MVC Games - Xmas Eve Week

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

I know the Aces are hurt but what an embarrassing night. Currently down 69 with 2 minutes left.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

That's all folks. Long plane ride back to Indiana. Duke wins 104-40. 64 point loss. At least they scored 40?......

[purple&orange]

3 best guards, had 8 guys available tonight. It would have been ugly regardless but that certainly didn't help matters. Of those 8, you had a 5th year senior, JC senior, redshirt freshman, and 5 guys new to the program this year. The opinion from the preseason polls and here is that Evansville wouldn't be that good so losing at a Final Four caliber team, granted by 60+ is a bit much, shouldn't be a huge surprise.

Duke also played really well, the resistance factor (or lack of) had a lot to do with that. The key now is not to lose to Duke again on Saturday. Make Illinois State beat them. Duke is one big L, regroup and come home, hopefully get Boo back and Taylor is getting closer to his returning window as well. He was out of his boot, non-contact drills at practice late last week. Glad he didn't play/risk anything tonight.

Playing against that type of size, skill is a wake up call and we struggled tonight, no doubt.

[freddycat68]

Evansville shouldn't hang their heads. This kind of disaster happens every so often. Actually not a bad RPI night for the MVC with UE playing Duke and BU winning AT SEMO. We're a one-bid NCAA league this year, but most of our teams will still be playing after Arch Madness. Still important to get some more OOC W's and build for the next couple years.

[musiccitybulldog]

Will be a memorable event for the Evansville players. Good for them. I was cheering them on.

[freddycat68]

Well it WAS a decent RPI night but Valpo is down 18 at half to an AWFUL 3-win UCR team. Come on, VU -- can't have this loss no matter what issues are going on.

[underdawg]

Bradley got down early but stormed back to take a 12 point half time lead. SE MO st made a couple run a in the 2nd half but never got closer than 3 points and Bradley was then able to push the lead back up to 13 after that.

Another road win for Bradley against a team that beat SIU in Carbondale. Bradley will get another good road test at Ole Miss on Saturday. I don't think there is any way this Bradley team is playing on Thursday again.

You of course know we've had the following players out for up to a month each: Starting PG 6-5 Marcus Bartley who just got back three games ago; Thik Bol 6-8 starting PF has been out with knee since October 28 but may be back by the first week in January; Eric McGill 6-2 PG back-up just went out with broken hand; Austin Weiher 6-8 PF was out for two months with bone spurs; Kavion Pippen 6-10 hurt hand two games ago but is recovering and in the SAME game as he and McGill got hurt Armon Fletcher 6-5 Guard tweeked his knee which got dislocated at he first of the season but is playing with pain now--also 6-9 center Rudy Stradnieks banged up HIS hand,in the same game as McGill and Pippen but has recovered.
I wouldn't get to cocky about SIU--especially when Bol returns to team with Pippen

[sixth ace]

That's all folks. Long plane ride back to Indiana. Duke wins 104-40. 64 point loss. At least they scored 40?......

And they got a check and experience. Whether you lose by 1 or 64 it is just a L in a column. UE wasn't helped by BC either. On to conference play...

[SalukiHoops]

MVC PICKS

Loyola @ Missouri St:
I'll take the Bears in this one for the simple fact that the game is in Springfield. MSU by 5.

Illinois St @ Evansville:
Would've taken UofE if they were not as banged up as they currently are. Therefore, ISUr by 8.

[Majik45]

You of course know we've had the following players out for up to a month each: Starting PG 6-5 Marcus Bartley who just got back three games ago; Thik Bol 6-8 starting PF has been out with knee since October 28 but may be back by the first week in January; Eric McGill 6-2 PG back-up just went out with broken hand; Austin Weiher 6-8 PF was out for two months with bone spurs; Kavion Pippen 6-10 hurt hand two games ago but is recovering and in the SAME game as he and McGill got hurt Armon Fletcher 6-5 Guard tweeked his knee which got dislocated at he first of the season but is playing with pain now--also 6-9 center Rudy Stradnieks banged up HIS hand,in the same game as McGill and Pippen but has recovered.
I wouldn't get to cocky about SIU--especially when Bol returns to team with Pippen

I realize SIU is playing majority shorthanded right now. With all the injuries they have they are a play in team. Once you get healthy, I think they are right up there with Bradley, Valpo, Illinois State and others fighting for 3rd to 7th place.