Valpo in the Polls (and the HL too)

[agibson]

Somehow I have more enthusiasm for this when I expect us to be moving _up_ in the polls.  We actually did this/last week.  But probably not next.

It is a little funny that, in a year when the Horizon feels like it has more 200+ teams than 200-, we've consistently had five teams picking up votes.

Update: December 17th, 2012

1.    Creighton (23)    10-1    764    2    Missouri Valley
2.    Gonzaga (7)    10-1    730    3    West Coast
3.    Wichita State    9-1    721    1    Missouri Valley
4.    Murray State (1)    8-1    682    4    Ohio Valley
5.    Bucknell    9-1    644    5    Patriot
6.    Lehigh    8-2    586    6    Patriot
7.    Saint Mary's    7-2    549    9    West Coast
8.    Illinois State    7-3    494    10    Mid-American
9.    BYU    7-3    487    13    West Coast
10.    Belmont    7-3    486    8    Ohio Valley
11.    Ohio    7-3    431    7    Mid-American
12.    Middle Tennessee    7-3    423    11    Sun Belt
13.    South Dakota State    9-3    353    14    Summit
14.    Utah State    6-1    350    15    WAC
15.    UIC    9-1    348    16    Horizon
16.    Northern Iowa    6-4    302    12    Missouri Valley
17.    Davidson    6-4    274    17    Southern
18.    Valparaiso    7-3    230    20    Horizon
19.    Eastern Kentucky    9-1    209    18    Ohio Valley
20.    Albany    9-2    192    22    America East
21.    Loyola MD    9-3    115    23    Metro Atlantic
22.    Santa Clara    8-2    98    NR    West Coast
23.    Akron    4-4    97    19    Mid-American
24.    Western Kentucky    8-3    70    24    Sun Belt
25.    North Dakota State    9-3    69    25    Summit

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Stephen F Austin 49, Louisiana Tech 48, Florida Gulf Coast 42, Detroit 33,  Indiana State 27, Jacksonville State 24, Cal State Northridge 21, Western Michigan 20, Bradley 17, George Mason 16, Oral Roberts 14, Stony Brook 13, Weber State 12, William & Mary 8, Loyola Chicago 7, Wright State 6, Robert Morris 4, College of Charleston 3, Eastern Michigan 3, Bryant 1, Northwestern State 1, Pacific 1, San Fransisco 1.

[agibson]

This may get shaken up more than a little tomorrow (Murray State lost... twice?  South Dakota State won at New Mexico before losing at North Dakota State.  UIC lost twice more on the road. We beat Murray State, etc.).  Let me grab last week's before it disappears.

Updated: December 24th, 2012

1.    Creighton (26)    11-1    769    1    Missouri Valley
2.    Gonzaga (4)    11-1    746    2    West Coast
3.    Wichita State (1)    11-1    694    3    Missouri Valley
4.    Lehigh    9-2    656    6    Patriot
5.    Murray State    11-2    641    4    Ohio Valley
6.    Bucknell    11-2    600    5    Patriot
7.    Illinois State    9-3    578    8    Missouri Valley
8.    Belmont    8-3    561    10    Ohio Valley
9.    Utah State    9-1    489    14    WAC
10.    Saint Mary's    8-3    484    7    West Coast
11.    Middle Tennessee    9-3    457    12    Sun Belt
12.    BYU    8-4    438    9    West Coast
13.    South Dakota State    10-4    383    13    Summit
14.    Ohio    8-4    353    11    Mid-American
15.    Santa Clara    11-2    304    22    West Coast
16.    Northern Iowa    7-5    283    16    Missouri Valley
17.    UIC    9-3    246    15    Horizon
18.    Davidson    6-5    198    17    Southern
18.    Valparaiso    9-4    198    18    Horizon
20.    Loyola MD    9-3    165    21    Metro Atlantic
21.    Akron    6-4    130    23    Mid-American
22.    Eastern Kentucky    10-2    120    19    Ohio Valley
22.    North Dakota State    10-3    120    25    Summit
24.    Albany    9-3    108    20    America East
25.    Stephen F. Austin    9-1    55    NR    Southland


OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Louisiana Tech 54, Canisius 34, Cal State Northridge 25, Fairfield 24, George Mason 23, Jacksonville State 23, Detroit 19, Western Kentucky 18, Indiana State 12, Loyola Chicago 10, William & Mary 10, Western Michigan 9, Stony Brook 8, Florida Gulf Coast 7, Oral Roberts 6, Western Illinois 6, Wright State 4, Northwestern State 2, Robert Morris 2, Weber State 2, Bryant 1.

