The discussion on predicted finishes for the 2013-14 MVC men's basketball season has already begun. So far, MVC fans are predicting Loyola as high as 6th, and as low as a distant, distant 10th. The average is about 8th.

http://www.mvcfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3094&start=0

Just scoping out the possibilities on our first season in the MVC...

Best case scenario, IMO:

Home wins against Northern Iowa, Bradley, Drake, Southern Ill., Evansville, Missouri St., and Illinois St.
Road wins against Drake and Illinois State.

9-9, probably good for a tie in 4th place.

Worst case could be 2-16, last place, with only home wins vs. Drake or Illinois State and Southern Ill. I'd say the highest percentage chance is around 5 or 6 conference wins, good for around 8th.

If there's one thing I learned during my years at SIU, it's to never underestimate the ability of MVC fans to overestimate their talent and prestige. Some of those posts prove that theory. It's a good conference, and a step up from the current Horizon, but it's not the Big 10. WSU's run aside, most of the conference has taken a step back the last few years. We're 3-1 in our last 4 games against MVC schools. The loss was to Creighton, and the 3 wins were two road wins over Bradley and a home win over an Indiana State team that won the MVC tournament that year. I don't expect us to win it all the first year, but we're in a better position to get to that point quicker than a handful of other conference schools right now. Especially SIU, which pains me to say. We'll do just fine.

I wanted to welcome you to the Valley and invite you to participate on our MVCfans.com message board. We have a content side also where we'll post items throughout the year that you might want to bookmark as well - link: http://www.mvcfans.com/wp and you can reach the message board from there as well.

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link: http://www.mvcfans.com/wp
twitter: http://twitter.com/MVCfans

I suppose it's best for reserved predictions. Lord knows we as Rambler fans have been snake-bitten before.

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Cigarboy sucks!