Today In The Valley (Feb. 21)
BracketBusters Saturday!
Indiana State (8-19; t-8th in MVC) vs. Toledo (5-21; 4th in MAC West)
1:00 p.m.
Hulman Center; Terre Haute, Indiana
This one should be a real-edge-of-your-seat, nonstop action basketball brawl (end sarcasm). OK, I might be stretching things a bit there.
This non-televised BracketBuster game will feature two mid-major teams looking to make something out of severely disappointing season. The two powerhouses have a combined 13 wins this year, are both in the bottom tier of their respective conferences.
Toledo was able to stop their seven game losing streak this week with a victory over Ball State, and Indiana State has had a few upsets that CU fans have been very excited about in the last few weeks.
If you are getting some chores done around the house and you can convince Cox to pick up www.ESPN360.com, then you may take a peek here and there to see how the Trees (10-point favorites at home) are holding up, but besides that, vacuuming may be more exciting.
~ Dance Cam Guy
---
Siena (21-6; 1st in MAAC) vs. Northern Iowa (18-9; t-1st in MVC)
2:00 p.m.
Times Union Arena; Albany, New York
ESPN2
The Panthers are in for a tough game this afternoon. Not only are they taking on the Siena Saints on the road, they are also dealing with inconsistent play in losing three of four Valley games.
Will the slide continue today? Or will they make adjustments and regain the tough defense and balanced basketball that put them on top of the Valley? They’ve already shown a knack for winning road games; they’ll need a pre-slump effort to get that done today and snag a big BracketBuster win for the Valley.
~ Panon
---
Wichita State (13-14; t-5th in MVC) vs. Cleveland State (20-8; (3rd in Horizon)
2:00 p.m.
Koch Arena; Wichita, Kansas
Here’s a shocker for the Shockers: Greggggggggg Marshall’s mad about something again. Ticked off at another perceived slight, this time by the folks that throw together the BracketBuster match-ups. His quote a few weeks ago, when the game against Cleveland State was announced:
“It doesn’t make sense to me why we’re playing Cleveland State,” he said Tuesday at news conference at Koch Arena. I don’t remember losing anything in Cleveland, but I do have to go back there next year. I was hoping for a warm destination or a warmer destination. I was also hoping for, if not that, an area that we recruit. I have never recruited Cleveland. We’ll just have to deal with it and play the Vikings when they arrive here in late February.”
Jeez, Gregggggggg. You’re such a gracious host. In all seriousness, though, the Shox will put their newfound home court winning ways to the test against a Vikings squad that is in the top 80 RPI-wise and has a road win over the (always overrated) Syracuse Orangemen.
WSU has lost just 3 games this season at home, and you can expect Marshall’s shoulder chip to carry over into the Koch Arena crowd.
~ Creighton Otter
---
Evansville (15-11; t-5th in MVC) vs. Miami (Ohio) (t-2nd in MAC East)
2:30 p.m.
Roberts Stadium; Evansville, Indiana
ESPNU
In the second of three games on the Family of Networks today, the Purple Aces will host a rare men's and women's doubleheader (with the Lady Aces’ game to follow).
If the men play like they did in Omaha earlier this week, with the exception of a little more defense, they should be in good shape to come away with a home win on BracketBuster weekend. The Roberts Stadium crowd should provide enough assistance against a good Red Hawks team.
~ Panon
---
Loyola (Chicago) (14-15; t-7th in Horizon) vs. Bradley (15-12; 4th in MVC)
3:00 p.m.
Gentile Center; Chicago, Illinois
This will not be the first meeting between these two BracketBuster opponents, as the in-state rivals will meet for the 45th time this afternoon (Bradley holds a 26-19 advantage in the series).
The Braves have been on the horizon quite a bit this season, as the game with the Ramblers will be their fourth Horizon opponent this season. This game will be a good game for the Braves as they gear up for the final week of conference play and try to at least stay in the 4-spot for the MVC tournament.
The Ramblers will be entering the game on a 2-game winning steak, including a huge win over then #15 Butler. Loyola has proven to be someone to watch out for come the Horizon League tournament, and they will be eager to get that automatic bid.
~ Dance Cam Guy
---
Tennessee-Martin (19-6; 1st in Ohio Valley) vs. Missouri State (10-17; 10th in MVC)
6:00 p.m.
Skyhawk Center; Martin, Tennessee
Tennessee-Martin is good. Missouri State, not so much.
