Today In The Valley (Dec. 13)
Indiana State (1-7) vs. #14 Purdue (7-2)
1:00 p.m.
Mackey Arena; West Lafayette, Indiana
Not the best matchup for a team looking for only its second win of the season. Indiana State will have to hit the road to take on its in-state rival, the #14 Boilermakers. The good news (for Indiana State fans) is that the game will be shown on the Big Ten Network. The bad news (for college basketball fans) is that the game will be shown on the Big Ten Network.
With the Sycamore faithful getting a bit restless, and in my opinion unnecessarily, with the production of second year coach Kevin McKenna, a televised whooping will only add fuel to the fire. ISU is coming off a tough loss to Ohio University on Monday, where once again it looked like they would be in the game but were shut down in the second half.
Purdue, led by E’Twaun Moore (15 ppg, 5 rpg) and Robbie Hummel (14 ppg, 7 rpg), will be a real wake up for the Sycamores, as they will be a physical opponent that will be more athletic and more explosive throughout the game. For all of you Trees out there, give Kevin a break; it wasn’t exactly the start to the season he wanted either.
~ Dance Cam Guy
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Northern Iowa (5-4) at Wyoming (6-1)
4:30 p.m.
Casper Events Center; Casper, Wyoming
The Panthers travel to Casper, Wyoming to participate in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wyoming Shootout. This will be their third neutral court game of the season, with the first two coming in the Chicago Invitational. Fans will their money's worth today. Get there early and you can catch the Cowgirls take on North Dakota State.
The Panthers are coming off a road lost at Iowa, a game in which they held tough for one half of action but saw the defense slip in the second half as they were defeated 65-46. Adam Koch led the Panthers with 10 points in that game and also became the season’s scoring leader for UNI. They have four players now in the 9.9-11.4 scoring average range (Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Johnny Moran, Jordan Englseder, and Koch). UNI will have to find their shot from the outside. Going 5-21 from beyond the arc, which happened in Iowa City, will not cut it.
The Panther defense will be tested by a Cowboy offense that averages 82 points per game. They are lead in scoring by redshirt freshman Afam Muojeke with a 19 point average, Tyson Johnson who chips in 16 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game, and Brandon Ewing who also averages 16 points per game.
Even though these two teams haven't played since 1991-92, the Cowboys have one familiar face to Ben Jacobsen, the Panthers, and the rest of the Valley. After sitting out last season, senior Sean Ogirri (Spanish from the movie "Old School") finishes up his collegiate career as a Cowboy. He's the fourth player on that team averaging more than 10 points per contest (14.1 ppg). Greggggggggg Marshall got him out of Wichita and the move in schools brought on a different hair-do.
~ Panon
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Missouri State (4-3) vs. Central Arkansas (4-3)
7:00 p.m.
JQH Arena; Springfield, Missouri
Expect a nostalgic night for some Bears fans in attendance tonight as they watch one of their own coach the opposition. Rand Chappell grew up watching MSU, played for Charlie Spoonhour, was a graduate assistant on the 1987 and 1988 NCAA tournament Bears teams, and spent a good deal of his life on the campus in Springfield. Now he brings the Central Arkansas Bears to MSU’s new building to square off against the university he loved.
The MSU Bears bench will be a bit lighter tonight. Adding to the injury issues that have kept some players from game time this season, little-used freshman Derron Hobbs has chosen to leave the program. With an even shorter bench, Chris Cooks, Spencer Laurie, Kyle Weems, and Wade Knapp will need to continue to bear the brunt of the load for Cuonzo Martin’s first MSU squad.
But the Bears shouldn’t sleep on Marcus Pillow (13 ppg) and the rest of Central Arkansas. While most likely overmatched, the visiting Bears will be intent on picking up what would be a memorable victory for their head coach.
~ Creighton Otter
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Evansville (6-1) vs. Western Kentucky (5-2)
7:00 p.m.
Roberts Stadium; Evansville, Indiana
Tonight marks Evansville’s seventh home game of the season, where they are perfect so far this year. The Purple Aces look to continue their luck at home. The goal for the Purple Aces on the river boat; 7 home games, 7 wins, 7 game home win streak.
