2023-24 Around The Valley

WANTED: Passionate Sycamore Fanatics. That You?

Register NOW to join our community of die-hard Sycamore fans.

Register Log in
POY comes down to Avila, DeVries, and Johnson. No-one else is even in the conversation. Here is my take on each.

Avila: Best player on the best team, that plays well for the POY discussion. 16.7 PPG, 7 REB, 3.8 Assists. shoots: 54%, 41%, 81%. The hub of the offense for ISU. Keep in mind he is only averaging 30 minutes per game and is playing in a offense with 4 other guys in double figures. I don't like this take but I think the fact that the media loves Avila will also play a factor into it as well. He has had some pretty big moments this year to help put ISU in position to win the conference title. If ISU wins the reg season title or wins out I think it's Avilas.

DeVries: Best player on the real good team in the league. Defending title holder. 21 PPG, 6.7 REB, 3.5 assists. Shoots: 44%, 35%, 81%. Big time scorer on a good squad. averages 35 minutes per game. I'm not sure he deserved the award last year; thought it should of went to Roman Penn. I think for DeVries to win it, Drake HAS to at-least share the conference title. I don't think he gets this award 2 times in a row without a conference regular season championship to show for it. He does have the name recognition and attention that it wouldn't be a controversial decision if he gets it again.

Johnson: Has had the most gaudy stats in the valley this year. 22.8 PPG, 3.9 REB, 6.1 assists. Shoots 43%, 37%, 90%. Has been an animal all season long playing 36 minutes a game. This is an interesting case. If Johnson has a blue Drake or ISU uniform on, he wins this award and it's not even a discussion. But you can make the argument that if he was a bulldog or sycamore he wouldn't have the stats he does because he would have the supporting cast to disperse the scoring and time with the ball in his hands. Fun fact - there isn't a single saluki that averages double figures outside of Johnson. Finishing in the top 4 will definitely help his case but the fact that SIU HASN'T been in championship contention all season long, i think ultimately keeps Johnsons name off the trophy.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
treeman said:
POY comes down to Avila, DeVries, and Johnson. No-one else is even in the conversation. Here is my take on each.

Avila: Best player on the best team, that plays well for the POY discussion. 16.7 PPG, 7 REB, 3.8 Assists. shoots: 54%, 41%, 81%. The hub of the offense for ISU. Keep in mind he is only averaging 30 minutes per game and is playing in a offense with 4 other guys in double figures. I don't like this take but I think the fact that the media loves Avila will also play a factor into it as well. He has had some pretty big moments this year to help put ISU in position to win the conference title. If ISU wins the reg season title or wins out I think it's Avilas.

DeVries: Best player on the real good team in the league. Defending title holder. 21 PPG, 6.7 REB, 3.5 assists. Shoots: 44%, 35%, 81%. Big time scorer on a good squad. averages 35 minutes per game. I'm not sure he deserved the award last year; thought it should of went to Roman Penn. I think for DeVries to win it, Drake HAS to at-least share the conference title. I don't think he gets this award 2 times in a row without a conference regular season championship to show for it. He does have the name recognition and attention that it wouldn't be a controversial decision if he gets it again.

Johnson: Has had the most gaudy stats in the valley this year. 22.8 PPG, 3.9 REB, 6.1 assists. Shoots 43%, 37%, 90%. Has been an animal all season long playing 36 minutes a game. This is an interesting case. If Johnson has a blue Drake or ISU uniform on, he wins this award and it's not even a discussion. But you can make the argument that if he was a bulldog or sycamore he wouldn't have the stats he does because he would have the supporting cast to disperse the scoring and time with the ball in his hands. Fun fact - there isn't a single saluki that averages double figures outside of Johnson. Finishing in the top 4 will definitely help his case but the fact that SIU HASN'T been in championship contention all season long, i think ultimately keeps Johnsons name off the trophy.
Click to expand...
100%
I also think finishing 4th is not enough for Johnson but a 3rd place finish would help him tremendously. In Conference, Robbie leads us in points, 2nd in rebounds, and 2nd in assists on our team.
 
jturner38 said:
100%
I also think finishing 4th is not enough for Johnson but a 3rd place finish would help him tremendously. In Conference, Robbie leads us in points, 2nd in rebounds, and 2nd in assists on our team.
Click to expand...
I think just not being in the conference race all-season is the nail in the coffin for Johnson. Last year, yes, we finished 5th but we were a contender going into the final weeks. This season, SIU might finish 4th but they have been pretty irrelevant to the title race all conference schedule. That does matter in my eyes
 
Johnson is a good player, but would he be a stat leader on Bradley, Drake or ISU? There simply aren't many other options on that SIU roster. Kudos to Johnson for stepping up when needed, but who the hell else is going to score for SIU?
 
bluestreak said:
Johnson is a good player, but would he be a stat leader on Bradley, Drake or ISU? There simply aren't many other options on that SIU roster. Kudos to Johnson for stepping up when needed, but who the hell else is going to score for SIU?
Click to expand...
That doesn't matter because that's a hypothetical question but the truth of the matter is he wouldn't have to do everything if he was on any of those teams. Which is a reason why he is in consideration.
 