[valpopal]

Valpo moves up 6 spots to number 12 and stands as the only Horizon League team in the new Mid-Major Top 25 poll as we get set for conference play:

http://www.collegeinsider.com/mens-mid-major-top-25.php

[wh]

Valpo moves up 6 spots to number 12 and stands as the only Horizon League team in the new Mid-Major Top 25 poll as we get set for conference play:

http://www.collegeinsider.com/mens-mid-major-top-25.php

When did we return to the Summit League? 

[valporun]

wh, must have been a back door deal, hiding behind Boise St. returning to the Mountain West? 

[agibson]

Yeah, they're not exactly known for their careful editing.  Valpo the second biggest climber of the week, on their win in Murray.  We're now at our highest position of the year.  Murray State drops to 9th.

(Second biggest climber unless you count Indiana State, entering the poll at number 21).  The biggest climber is North Dakota State, by virtue of beating South Dakota State.  UIC drops out of the top 25, after losing on the road at Toledo, notching the third of three consecutive losses (but only one new this week).  Northern Iowa saw the single biggest drop.

In the AP and Coaches' Poll we've got Butler at 17/20, and New Mexico at 20/23.

In other rankings, the League's RPI has been cleaned up a bit, sitting solidly at #12.  UIC's down to 70, Detroit at 99 (with league-leading SOS at 89), Valpo 114, Loyola 123.  Green Bay's at 235, and Milwaukee still languishes at 330.  Among computer rankings, Pomeroy and Sagarin have Valpo on top (87, 79) while BBstate.com has UIC at 66 to Valpo's 91. 

And then, for the archive, the mid-major top 25.

Update: December 31st, 2012

1.    Creighton (26)    12-1    769    1    Missouri Valley
2.    Gonzaga (4)    12-1    747    2    West Coast
3.    Wichita State (1)    12-1    696    3    Missouri Valley
4.    Bucknell    12-2    642    6    Patriot
5.    Saint Mary's    11-3    637    10    West Coast
6.    Lehigh    9-3    591    4    Patriot
7.    Utah State    10-1    571    9    WAC
8.    BYU    10-4    566    12    West Coast
9.    Murray State    9-3    494    5    Ohio Valley
10.    Illinois State    9-4    476    7    Missouri Valley
11.    Middle Tennessee    10-3    459    11    Sun Belt
12.    Valparaiso    10-4    416    18    Summit [sic]
13.    Belmont    9-4    395    8    Ohio Valley
14.    North Dakota State    11-3    323    22    Summit
15.    Santa Clara    11-3    318    15    West Coast
16.    South Dakota State    10-5    277    13    Summit
17.    Akron    8-4    222    21    Mid-American
18.    Davidson    7-5    191    18    Southern
19.    Ohio    8-5    170    14    Mid-American
20.    Albany    10-3    144    24    America East
21.    Indiana State    8-4    104    NR    Missouri Valley
22.    Stephen F. Austin    10-1    101    25    Southland
23.    Eastern Kentucky    10-3    99    22    Ohio Valley
24.    Fairfield    9-5    92    NR    Metro Atlantic
25.    Bryant    7-4    86    NR    Northeast


OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Western Illinois 73, UIC 65, Louisiana Tech 49, Loyola MD 40, Northern Iowa 40, Detroit 29, George Mason 23, Loyola Chicago 22, Jacksonville State 18, Canisius 17, Western Kentucky 12, Cal State Northridge 11, William & Mary 10, Montana 9, Weber State 9, Harvard 8, Robert Morris 8, Stony Brook 8, Bradley 7, Florida Gulf Coast 7, Mercer 6, Western Michigan 5, College of Charleston 4, Wright State 4, Elon 2, Oral Roberts 2, Southern 2, Cal State Fullerton 1, Northwestern State 1.