The Purple Aces’ Jason Holsinger claimed the MVC Scholar Athlete of the Week award. Later that night he scored a career high 31 points in a win against Eastern Illinois. That gives him a good start to trying to snag the overall Valley Player of the Week honors that Booker Woodfox currently holds. Holsinger was 6-12 from beyond the arc. Not quite Booker-esque but still something most, if not all, basketball fans would take. He also rolled perfect 7s again, this time from the free throw line (7-7). The 80-76 win against EIU was probably a little closer than Marty Simmons would like, considering the Purples Aces went just 23-33 from the free throw line. On the season they are shooting 74%.
Western Kentucky comes in with an impressive four-game winning streak. Among the four wins were victories against then #3 Louisville (on a neutral court), Georgia, and Southern Illinois. A lot of the success for the recent wins can be attributed to a change in the starting lineup. Coach Ken McDonald inserted soffphomore Steffphon Pettigrew (6-5) into the power forward spot and success has followed, a similar move to Dana Altman moving Justin Carter in that position. Like Carter, Pettigrew was also a football star before settling on basketball. In those last four games he's average just more than 12 points per game compared to just 9 in their first three games. The Hilltoppers already have one win over the Valley against SIU.
With the Hilltoppers’ change in lineup, Shy Ely and the Purples Aces may run out of luck at home and not get that seventh win.
~ Panon
---
Drake (8-2) vs. Stephen F. Austin (5-2)
7:30 p.m.
Knapp Center; Des Moines, Iowa
The Bulldogs continue their participation in the Hy-Vee Classic in tonight’s championship game against some dude named Stephen F. Austin. They advanced to the title tilt following an 84-73 win last night against Georgia Southern. They were led by one of my favorite players in the Valley, the consummate college guard Josh Young (26 points). But he wasn't the most outstanding performer in games played yesterday at the Knapp Center; North Dakota State's Ben Woodside went for 60 points in a 3OT loss to SFA.
Tonight the Bulldogs will square off against what seems to be a three-man team. The Lumberjacks rely heavily on senior guard-forward Josh Alexander (17.7 ppg), senior center Matt Kingsley (17.3 ppg), and sophomore guard Eddie Williams (10.3 ppg). And that’s about it.
I don’t see how Drake doesn’t win another of their own tournaments. But anything is possible this year for a less-than-stellar Missouri Valley Conference.
~ Creighton Otter
1:00 p.m.
Mackey Arena; West Lafayette, Indiana
Not the best matchup for a team looking for only its second win of the season. Indiana State will have to hit the road to take on its in-state rival, the #14 Boilermakers. The good news (for Indiana State fans) is that the game will be shown on the Big Ten Network. The bad news (for college basketball fans) is that the game will be shown on the Big Ten Network.
With the Sycamore faithful getting a bit restless, and in my opinion unnecessarily, with the production of second year coach Kevin McKenna, a televised whooping will only add fuel to the fire. ISU is coming off a tough loss to Ohio University on Monday, where once again it looked like they would be in the game but were shut down in the second half.
Purdue, led by E’Twaun Moore (15 ppg, 5 rpg) and Robbie Hummel (14 ppg, 7 rpg), will be a real wake up for the Sycamores, as they will be a physical opponent that will be more athletic and more explosive throughout the game. For all of you Trees out there, give Kevin a break; it wasn’t exactly the start to the season he wanted either.
~ Dance Cam Guy
---
Northern Iowa (5-4) at Wyoming (6-1)
4:30 p.m.
Casper Events Center; Casper, Wyoming
The Panthers travel to Casper, Wyoming to participate in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wyoming Shootout. This will be their third neutral court game of the season, with the first two coming in the Chicago Invitational. Fans will their money's worth today. Get there early and you can catch the Cowgirls take on North Dakota State.
The Panthers are coming off a road lost at Iowa, a game in which they held tough for one half of action but saw the defense slip in the second half as they were defeated 65-46. Adam Koch led the Panthers with 10 points in that game and also became the season’s scoring leader for UNI. They have four players now in the 9.9-11.4 scoring average range (Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Johnny Moran, Jordan Englseder, and Koch). UNI will have to find their shot from the outside. Going 5-21 from beyond the arc, which happened in Iowa City, will not cut it.
The Panther defense will be tested by a Cowboy offense that averages 82 points per game. They are lead in scoring by redshirt freshman Afam Muojeke with a 19 point average, Tyson Johnson who chips in 16 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game, and Brandon Ewing who also averages 16 points per game.
