Review of some preseason college basketball magazines

I've had a chance to see Lindy's, Athlon, and The Sporting News (which used to be Street and Smith's).
I won't bother to review all the articles that drool over John Calipari's recruiting class, or even the numerous stories of the big surprises last year like Butler...so I'll keep just to the Missouri Valley sections of each of these magazines.

Plus they all clearly had to have their copy in several months ago so NONE of the previews contain any info that's more current than about June - and leave out consideration of all the players that have left their teams recently like Kellen Thornton, Michael Porter, Keith Pickens, etc..
Also none make much mention of any of BU's coaching changes, and none of them say a thing about Walk Lemon - while a couple of them make it sound like Andrew Davis is the BU freshman that's maybe gonna make a difference.

I guess I am surprised how they all seem to just give Wichita State the Valley title without much opposition...and they mostly all think Creighton is gonna be pretty great, too. This is despite a coaching change, plus the loss of 3 of their top 5 scorers.
Personally, I think Drake will surprise many and I think UNI will have an off year because you just can't lose your 3 best players and not take a hit.

All three issues pick the precise same order of finish for places 6 through 10, and all pick Wichita State to win the Valley - and they differ only in places 2-5.



Lindy's - this section is written by Creighton writer Steve Pivovar.
Here's the predicted order of finish--
1-Wichita State
2-Missouri State
3-Creighton
4-UNI
5-Bradley
6-ISU
7-Indiana State
8-SIU
9-Drake
10-Evansville

1st Team All Conference: Andrew Warren, Toure Murry, Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Kyle Weems, Kenny Lawson
2nd Team: Colt Ryan, Adam Leonard, Taylor Brown, JT Durley, Seth VanDeest
3rd Team: Sam Maniscalco, Dwayne Lathan, Ryan Wedel, Jackie Carmichael, Ethan Wragge

then a few of the other awards--
Newcomer of the Year: Greg Echenique
Top playmaker: Sam Maniscalco
Best Signing coup: Doug McDermott
****************************************************


Athlon - this section was written by Wichita State beat writer Paul Suellentrop.
Predicted order of finish--
1-Wichita State - also predicts they win 2 games in the NCAA before losing
2-Creighton - also predicts they make the NCAA as one of the final four to play off
3-Missouri State - predicted for NIT bid
4-UNI - predicted for NIT bid
5-Bradley
6-ISU
7-Indiana State
8-SIU
9-Drake
10-Evansville

All Valley 1st team: Ahelegbe, Lawson, Murry, Sam Maniscalco, Kyle Weems (picked as POY)
****************************************************


Sporting News - this section written by Creighton blogger Matt Perrault and some other writer named Jiminez from Kansas.
Predicted order of finish--
1-Wichita State
2-Missouri State
3-Bradley
4-UNI
5-Creighton
6-ISU
7-Indiana State
8-SIU
9-Drake
10-Evansville

1st Team All Valley: Ahelegbe, Lawson, Murry, Weems, and Sam Maniscalco
He also has a lot of good words about Andrew Warren...and names a few other awards...
Best Leader: Sam Maniscalco
Best passer: Sam Maniscalco
Best player under pressure: Andrew Warren
Freshman of the Year: Rayvonte Rice
Newcomer of the Year: Echenique
Coach on the Hot Seat: Chris Lowery



If you would like to see the predictions from last year for Lindy's and Athlon, here are links to my reviews of their Valley picks...
some of their picks were laughable like best impact being Jake Kelly and best freshman Andrew Bock...

Lindy's:
http://bubravesblogger.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-lindys-preseason-college-basketball.html

Athlon:
http://bubravesblogger.blogspot.com/2009/09/athlon-preseason-college-basketball.html


All these various preview sections are written by guys who already write for Valley teams, and of course they have a little bias...
That doesn't bother me -- as we ALL have biases. I just snicker a bit when someone tells me that I am the biased one but he is objective and open minded. I have lived long enough to know -- that if there's a dishonest person in any discussion it is NEVER the one who admits his bias, it is the one who tries to shame other for their bias, while grandstanding about his own purity and open-mindedness and objectivity.
Baloney -- how many times have we seen that people on message boards who claim to be fair and free-minded - turn out to be people who have major axes to grind...some on the Bradley board have hated Bradley for years, are disgruntled ex-BU employees who have been canned, or who still smolder with resentment because they feel Bradley or Jim Les have cheated them and owe them money.

SO -- in fairness, I will reveal my biases.........and contact me personally and I can tell you of a few of the anti-BU people and their biases...especially those who are easy to identify because they run down BU all the time.

Disclaimer: I am a Bradley fan but I also do like a few other teams....
I can cheer for Illinois and enjoy seeing teams do well whose coaches I know or admire...WIU, Michigan State, Butler....
And I certainly would cheer for any of the other Valley teams, but here's where I draw the line......

I am not a fan of nor do I appreciate any school that cheats to get the glory or prestige that they have. There are only a few -- but yes, there are some teams that I root against and I kinda enjoy seeing them get their due for their cheating and arrogance.
I also have little respect for schools whose fans are thugs, arrogant, or who act like childish little brats.....you know, writing insults in the bathroom stalls, multiply repeating adolescent and moronic chants like "fuck ****" or "buck ****".
And I generally have little respect for the schools whose fans treat others with such disdain, insults, and disrespect that it fills their blogs, message boards, and arenas.
It's easy to spot - it is obvious classlessness......You NEVER see it at Bradley. Bradley's fans are the epitome of class. But those fans of certain other Valley teams are arrogant, boast mightily when they happen to be winning, but even backstab their own team when they're losing -- but never stop ripping on their opponents' teams.
By and large I appreciate the same fans that the teams and schools themselves appreciate. Odd how you never see any of those back-stabbers and constantly critical "pseudo-fans" invited to any exclusive Bradley function, and they really don't even show up to cheer all that often at ANY significant function.

Thus, there are really only 2 Valley teams that I don't follow with respect ...although there's one more kinda sitting on the border the way some of their fans are acting lately....and there's only a single Big Ten team that I just can't find a lot of respect for. Certainly any team or fan base who cheer wildly and thumb their noses at others while hiring known cheaters and rooting them even while they're cheating like there is no tomorrow, can hardly lay claim to being a respectable team or fan base....sorry -- you guys are disqualified for quite some time to come!
Outside of the Valley and Big Ten there's a few more programs that cheat, land tons of thugs and drug addicts, and whose coaches not only cheat but would stab their own mothers in the back if it meant the chance of beating out an opponent school for a recruit. It's not hard to identify those creeps....some are already being scoped out for all their cheating and scandals....just google "Division I" and "scandal" or add in "dismissed for drugs" or "arrested for the nth time" ...and you'll find them easy...Kansas, UConn, USC, etc...their own cheating and dishonesty is finally catching up a little.
So -- that's it -- now you know where I am coming from...
I know BU has some problems, but don't get me started...BU's issues are minor -- never a DUI...never an arrest for shoplifting or breaking and entering or computer thefts....never more than a minor scuffle exaggerated by those with agendas......
BTW-- have you seen the stories about the latest Valley player dismissed after getting arrested for theft?? probably not -- it seems to be an issue only if someone can lay an issue on Bradley. But look down the road a little bit -- it'll be easy to find.