TCU beats ISUblue by 20
Wow. The MVC is atrocious.
--Insert something witty here--
Wow. The MVC is atrocious.
It has been a very, very disappointing non-conference showing. But ... if Southern finishes second or third, I can think of a certain diminutive head coach who will surely be trying to portray the season as a success.
MVC records through 12/16/2018:
Drake 6-2
Indiana State 6-3
Bradley 7-4
Valpo 6-4
Illinois State 7-5
Southern Illinois 7-5
Loyola 6-5
Evansville 5-5
Missouri State 4-6
Northern Iowa 4-6
I think we're at the point in the season that the number-cruncher sites have a pretty good idea where teams are now. The Valley is at a point where none of the teams are good enough to be at-large teams in the NCAA or NIT but the bad teams are better than most conferences, other than the big conferences.
Updated KenPom (through yesterday):
Loyola - 85
SIU - 118
Bradley - 138
ISUblue - 141
ISUred - 155
Valpo - 162
Drake - 166
UNI - 187
Evansville - 193
MoState - 213
13 of the 18 conference games are projected to be 6-point games or less. MoState at 213 is probably the best "worst" team in any conference other than the Power 5 schools.
I hope Elgin is hard at work on the MVC vs. SWAC Challenge.
(Inflammatory political snark)
No doubt the league is down this year but it might not be as bad as it seems.
Last season the MVC finished #8 in RPI. The A10 finished #11 and the Mountain West finished at #9.
This season the MVC sits at #10.
The A10 has also dropped from 11th to 14th and trails the Ivy League.
MWC dropped from 9th to 15th.
It doesn't change the fact that it is a one-bid league, but other mid-major leagues have taken a bigger hit than the MVC.
Data through games of 12/16/2018:
Interesting snap.
Drake has something special going. Could be a sleeper. Don't count out Greg Lansing at Indy St.
Craving a McBride Special!
Interesting snap.
Drake has something special going. Could be a sleeper. Don't count out Greg Lansing at Indy St.
Given how the non conference has looked I literally would not be surprised at anyone except Valpo or Evansville winning the league.
and Mo. State
Thanks for posting that. Wow. I guess there is some comfort to be found in our not having nose-dived as badly as others. But as you say, it doesn't change the fact that the MVC is a one-bid league.
Sigh.
(Inflammatory political snark)
Evansville doesn't seem to be scared of Murray State. Down seven at the half at MSU.