But the real reason to tune into this game (not on ESPN, as it won’t be on the Family of Networks) in any way possible is as simple as two words: Lester Hudson.
He is simply one of the most prolific players in college basketball over the past two seasons. In his third college basketball game he became the first men's player in Division I history to record a quadruple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in a 116-74 win over Central Baptist College.
The game is awfully fluid for Lester Hudson
But basketball is easy compared with his off-the-court struggles in the past. Read about them here.
He averages 27.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.5 spg, shoots 46% from the field and 36% from 3-point range. And he’s an 87% free throw shooter.
~ Creighton Otter
---
Illinois-Chicago (13-14; t-7th in Horizon) vs. Southern Illinois (11-16; t-8th in MVC)
7:00 p.m.
UIC Pavilion; Chicago, Illinois
The Salukis are in survival mode today, just as they’ve been ever since losing Bryan Mullins to a stress fracture. SIU travels to Chicago with just 8 players suited up to see any meaningful minutes.
The Flames feature Josh Mayo, a terrific guard who averages 16.7 ppg and has put together a remarkable 4-year career at UIC. He scored 27 points in a win earlier this season against Northern Iowa, and 22 points in a 6-point loss at Redbird Arena vs. Illinois State.
~ Panon
---
Drake (16-12; t-5th in MVC) vs. Austin Peay (15-11; 3rd in Ohio Valley)
7:00 p.m.
Knapp Center; Des Moines, Iowa
The Bulldogs go just about as far as Josh Young and Jonathan Cox take them game in and game out. Austin Peay’s Wes Channels and Drake Reed are the same way.
(And yes, I think it is hilarious that the Bulldogs are hosting a team with a kid named “Drake” on their squad.)
Young, a 6-1 guard, averages nearly 16 ppg and draws a lot of attention from opposing defenses. Channels, a 6-3 perimeter player, averages 17 ppg and causes much consternation for opponents, as well.
Cox, a 6-8 forward, pours in 12 ppg and grabs 8 rebounds per contest. He can step out and shoot the 3-pointer, as well. Reed, a 6-5 forward, averages a team-high 22 ppg and also grabs 7.7 rpg. He shoots 46% from 3-point range.
~ Creighton Otter
Indiana State (8-19; t-8th in MVC) vs. Toledo (5-21; 4th in MAC West)
1:00 p.m.
Hulman Center; Terre Haute, Indiana
This one should be a real-edge-of-your-seat, nonstop action basketball brawl (end sarcasm). OK, I might be stretching things a bit there.
This non-televised BracketBuster game will feature two mid-major teams looking to make something out of severely disappointing season. The two powerhouses have a combined 13 wins this year, are both in the bottom tier of their respective conferences.
Toledo was able to stop their seven game losing streak this week with a victory over Ball State, and Indiana State has had a few upsets that CU fans have been very excited about in the last few weeks.
If you are getting some chores done around the house and you can convince Cox to pick up www.ESPN360.com, then you may take a peek here and there to see how the Trees (10-point favorites at home) are holding up, but besides that, vacuuming may be more exciting.
~ Dance Cam Guy
---
Siena (21-6; 1st in MAAC) vs. Northern Iowa (18-9; t-1st in MVC)
2:00 p.m.
Times Union Arena; Albany, New York
ESPN2
The Panthers are in for a tough game this afternoon. Not only are they taking on the Siena Saints on the road, they are also dealing with inconsistent play in losing three of four Valley games.
Will the slide continue today? Or will they make adjustments and regain the tough defense and balanced basketball that put them on top of the Valley? They’ve already shown a knack for winning road games; they’ll need a pre-slump effort to get that done today and snag a big BracketBuster win for the Valley.
~ Panon
---
Wichita State (13-14; t-5th in MVC) vs. Cleveland State (20-8; (3rd in Horizon)
2:00 p.m.
Koch Arena; Wichita, Kansas
Here’s a shocker for the Shockers: Greggggggggg Marshall’s mad about something again. Ticked off at another perceived slight, this time by the folks that throw together the BracketBuster match-ups. His quote a few weeks ago, when the game against Cleveland State was announced:
“It doesn’t make sense to me why we’re playing Cleveland State,” he said Tuesday at news conference at Koch Arena. I don’t remember losing anything in Cleveland, but I do have to go back there next year. I was hoping for a warm destination or a warmer destination. I was also hoping for, if not that, an area that we recruit. I have never recruited Cleveland. We’ll just have to deal with it and play the Vikings when they arrive here in late February.”
