Today In The Valley (Jan. 28)
EDIT: The Drake-Evansville and SIU-Missouri State games have been rescheduled for Thursday 1/29.
Northern Iowa (14-6; 8-1, 1st) vs. Illinois State (17-3; 6-3, t-2nd)
7:00 p.m.
McCleod Center; Cedar Falls, Iowa
The schedule makers must have known something before the season started when they put together this year’s Valley slate. As the conference begins the second half of play and many teams will start seeing opponents for the second time, the Redbirds and Panthers will be meeting for just the first time.
UNI comes in with an 8-game win streak and is yet to lose in 2009. They took care of a Missouri State team that is playing inconsistent ball under first year coach Cuonzo Martin. That win marked the Panthers’ fifth Valley road win of the season, which ties a school record. Forget that stat tonight, though, because they’re in the confines of the McLeod Center. Jake’s Jungle should be out in full force for this one. Surely they’ll have more than the 3,500 people they were averaging earlier in the year, right? Right!?
The Redbirds picked up a win against in-state rival SIU in their last game to remain within striking distance of UNI. Fans should get their money’s worth in a game featuring two of the top teams in the Valley, albeit teams that play much different styles than one another. If the conference race continues to play out the way it has, their second game (February 24 in Normal) will no doubt have implications on seeding for St. Louis.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Illinois State
Panon: Illinois State
Dance Cam Guy: Illinois State
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Bradley (12-8; 6-3, t-2nd) vs. Wichita State (9-11; 3-6, 8th)
7:00 p.m.
Carver Arena; Peoria, Illinois
Is Wichita State making a mid-season push? Is Bradley the team that showed up for the first half of the Valley? The midway point in the conference is always a great time for players and coaches to take a step back and look at the successes and failures of the first half of MVC play.
Confidence (or lack thereof) is a key factor to any basketball team’s success. How confident are the Braves as they take the home court? Sure, they beat Indiana State in their most recent game (who hasn’t, really?), but before that the Braves had dropped two straight road games by a combined total of 11 points. Close but no cigar.
If you want a living, breathing example of confidence, say hello to the WSU Shockers. After a beatdown of Creighton, a come-from-behind win against Illinois State, and a crazy 1-point squeaker over Evansville, the Shox have gone from laughing stock to surging stock in just three games.
Three home games, though. They’ll leave Kansas and try to win a true road game for the first time this season. If they can get a couple of road wins in the second half of the conference season, a team we all thought would be playing on Thursday might have a chance to snag a 6 seed.
Before WSU starts boasting a four-game win streak, they will need to take out a very talented and athletic Bradley team in Peoria. Look for Bradley to try and shut down freshman standout Toure Murry and sweep the season series between the two teams. BU won the last meeting 60-58 on Sam Singh’s offensive put back at the buzzer, and tonight’s contest should be another good game.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Bradley
Panon: Bradley
Dance Cam Guy: Bradley
Northern Iowa (14-6; 8-1, 1st) vs. Illinois State (17-3; 6-3, t-2nd)
7:00 p.m.
McCleod Center; Cedar Falls, Iowa
The schedule makers must have known something before the season started when they put together this year’s Valley slate. As the conference begins the second half of play and many teams will start seeing opponents for the second time, the Redbirds and Panthers will be meeting for just the first time.
UNI comes in with an 8-game win streak and is yet to lose in 2009. They took care of a Missouri State team that is playing inconsistent ball under first year coach Cuonzo Martin. That win marked the Panthers’ fifth Valley road win of the season, which ties a school record. Forget that stat tonight, though, because they’re in the confines of the McLeod Center. Jake’s Jungle should be out in full force for this one. Surely they’ll have more than the 3,500 people they were averaging earlier in the year, right? Right!?
The Redbirds picked up a win against in-state rival SIU in their last game to remain within striking distance of UNI. Fans should get their money’s worth in a game featuring two of the top teams in the Valley, albeit teams that play much different styles than one another. If the conference race continues to play out the way it has, their second game (February 24 in Normal) will no doubt have implications on seeding for St. Louis.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Illinois State
Panon: Illinois State
Dance Cam Guy: Illinois State
---
Bradley (12-8; 6-3, t-2nd) vs. Wichita State (9-11; 3-6, 8th)
7:00 p.m.
Carver Arena; Peoria, Illinois
Is Wichita State making a mid-season push? Is Bradley the team that showed up for the first half of the Valley? The midway point in the conference is always a great time for players and coaches to take a step back and look at the successes and failures of the first half of MVC play.
Confidence (or lack thereof) is a key factor to any basketball team’s success. How confident are the Braves as they take the home court? Sure, they beat Indiana State in their most recent game (who hasn’t, really?), but before that the Braves had dropped two straight road games by a combined total of 11 points. Close but no cigar.
If you want a living, breathing example of confidence, say hello to the WSU Shockers. After a beatdown of Creighton, a come-from-behind win against Illinois State, and a crazy 1-point squeaker over Evansville, the Shox have gone from laughing stock to surging stock in just three games.
Three home games, though. They’ll leave Kansas and try to win a true road game for the first time this season. If they can get a couple of road wins in the second half of the conference season, a team we all thought would be playing on Thursday might have a chance to snag a 6 seed.
Before WSU starts boasting a four-game win streak, they will need to take out a very talented and athletic Bradley team in Peoria. Look for Bradley to try and shut down freshman standout Toure Murry and sweep the season series between the two teams. BU won the last meeting 60-58 on Sam Singh’s offensive put back at the buzzer, and tonight’s contest should be another good game.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Bradley
Panon: Bradley
Dance Cam Guy: Bradley
posted by Creighton Otter at 6:54 AM
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