Today In The Valley (Jan. 4)
Indiana State (3-10; 1-1) vs. Evansville (9-3; 1-1)
12:35 p.m.
Hulman Center; Terre Haute, Indiana
MVC TV
Both teams are coming off tough losses as these in-state rivals get ready to battle this afternoon in Terre Haute. Evansville, who many dubbed “this year’s Drake” early in the season, took a solid 80-50 beating from undefeated Illinois State, quieting some of those Bulldog comparisons by Purple Aces fans. The one thing the Aces need now is an opponent that will raise their spirits, an opponent against whom they can get back to basics and work on the great parts of their game. It would seem, at least early on in the season, that Indiana State would be the perfect such opponent.
After their surprise victory in double overtime in front of a stunned Panther Crowd, the Sycamores thought for a second that their season would start to turn around. Then they ran into a solid Creighton team that was able to celebrate the New Year after a 79-61 victory. Indiana State has shown some spark since the return of their stand out guard Harry Marshall, but it will take much more than an individual effort to take down an angry Evansville squad. Look for the Aces to get back on track, but not before a good fight from the Sycamores.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Evansville
Panon: Evansville
Dance Cam Guy: Evansville
~ Dance Cam Guy
---
Southern Illinois (5-8; 0-2) vs. Drake (10-4; 1-1)
6:00 p.m.
SIU Arena; Carbondale, Illinois
ESPNU
A national crowd tuning in on ESPNU will get to witness this contest from SIU Arena. And while the situation is likely entertaining many Valley fans, the casual fan might not think much of the 2008-09 edition of SIU. Drake is looking for their first road win in conference play, while the Salukis are searching for not only a win but an identity.
The New Year brought change for Chris Lowery's squad. Days after losing a low scoring affair against UNI on Wednesday (their third home Valley loss in the last 8 years) C-Lo saw the exodus of two more of his players: Christian Cornelius and Torres Roundtree. Cornelius, a 4th year junior, has been battling injuries his whole career in a reserve role. After graduating in December and playing through the injuries, one can understand why he is calling it a career. Roundtree, on the other hand, was part of this year’s vaunted freshman class (ranked by some Rivals-esque recruiting sites as one of the top 25 groups). He has not seen the kind of minutes he would like even though he did start four games.
One of the best homecourt advantages in college hoops, it has lately been feast of famine for the Salukis in “Little Egypt.” Their five wins have been by an average of 11.7 points, while their losses have been by an average of 13 points. Since 2001-02, Southern Illinois is 95-8 at SIU Arena. If they are not careful, they could match that total number of home losses in this season alone.
Drake hasn't won at SIU Arena since 1996. UNI came in with a similar drought and it did not stop them. On the road to their surprise regular season and tournament championships last year, not even that Drake team could pull out a win in Carbondale. It is too early in the season to project how Mark Phelps’ first Bulldogs squad will finish this season, tonight they can accomplish a feat last year’s team could not by winning in Carbondale.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Drake
Panon: Drake
Dance Cam Guy: Drake
~ Panon
12:35 p.m.
Hulman Center; Terre Haute, Indiana
MVC TV
Both teams are coming off tough losses as these in-state rivals get ready to battle this afternoon in Terre Haute. Evansville, who many dubbed “this year’s Drake” early in the season, took a solid 80-50 beating from undefeated Illinois State, quieting some of those Bulldog comparisons by Purple Aces fans. The one thing the Aces need now is an opponent that will raise their spirits, an opponent against whom they can get back to basics and work on the great parts of their game. It would seem, at least early on in the season, that Indiana State would be the perfect such opponent.
After their surprise victory in double overtime in front of a stunned Panther Crowd, the Sycamores thought for a second that their season would start to turn around. Then they ran into a solid Creighton team that was able to celebrate the New Year after a 79-61 victory. Indiana State has shown some spark since the return of their stand out guard Harry Marshall, but it will take much more than an individual effort to take down an angry Evansville squad. Look for the Aces to get back on track, but not before a good fight from the Sycamores.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Evansville
Panon: Evansville
Dance Cam Guy: Evansville
~ Dance Cam Guy
---
Southern Illinois (5-8; 0-2) vs. Drake (10-4; 1-1)
6:00 p.m.
SIU Arena; Carbondale, Illinois
ESPNU
A national crowd tuning in on ESPNU will get to witness this contest from SIU Arena. And while the situation is likely entertaining many Valley fans, the casual fan might not think much of the 2008-09 edition of SIU. Drake is looking for their first road win in conference play, while the Salukis are searching for not only a win but an identity.
The New Year brought change for Chris Lowery's squad. Days after losing a low scoring affair against UNI on Wednesday (their third home Valley loss in the last 8 years) C-Lo saw the exodus of two more of his players: Christian Cornelius and Torres Roundtree. Cornelius, a 4th year junior, has been battling injuries his whole career in a reserve role. After graduating in December and playing through the injuries, one can understand why he is calling it a career. Roundtree, on the other hand, was part of this year’s vaunted freshman class (ranked by some Rivals-esque recruiting sites as one of the top 25 groups). He has not seen the kind of minutes he would like even though he did start four games.
One of the best homecourt advantages in college hoops, it has lately been feast of famine for the Salukis in “Little Egypt.” Their five wins have been by an average of 11.7 points, while their losses have been by an average of 13 points. Since 2001-02, Southern Illinois is 95-8 at SIU Arena. If they are not careful, they could match that total number of home losses in this season alone.
Drake hasn't won at SIU Arena since 1996. UNI came in with a similar drought and it did not stop them. On the road to their surprise regular season and tournament championships last year, not even that Drake team could pull out a win in Carbondale. It is too early in the season to project how Mark Phelps’ first Bulldogs squad will finish this season, tonight they can accomplish a feat last year’s team could not by winning in Carbondale.
Picks
Creighton Otter: Drake
Panon: Drake
Dance Cam Guy: Drake
~ Panon
posted by Creighton Otter at 11:20 AM
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