MVC Games Week 12

[BCPanther]

UNI played an outstanding first half and then coasted to a win over Valpo. Ben Krikke deserves better than what he's had to put up with for his career.

The schedule turns from here and we'll see what this team can do. Just a fun group to watch at this point. No expectations going forward but playing hard gets you good results typically.

[So iLL 24]

UNI played an outstanding first half and then coasted to a win over Valpo. Ben Krikke deserves better than what he's had to put up with for his career.

The schedule turns from here and we'll see what this team can do. Just a fun group to watch at this point. No expectations going forward but playing hard gets you good results typically.

I was looking at the remaining schedule and IMO, UNI has the toughest remaining schedule for sure.

[BCPanther]

UNI played an outstanding first half and then coasted to a win over Valpo. Ben Krikke deserves better than what he's had to put up with for his career.

The schedule turns from here and we'll see what this team can do. Just a fun group to watch at this point. No expectations going forward but playing hard gets you good results typically.

I was looking at the remaining schedule and IMO, UNI has the toughest remaining schedule for sure.

I think you're right. It's road heavy and we play good teams. I think 4 or 5 wins would be a heck of an accomplishment and I'd probably take the under, honestly.

The only saving grace is getting Indiana State at this point. They are exactly who we thought they were after all.

[hot nuts]

The only saving grace is getting Indiana State at this point. They are exactly who we thought they were after all.

I think you are under-selling the Sycs.

[Adunk33]

Watching the war on 74 with no real horse in the race because, outside of uni, i hate all other valley teams equally.

I can't say there has been a really bad call or really bad no call in the last 5 minutes of regulation and overtime. But at the same time the officiating had been egregiously one sided with seemingly every call going Bradley's way. The officials frequently calling a foul on one end and nearly the same thing going uncalled on the other end. I think Bradley made like one field goal in the last 10 minutes of play.

The entire game set basketball back 50 years.

Bradley tried as hard as it could to give the game to ISU. They could not have been any worse for 35 minutes. The Redbirds would not oblige, however, and blew a game they had in their grasp for the entire second half.

Can't disagree, Bradley played terribly at home and the Redbirds let them get away with it. I figured BU would come out ready to play after the home loss but they didn't. Late January can be a grind on these players, maybe they are worn down.

The guys is stripes are not the reason the Birds lost, but it's interesting to hear other fan bases input on how the game was called. Ultimately, the loss is two factors- ISU's inability to take care of the ball- another game with 20+ turnovers, and their depth. At this point in the season, it would be great if we knew there was 2 or 3 guys off the bench that can contribute, but the fact is, ISU has 6 contributors and there is a massive drop off from the 6th man to the 7th and even more from the 7th to the 8th.

Of the 6 that played, 3 played 41+ min and another played 39. They aren't going to win a lot of games down the stretch with tired legs. It showed last night. When they didn't seal the deal in regulation, I knew it was over. They were gassed. One thing I do love about this team is the balanced scoring. They aren't reliant on one dude to go off. Knight had 19, Lewis with 16, Poindexter 15, and Kasubke with 13. If someone on the bench could step up and spell one of these guys for 5 minutes throughout the course of the game, we might be talking about a different outcome. Of their 8 MVC losses, 5 have been by 6 points or less.

No moral victories, but one thing I was encourage by was the overall fight. After a complete embarrassing meltdown at home against Valpo, it could've been easy to phone it in the rest of the season. I'd argue teams of the last 3 years would've done that. These guys were scrappy and had a lot more "want" than BU, chasing down 50/50 balls. I have this as a game ISU lost more than one that BU won. Maybe BU was overlooking ISU but if I was a BU fan, I'd be worried about the effort that was on display. The Gargs have size over ISU at almost every position, yet was outrebounded by 19? How does that happen? Effort.

Oh well, move on and look to have a better showing against SIU on Sunday. They embarrassed the Birds down in Carbondale a few weeks ago, with Jones hitting about 10 30-footers as the shot clock expired. SIU with the a little advantage coming in, having an extra day of rest and not coming off an OT game. Here's to taking care of the ball and winning a damn game.

