There have been a few surprises, but we have a good read on teams at this poing.

Creighton is the top dog but will be pushed by WSU and ISU. They had one slip up but have for the most part looked pretty good.

Wichita is plagued with injuries but continues to grow and develop the end of the bench. The next couple weeks will tell us a lot.

ISU is a pretty solid team right now. They've been in some tough games and slipped as well, but they've shown that they're ready to compete at the top.

UNI has been a little disappointing. I know they've had a tough schedule, but they haven't picked up wins in those games that could have made a statement. Well coached with some experience will help, but I don't see them finishing in the top 3.

ISUb has been a little surprising and they look capable of competing this year. I'm not sure what exactly to expect but mid pack seems right.

Bradley may not have played much competition, but they did hang with Michigan and have looked much better than I expected so far. They have a couple of legit players that could help get them out of Thursday.

SIU has been a pleasant surprise as well. Barry has them playing hard. They're undermanned but will show improvement and win a few games.

UE I'm not sure what to expect. They'll do what they normally do and when a few games and ugly up enough of them to give them chances to win a few more. I see them being a Thursday team though. Perhaps they could finish 6th to avoid it.

DU has issues. Rebounding and defense are lacking. They don't have a lot of positives from what I've seen and are destined to finish near the bottom.

HSU just plain sucks. Can't sugar coat this one at all. Wow.


I think the MVC has a shot at 3 bids if CU, WSU, and ISU can separate enough and beat up on the bottom half. It'll be interesting to see how things play out over the next month and see if we have any positive or negative surprises at the end of next month.

And after the first games have been played, statements were made. WSU crushed UNI and CU dominated UE.

ISUb surprised us all and and edged ISU

MSU shocked the world and picked up their first D1 win against former coach Barry Hinson.

Will be interesting to see who makes the move to run with the top two teams. Can the Trees do it? Did the 'Birds just have a bad game? Is UNI really as bad as they looked in Wichita?

ISUb and MoST i think were fluke wins. But we will learn more tonight.

We know CU is that good, but I dont believe UNI is that bad. I think we finally saw how good WSU can be.

I see BU and ISUr getting better as year goes on.

Home teams are 5-0 so far in Valley play, we'll see if this trend continues and we get a 10 team tie and start all over again.

ISUb at UNI tonight should be a good predictor to see if ISUb is a top 3-4 team or if UNI was overhyped.

Same goes for the Redbirds hosting the Bluejays tonight. While ISU beat ranked WSU in the Valley Semis last year to break the ranked opponent losing streak, they are 0-7 against ranked opponents since moving to RBA in 1989. Falling to 0-2 in the Valley would not be good either for a team picked 2nd.

I see BU at SIU going towards the Salukis with Bradley's center Egoff being out for buying prescription pain killers off the street.

MoSt at Evansville shouldn't be close for the Aces in a W.

Wichita at Drake I think has to go to the Shockers, but I think I remember a OT L for them last year at Drake that was a thrilling game to watch. For how good WSU played at home you would just assume they get this win.

Important and big games all around for teams trying to already separate from the rest of the pack. Here's to some great basketball played tonight and giving us some stuff to talk about.

Can't disagree with anything you said BirdFan

I will say that even though ISU is 0-2, they're still a contender. But they're going to need some help or go into Omaha or Wichita and win one. They're capable. I do hope we see some separation come February with the top 3 or 4 teams.

I think ISUr just got the short end of the stick schedule wise. I know everyone will talk that the last team to win the Valley after starting 0-1 was Northern Iowa in 1994-95, but ISUr is still learning a new system, and has quite a few new faces as well.

They will be fine.

I thought this would be the year Evansville might catch some of Marty Simmons fire and step up with Southern Illinois and Missouri State way down and Bradley and Drake rebuilding. I thought they might be able to avoid Thursday. Them almost losing to Missouri State at home doesn't bode well.

(01-03-2013 07:15 PM)Downtown Shocker Brown Wrote:  I think ISUr just got the short end of the stick schedule wise. I know everyone will talk that the last team to win the Valley after starting 0-1 was Northern Iowa in 1994-95, but ISUr is still learning a new system, and has quite a few new faces as well.

They will be fine.

I thought this would be the year Evansville might catch some of Marty Simmons fire and step up with Southern Illinois and Missouri State way down and Bradley and Drake rebuilding. I thought they might be able to avoid Thursday. Them almost losing to Missouri State at home doesn't bode well.

Didn't the Shockers start 0-1 last year with the New Years Eve game to Creighton? I know UNI lost our first (at home as well) in 08-09, we didn't win the league in 94-95. Those are the only two teams in the last dozen or so, I believe, to not win their first three conference games and capture the regular season title.

UNI or ISUr (most likely UNI) will have a big hole to climb out of starting 0-3. I think either of them will be able to recover and avoid Thursday, but a top 2 finish is pretty much out with that kind of hole and 3 games left vs WSU/CU for each.

We won at Bradley to start 1-0. The loss dropped us to 1-1.

I was just going based on what I had heard on TV. You know it has to be true if they say it on TV.