FanNation

I thought you said you didn't know much about college b-ball,oh well good blog

-Cincy- R.I.P. Gene | 03/03/08, 11:01 PM

I guess I've always underestimated myself. Thanks for the words.

RUGator | 03/03/08, 11:06 PM

Great work. I agree about my beloved Badgers. The Badgers need the tempo. I love the Badgers and will always think they can do well! But for the most part I always over estimate them.

badgerfan07 | 03/03/08, 11:09 PM

Like to think that a team with 6 straight NCAA appearances, a mid-major tag, team that was the winningist team from 2001-2004, was ranked 23 preseason but struggled early agaisnt the no 9 ranked SOS, and made it to the sweet 16 last year while only losing 2 major players should be considered a force to be reconned with as an upset if they make it to the champ of their MVC conf tournament or win it. Def have to get there first, but always successful in St. Louis. The fact SIU is third in the conf is only beneficial since it has been since 1998 since the conf champion won. GO SIU

siu08 | 03/04/08, 04:15 AM

O that last team to win the MVC tourney as the reg season champ was ISU. That also was their last dance. They are led by a soph who dont get me wrong is incredible of late. They have a first year coach. No one on that team has seen a post season or atleast not NCAA tourney. ISU is Probably guaranteed an at large but don expect an upset. Creighton has to get through SIU to get the mvc tourney champ game. SIU is a disguting like 8 out 11 in the last 11 meetings. They have lost 2 of the last 3 including last year in STL champ game. However this team lacks any sort of serious leader like NBA star Kyle Korver or last years excellent SR protege of Korver, FUNK. Creighton was one of the first teams to make some noise and go to the sweet 16 in awhile, before the league started getting multiple bids and bradley and siu and wsu made some deep runs. in 04-07. Creighton still remains the posterchild of the valley because it was the team to beat when the league deepened

siu08 | 03/04/08, 04:22 AM

If bradley would have been the Hersey Hawkins teams it had right before the league deepend we would all have to hear about how good bradley is regardless of their success or potential that year. That is pretty much how it works with creighton to. They are a great team and Dana Altman is the winningist coach in the MVC hisroty. But since 01 their resume falls way short to SIU's who if they were to win the conf tourney would have 7 straight conf champs or conf tourneys and 7 straight ncaa appearances. Only teams like memphis who play in the CUSA which is ranked much lower than the usually 5th or 6th ranked conf can match that success in the conf.

siu08 | 03/04/08, 04:26 AM

Very insightful and informative scoopage re MVC and college basketball in general.

RUGator | 03/04/08, 09:28 AM

every blog you make is worth reading amd this one is no disapointment

Ny | 03/04/08, 04:56 PM

nice.

Anthony E. | 03/04/08, 06:08 PM

I thought of Pitt instantly when I saw this. They could be a top five team this year without the injuries to Cook and Fields. Even with Fields back now, he isn't back to the top of his game yet.
If Cook is given an extra year of eligibility, this team will have the exact same starting lineup as they started with this year. That team would be really dangerous, and easily a legitimate title contender.

Bigdleech: Godfatherofswimming | 03/04/08, 08:31 PM

Great job. I friggin hate Butler. And I picked Wisconsin to exit early last year. Score! I usually go against Big Ten schools, though Im an Illini fan.

Paddy26 Congrats Paddy | 03/04/08, 08:42 PM

Look at siu08 go!

-Cincy- R.I.P. Gene | 03/04/08, 08:57 PM

Butler is going to upset so many teams. I can't wait for all of the power conference homers to freak out when I pick them to go far. I remember my friends wanting to crucify me for putting George Mason in the Sweet 16 two years ago because that would have them beating Michigan State and North Carolina. Pwnage.

