Valley Breakdown

[WuDrWu]

How about a little discussion about where you expect teams OTHER than Wichita State to finish in the Valley this season?

A roster/personell breakdown as well as changes from last season would be helpful. If there is information on non conference scheduling, then all the better.

Your views as to the expectations of the local fans (etc) along with your own prognostication will also be expected.

[WuDrWu]

I'll start with a pretty easy one.

Evansville:


The Aces had their best season since the early part of the decade. Led by Seniors Jason Holsinger, Shy Ely and Nate Garner, Evansville finished the season tied for 5th at 8-10.

When your best season in 6 is 8-10 and you lost your top 4 scorers (remember that freshman Kaylon Williams transferred out) then you are not poised to improve.

I expect Evansville to be a hard nosed bunch of scrappers. They do have a serviceable big man in Pieter van Tongeren but he is unspectacular. Junior Kavon Lacy and So. James Haarsma were nice roll players last year.

I suspect the Aces are expecting big things from Colt Ryan, a 6'4" freshman guard from Indiana. He attended the same school as Michael Menser (Indiana State) who was a very good Valley player a few years ago and Colt broke his school scoring record.

Marty Simmons returns for his 3rd season at the helm and even with the best of intentions, he is fighting a big uphill battle. Anything other than 10th place has to be considered a surprise this season.

The Aces will scare some teams with their tenacity, and ultimately will provide a couple of stunning upsets, however I do not expect any big showing from this young, inexperienced and frankly, not terribly athletic group.

I cannot see the Aces winning more than 6 games with a total of 4 or 5 being the most likely.

Prediction: 10th place 4-14 Valley Record

I am not sure that most Aces fans expect much more. Everyone likes the upside of newcomers, but the history of this league does not bode well for a team of newbies. Even the most avid and purple beverage drinking fan probably doesn't see them out of the play in game this season.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Missouri State -

Last year: 11-20 (3-15)

They lose top scorer Chris Cooks, Wade Knapp, and Shane & Spencer Laurie. They expect Kyle Weems and Ryan Jehle, along with freshmen Michael Porter and Jerome Jones to step up. Gone also is top recruit Lane Adams from Oklahoma, who is playing baseball this year.

Two mostly unknown JUCO transfers will offer a bit of experience for an otherwise young team.

Expectations are low in Springfield, as many wait for Coach Cuonzo Martin to put together a full recruiting class.

They are basically taking a mulligan this year, in hopes that with coaching, and time to recruit better players.

Prediction: 5-11 conference 9th place Valley finish

[1972Shocker]

Drake Bulldogs

Last Year: 17-16 (7-11, T-7th)

Drake loses 5 seniors led by Jonathan Cox. Also graduating were Brent Heemskerk, John Michael Hall, Alex White and Jacob Baryenbruch.

More significantly, junior-to-be Josh Parker left the team taking his 10.7 PPG and 43.2% 3-point shooting with him.

Top returners are seniors Josh Young, Craig Stanley and Adam Templeton. Josh Young is an all-conference palyer and Drake's leading scorer from a year ago. However, I just don't think he has the supporting cast to allow Drake to improve on last year's finish. I don't know much about the rest of Drake's roster or their newcomers, but I think the Bulldogs will be right there with Evansville and MSU at the bottom of the standings.

[martymoose]

Creighton:

Ummmm........... Sorry, I guess I don't care...

[kcshocker11]

Creighton:

Ummmm........... Sorry, I guess I don't care...

How can they be anything less than the national champs? Havent you visited their board? :D 8) :posterwu:

[martymoose]

Creighton:

Ummmm........... Sorry, I guess I don't care...

How can they be anything less than the national champs? Havent you visited their board? :D 8) :posterwu:

Damn you! Why did you make me go there...? Also, if you ask them WSU is not a rival, yet in their near lifeless board one of their only threads today involves hating WSU...

http://thebluejaycafe.com/BB/viewtopic.php?t=13064

[RoyalShock]

Uhh, Marty, that's their old board. They ditched it two months ago for a Rivals board.

[WuDrWu]

Uhh, Marty, that's their old board. They ditched it two months ago for a Rivals board, which as it turns out, is even FAR more entertaining.

Now that you're out of power, I feel comfortable in "fixing" your posts when called for.

[martymoose]

Uhh, Marty, that's their old board. They ditched it two months ago for a Rivals board.

That shows you how closely I follow CU message boards. I guess you better have a talk with our site administrator, all I did was go to our "Links" section and click on "CU - BlueJay Cafe"

[shockall]

Creighton:

Ummmm........... Sorry, I guess I don't care...

How can they be anything less than the national champs? Havent you visited their board? :D 8) :posterwu:

Hate them, despise them, but year after year, they turn a bunch of no name players into a team and compete at the top third of the conference.

First or second in the league.

[wu_shizzle]

Hate them, despise them, but year after year, they turn a bunch of no name players into a team and compete at the top third of the conference.

First or second in the league.

I think you're talking about UNI.

Creighton only gets BCS level recruits because they play in an NBA atmosphere at the Quest.

[WuDrWu]

Hate them, despise them, but year after year, they turn a bunch of no name players into a team and compete at the top third of the conference.

First or second in the league.

I think you're talking about UNI.

Well, perhaps UNI has a bunch of no name players but to say they compete at the top third of the conference with any regularity is not accurate.

Since joining the league in '91-'92, UNI has finished:

1st - 1 time
2nd - 1 time (3 way tie)
3rd - 1 time (2 way tie)
4th - 1 time
5th - 4 times
6th - 1 time
7th - 5 times
8th - 1 time
9th - 1 time
10th - 2 times

Perhaps they outrun their pedigree, but 50% of the time they're in the play in round.

[wu_shizzle]

Hate them, despise them, but year after year, they turn a bunch of no name players into a team and compete at the top third of the conference.

First or second in the league.

I think you're talking about UNI.

Well, perhaps UNI has a bunch of no name players but to say they compete at the top third of the conference with any regularity is not accurate.

Since joining the league in '91-'92, UNI has finished:

1st - 1 time
2nd - 1 time (3 way tie)
3rd - 1 time (2 way tie)
4th - 1 time
5th - 4 times
6th - 1 time
7th - 5 times
8th - 1 time
9th - 1 time
10th - 2 times

Perhaps they outrun their pedigree, but 50% of the time they're in the play in round.

Watching Benny J hit that last second three on Senior Night replays in my mind every time I think of UNI.

I'm sure it has clouded my judgment about how good they've really been...

[WuDrWu]

Watching Benny J hit that last second three on Senior Night replays in my mind every time I think of UNI.

I'm sure it has clouded my judgment about how good they've really been...

I hear ya' hummin' my man......I hear ya' hummin'.