Recruiting is over...potential time for MVC.

MVC Season 43 Preview East Division

Note:  The rating system I have used has changed since last year.  I have devalued IQ ratings because they seem to really hurt the younger players who end up making big strides in that category anyway.  I am no longer giving my starting lineups with player ratings because I was so on point with certain players last year that I feel it removes one of my huge advantages and gives all you guys a great opinion on who you should be starting.  (Bellomy is prime example)

1^st Place East Craighton 111.14 overall

Even though Isabel and Depriest are listed at SF my ratings has Hudgins as the best fit for the position, Bailey will be missed but this team has enough tools to still be the top team in the conference. Mizzou has a young and talented team that is sure to make it to the big dance.  Charles Bellomy is the star of the team but James Tylor and Charles Floyd complete the nucleus that is sure to dominate.  You will also note that last years star PG Edward Rogers is still on the team and will provide a great spark off the bench.

2^nd Place East Southern Illinois 109.93

Southern Illinois is the next team to lose a solid SF with Hollis moving on and Tyler Pittman the SG taking up his spot.  The sophomore should be pushed into the role to push his ratings higher.  He is a much better fit than Connor or Jordan at the SF position.  It’s close but I’ll choose Jay Rick as the best player on the team but it is not by much.  There aren’t any spectacular players on this team but they are all very very solid.  I am interested to see Chad McGlothen take the reins at PG this year.  Should be fun.  I pick Southern Illinois to be a 50/50 for the national tournament.

3^rd place East Division Evansville 102.89

Even though I’m not sure what positions they will all play I am sure Evansville can get Francis Badshaw, Michael Corbett and Albert Eberle on the floor at the same time.  Our third great SF contributes to the mass exodus as McCampbell will be missed.  The bigs Corbitt and Rodriguez are returning but I am not sure it will matter much.  Evansville finishes in 3^rd place by a hair. 

4^th place East Division Bradley 102.80

Belser is gone so it is up to Freeman to pick up the slack in the backcourt.  I really don’t have much to say about this team yet.  There are no stars to speak of just a bunch of guys who play some ball.  Gale Gary is the best player on the team but not by much.  Role players from last year Scheidt and Sanders will have to contribute more.  4^th place is my pick for this team but I guess it could be 3^rd. 

5^th place East Division Drake 99.73

Looking at the numbers I just don’t see how this team can compete with the above teams.  The big men Brock and Oglesby are experience but just don’t have the tools to compete with the better bigs in conference.  There are a lot of returning players so I guess anything is possible but I just don’t see it. 

Last Place East Division Indiana State 93.79

I just took a second look at the numbers and almost lost my lunch.  With the exception of Dodd this team should be sent to division 2.  Robinson shows promise as a sophomore but I am really searching here.  What a horrible team. 

Final Prediction 1.5 teams in the national tournament

MVC Season 43 Preview West Division

1^st Place Illinois State coached by joehuskie84 with 110.97 rating

Our second and final lock for the national tournament is Illinois State.  As you all can note I did predict myself to finish in 4^th last year so believe that I am not blowing smoke.  These guards can flat out play.  Bunker is inredible at PG and Hayes is a super soph.  Eaddy and Williams are my Denham Brown and Rashad Anderson chemistry guys.  The bigs are unspectacular but young and will improve with the playing time they will receive.  Teams would be wise to challenge us to beat them down low.

2^nd Place Northern Iowa coached by j_corva with 107.82

This team will play in the post season but it will take a surprise conference tournament championship to pull off a national tournament bid.  As you all will notice Wichita State is finally on the down turn and j_corva is sure to benefit.  Adeyemo is the point man and has The superstar Norman Vitela to join him in the backcourt.  Mauk, Walls and Ridenour provide a big man trio that is sure to reek havoc in the conference. 

3^rd place Wichita State coached by sim with 107.82 (they lose by 3^rd decimal)

This team no longer has a coach and hopefully soon will no longer have a soul.  I am sick of losing to them and will be happy to see them start the decline.  The previous coach was a primadonna and scheduled an impossible schedule.  There is no way they make it to the post season.  Superstars Flood and Leffler are gone and have left the team to Dustin Wyble to do it all by himself.  Owen Goslin and Levi Peterson will help a bit but the superstars are long gone after Wyble this year.

4^th place Gardner-Webb coached by sslats with 107.15

I’ll give this team an outside chance of making the postseason invitational.  Bonner is the rock at PG.  Roddy and Nordquist will be missed.  Cartsens and Hawkins will  help in the backcourt but they just don’t have the same talent as last years group.  Big men Blackstone, Nickerson and Blake are all talented and will help GW cause trouble. 

5^th place Western Kentucky coached by dabner with 101.65

Welcome welcome to the new coach in the MVC.  WKY was abandoned for a while so we know its going to take time but building a contender in the west takes a lot of time and recruits.  Good and White are gone and this years stars just do not exist.  Loren Bronk may be the best player.  This team is really bad.

Last place Missouri State coached by discodave with 99.01

They are 2-1 as I write this so hopefully I won’t be eating my type at the end of the season. Damon Taylor is the best player and Bundy isn’t bad.  I picked Missouri State to have a down year last year and I was wrong so it will probably happen again.  With the numbers I just don’t see it.  I don’t see how they can finish any higher than 5^th but who the heck knows. 

Hope you all enjoyed my new system of season preview.  I am sure some of you will have your complaints.  Stay tuned for the all conference teams and all defensive teams.  Hope you enjoy.

 Final Prediction 1 National Tournament team and 1.5 Invitational Teams

Joe