I would say we are C+ or B- as of now

The top 7 teams are 35-7 combined with only 1 really bad loss imho (Indiana State v Coastal Carolina) and 1 yet to be determined in UNI v DePaul.

On the backs of MSU and Bradley I think you have to move the Valley up to B-, at least.

Compared to the start of the season these road wins look great. But before the season started I expected the BU and UNI wins with the MSU game a toss up since it's their first road game. I can't go higher than a C+.

(12-03-2009 12:24 AM)WuDrWu Wrote:  The top 7 teams are 35-7 combined with only 1 really bad loss imho (Indiana State v Coastal Carolina) and 1 yet to be determined in UNI v DePaul.

Really, that Coastal Carolina loss isn't as bad as it might seem. Yes, it's early, but their RPI is a respectable 105 right now. Sure, we should have won that game, but at least we beat Western Kentucky the next night! (They aren't looking so good right now...)

I may give the Valley a C+ at the moment.

I don't think you can weigh down the conference as a whole based on a couple teams struggling. I agree that jury is still out on Coastal Carolina as a loss as much as Illinois for the Bradley win.

I think if the Valley wins out this week as they should, that we are definitely in the B- range.

Illinois did beat Clemson,although i was shocked when i learned this information....

And came back from 23 down to do it @Clemson.

Jury is definitely still out on Clemson. They are the Illinois State of the ACC. They always start out 14-2 or so then come back down to earth in league play.

The Valley has had the opportunities to get some good wins, with more still to come, but depending on what these teams do from here on out will determine how good those wins were. If Oklahoma State and Iowa State both perform well in conference, finishing in Top 5 or 6, then that obviously helps the Valley.

Truthfully the Valley has started to save some face as a whole. Won a few games they were underdogs in and have started beating most of the teams they should.

I think the Valley is at a solid B right now. The only way it goes less is if you penalize for overall weak scheduling. But given the games that are on the schedule and not penalizing for it...it's got to be a B rating right now.

(12-03-2009 09:17 AM)IndyTreeFan Wrote:  Really, that Coastal Carolina loss isn't as bad as it might seem. Yes, it's early, but their RPI is a respectable 105 right now. Sure, we should have won that game, but at least we beat Western Kentucky the next night! (They aren't looking so good right now...)

Don't get carried away. CC and Western BOTH would be in the bottom 4 in the Valley. I'm not saying Indy State is terrible, but if you expect to battle in the top half of the Valley, you need to beat teams like CC. Losing by 15 IS a bad loss.