Hello again everyone. We’re back with another edition of our Twitter mailbag, in which we answer your questions on pretty much anything. This edition features some realignment talk, summer playlists, and more. Let’s get right to it.
@mid_madness does the horizon league replace valpo immediately or wait and who do you think will be the next horizon member?
— BJ LaForest (@bjlaforest) May 6, 2017
As of now, Valparaiso is still in the Horizon League, so this will all be a bit of speculation. If the Crusaders do end up leaving for the Missouri Valley, I don’t think the Horizon League replaces them immediately. It wouldn’t be in their best interest to add another school just for the sake of replacing Valparaiso. The league will see how things go, see if there are any schools that would make a good fit both athletically and geographically, and go from there. We’ll have more on this soon.
@mid_madness what was your go-to create-a-player name in a sports video game?
— alex sindelar (@crimebait) May 7, 2017
Nowadays, the only video game I really play is NBA 2K, and I usually just give the created player my own name because I’m boring and lame. I had one named Jesus Shuttlesworth in a game a few years back. I think one time I made a team based on the Toon Squad from Space Jam. I’m weird, I know.
@mid_madness does your projected final four for next year include Alabama A&M, Cornell, Portland State, and Western Illinois?
— Happening Hoops (@happeninghoops) May 6, 2017
Are these teams playing in some sort of four-team tournament in early November that we don’t know about? If so, then yeah I guess that will be the projected Final Four.
Do you predict WKU's @kodakmitch23 Mitchell Robinson to break any freshman shot blocking records this coming year? What about his impact? https://t.co/YTr0wXlpl2
— Rob Brown (@hilltopperrob) May 6, 2017
The single-season record for blocks at Western Kentucky is 97. So, let’s say that Western Kentucky plays between 32-35 games, Robinson will have to average around three blocks per game. I think it’s definitely possible that he breaks it. I’m all in on the Hilltoppers next season. They’re going to be loads of fun.
@mid_madness What's on the Mid-Major Madness Official Summer Jamz play list
— TRUBISKY APPRECIATOR (@BenG412) May 7, 2017
The Official Mid-Major Madness Summer Jamz playlist is as follows:
I’m the One - DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne
Testify - Future
Heatstroke - Calvin Harris ft. Young Thug, Ariana Grande, Pharrell
Passionfruit - Drake
Selfish - Future ft. Rihanna
All Night - Chance the Rapper
Loyalty - Kendrick Lamar
Celebrate - Anderson .Paak
Champions - Kanye ft. Quavo, Travis Scott, Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Yo Gotti
DNA - Kendrick Lamar
I’m 100 percent sure that this list will get slandered but whatever. I put about two minutes of thought into this but I like these songs and it’s my column so I make the rules.
@mid_madness What is ur Southland prediction for 2017
— Mannie (@mannies_ight) May 7, 2017
Predictions are always hard this time of year because there’s so much player movement among rosters in college basketball. However, I think Stephen F. Austin gets back into contention for the league title. Last season was a bumpy ride for the Lumberjacks, but losing a coach and your best player after being the darlings of the NCAA Tournament will do that to you. Texas A&M Corpus Christi should be back in the mix, and Lamar could be good as well.
@mid_madness Can the MVC become a 2-bid league again? (I personally think yes). What needs to happen for the MVC to be a 2-bid league again?
— Valpo Hoops Fan (@Valpo_Hoops) May 7, 2017
It all starts with out-of-conference scheduling. Teams from traditional one-bid leagues can’t get in without good wins, and they can’t get good wins without good non-conference scheduling. And it’s not just the teams at the top. The conference as a whole has to make sure to get every opportunity it can before conference play.
@mid_madness Greatest hip-hop record of the 2010's is...
— Eli Boettger (@boettger_eli) May 7, 2017
Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” is the best album. Kanye’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” is a close second. Drake’s “Views” is dead last.