Listened to several of the summer check-in media interviews with the MVC coaches. It's getting increasingly dicey to preseason prognosticate in an era with so much roster turnover at most schools, but I do think there are 5-6 Valley programs that have reason to feel pretty good:
Drake getting Brodie back to go with DeVries is pretty nice for them. Brodie was playing some very good ball last year, including against Miami in the NCAA tournament. And they have multiple promising portal adds to reload with.
UNI returns virtually their whole roster (including Bowen Born), gets Heise back after missing last year with an injury, and brings in a solid recruiting class, including 7-footer Hutson as a transfer from Loyola. Doesn't sound like Phyfe (ongoing medical challenges) will return.
I get the sense Dana Ford likes his squad at Mo State: Donovan Clay back as a super senior, a small but somewhat mighty backcourt with Matthew Lee (missed last year with ACL year) and Alston Mason, plus Chance Moore on the wing. Ford talked up the improvement this summer from Mt. Vernon product NJ Benson.
Wouldn't be surprised if Cade Tyson is one of the top 2-3 players in the league as a soph. He's a very talented fella, and Belmont also brings back Gillespie and Davidson as a quality duo in the backcourt. Casey Alexander sounded pretty high on their outlook, even with Sheppard off to the NBA.
Indiana State had one of the better transfer portal hauls in the league (including Swope from USI), and has some nice pieces back in Larry, Avila, Bledson and Kent. Plus, Scherz can coach. I'd expect the Sycs to contend.
Both central Illinois squads should be competitive, too, and UIC should be at least somewhat improved. Not super high on Murray but I don't think they'll be awful. Would expect Valpo (very young with new coach) and Evansville to scuffle.
Bottom line, there is the potential for some solid depth in the league this year, though I am skeptical anyone beyond Drake is much of a threat to be top-50 caliber. Southern will be picked bottom half ... that's what happens when you don't have proven scorers ... and we can all hope for a season of surpassing expectations. FWIW, the Mullins Q&A was one of the least detailed/informative of all the coaches calls (don't think Xavier Johnson's injury even came up).
This should say 2023-24. He could probably go 3-4 teams deep before a Saluki would be seriously considered for a preseason all-league slot, and not even sure who it would be. I guess Johnson?
I don't think SIU currently has a top 15 player in the Valley. Xavier Johnson is probably the closest but tough to project someone to make a huge jump from 7 PPG in his 4th year.
Pre season Prognostication doesn't mean anything but water cooler gossiping give me the the results after the season
https://twitter.com/unimbb/status/1692209276813553815?s=46&t=7s0hTttieSER8wqRSA0LoA
Was expected but obviously lousy for Phyfe and UNI. They still should be OK in the paint, particularly if Hutson can get going for them after transferring from Loyola.
Bradley and Evansville announce their non-conference schedules. Purple Aces double-dip with SEMO.
https://twitter.com/BradleyUMBB/status/1692221193238249883
https://twitter.com/UEAthletics_MBB/status/1692235726614634507
Bradley ends up with a good mid-major schedule with UAB, Utah State and Tulane or UTEP. California was awful last year. Vermont and Akron are usually in the top part of their leagues.
Other than the 2 Big 12 schools (BYU and Cincinnati), Evansville isn't playing vs. very much competition. You would hope the Saluki schedule will look better than this one.
ISUblue announced their non-conference schedule today. The Trees are going to East Lansing to play Michigan St. It's the first time the two teams have played a game since some game in 1979. I think there were a couple of pretty good players on the floor that night, too.
I hope the Sycamores are up to the task. I’d be okay if they took down MSU. Go Valley!
We should be getting close (next few weeks) to finding out who our first 2 (early season) conference opponents are. As I have noted, I am most looking forward to the road game at Belmont. Unless there is a personal schedule conflict, the wife and I are planning on going to Nashville for that game !!!!!
Murray announced their non-conference schedule today....
https://twitter.com/RacersHoops/status/1696953770016444783?s=20
@obd Nice home game against Western KY. I wish SIU would get a home and home series with them.