Jeez, Gregggggggg. You’re such a gracious host. In all seriousness, though, the Shox will put their newfound home court winning ways to the test against a Vikings squad that is in the top 80 RPI-wise and has a road win over the (always overrated) Syracuse Orangemen.
WSU has lost just 3 games this season at home, and you can expect Marshall’s shoulder chip to carry over into the Koch Arena crowd.
~ Creighton Otter
---
Evansville (15-11; t-5th in MVC) vs. Miami (Ohio) (t-2nd in MAC East)
2:30 p.m.
Roberts Stadium; Evansville, Indiana
ESPNU
In the second of three games on the Family of Networks today, the Purple Aces will host a rare men's and women's doubleheader (with the Lady Aces’ game to follow).
If the men play like they did in Omaha earlier this week, with the exception of a little more defense, they should be in good shape to come away with a home win on BracketBuster weekend. The Roberts Stadium crowd should provide enough assistance against a good Red Hawks team.
~ Panon
---
Loyola (Chicago) (14-15; t-7th in Horizon) vs. Bradley (15-12; 4th in MVC)
3:00 p.m.
Gentile Center; Chicago, Illinois
This will not be the first meeting between these two BracketBuster opponents, as the in-state rivals will meet for the 45th time this afternoon (Bradley holds a 26-19 advantage in the series).
The Braves have been on the horizon quite a bit this season, as the game with the Ramblers will be their fourth Horizon opponent this season. This game will be a good game for the Braves as they gear up for the final week of conference play and try to at least stay in the 4-spot for the MVC tournament.
The Ramblers will be entering the game on a 2-game winning steak, including a huge win over then #15 Butler. Loyola has proven to be someone to watch out for come the Horizon League tournament, and they will be eager to get that automatic bid.
~ Dance Cam Guy
---
Tennessee-Martin (19-6; 1st in Ohio Valley) vs. Missouri State (10-17; 10th in MVC)
6:00 p.m.
Skyhawk Center; Martin, Tennessee
Tennessee-Martin is good. Missouri State, not so much.
But the real reason to tune into this game (not on ESPN, as it won’t be on the Family of Networks) in any way possible is as simple as two words: Lester Hudson.
He is simply one of the most prolific players in college basketball over the past two seasons. In his third college basketball game he became the first men's player in Division I history to record a quadruple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in a 116-74 win over Central Baptist College.
The game is awfully fluid for Lester Hudson
But basketball is easy compared with his off-the-court struggles in the past. Read about them here.
He averages 27.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.5 spg, shoots 46% from the field and 36% from 3-point range. And he’s an 87% free throw shooter.
~ Creighton Otter
---
Illinois-Chicago (13-14; t-7th in Horizon) vs. Southern Illinois (11-16; t-8th in MVC)
7:00 p.m.
UIC Pavilion; Chicago, Illinois
The Salukis are in survival mode today, just as they’ve been ever since losing Bryan Mullins to a stress fracture. SIU travels to Chicago with just 8 players suited up to see any meaningful minutes.
The Flames feature Josh Mayo, a terrific guard who averages 16.7 ppg and has put together a remarkable 4-year career at UIC. He scored 27 points in a win earlier this season against Northern Iowa, and 22 points in a 6-point loss at Redbird Arena vs. Illinois State.
~ Panon
---
Drake (16-12; t-5th in MVC) vs. Austin Peay (15-11; 3rd in Ohio Valley)
7:00 p.m.
Knapp Center; Des Moines, Iowa
The Bulldogs go just about as far as Josh Young and Jonathan Cox take them game in and game out. Austin Peay’s Wes Channels and Drake Reed are the same way.
(And yes, I think it is hilarious that the Bulldogs are hosting a team with a kid named “Drake” on their squad.)
Young, a 6-1 guard, averages nearly 16 ppg and draws a lot of attention from opposing defenses. Channels, a 6-3 perimeter player, averages 17 ppg and causes much consternation for opponents, as well.
Cox, a 6-8 forward, pours in 12 ppg and grabs 8 rebounds per contest. He can step out and shoot the 3-pointer, as well. Reed, a 6-5 forward, averages a team-high 22 ppg and also grabs 7.7 rpg. He shoots 46% from 3-point range.
~ Creighton Otter
posted by Creighton Otter at 11:14 AM
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