[valpopal]

For what it is worth: Ryan has been selected StatSheet Horizon League Player of the Week (Kevin an honorable mention) and Bobby has been chosen StatSheet Horizon League Sixth-Man of the Week (Jordan a runner-up):

http://valpodaily.com/valparaiso-basketball/conf-potw/ryan-broekhoff-wins-statsheet-horizon-player-week-december-31st-2012

[DMvalpo18]

I'm sure Gonzaga will be the new number 1 with their win at Oklahoma State last night. They have had a stellar season thus far.

[EddieCabot]

Despite losing at home, Valpo only drops 2 spots to #14.  Great show of respect for the Horizon.

http://www.collegeinsider.com/mens-mid-major-top-25.php

[agibson]

Yeah, I'm surprised we didn't drop further.  I was prepared for as low as #20.  Maybe the sky isn't really falling

Detroit enters the poll for the first time this season.

In the AP and USA Today polls, Gonzaga's at 9/8, Creighton at 13/11 (flipping their order, below), Butler's at 14/17, Wichita State enters at 23/RV and New Mexico drops to 25/RV (having lost at... wait for it... St. Louis).

Update: January 7th, 2013

1.    Creighton (23)    14-1    765    1    Missouri Valley
2.    Gonzaga (8)    15-1    750    2    West Coast
3.    Wichita State    14-1    713    3    Missouri Valley
4.    Bucknell    13-3    656    4    Patriot
5.    Saint Mary's    12-3    617    5    West Coast
6.    Utah State    13-1    600    7    WAC
7.    BYU    12-4    577    8    West Coast
8.    Murray State    11-3    553    9    Ohio Valley
9.    Lehigh    9-4    494    6    Patriot
10.    Belmont    11-4    463    13    Ohio Valley
11.    North Dakota State    13-3    440    14    Summit
12.    Middle Tennessee    12-4    398    11    Sun Belt
13.    Akron    9-4    348    17    Mid-American
14.    Valparaiso    11-5    330    12    Horizon
15.    Ohio    9-5    316    19    Mid-American
16.    Santa Clara    12-4    310    15    West Coast
17.    Stephen F. Austin    12-1    262    22    Southland
18.    Eastern Kentucky    12-3    193    23    Ohio Valley
19.    South Dakota State    11-6    162    16    Summit
20.    Davidson    8-6    161    18    Southern
21.    Bryant    9-4    134    25    Northeast
22.    Western Illinois    12-3    92    NR    Summit
23.    Indiana State    9-5    78    21    Missouri Valley
24.    Fairfield    10-6    77    24    Metro Atlantic
25.    Detroit    10-5    66    NR    Horizon


OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Illinois State 51, Louisiana Tech 50, Albany 42, Loyola MD 41, UIC 35, Loyola Chicago 30, Northern Iowa 28, Wright State 28, Stony Brook 27, Weber State 22, Montana 21, College of Charleston 20, Western Michigan 19, Harvard 18, Vermont 18, Bradley 16, George Mason 15, Canisius 7, Oral Roberts 7, Kent State 6, Northwestern State 6, Niagara 5, Hawaii 4, Florida Gulf Coast 2, Southern 2.

[valpotx]

Interesting to note that there are 3 Summit teams, yet their conference RPI is 18th versus the HL at 12th.  Also, WIU is 5-0 in conference??

[StlVUFan]

Interesting to note that there are 3 Summit teams, yet their conference RPI is 18th versus the HL at 12th.  Also, WIU is 5-0 in conference??

But for a prior commitment, I was going to stop in at Western Hall to see UIC's game there on my way back from the Oakland game (the next day, obviously).

Yeah, I've been surprised at them, too.

[valpopal]

New weekly Horizon League basketball wrap-up show:
http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/mens-basketball-weekly---january-8.html

[valpopal]

I haven't seen this posted. The College Hoops Daily All-Conference Picks for the 1st Half of the Season:

HORIZON
G: Ray McCallum (Detroit)
G: Kendrick Perry (Youngstown State)
F: Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso)
F: Ben Averkamp (Loyola IL)
C: Alec Brown (WI Green Bay)

I'd still pick Broekhoff over McCallum, especially since Ryan has twice been conference player of the week. Also, Kevin's stats are about the same as Alec Brown's (pts/gm KVW 12.1 - AB 11.5, rebs/gm (KVW 5.5 - AB 6.7), despite Brown averaging 5 more minutes per game thus far.

http://www.collegehoopsdaily.com/all-conference-picks-for-the-1st-half-of-the-season/

[HC]

The all name team. KVW was going to have the toughest time repeating with a prospect like Alec Brown playing the same position.

