Official 2016-17 MVCfans.com Prediction - 3rd Place

[glm38]

It's not like the WSU talent circle is spitting out the Washington Generals this year.

Illinois State is the team/program that has something to prove. Until something changes, why else wouldn't you expect more of the same?

I picked us here but I will say that the talent I saw on the court for WSU last year not named Baker or VanVleet doesn't scare me.

No concerns with Markis McDuffie, or Shaq Morris? Statistically, the two were quite similar to Hawkins/McIntosh from a scoring/rebounding perspective. You probably didn't see former top 100 recruit Landry Shamet, but he did average 9 points in 19 minutes last year for the three games he played.

As an opposing fan McDuffie is a big worry. I think it's possible he's the best player in the league this year as a sophomore. I also think Shamet is a stud. Both have had recent injuries though so that is a bit of a concern.

Shaq is a different story. He has huge potential but at times he appears so disinterested and often seems woefully out of shape. It's always possible he puts it all together this year but I wouldn't bet any money on it.

[wgslaw]

Wichita State is really hard to project. They have the most physically gifted roster in the league and I don't think it is remotely close. But they lack a dominant PG who is a leader and thus could struggle in the half court. If Marshall decides to play pressure/trap defense line to line for 40 minutes they could be devastating given their quickness, depth, length, athleticism and individual scoring ability. I don't think that is his nature as he prefers tough man to man half court defense coupled with fanatical rebounding. It will be an interesting year for the coach. NI will be the same as always and that is good but with no potential to be great. I think the Redbirds have some talent but will never be consistent.

[uniftw]

NI will be the same as always and that is good but with no potential to be great.

That's funny.

Team ranked in the top 10 last season,
Received top 25 votes last season...injury and illness caused a rough patch - like injury did for WSU to start the year and won 12 of final 14 games of the season once at full strength. Were 7-2 before the start of the injury bug with wins over #1 UNC and #5 Iowa State.

[BirdsEyeView]

This year, more than any of the past few is more wide open than before. Your assumed top 3 situations are this...

WSU - hoping that Landry Shamet (running the show), McDuffie and Morris + their big recruiting class can overcome a loss of FVV, Baker, Wessel.
All other schools - banking that they can't.

ISUr - Always inconsistent. We have a good Sr. point guard this year that should show leadership to run the team and help them overcome past inconsistent play. Who knows?

UNI - Lost some players, kept some players. Uncertain with PG relying on a true Freshman or Lohaus.


Until we see all the products on the court, everyone is just posturing for their own team's benefit.

This is a mostly fair take, but people are really dismissive of several WSU players. Certainly none of them were all-conference, but Zach Brown started 31 games and averaged 7 ppg in 19 minutes, while Rashard Kelly and Conner Frankamp have high ceilings and an opportunity to step out from behind the seniors.

When you look at the above players output per 40, it was quite similar to the Redbird "stars". As noted above, McDuffie/Morris = Hawkins/McIntosh, Kelly = Wills, Frankamp = Lee...Who are the Redbirds going to have to equal Shamet, Brown, and top 10 JUCO post Darral Willis?

Frankamp does not equal Lee. PG is the quarterback of basketball. That should be WSU's only main concern. FVV was your on court coach, leader, motivator and go-to guy last year. How do you replace his intangibles??

As you can see since I posted above, WSU fans are posturing, ISU fans posturing, UNI fans posturing for their own benefits. Nobody is fully realistic about the concerns of their own team.

WSU has a major question mark replacing FVV due to his intangibles, including overall toughness that spilled over to the rest of the team.

[WSUShox88]

Does anybody know how WSU fared before FVV graced the sidelines? Were they even worth a damn?

[Cdizzle]

Frankamp does not equal Lee.

You hope.

They are very different players, that is true. But his point that their per 40 numbers say they are fairly equivalent is fair. Now, per 40 numbers don't tell us everything. People don't play 40 minutes (well unless you are the Evansville 1st-Team designate). It's difficult to quantify things like defense and running a team with per 40 stats. Sometimes a walk-on has great per 40 numbers, but there is a reason he is only playing 2 minutes per game. But if the reason you're only playing 17mpg is because you're a sophomore behind the league's POY, it can be hard to say just what that means. Looking just at their sophomore stats, it looks like Frankamp is a better scorer. Lee appears to be a better facilitator, but Frankamp takes much better care of the ball. Lee gets a lot more steals.

I can't believe I just had to do that. I'm not even on the Frankamp train. But there is a common theme that keeps coming up: FVV and Baker are gone; and apparently took their scholarships with them and will be replaced by the water boys.

[hot nuts]

Sports fans are a real insecure lot...always worried about what other fans think about their team.

[Cdizzle]

Sports fans are a real insecure lot...always worried about what other fans think about their team.

Ummmm, welcome to sports? Glad to have you aboard.

[hot nuts]

Sports fans are a real insecure lot...always worried about what other fans think about their team.

Ummmm, welcome to sports? Glad to have you aboard.

Thanks! I think I'll stay!

[Cdizzle]

Sports fans are a real insecure lot...always worried about what other fans think about their team.

Ummmm, welcome to sports? Glad to have you aboard.

Thanks! I think I'll stay!

Unless you think your team is better than my team, in which case you can GTFO.