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mvfcfan wrote:Valparaiso is actually a compete right away add, which is why we went after them. At the very least I'm expecting top 3 from the Crusaders.

I don't agree with this at all. You lost your best player. Moving to a tougher conference. And, recruits aren't a sure thing. You hope they're good but we have no idea. Loyola, MSU, and Southern all have good teams coming back. ISU and UNI are in the midst of things every year despite whatever they may go though because they have great coaching. Maybe they aren't top tier but they're not going to be near the bottom, either. Bradley showed some promise last season but they were so far away I think its still another year, but who knows. That's why I have Valpo finishing in a fight for 6th or 7th. I could see as high as fourth. But, winning the conference? You're just being a homer.

vu72 wrote:Valpo is picked 3rd or 4th by the pre-season magazines, not 7th.

Which magazines have already published a pre-season MVC straw poll? I would have guessed any of these would be in a November issue, behind a WWWWindians World Series cover.

I voted for SIU here 7th. I see them as a near-.500 team...

I don't put a lot of stock in preseason mags ; anyone who has a little knowledge can pick the obvious top level teams. My experience is that while fan bases tend to be homers, many of them also are more informed on roster additions/deletions, know who the players they saw last year who were under the radar for other teams etc. etc, . I think a good part of the info even our own local radio and media guys get comes from browsing team and conference fan boards; I know we usually know things well before they do.

That said I've only browsed one mag this year so far, it was Athlon, and it had MSU first UNI,LOC,ISUr,Valpo, SIU,BU, ISUb,UE,DU. For whatever that's worth, probably not much. So many things can happen yet; for example MSU had a significant scare the past week as Alize sprained his MCL. Doesn't look major, but he will be held out of much activity at least about 4 weeks. This time last year he wasn't even a blip on most MVC teams radar, just a solid juco add for MSU. I'm sure there are guys on rosters most of us have no inkling how well they might be playing and who will alter the landscape significantly. Polls are fun, and I like to hear various fan bases defend why they think they're right/wrong, but in the end, it's all conjecture till we play games.

pafan wrote:

vu72 wrote:Valpo is picked 3rd or 4th by the pre-season magazines, not 7th.

Which magazines have already published a pre-season MVC straw poll? I would have guessed any of these would be in a November issue, behind a WWWWindians World Series cover.

I voted for SIU here 7th. I see them as a near-.500 team...

Lindy's and Street and Smith's

Jsnhbe1Birds wrote:

mvfcfan wrote:Valparaiso is actually a compete right away add, which is why we went after them. At the very least I'm expecting top 3 from the Crusaders.

I don't agree with this at all. You lost your best player. Moving to a tougher conference. And, recruits aren't a sure thing. You hope they're good but we have no idea. Loyola, MSU, and Southern all have good teams coming back. ISU and UNI are in the midst of things every year despite whatever they may go though because they have great coaching. Maybe they aren't top tier but they're not going to be near the bottom, either. Bradley showed some promise last season but they were so far away I think its still another year, but who knows. That's why I have Valpo finishing in a fight for 6th or 7th. I could see as high as fourth. But, winning the conference? You're just being a homer.

A guy whose handle is mvfcfan and just said "that's why we [MVC] went after them" is a Valpo fan and homer...are you for real?

Bradley tied for 6th last year and they lost no one, so I don't see them regressing with Wardle at the helm in a non-Wichita State league.

I voted Valpo since they are the new kids in town, but I think they will be hungry to prove themselves and could finish higher than this.

ptownbraves wrote:Bradley tied for 6th last year and they lost no one, so I don't see them regressing with Wardle at the helm in a non-Wichita State league.

I voted Valpo since they are the new kids in town, but I think they will be hungry to prove themselves and could finish higher than this.

This. No doubt in my mind this is the year we leave the abyss for good. Valpo is my vote here but I could see barry in this spot too.

I would agree that what I saw of Bradley last year is a program on its way up.

SIU...I just don't see them finishing any higher than this.

MissouriValleyUnite wrote:

Jsnhbe1Birds wrote:

mvfcfan wrote:Valparaiso is actually a compete right away add, which is why we went after them. At the very least I'm expecting top 3 from the Crusaders.

I don't agree with this at all. You lost your best player. Moving to a tougher conference. And, recruits aren't a sure thing. You hope they're good but we have no idea. Loyola, MSU, and Southern all have good teams coming back. ISU and UNI are in the midst of things every year despite whatever they may go though because they have great coaching. Maybe they aren't top tier but they're not going to be near the bottom, either. Bradley showed some promise last season but they were so far away I think its still another year, but who knows. That's why I have Valpo finishing in a fight for 6th or 7th. I could see as high as fourth. But, winning the conference? You're just being a homer.

A guy whose handle is mvfcfan and just said "that's why we [MVC] went after them" is a Valpo fan and homer...are you for real?

He's still trying to figure out the difference between ISUb and ISUr