expect a large leap forward seems hopeful, at a minimum.

[Shocker-maniac]

It's a fair question and yes, there are many factors that play into scheduling in addition to the often heard "we don't want to play Wichita State" card. It's NOT easy and anyone that tells you it is doesn't know jack-squat.

That being said, my point is what are you bringing to the table? In SIU's case, they are barely leaving their area code. Road games at SIUE AND SEMO? Tourney at Kent State? They aren't trying. Go get paid if money is that tight. Take the buy games, there are PLENTY of options. Do NOT leach off us, take our money and bring NOTHING to the table. I'm aware of the Salukis big run during the first 9 seasons of the century. BUT while WSU wasn't winning at the level we expected, we held up our end of the bargain schedule-wise with very few exceptions. We spent money, we tried.

There needs to be a stick with the carrot, like there used to be.

I agree with this. And SIU should be penalized for their pathetic schedule. I thought that was Elgin's claim to fame getting the conference teams to play top notch schedules to boost RPI rankings. Has he changed his position on this?

Edit: looks like @capnkirk: beat me on the Elgin question.

[MadaboutWu]

Thanks @WuDrWu: for putting the Valley non-con's together. Great stuff to have in one place.

[Kung Wu]

I will give Barah one last pass. He needs to have a winning season to get the momentum building and keep the fans at bay. But he better darn well deliver that winning season with that schedule or his rope will be shorter than he is.

[Shocker-maniac]

The Elgin question, again, is a fair question. It's time for some leadership and perhaps some heavy-handedness.

So, tie the conference distribution of NCAA tournament money to SOS and other performance based metrics.

[WuDrWu]

Elgin still gets a pass, but another year of this crap and it's going to wear thin.

[wufan]

I will give Barah one last pass. He needs to have a winning season to get the momentum building and keep the fans at bay. But he better darn well deliver that winning season with that schedule or his rope will be shorter than he is.

SIU is going to be one of the youngest teams in the nation again. Five juniors (2 JUCOs), three sophomores, and five freshman.

Evansville is, again, similarly young. They did add two JUCO AAs and an international star to play the 3 and 4. Should make for a nice starting line-up in between Balentine and Mock since last years starters at the 3/4 will now come off the bench.

[SirShoxAlot]

Mock is sooooooo underutilized under boner-for-guards Marty. I would take him in a Shocker uniform in a heartbeat, way before I'd take Balentine.

[wufan]

Mock is sooooooo underutilized under boner-for-guards Marty. I would take him in a Shocker uniform in a heartbeat, way before I'd take Balentine.

Yes, Marty's offense is crap, and running Balentine off of 5-6 screens per possession is BS. However, Mock was only a sophomore last year, and it was just his second year in the US. Mock averaged 14 points per game in Feb/Mar. I think the guy just got better during the last 12 games or so, like Beane at SIU.

Evansville SHOULD be really good this year. Willie Wiley is a stud JC PF and they added a high scoring combo guard JUCO AA, not to mention the Nova transfer that can play SF. The Aces return their entire team from last year, but 2 or 3 starters are about to get beat out and come off the bench. With only one senior on the roster, Marty needs an NCAA bid by 2016 or he needs to get out.

[LandStander]

They look good on paper but Mock needs to stay out of foul trouble for them to have success.

[WuDrWu]

Eff Evansville

2014-15 Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 15 Earlham Evansville, Ind.
Nov. 19 at Miami Ohio Oxford, Ohio
Nov. 24 Gulf Coast Showcase Fort Myers, Fla.
Nov. 25 Gulf Coast Showcase Fort Myers, Fla.
Nov. 26 Gulf Coast Showcase Fort Myers, Fla.
Dec. 2 Wright State Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 6 IUPUI Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 9 at Belmont Nashville, Tenn.
Dec. 13 Murray State Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 18 Ohio University Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 21 Alabama State Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 28 Coppin State Evansville, Ind


Their tournament teams include, FGC, East Carolina, Marist, Fresno State, W-GB and San Francisco. Just awful.

[Dave Stalwart]

Eff Evansville

2014-15 Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 15 Earlham Evansville, Ind.
Nov. 19 at Miami Ohio Oxford, Ohio
Nov. 24 Gulf Coast Showcase Fort Myers, Fla.
Nov. 25 Gulf Coast Showcase Fort Myers, Fla.
Nov. 26 Gulf Coast Showcase Fort Myers, Fla.
Dec. 2 Wright State Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 6 IUPUI Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 9 at Belmont Nashville, Tenn.
Dec. 13 Murray State Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 18 Ohio University Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 21 Alabama State Evansville, Ind.
Dec. 28 Coppin State Evansville, Ind


Their tournament teams include, FGC, East Carolina, Marist, Fresno State, W-GB and San Francisco. Just awful.

Its just really telling when we continue to see schedule after schedule come out from the MVC that all look like this. We are in the wrong conference. Even if it's that our foes are TRYING to get games, but no one wants to play them, it doesn't matter. Either the Valley doesn't want to schedule up or no one will play the Valley. Regardless, we are in a box and we are held back. It's pretty frustrating, and I am a self proclaimed Valley optimist most of the time.

This conference had better dominate the non-con this year because there is just no meat on the bone.

[ShockerFever]

Marty's going for his own version of an undefeated season.



Granted it's against the St. Mary's School for the Blind and ITT Tech, but hey, that counts for something, right?

D-2 schedule for a D-2 program.

[Play Angry]

Worst part is that they'll only go 8-4 or 7-5 against that batch of anklebiters.



Woof.