MVC Hoops: 2018-19

[VUGrad1314]

I should also add that MVC has begun to precipitate and hopefully will continue to precipitate many of the changes we fans have wanted for a long time to hopefully help move the program forward and keep it competitive and relevant. The league and its members are demanding and hopefully will continue to demand more and the administration appears to be rising to the challenge because they want to be competitive and keep the standard that has been set over the past 25 years alive. This only adds to our joy and optimism. I hope it all continues. Now it's up to us as fans to demand more of ourselves and keep it going. We need to show up stand up and get fired up during events. When we can we need to donate to important causes within the department, and just show our support for our teams and programs in whatever ways we can.

[VUGrad1314]

Loyola will be hosting Niagara as part of their tournament.

[VUGrad1314]

Mavericks sign Donte Ingram to exhibit 10 contract.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/250901/Mavericks-Sign-Donte-Ingram-To-Exhibit-10-Contract

[VUGrad1314]

A primer on Exhibit 10 Contracts:

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2018/07/hoops-rumors-glossary-exhibit-10-contract.html

[VUGrad1314]

Barry Hinson on his team's Cuba trip, Thik Bol's prospects for playing this year, and the in-season Buffalo home and home

https://siusalukis.com/watch/?Archive=3015&type=Live

His report on Thik Bol did not sound encouraging at all. I hope he plays because he's one of the players I was most excited about seeing Valpo go up against when we first joined the MVC.

[VUGrad1314]

Per MVCFans: Missouri State will travel to Corvallis to take on Oregon State this year and are supposedly working on a  2:1 with another P5 school.

[VUGrad1314]

Good article here. Pretty shameful dirty stuff by ESPN here.

http://www.tribstar.com/sports/todd-aaron-golden-isu-mvc-and-fans-lose-with-espn/article_b4bea5d7-99d0-55c2-9e36-097f8bf3eb5d.html

I know how we fans that are local can pay the school back for its investment... Attend more events... I already plan on attending more this year. I might get ESPN+ for road games but I'm undecided on that.  It's really a shame because that money could have gone to the AC the PA system the rec center new dorms etc... I wonder if the MVC and other leagues will pull out of their agreements with ESPN in favor of more traditional partnerships or a different network\ app and possibly even sue ESPN over this.

[VUGrad1314]

Evansville is on KU transfer Sam Cunliffe's list. If they somehow landed him it would be huge for them!

https://twitter.com/GaryBedore/status/1 ... 7004528640

[VUGrad1314]

SIU beat the Cuban National Team  79-78. This is significant because Louisiana-Lafayette and Coastal Carolina recently went down there and went a combined 1-5. This could be a sign of how good the Salukis could be this coming year. I hope they do well. That school could use some good news and the Valley needs a strong SIU. 

[IrishDawg]

SIU beat the Cuban National Team  79-78. This is significant because Louisiana-Lafayette and Coastal Carolina recently went down there and went a combined 1-5. This could be a sign of how good the Salukis could be this coming year. I hope they do well. That school could use some good news and the Valley needs a strong SIU.

I don't think the victory merits significance, at least in comparison to Coastal Carolina and ULL, considering neither went down there this year.  It's good that they won, because it does show that SIU should be a solid team, but to put things into context, last season when ULL went to Cuba and won their final game 70-64, Cuba had the 31st ranked team in the world.  Currently they're ranked 62nd.

[VUGrad1314]

Evansville is getting a visit from Cunliffe this weekend. Would be a huge get from the Aces.

https://twitter.com/RyanJamesMN/status/1026554898316443649

[VUGrad1314]

In-depth local article on Missouri State's roster:

https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2018/08/04/missouri-state-mens-basketball-roster-bears-head-coach-dana-ford/854719002/

[VUGrad1314]

UNI will play @Old Dominion as their non-bracketed game from the Paradise Jam.

http://www.odusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31100&ATCLID=211767159

[VUGrad1314]

Bradley checks in at #91 on this year's list. I think they have a chance to be even better than that.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/16482

[VU2014]

