I’m unable to be at the home finale Tuesday night, but at least two of you — Pat Woodward and the guy who e-mails me with the nickname “Shockalocka” — are wanting the final two installments of “Rate the Valley.” So here we go. Evansville first, then the home team.
The Evansville Aces
1. Its national reputation in college basketball. The Aces are known for three, and maybe only three, things in college hoops. 1. The Aces were once a Division II power. Remember Jerry Sloan? He was the best Ace of all. 2. The 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of the players and coaching staff. 3. The short-sleeve jerseys that the Aces wore until a few years ago. Old school. Love it. But past that . . . . 3 points.
2. Where its best players rate historically among the conference’s best. Only Marcus Wilson stands out on an all-time Valley list, and he doesn’t really stand out all that much. Good player, maybe a great player. 2 points.
3. Its home arena. Roberts Stadium gets extra points for being named a stadium and not an arena. Its concourse has great displays honoring college and high school basketball in southwestern Indiana. Legend has it that Roberts could rock when packed. Of course, we haven’t seen it packed in more than a decade, even in good times. 5 points.
4. Its home fans. Rather unremarkable. 2 points.
5. Its home city. Evansville, Ind., has a casino. And Bosse Field, home of the old Evansville Triplets and one of the ballparks used in 1992’s “A League of Their Own.” 4 points.
6. Its mascot and school colors. Purple Aces, purple and orange. They’ve gotten away from the Riverboat Gambling Guy who was supposed to represent an Ace. Guess I can understand that. Points deducted, though, because old baseball coach Jim Brownlee disliked purple so much that he put his ballplayers in navy blue instead. Fashion faux paus! 4 points.
7. Most colorful players and coaches from the school. I don’t know how colorful Brian Jackson is/was, but the Wichita Heights product led the Aces and the nation in three-point shooting in 1997 or so. Jim Crews wasn’t colorful, either, but he’s been the Aces’ most successful coach as Valley members. 5 points.
8. And, finally, a chance to earn 10 bonus points based on none of the above. Here’s my plea to the Aces and current coach Marty Simmons: It’s time, guys. Bring back the short sleeves. They’re cool. They’re distinctive. They’re a talking point. 5 points.
That’s 30 points.
Now the Shockers.
1. Its national reputation in college basketball. I dare say that when national observers are asked to name a team from the Missouri Valley, WSU is probably thought of first. Over Creighton, SIU, Bradley, all of them. WSU’s glory years may be few and far between, but they are undoubtedly memorable to more than just Kansans. 7 points.
2. Where its best players rate historically among the conference’s best. I’d put Littleton, Stallworth, Carr, McDaniel and Levingston up against anybody. Well, OK, I’d start Ernie Moore at point guard and bring Levingston off the bench, and Moore could have to play 40 minutes, but you get the idea. 9 points.
3. Its home arena. A pre-renovation Roundhouse might’ve gotten hammered in these rankings, but not Koch Arena. A new arena with an old feel. Can’t ask for much more, can you? 9 points.
4. Its home fans. It’s been said many times: When 6,000 fans will show up nightly to watch a horrible Scott Thompson team, that’s all you need to know. Some newcomer-type fans have probably lost a bit of perspective this season, but at least they’ve lost that perspective while firmly planted in their seats. And there have been several times this season when the crowd goes nuts even in a meaningless game. You love your hoops, folks. 10 points.
5. Its home city. Tough one as a lifelong Doo-Dahian. Let’s put it this way, I’ll take Wichita over Terre Haute, Cedar Falls, Carbondale, Evansville and Normal in a heartbeat. Slight edge over Springfield (hey, Branson’s only a bounce pass away!) and Peoria. Maybe just behind Omaha and Des Moines because those towns seem a little more forward-thinking and more integral to
their states. But hey, we’re the home to White Castles, Coleman coolers and Barry Sanders! 8 points.
6. Its mascot and school colors. Shockers, sunflower yellow and black. I’ve said it before, I’m a huge fan of original nicknames. And Shockers is as original as it gets. I may have told this story before, but a newcomer to the Eagle newsroom a decade ago asked about WuShock and its origins. When told, she came up with an imitation of WuShock’s face, crinkling her face and yelling, “I’M WHEAT! I’M WHEAT, DAMMIT!” And you don’t mess with wheat. 10 points.
7. Most colorful players and coaches from the school. Gene Smithson, Xavier McDaniel, Sasha Radunovich. The list goes on. 5 points.
8. And, finally, a chance to earn 10 bonus points based on none of the above. There are plenty of reasons to give bonus points, but they’re all taken away because Bob Elmore, a three-time All-Valley pick (WSU’s only one, by the way) is still not in the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame. The members of the selection committee have dissed Big Mo for years. It’s time they got off their high horses and honored the program’s most dominant center. 0 points.
That’s 58 points.
Hmm, this won’t look like a homer call to anyone around the conference, will it?
Final standings
Wichita State 58
Creighton 55
Bradley 54
Southern Illinois 45
Illinois State 43
Missouri State 39
Northern Iowa 33
Indiana State 32
Evansville 30
Drake 29
Interesting how the last-place team in these standings is the Valley champ and ranked team this year?
Enjoy the game and Paul’s blog-o-rama tomorrow night.