Reggie Lynch Leaving ISU

[Dupe]

This one really hurts. There went some of the strength of the MVC next year. You can't judge it, though, because this time it's way different. For example, when Rayvonte Rice left Drake, they were bad and trending down. He got poached, so to speak. That happens a lot in the MVC and I get very frustrated that the Big 10 can basically just have anyone they want from our bottom half programs. There's a long list there.

This is different because Illinois State wasn't going to be bad next year. I think his leaving had a lot to do with Ward, and that's just really sad. He wasn't abandoning a school in the same way other MVC guys do. I actually think Illinois State next year would have been the stronger team with Reggie than Minnesota. I really liked Regge Lynch. Minnesota is getting a top notch big here. Too bad for the MVC, but I get it. Who knows...maybe Muller just "lost" him, though. It could be your typical MVC turnover, but it looks like there's more to it.

[choida]

Maybe Loyola can make up the slack...

[RoyalShock]

Is it too early to start thinking another undefeated conference season is entirely possible?

[Dupe]

Is it too early to start thinking another undefeated conference season is entirely possible?

Serious question: With Lynch gone, who is even a contender? Are we back to Evansville only...IF Mock returns?

and when is that announcement going to happen? Is he coming back?

[Dupe]

Maybe Loyola can make up the slack...

I'm afraid you may be right. Hilariously, Loyola may be the other best team in our league now.

[Cdizzle]

Is it too early to start thinking another undefeated conference season is entirely possible?

It wasn't even before this announcement.

Though, for the record, that is certainly not an expectation I will ever put on a WSU team. It just isn't fair to them.

[AndShock]

Is it too early to start thinking another undefeated conference season is entirely possible?

I'd say it's more than possible.

[shoxlax]

The Valley is becoming a farm system for the Big 10 which is ironic since many of the players seem to do better there.

[ShockerPrez]

Serious question: With Lynch gone, who is even a contender? Are we back to Evansville only...IF Mock returns?

and when is that announcement going to happen? Is he coming back?

But, but, but UNI. UNI has arrived, right? I mean, surely they aren't gonna hibernate for another 4 years. They had a sellout last year in a game!

[RoyalShock]

Before Lynch left I would have predicted ISU as a solid and safe 2nd in the league. This drops them down to even with UNI.

If I were to rate each MVC team on a scale of 10-1, with first place being a 10 and last place a 1, here is where I would slot everyone:

WSU - 10
UNI, ISUr - 7
UE, LU - 6
ISUb - 4
MSU, Drake - 3
SIU - 2
BU - 1

This league is in dire need of two new programs that would rate six or higher consistently on that scale. UAB and Murray State (or Belmont if another private is necessary), please.

[Dupe]

But, but, but UNI. UNI has arrived, right? I mean, surely they aren't gonna hibernate for another 4 years. They had a sellout last year in a game!

If it doesn't take 2-3 more years before they have a great team again, I will be surprised. It's a pendulum up there, and sadly, they just swung hard in the good direction. We all know what comes next. I'm looking forward to 2017 when they are good again...:)

I guess the nice thing is you really can plan on them being good again. Jacobsen is a guy you can set your clock to. The problem is that if it's next year, it's more likely to be a result of the rest of the MVC being terrible again. They may finish 2nd now that Illinois State is a big question mark, but you can finish 2nd in this conference and barely be a top 100. Let's hope that's not the case again...

[1972Shocker]

http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/edina-native-reggie-lynch-transferring-to-minnesota-gophers-from-illinois-state-042115

Damn, these transfers of talented, key players are sucking the life out of the Valley. I really liked Reggie. Seemed like a really good young man. I thought Illinois State tended to underutilize him.

[sdshox]

Does somebody want to remind the fine folks in Normal that they aren't a junior college?

[1972Shocker]

Does somebody want to remind the fine folks in Normal that they aren't a junior college?

Muller is actually doing pretty good with the men's program. The Redbirds women had 6 players transfer out. The main difference being last year's women's team was 2-28 or something like that.

[Jhook89]

UNI loses some key pieces, but they also have a decent amount of contributors from last year coming back. Are they going to be as good as they were last year? No, but they won't drift into obscurity either. If Mock comes back I think UE is now the second best in the Valley. Losing Lynch hurts the Redbirds so much. Ugh I think they just went from a fringe top 25 team to being in the NIT.

One a side note, does UAB have that good of a basketball program? I know they won a game this year, but I don't feel like I hear about their team very often. I'm curious if anyone has any more insight on the program than I have.