Season tip off

[PantherSigEp]

The first four games feature teams who all believe they should be able to avoid Thursday. 3 of the four opponents are lower end teams, one is top 25 caliber. I'd love to think 3-1 is more than a reasonable expectation but I just have a feeling we may have to be happy with 2-2.

Khan, I'm with you all the way on this one

[2livewu]

How about the 3 games on Saturday?

Drake and UNI both have games that could be problematic. UNI getting a win would be a very nice road win to start the season. I suspect ISUB will have little trouble with Ball State in Terre Haute.

And I am assuming the other 3 games against lesser division opponents will be without drama, or we're all in for a long season.

[Heinro]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... ting-woman

[AndShock]

Bradley up 6 at half. 0-4 is still in reach

[glm38]

So the Valley starts 3-1 after all. Not a bad start at all.

[Khan4Cats]

The first four games feature teams who all believe they should be able to avoid Thursday. 3 of the four opponents are lower end teams, one is top 25 caliber. I'd love to think 3-1 is more than a reasonable expectation but I just have a feeling we may have to be happy with 2-2.

I was wrong on the 2-2 and I am fine with being wrong at 3-1. Saturdays games should have 3 easy wins over lower division schools, two games against MAC schools and a roadie at UIC. I would again think a split with MAC games and a win at UIC is possible, but am kind of expecting a 1-2 day. Maybe I can be wrong in the right direction again.

[Khan4Cats]

The first four games feature teams who all believe they should be able to avoid Thursday. 3 of the four opponents are lower end teams, one is top 25 caliber. I'd love to think 3-1 is more than a reasonable expectation but I just have a feeling we may have to be happy with 2-2.

I was wrong on the 2-2 and I am fine with being wrong at 3-1. Saturdays games should have 3 easy wins over lower division schools, two games against MAC schools and a roadie at UIC. I would again think a split with MAC games and a win at UIC is possible, but am kind of expecting a 1-2 day. Maybe I can be wrong in the right direction again.

Yep, wrong again. Wish it would have been the other MAC win for the Valley, but oh well. Not gonna make a prediction today, couldn't bring myself to say it and don't want to jinx Bradley. Go Gargoyles!

[Wufan]

Nine teams have their first game completed (SIU tips off Tuesday) and the Valley is 7-2 (5-2 against D-I competition). Better than I expected! The Valley is 2-2 on the road (with one loss being a bottom half Valley team to a top 25 team) which is certainly acceptable. Congrats to those teams that have their first win!

I'm not going to change any of my pre-season predictions based on one game, nor do I see any reason to do so. OTOH, the new point of emphasis this year has me seriously questioning my All-Valley selections. Richard Carter and other similar players are going to score a TON. Three point specialists are going to become less valuable as will "strong" guards. Quickness and shot altering abilities will be at a premium. I say altering because I watched VanDeest last night and he was not impressive in any way except one. He played the middle of a 2-3 zone and because of his large footprint, he was able to deter would be drivers from the hoop.

In the first games 5 players scored over 20:

Carter - 38
Ballentine - 29
White - 23
Cummings - 21
Early - 21

That's four guards (2 PGs) and a wing forward.

Eight more players scored between 16-20: seven guards (5 PG/CG) and a wing forward (Gulley). Tyshon Pickett scored 15 and is the first back to the basked guy on the scoring list. The next is Justin Gant. He ranked 22nd on the list with 11 points.

Freshman that impressed:

Milton Doyle, LUC - 18 points in his debut! 31 minutes

Austin Ruder, MSU - 14 in 33 min
Jeremy Morgan, UNI - 13 points (5 TOs) in 31 min
Blake Simmons, EU - 11 points in 36 min
Paris Lee, ISUr - 9 points, 6 steals (9 TOs) in 26 min
Tyler McCullough - 9 points, 9 boards, 2 blks in 30 min

New comers of note:

Bradley
Omari Grier - 17 points in 26 min
Auston Barnes - 11 and 5 in 33 minutes
Anthony Fields - 6 minutes, 1 assist

Drake
Chris Caird - 4 points, 7 boards, 22 minutes

Illinois State
Zach Lofton - 12 points in 22 min
Jamaal Samuel - 9 points, 5 boards in 15 minutes
Daishon Knight - 9 points in 20 minutes
Michael Middlebrooks - 6 points, 3 boards, 5 PF in 14 minutes
Bobby Hunter - 3 points in 17 minutes
John Jones - 3 points, 7 boards in 23 minutes

Loyola
Cody Johnson - 6 points in 12 minutes

Missouri State
Ron Mvouika - 4 points, 2 boards in 6 minutes
Emmanuel Addo - 2 rebounds in 9 minutes

Northern Iowa
Wes Washpun - 6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks in 34 min

Wichita State
Darius Carter - 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks in 14 minutes
Kadeem Coleby - 2 points, 3 boards, 1 block in 15 minutes

[Wufan]

Barnes and Grier post another good game for BU.

[Bradleyfan1]

Barnes and Grier post another good game for BU.

Built Ford Tough! Get used to it!