[EddieCabot]

Valpo stays at #14.  Wright State at #23 and Detroit receiving votes.

http://www.collegeinsider.com/mens-mid-major-top-25.php

[wh]

I haven't seen this posted. The College Hoops Daily All-Conference Picks for the 1st Half of the Season:

HORIZON
G: Ray McCallum (Detroit)
G: Kendrick Perry (Youngstown State)
F: Ryan Broekhoff (Valparaiso)
F: Ben Averkamp (Loyola IL)
C: Alec Brown (WI Green Bay)

I'd still pick Broekhoff over McCallum, especially since Ryan has twice been conference player of the week. Also, Kevin's stats are about the same as Alec Brown's (pts/gm KVW 12.1 - AB 11.5, rebs/gm (KVW 5.5 - AB 6.7), despite Brown averaging 5 more minutes per game thus far.

http://www.collegehoopsdaily.com/all-conference-picks-for-the-1st-half-of-the-season/

Side-by-side comparison between KVW and Brown:

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/compare?p2=alec-brown&p1=kevin-van-wijk

Among big names in the HL in preseason polls, Alec Brown has to be the biggest underachiever by far. For all intents and purposes, he has been in a season long slump. At 7-1, incredibly he is shooting an anemic 39% from the field.  Earlier in the season he was completely neutralized by several OOC opponents with bigger players than he typically sees in the HL.  He seems to be coming around as of late, now that he has a clear size advantage.  Right now he isn't 1st team anything.  He's another guy living on reputation.  In his case he was projected by some NBA scouting services to be a 2nd round draft choice.  He's no more a 2nd rounder right now than Ray, Jr. is a 1st rounder. 

That said, to date Kevin has not been playing like a 1st teamer, either.   

[valpotx]

Wow, WIU is 14-3 now.  I never thought that I would see the day...

[valpotx]

It's a big IF that we go to the tourney this year, but since it looks like Butler would be a 4 seed with current projections, I thought that it would be fun to speculate.  What if we are a 13 seed, and they are a 4 seed?  I would absolutely love if the committee placed us against them, and increase our run to 5 in a row 

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

[agibson]

Wow, WIU is 14-3 now.  I never thought that I would see the day...

Their SOS is even worse than ours! The RPI version has them ranked #324 to our #282.

[Smj]

It's a big IF that we go to the tourney this year, but since it looks like Butler would be a 4 seed with current projections, I thought that it would be fun to speculate.  What if we are a 13 seed, and they are a 4 seed?  I would absolutely love if the committee placed us against them, and increase our run to 5 in a row 

Boy - do I love that thought....   We wouldn't come in feeling like an underdog.

[Pathfinder]

Brown's top-line stats are superficially OK (11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds) but anybody watching games or looking more deeply into the stats knows he's no first teamer at this point. But I probably wouldn't go with KVW either.


I'd say:
Broekhoff (POY)
McCallum
Perry
Averkamp
Damian Eargle of Youngstown

[historyman]

But I probably wouldn't go with KVW either.

What do you think of Van Wijk now?

Possible first teamer?

You would probably want Minnerath as a first teamer despite his poor defense.

[EddieCabot]

It's a big IF that we go to the tourney this year, but since it looks like Butler would be a 4 seed with current projections, I thought that it would be fun to speculate.  What if we are a 13 seed, and they are a 4 seed?  I would absolutely love if the committee placed us against them, and increase our run to 5 in a row 

Boy - do I love that thought....   We wouldn't come in feeling like an underdog.

With Valpo now leading the Horizon, they'll be appearing this week in the "bracketology"  from Lunardi, Palm and others.  They might not be matched up with Butler, but they'll certainly be in the vicinity.

With two wins, Valpo could also be moving up the mid-major rankings.  Several teams above them, like Creighton and Gonzaga, lost so I'd expect them to be top-12ish or so.  Not sure if they'll get votes in the AP or Coaches poll, but if they keep winning, they'll be back there soon.

[HC]

I'd say KVW has put himself right back into the first teamed conversation.