[tribecalledquest]

The guys is stripes are not the reason the Birds lost, but it's interesting to hear other fan bases input on how the game was called. Ultimately, the loss is two factors- ISU's inability to take care of the ball- another game with 20+ turnovers, and their depth. At this point in the season, it would be great if we knew there was 2 or 3 guys off the bench that can contribute, but the fact is, ISU has 6 contributors and there is a massive drop off from the 6th man to the 7th and even more from the 7th to the 8th.

Of the 6 that played, 3 played 41+ min and another played 39. They aren't going to win a lot of games down the stretch with tired legs. It showed last night. When they didn't seal the deal in regulation, I knew it was over. They were gassed. One thing I do love about this team is the balanced scoring. They aren't reliant on one dude to go off. Knight had 19, Lewis with 16, Poindexter 15, and Kasubke with 13. If someone on the bench could step up and spell one of these guys for 5 minutes throughout the course of the game, we might be talking about a different outcome. Of their 8 MVC losses, 5 have been by 6 points or less.

No moral victories, but one thing I was encourage by was the overall fight. After a complete embarrassing meltdown at home against Valpo, it could've been easy to phone it in the rest of the season. I'd argue teams of the last 3 years would've done that. These guys were scrappy and had a lot more "want" than BU, chasing down 50/50 balls. I have this as a game ISU lost more than one that BU won. Maybe BU was overlooking ISU but if I was a BU fan, I'd be worried about the effort that was on display. The Gargs have size over ISU at almost every position, yet was outrebounded by 19? How does that happen? Effort.

Oh well, move on and look to have a better showing against SIU on Sunday. They embarrassed the Birds down in Carbondale a few weeks ago, with Jones hitting about 10 30-footers as the shot clock expired. SIU with the a little advantage coming in, having an extra day of rest and not coming off an OT game. Here's to taking care of the ball and winning a damn game.

Right on. ISU plays hard. Has some decent athletes but the skill level isn't there (except for FT shooting). They need post help in the worst way. When Reink Mast went out of the game with his second foul at the 12 minute mark that allowed ISU to regroup.

Editorial comment: why Coach Wardle continues to sit Reink Mast with two first half fouls is beyond me. He is clearly the most important guy on the roster. It cost them at Belmont and almost cost them last night.

I think Coach Pedon will get it done there. I like his demeanor and how he handles himself. He has a pretty good staff as well.

[Adunk33]

I think Coach Pedon will get it done there. I like his demeanor and how he handles himself. He has a pretty good staff as well.

There have been times this year where I've wanted coach to get fired up and maybe get a T. He's never done it. Calm, cool, collected.

Interesting side note regarding the staff...As of right now, he only has two assistant coaches on it. He had hired Walter Offutt from Toledo. Offutt got to ISU over the summer and went on paternity leave in October and still hasn't returned. ISU fans are starting to ask questions which prompted the crack reporter wits of Jim Benson to ask and Pedon said, "(Offutt's) paternity leave ends January 30. I assume he'll be back on the 30th." That's clear as mud, right? It's a good thing we have a solid reporter to ask questions because Jim did not follow up.

Coming in, Walt was one of the more active guys on social media. In his absence, he has been silent. No "liking" tweets when things are going well, or when new players signed, or any indication he's even paying attention to the team. Rumor mill has it as a big surprise if he ever comes back.

That said, the staff is made up of longtime Illinois basketball guy, Rob Judson, first year assistant Andrew Dakich, a couple of GAs that were 4 year managers and a "Chief Of Staff" who is serving Offutt's role, and was a 4 year manager at OSU and most recently a financial advisor and on the staff of a high school team. High school assistant to D1 assistant in 7 months is a journey not many have been on.

[TylerDurden]

Watching the war on 74 with no real horse in the race because, outside of uni, i hate all other valley teams equally.

I can't say there has been a really bad call or really bad no call in the last 5 minutes of regulation and overtime. But at the same time the officiating had been egregiously one sided with seemingly every call going Bradley's way. The officials frequently calling a foul on one end and nearly the same thing going uncalled on the other end. I think Bradley made like one field goal in the last 10 minutes of play.

Tis the Wardle offensive way.

[IllinoisState]

My main ISU complaint for the past few years is no discipline with turnovers and fouls. The box score feom the Bradley game is embarrassing when looking at those.

[racernation]

Racers over da Bears of Mizzou State today in a close contest - 74-71.

For future reference, do you all prefer Southwest Missouri State or Mizzou State?