Even though these two teams haven't played since 1991-92, the Cowboys have one familiar face to Ben Jacobsen, the Panthers, and the rest of the Valley. After sitting out last season, senior Sean Ogirri (Spanish from the movie "Old School") finishes up his collegiate career as a Cowboy. He's the fourth player on that team averaging more than 10 points per contest (14.1 ppg). Greggggggggg Marshall got him out of Wichita and the move in schools brought on a different hair-do.
~ Panon
---
Missouri State (4-3) vs. Central Arkansas (4-3)
7:00 p.m.
JQH Arena; Springfield, Missouri
Expect a nostalgic night for some Bears fans in attendance tonight as they watch one of their own coach the opposition. Rand Chappell grew up watching MSU, played for Charlie Spoonhour, was a graduate assistant on the 1987 and 1988 NCAA tournament Bears teams, and spent a good deal of his life on the campus in Springfield. Now he brings the Central Arkansas Bears to MSU’s new building to square off against the university he loved.
The MSU Bears bench will be a bit lighter tonight. Adding to the injury issues that have kept some players from game time this season, little-used freshman Derron Hobbs has chosen to leave the program. With an even shorter bench, Chris Cooks, Spencer Laurie, Kyle Weems, and Wade Knapp will need to continue to bear the brunt of the load for Cuonzo Martin’s first MSU squad.
But the Bears shouldn’t sleep on Marcus Pillow (13 ppg) and the rest of Central Arkansas. While most likely overmatched, the visiting Bears will be intent on picking up what would be a memorable victory for their head coach.
~ Creighton Otter
---
Evansville (6-1) vs. Western Kentucky (5-2)
7:00 p.m.
Roberts Stadium; Evansville, Indiana
Tonight marks Evansville’s seventh home game of the season, where they are perfect so far this year. The Purple Aces look to continue their luck at home. The goal for the Purple Aces on the river boat; 7 home games, 7 wins, 7 game home win streak.
The Purple Aces’ Jason Holsinger claimed the MVC Scholar Athlete of the Week award. Later that night he scored a career high 31 points in a win against Eastern Illinois. That gives him a good start to trying to snag the overall Valley Player of the Week honors that Booker Woodfox currently holds. Holsinger was 6-12 from beyond the arc. Not quite Booker-esque but still something most, if not all, basketball fans would take. He also rolled perfect 7s again, this time from the free throw line (7-7). The 80-76 win against EIU was probably a little closer than Marty Simmons would like, considering the Purples Aces went just 23-33 from the free throw line. On the season they are shooting 74%.
Western Kentucky comes in with an impressive four-game winning streak. Among the four wins were victories against then #3 Louisville (on a neutral court), Georgia, and Southern Illinois. A lot of the success for the recent wins can be attributed to a change in the starting lineup. Coach Ken McDonald inserted soffphomore Steffphon Pettigrew (6-5) into the power forward spot and success has followed, a similar move to Dana Altman moving Justin Carter in that position. Like Carter, Pettigrew was also a football star before settling on basketball. In those last four games he's average just more than 12 points per game compared to just 9 in their first three games. The Hilltoppers already have one win over the Valley against SIU.
With the Hilltoppers’ change in lineup, Shy Ely and the Purples Aces may run out of luck at home and not get that seventh win.
~ Panon
---
Drake (8-2) vs. Stephen F. Austin (5-2)
7:30 p.m.
Knapp Center; Des Moines, Iowa
The Bulldogs continue their participation in the Hy-Vee Classic in tonight’s championship game against some dude named Stephen F. Austin. They advanced to the title tilt following an 84-73 win last night against Georgia Southern. They were led by one of my favorite players in the Valley, the consummate college guard Josh Young (26 points). But he wasn't the most outstanding performer in games played yesterday at the Knapp Center; North Dakota State's Ben Woodside went for 60 points in a 3OT loss to SFA.
Tonight the Bulldogs will square off against what seems to be a three-man team. The Lumberjacks rely heavily on senior guard-forward Josh Alexander (17.7 ppg), senior center Matt Kingsley (17.3 ppg), and sophomore guard Eddie Williams (10.3 ppg). And that’s about it.
I don’t see how Drake doesn’t win another of their own tournaments. But anything is possible this year for a less-than-stellar Missouri Valley Conference.
~ Creighton Otter
posted by Creighton Otter at 10:23 AM
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