Today In The Valley (Jan. 18)
Illinois State (15-2; 4-2) vs. Missouri State (8-9; 1-5)
2:00 p.m.
Redbird Arena; Normal, Illinois
Not since the 2003-2004 season has Illinois State had two separate players post back-to-back 20 point games. Now, with the scoring ability of Osiris Eldridge and Champ Oguchi, the Redbirds are looking to have Champ make it three in a row. After his performance against Drake, where he dropped a career high 29 points, the frontrunner for MVC Newcomer of the Year will look to continue his hot streak against a struggling Missouri State team.
The Redbirds got a little taste of reality as they lost back-to-back games to Bradley and Indiana State, and barely hung on against a tough Drake team in overtime. Coach Jankovich will be looking to capture his 41st victory as the Redbirds’ leader, and should get it tonight.
But wait just a minute. Even though their only win is against a team (WSU) with just one conference win, the Bears won’t lay down and play dead for ISU. MSU has shown some competitive drive in their conference games so far, losing by an average of 9.5 points in each of their MVC games and by 6 or less in three of the six. MSU relies heavily on their defense, as they are only shooting 39% from the field (last in the Valley) and 32% from downtown (9th in the Valley). Also, the Bears are sitting dead last in scoring offense, but are second behind Drake in scoring defense.
I wonder if their Sign Guy at JQH Arena still has the “J.J. Who?” sign, considering they are also 8th in the MVC in free throw percentage. Crazy how things have changed since the days of Blake Ahearn? Maybe now that the NCAA has declared 7th graders “prospects”, they can find the next Blake before someone else snatches him up: maybe start looking at Knights of Columbus Free Throw Shooting Championships.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Illinois State
Panon: Illinois State
Dance Cam Guy: Illinois State
~ Dance Cam Guy
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Southern Illinois (7-10; 2-4) vs. Bradley (11-6; 5-1)
6:00 p.m.
SIU Arena; Carbondale, Illinois
ESPNU
After watching Wichita State hang tough at Drake last Sunday night, this weekend’s MVC game on ESPNU should be another exciting matchup (pitting Creighton’s last two victims against one another). The Salukis will be hoping to return the favor for an embarrassing 16-point road loss in the conference opener in Peoria three weeks to the day.
The final score (79-63) was much, much closer than the game actually was, but it was during that game when MVC fans across the Valley saw their first real glimpse of Kevin Dillard, the former Mr. Illinois Basketball, who poured in 21 points. Jays fans just witnessed him score 21 at the Qwest, and he’s scored double-figures in every conference game so far this season. The Salukis return to the Dawg Pound, where Dillard and the rest of his teammates will need the home cooking to recover quickly from Wednesday’s heartbreaking loss in Omaha.
In their previous game, Bradley managed a 63-52 win against a Harry Marshall-less Indiana State team in Terre Haute. Their defense showed up when it needed it the most, during the last 7 minutes. BU closed the game with an 11-4 run to turn a 4-point deficit into an 11-point win. Dodie Dunson led the Braves with 15 despite having some symptoms of the flu. Healthy or not, he will need to have as good a game, if not better, against the Salukis if the Braves want to leave Carbondale with the sweep over SIU.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Southern Illinois
Panon: Southern Illinois
Dance Cam Guy: Southern Illinois
~ Panon
2:00 p.m.
Redbird Arena; Normal, Illinois
Not since the 2003-2004 season has Illinois State had two separate players post back-to-back 20 point games. Now, with the scoring ability of Osiris Eldridge and Champ Oguchi, the Redbirds are looking to have Champ make it three in a row. After his performance against Drake, where he dropped a career high 29 points, the frontrunner for MVC Newcomer of the Year will look to continue his hot streak against a struggling Missouri State team.
The Redbirds got a little taste of reality as they lost back-to-back games to Bradley and Indiana State, and barely hung on against a tough Drake team in overtime. Coach Jankovich will be looking to capture his 41st victory as the Redbirds’ leader, and should get it tonight.
But wait just a minute. Even though their only win is against a team (WSU) with just one conference win, the Bears won’t lay down and play dead for ISU. MSU has shown some competitive drive in their conference games so far, losing by an average of 9.5 points in each of their MVC games and by 6 or less in three of the six. MSU relies heavily on their defense, as they are only shooting 39% from the field (last in the Valley) and 32% from downtown (9th in the Valley). Also, the Bears are sitting dead last in scoring offense, but are second behind Drake in scoring defense.
I wonder if their Sign Guy at JQH Arena still has the “J.J. Who?” sign, considering they are also 8th in the MVC in free throw percentage. Crazy how things have changed since the days of Blake Ahearn? Maybe now that the NCAA has declared 7th graders “prospects”, they can find the next Blake before someone else snatches him up: maybe start looking at Knights of Columbus Free Throw Shooting Championships.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Illinois State
Panon: Illinois State
Dance Cam Guy: Illinois State
~ Dance Cam Guy
---
Southern Illinois (7-10; 2-4) vs. Bradley (11-6; 5-1)
6:00 p.m.
SIU Arena; Carbondale, Illinois
ESPNU
After watching Wichita State hang tough at Drake last Sunday night, this weekend’s MVC game on ESPNU should be another exciting matchup (pitting Creighton’s last two victims against one another). The Salukis will be hoping to return the favor for an embarrassing 16-point road loss in the conference opener in Peoria three weeks to the day.
The final score (79-63) was much, much closer than the game actually was, but it was during that game when MVC fans across the Valley saw their first real glimpse of Kevin Dillard, the former Mr. Illinois Basketball, who poured in 21 points. Jays fans just witnessed him score 21 at the Qwest, and he’s scored double-figures in every conference game so far this season. The Salukis return to the Dawg Pound, where Dillard and the rest of his teammates will need the home cooking to recover quickly from Wednesday’s heartbreaking loss in Omaha.
In their previous game, Bradley managed a 63-52 win against a Harry Marshall-less Indiana State team in Terre Haute. Their defense showed up when it needed it the most, during the last 7 minutes. BU closed the game with an 11-4 run to turn a 4-point deficit into an 11-point win. Dodie Dunson led the Braves with 15 despite having some symptoms of the flu. Healthy or not, he will need to have as good a game, if not better, against the Salukis if the Braves want to leave Carbondale with the sweep over SIU.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Southern Illinois
Panon: Southern Illinois
Dance Cam Guy: Southern Illinois
~ Panon
posted by Creighton Otter at 12:18 AM
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