***2023-24 Mens College Basketball Thread***

rosshm16

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Just listened to Heft on kxno and I may need to see a doctor in four hours. Comps to the 2000 team and hearing how well they get along and Final 4 talk with the calendar turning to March tomorrow. Mercy!
The 2000 team was so good and so dominant late in the year that I got my hopes up and was disappointed they didn't win the whole thing. With this team I'm just enjoying the ride. I think we can beat anyone in the country but also wouldn't be too surprised if we lose to anyone.
 

inCyteful

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Just listened to Heft on kxno and I may need to see a doctor in four hours. Comps to the 2000 team and hearing how well they get along and Final 4 talk with the calendar turning to March tomorrow. Mercy!
Please sweet lord, do not let us play our first round game in the last slot on March 15th.
 
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GoHawks

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Six teams with a legitimate shot. Going to be a great 4 days.
I think 4. My pick is Bradley. Think they defend the best of group. Indiana State, and Drake are favorites and just notch below. Then I give UNI a chance if they play really well. They're so hot and cold though. I'll take bradley over Indiana state in the end. How do you see it?
 
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NoCreativity

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Drake and Indiana State are in a tier by themselves in the Valley. The auto-bid is likely one of those two.
Outside of that the only other team I could see is maybe Bradley. Unless there is a big upset early, any other team will most likely have to go through both Indiana State and Drake and I don't see that happening.
 

1UNI2ISU

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I think 4. My pick is Bradley. Think they defend the best of group. I Indiana State, and Drake are favorites and just notch below. Then I give UNI a chance if they play really well. They're so hot and cold though. I'll take bradley over Indiana state in the end. How do you see it?
Indiana State and Drake just aren't very deep and 3 games in 3 days is a lot to ask when you only play 6 1/2 guys. Drake playing a 3OT game last night and having what will surely be a competitive game with Bradley on Sunday hurts them.

Bradley is magical in that building for some reason. They just show up. Thin in the guard court but nobody can match their size and length.

UNI is the deepest team but also most inconsistent. Belmont has been really good since Gillespie got back and they shoot it great but don't defend well. SIU is running out of gas but they've got a shot if Johnson can find his legs.

I'd go Bradley, Indiana State, UNI, Drake, Belmont, SIU in that order.
 
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NoCreativity

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Indiana State and Drake just aren't very deep and 3 games in 3 days is a lot to ask when you only play 6 1/2 guys. Drake playing a 3OT game last night and having what will surely be a competitive game with Bradley on Sunday hurts them.

Bradley is magical in that building for some reason. They just show up. Thin in the guard court but nobody can match their size and length.

UNI is the deepest team but also most inconsistent. Belmont has been really good since Gillespie got back and they shoot it great but don't defend well. SIU is running out of gas but they've got a shot if Johnson can find his legs.

I'd go Bradley, Indiana State, UNI, Drake, Belmont, SIU in that order.
You are being overconfident on UNI just because they smoked Drake at home recently. The Valley tournament has been pretty chalk the last few years,I just don't see anybody below the top 3 putting together a string of 3 wins that includes 2 against Bradley, Drake, or Indiana State.
 

GoHawks

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You are being overconfident on UNI just because they smoked Drake at home recently. The Valley tournament has been pretty chalk the last few years,I just don't see anybody below the top 3 putting together a string of 3 wins that includes 2 against Bradley, Drake, or Indiana State.
Typically the best defensive team has won the Valley tournamemt which has had some good defensive teams in recent history. UNI of past, loyola, Drake. This year doesn't seem like any of the top teams play great defense. I won't be surprised to see less chalk this year than most years and that's why I'm looking forward to this year's tournament a lot.
 
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NoCreativity

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Typically the best defensive team has won the Valley tournamemt which has had some good defensive teams in recent history. UNI of past, loyola, Drake. This year doesn't seem like any of the top teams play great defense. I won't be surprised to see less chalk this year than most years and that's why I'm looking forward to this year's tournament a lot.
The top 3 Drake, Bradley, and Indiana State are actually the 3 best defensive teams in the Valley according to metrics.
 

GoHawks

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The top 3 Drake, Bradley, and Indiana State are actually the 3 best defensive teams in the Valley according to metrics.
I know but none of them are in the top 75 in country. Last year Drake was a lot better defensively. Before that Loyola was a great defensive team. This year there's not 1 team built like those 2. I guess what I should of said is there's not a dominant defensive team like past years.
 
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trevn

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I know but none of them are in the top 75 in country. Last year Drake was a lot better defensively. Before that Loyola was a great defensive team. This year there's not 1 team built like those 2.

Where would Iowa finish in the Valley?

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madguy30

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It's important to note the 99-00 team was up 20 on Central Conn. and they came back and tied it with less than 10 minutes left iirc.

ISU pulled away and all, but it's worth recognizing that for a hot minute their run was in danger of not even happening.
 

jcf817

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It's important to note the 99-00 team was up 20 on Central Conn. and they came back and tied it with less than 10 minutes left iirc.

ISU pulled away and all, but it's worth recognizing that for a hot minute their run was in danger of not even happening.
Wow...I didn't remember that at all. I just remember being excited to go to the games since I was living in the Twin Cities at the time. I didn't see many ISU games that season. TV coverage wasn't the same back then.