A reminder of teams/results to be paying close attention to over the next week or so:IMG_2793.jpeg

Still need all the help we can get around the bubble line.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
The worst part is that the MVC would probably replace them with the even more pathetic UMKC Roos for the KC market. If we could somehow trade Missouri State for South Dakota State I'd help the Bears pack.
 
Jason Svoboda said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1762223128736834024
Click to expand...
I get that a lot of people in the MSU universe want a move to CUSA for FBS football, but especially with everything else going on that seems like a possibly unwise decision.

With the SEC and B10 splitting off more and more from the rest of college football, ACC and B12 maybe hanging on some...in 4-5 years is there really going to be THAT much benefit to being a G5 FBS school vs FCS?

Basketball would be a drop off, baseball is about even, way more travel...idk.
 
I'm all for Missouri State leaving. Honestly i think they would do better in conference CUSA and not just because it's a step down in competition. For whatever reason I don't think that they ever gelled with the MVC and Springfield just seems like they couldn't care less . Whether they thought they were too good for it or they don't fit the with some of the small privates in the MVC, I just sense a disconnect. I think they fit the CUSA profile better than a MVC profile. They really haven't done anything for the conference the past decade in any sport. I say good riddance and see what happens with this A10 movement and maybe we can get a nice addition when the dominos shift.
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
Sycamorefan96 said:
The worst part is that the MVC would probably replace them with the even more pathetic UMKC Roos for the KC market. If we could somehow trade Missouri State for South Dakota State I'd help the Bears pack.
Click to expand...
Here's my rankings if the MVC did have to replace MSU....

Not Gonna Happen But Would Be Cool-
SLU- Saint Louis market, solid school, cool history, focused on basketball, get the St Louis market even more so.
Denver- Are they bad and play in a small arena...yes. Would an away game in Denver be awesome? Also yes. Plus you get the Denver market.
Wichita- Come back home Shockers.

Could Actually Happen And I'd Be Ok With It-
South Dakota State- Good program, reasonable enough travel, already has MVC ties. decent enough facilities.
Bellermine- Small school, not great facilities...but a good travel partner for Murray/Belmont/Evansville/ISU/SIU and you get the Louisville market.
Morehead St- Decent program, good following.
Anyone from the Horizon besides the Indiana schools and not Detroit Mercy.

Only Can Happen If I Suddenly Have Unlimited Powers-
MVC loses MSU. They also trade Valpo to the WCC (we don't have to follow geography in conferences any more, its 2024). The Valley adds Gonzaga and St Mary's. The Valley becomes a powerhouse conference in college hoops and has access to a ton of media markets.
 
treeman said:
I say good riddance and see what happens with this A10 movement and maybe we can get a nice addition when the dominos shift.
Click to expand...
I think the scarves are as annoying as anyone else, but if we could trade UIC for Loyola back I'd take it as a win.

At the very least they have more than 200 season ticket holders.


Also, if you don't already have a division 1 football program in a P5 conference, I'm sorry but that ship has sailed. I don't think many people on here need me to convince them that Missouri State would probably be better to can their FB program entirely and focus on BB
 
isubird33 said:
Here's my rankings if the MVC did have to replace MSU....

Not Gonna Happen But Would Be Cool-
SLU- Saint Louis market, solid school, cool history, focused on basketball, get the St Louis market even more so.
Denver- Are they bad and play in a small arena...yes. Would an away game in Denver be awesome? Also yes. Plus you get the Denver market.
Wichita- Come back home Shockers.

Could Actually Happen And I'd Be Ok With It-
South Dakota State- Good program, reasonable enough travel, already has MVC ties. decent enough facilities.
Bellermine- Small school, not great facilities...but a good travel partner for Murray/Belmont/Evansville/ISU/SIU and you get the Louisville market.
Morehead St- Decent program, good following.
Anyone from the Horizon besides the Indiana schools and not Detroit Mercy.

Only Can Happen If I Suddenly Have Unlimited Powers-
MVC loses MSU. They also trade Valpo to the WCC (we don't have to follow geography in conferences any more, its 2024). The Valley adds Gonzaga and St Mary's. The Valley becomes a powerhouse conference in college hoops and has access to a ton of media markets.
Click to expand...

If Missouri State leaves, and unless it is a home run like Dayton or SLU that wants to join, I don't add anyone until the next NCAA configuration shakes out. Remember that NCAA tournament units have to be split evenly among every team and while it's only a couple hundred thousand, it all adds up. We don't know how things could shake out with revenue distribution so just play it cool.

I'd bet 100% that all of the Iowa and private schools want someone like Saint Thomas in.
 
Jason Svoboda said:
If Missouri State leaves, and unless it is a home run like Dayton or SLU that wants to join, I don't add anyone until the next NCAA configuration shakes out. Remember that NCAA tournament units have to be split evenly among every team and while it's only a couple hundred thousand, it all adds up. We don't know how things could shake out with revenue distribution so just play it cool.

I'd bet 100% that all of the Iowa and private schools want someone like Saint Thomas in.
Click to expand...
I would also throw Northern Kentucky in the mix. Cincinnati Market. But definitely can see St Thomas.
 
I guess my wish list if Bears leave would include; Northern Kentucky, Saint Louis, South Dakota State or Wright State
 

Become a Supporting Member to remove this ad and help support the site.
Nothing excites me less than these annual discussions about who to add to the MoVal. I should probably care more than I do - but just don’t.

Enjoy it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top