Too early 2018-19 predictions

[Redhawk]

So here' a new question: Which team has the best chance to bust up the Land-of-Lincoln Love Fest in the Valley?

Way too early to tell but I see UNI as a 5/6 that could sneak up to 3 /4 range. They have two quality MVC starters in Pickford and Brown along with a couple seasoned reserve guards in Lohaus and Haldeman.

The keys for them will be: a healthy McCloud, how quickly AJ Green can make an impact, big improvement
from Austin Phyfe and finding another big to give quality minutes.

[BirdsEyeView]

I really like what SIU has back next year, but Custer and Krutwig will be hard to top:

Custer and Krutwig don't have hailed defensive wizard Ben Richardson and good scorer Donte Ingram.

And Richardson absolutely frustrated and shut down Keyshawn Evans on Sunday.


Team outside of Illinois to make an impact...Valpo

[hot nuts]

Seems to me the conference as an aggregate should be better....not bad for the RPI #8 conference. Hopefully we see some tough non-conf schedules and more importantly, a lot of non-conf wins!

[Bulldog2323]

Loyola
Drake
Southern Illinois
Illinois State
Bradley
Indiana State
Evansville
Missouri State
UNI
Valparaiso

Appreciate the love but gotta be realistic here....if you told Drake Nation we would finish 6th in conference and lose Friday night at Arch Madness 90% of them would take it for 2018-19.

[Drakey]

It will take a miracle for the Bulldogs to avoid Thursday night next season. About like Bradley in Wardles first year.

[VU2014]

I think Niko Medved is a pretty good coach but I think Drake is going to be in for a tough year next season. They're going to be going from the 5th most experienced team in the nation with a all-conference team player to roster with many freshman and they're not going to have Reed Timmer as a safety blanket.

[underdawg]

A little off-topic but didn't want to start a new thread just for this: SIU Salukis will go on late summer basketball tour (last time they went was 2008) with 3-5 games in august and 10 extra practices

[Majik45]

Interesting that SIU is going to do the Summer tour, as it was reported that Bradley will be doing a similar trip this summer as well. That may have been part of the reason they turned down the CBI/CIT invitation.

[underdawg]

Interesting that SIU is going to do the Summer tour, as it was reported that Bradley will be doing a similar trip this summer as well. That may have been part of the reason they turned down the CBI/CIT invitation.

Hinson says SIU get's more bang for the bucks by going on foreign tour--3 games and 10 full days of regular practice in August--the kids get a "reward" for last season with the trip

[Bulldog2323]

NCAA lets you do the international tour once every 4 years. Drake will get to do it next in 2020.