IrishR#1: USA! USA! USA! | 03/04/08, 09:03 PM

siu08 should blog this stuff

Ny | 03/04/08, 09:16 PM

Upsets a word thats thrown around to much. It can really hurts the feelings of programs like gonzaga, siu, butler, and xaviar and even george mason. Granted when Bradley George Mason and Witchita State all found themselves n the sweet 16 together there were some serious upsets ESPECIALLY BRADLEY. BUT SIU didn't upset anyone last year in the tournament. They lost the first game they were not the favorite against Kansas and won the two games they were favorites. Butler and Drake probably won't upset anyone this year either. They will get a 5 or 6 seed probably and will definately win their first game. I definately feel either or both have a shot at a deep run but the odds are against them. It is not an upset if a Midmajor Team that is picked to get a number 2 seed like xaviar beats say Stanford of the Pac 10 in the sweet 16 when Stanford is currently the 3 seed on Espn bracketology. However everyone will hail xaviar cinderlla even though they just are flat out a premier team. Havent seen alot of Pitt game but the ones I have I agree they are scary good when clicking. However that is the theme this year just look at the IU MSU game the other day. Where was IU or was MSU just that good? Same goes to the likes of Arizona, USC, and Missipi St. For me personally the only team that has plaid good ball night in night on with out a huge embarassing failure that is unreprestative of the teams entire season is Memphis. Its tough to be perfect

siu08 | 03/04/08, 11:02 PM

I know I sound midmajor bias...well because I am I am a senior at SIU but I just want to quote the great Jim Calhoun of UCONN who when he beat SIU in the sweet 16 in 02' had this to say. "SIU has a great team and a great program. We don't have players any better than they do. We just have more of them." That to me is the difference in midmajor ball and in "BIG 6 Conferences" ball. More money to throw at the players meaning more scholarships and promotion of the program. Come March though that doesn't matter. However like Calhoun implied mid-majors just dont have depth to make runs that deep into the tournament and that is why the power confrences have more success in the sweet 16 and further. However for that first round and in 4 vs 5 games in the second, I really feel there are no upsets. Each team put blood sweat and tears, each team has 20 plus wins and a top RPI, and each team dedicated a full year toward one goal. After the first round it comes down to how many AJ Graves do you have on your team. Do you got one? or Do you got 3?

siu08 | 03/04/08, 11:20 PM

also wanna state I love Washington State too this year. Depending on who they get seeded against I expect big things.

siu08 | 03/04/08, 11:27 PM

RU GATOR had asked me to comment on STL. I just don't feel they have what it takes to win their conf tournament in the A10 with xaviar and st. jos in there. however they have one of the best recruting classes in the nation. I have seen Conklin who espn has at grade like 81 play. He is amazing. They have 3 top 150 recruits comming in. Another fun tidbit: my little brother was the Captain of the Washington High School basketball team in Illinois last year. Matt Roth, currently desperatly trying to get out of his commitment to Calvin Sampson, had STL as his second choice. If majerus stops talkin about abortion and starts concentration on basketball and the archbishop of STL doesnt excommunicate him....STL is looking crazy good next 3-4 years Xaviar WATCH OUT!!!

siu08 | 03/05/08, 12:55 AM

While I agree the Badgers' # of possessions/game registers below average, especially this season, their inability to come back in tournament games has not been their problem. In fact, Bucky has posted double-digit comeback victories against Tulsa in '03, Richmond in '04, and Texas A & M Chorpus Christi in '07. The Badgers were edged by a better Kentucky team in '03, lost a grinding, physical game against Pitt in '04, were edged in the final minute by a superior talent in UNC in '05, played horribly in '06 against AZ, and lost to UNLV and its >50% 3-pct last season. The Badgers actually came back against UNLV only to lose the game after pulling ahead. I understand you're not a Badger aficionado, but please do not resort to cliches. Hopefully, Bucky does not fail to come from behind in a tournament game this season, thereby saddening and embarrassing me.

mschroeder | 03/05/08, 02:55 AM

JeffPap, thanks for the correction re Bird. I made the correction. I agree with you about SIU, but in this case I was "speaking" about Illinois State.

RUGator | 03/05/08, 08:58 AM