Some interesting data to see laid out about Kenpom rankings. The MVC really beat the crap out of each other in conference play last season and it showed in the data and it ended up keeping everyone in that 120-155 range (other then LU). I strongly disagree that the MVC only had one Top 100 team. Kenpom is a useful data point but it definitely has it's flaws in it's formula.

https://twitter.com/peteybuckets/status/1027385178157731840

[vu84v2]

Evansville is getting a visit from Cunliffe this weekend. Would be a huge get from the Aces.

https://twitter.com/RyanJamesMN/status/1026554898316443649

Cunliffe is a major talent. Great athlete, potentially a very good shooter, and a good work ethic. He would be an outstanding get for Evansville, but I see him going to a program in a more high profile conference. The only reason he left Kansas is because of the overwhelming depth that they now have with their transfers becoming eligible and the recruiting class.

[VU2014]

A good podcast with Illinois State coach Dan Muller. Some good Valley talk in here.

Podcast: Illinois State head coach Dan Muller previews the Redbirds and talks about the challenges of being a mid-major
The Redbirds could be the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley
By Russell Steinberg@Russ_Steinberg
Aug 9, 2018, 8:48am PDT


https://www.midmajormadness.com/2018/8/9/17670458/mid-major-madness-podcast-illinois-state-dan-muller-season-preview-recruiting-missouri-valley

[VUGrad1314]

I like how he said this schedule was made with this year in mind and that it was a two year process. I love the foresight and planning. I think it will serve them well this year even though he admits that he overscheduled last year. This could be an example of his team losing some battles last year to win the war this year. More schools need to do this.

[underdawg]

Just FYI: Belmont comes in at #89 on collegesportsmadness Top 144

[VUGrad1314]

Illinois State and Loyola are battling with Wichita State for Marquise Kennedy. Interestingly, two of his AAU teammates have already committed to Loyola.

https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/1027986430981824513

[VUGrad1314]

Connor Hope's MVC Rankings:

https://twitter.com/CondorianFM/status/1027994791919771648

Pretty solid. Points of possible debate are 1-2 5-8 and 9-10.

[ValpoDad89]

Kennedy is a strong lean at this point for Loyola. Plays for Illinois Wolves run by Dan Mullins and his son Bryan is Moser's right hand. #UpperHand

[VUGrad1314]

I kinda figured as much with two of his AAU teammates already on board. Would be another strong get by Loyola. I see that Missouri State is trying to pull off a similar recruiting trifecta with another AAU team (Mokan I think). They have two commits from that team and a good shot at a third. Nice to see the MVC stocking up with plenty of talent going forward.

[VU2014]

Kennedy is a strong lean at this point for Loyola. Plays for Illinois Wolves run by Dan Mullins and his son Bryan is Moser's right hand. #UpperHand

Nailed it.

I can't remember the last Illinois Wolves recruit we went after (Trevian Bell took a visit a few years ago and Ericke Locke was offered by VU back in 2012). I feel like we've been going after Meanstreet, Mokan, and George Hill Rising Stars guys in recent years. I've been wondering if having Eron Gordon part of the program might open some doors for Valpo to get noticed and get looks from kids down in Indy that normally wouldn't give VU a look. https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2014/02/24/gordons-develop-into-first-family-of-indianapolis-basketball/5776515/

[FieldGoodie05]

Kennedy is a strong lean at this point for Loyola. Plays for Illinois Wolves run by Dan Mullins and his son Bryan is Moser's right hand. #UpperHand

Nailed it.

I can't remember the last Illinois Wolves recruit we went after (Trevian Bell took a visit a few years ago and Ericke Locke was offered by VU back in 2012). I feel like we've been going after Meanstreet, Mokan, and George Hill Rising Stars guys in recent years. I've been wondering if having Eron Gordon part of the program might open some doors for Valpo to get noticed and get looks from kids down in Indy that normally wouldn't give VU a look. https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2014/02/24/gordons-develop-into-first-family-of-indianapolis-basketball/5776515/

Tried to learn more but only saw the Illinois Wolves est 1999.  Fill the rest of us in, how do the IL Wolves compare to other IL AAU teams?

What's the pecking order?