MVC Discussion Thread Week 7

by **VUGrad1314** » February 12th, 2020, 10:43 am

UNI 10-2
SIU 9-3
Loyola 8-4
ISUb 7-5
Bradley 7-5
Drake 6-6
Missouri State 5-7
Valpo 5-7
Illinois State 3-9
Evansville 0-12

Wednesday:

The game of the night to me is the one with the most Thursday implications and that is ISUb's trip to Carver to play Bradley. The Sycamores won as they usually do in the Hulman Center but the Braves were shorthanded in that game and are healthy now. This is a big game for both teams as they try to remain in the top 6.

Another one that has my eye tonight is Drake @ Missouri State. The Bears have been pretty good at home and winning on the road is very tough in the Valley. Can the Bears get a big win for their top 6 fortunes or will Drake strengthen their position and continue to hold onto the last spot?

Another interesting matchup is Valpo vs SIU. The Salukis are the hottest team in the MVC and haven't lost since Januray 16 at Gentile. Will the Crusaders, who are fighting to avoid Thursday and facing increasingly long odds of success in that endeavor, be the team to cool them off or will they take their streak back home to Carbondale to face Bradley?

UNI and Loyola are on upset alert. UNI is heading into a very important stretch that includes road games against Loyola and Indiana State and a home date against SIU. This Illinois State game is sandwiched right between this stretch and an emotional win over Drake on Saturday. Can the Panthers avoid the trap? Remember, the Redbirds beat the Panthers to open conference play which Coach Jacobson has probably consistently reminded them of this week. As for Loyola Evansville is going to get somebody and they have come oh so close multiple times. Will Loyola be the victim looking ahead to a big matchup at home against UNI?

Weekend games:
This slate is dominated by UNI traveling to Gentile to play the Ramblers in Chicago. Their meeting in Cedar Falls was an overtime thriller that could easily have gone either way. Will this game produce a similar result? Can Loyola notch this win and get back in the race or will UNI strengthen its hold on first place?

Bradley and Southern Illinois is another really interesting matchup. Can the Salukis stay hot and in the Valley race or will Bradley strengthen its position within the top six?

So much depends on the SIU result for Valpo. A loss there makes their odds of avoiding Thursday incredibly long but if they can win that one they absolutely need to notch a victory in Normal to stay alive. Illinois State has been really good and tough at home so it definitely will not be easy.

Sunday has a great and important matchup with Missouri State traveling to Terre Haute to play the Sycamores in another match that will help us settle the race for the middle of the conference and the last three top six spots. If Missouri State can hold home court against Drake this game takes on an increased importance especially if Bradley gets revenge on the Sycamores in Carver.

Sunday also has Drake currently in sixth place taking on Evansville in the Knapp Center where they have been very good. If Evansville cannot win at home over the Ramblers it will be a tall order for them to get their first conference win in Des Moines. They have come really close against SIU and Bradley though so they definitely have a shot.

**Sponsor**

by **chitown fanatic** » February 12th, 2020, 11:30 am

This is easily the most difficult week so far to pick games, i expect a number of upsets

by **Blers** » February 12th, 2020, 12:12 pm

I've never felt so bad about playing a team with 0 conference wins.

by **municup14** » February 12th, 2020, 12:24 pm

Remember when LOYOLA blasted my beloved Aces in Chic-town they shot like 70% the 1st half.Aces still dont have an answer for a team that has a strong center.And Krutwig is a BEAST down low.I thinking about plopping down 100$ on the money line for Evansville.Aces are around a +365

by **Blers** » February 12th, 2020, 12:36 pm

On paper i agree! We're just not great on the road this year and have NEVER played well at the Ford Center. Even in the Final Four year it was a 4 point game with like 3 minutes left there.

by **usmcsaluki** » February 12th, 2020, 12:58 pm

Is Deandre Williams back? That sure would make tonight's game against Loyola interesting, although Evansville has been playing pretty well without him lately.

by **municup14** » February 12th, 2020, 1:56 pm

usmcsaluki wrote:Is Deandre Williams back? That sure would make tonight's game against Loyola interesting, although Evansville has been playing pretty well without him lately.

That is the 164,000 question, will,or if DeAndre will play again this year,or ever again at UE :huh:

by **Saluki 4 Life** » February 12th, 2020, 3:02 pm

municup14 wrote:
usmcsaluki wrote:Is Deandre Williams back? That sure would make tonight's game against Loyola interesting, although Evansville has been playing pretty well without him lately.

That is the 164,000 question, will,or if DeAndre will play again this year,or ever again at UE

Start to get the feeling he is done... The quote I read most recently was we hope to have him before the season is over... Does not sound at all like anyone expects him to play.

by **Majik45** » February 12th, 2020, 3:43 pm

Anyone else being affected by the snow today? Peoria is getting 3-6 inches of snow tonight which could mean a smaller crowd than normal for the game.

by **VUGrad1314** » February 12th, 2020, 3:50 pm

It's a concern Valpo fans are talking about on our board in advance of our game against SIU tonight. Hopefully we get a nice crowd because this game is super important but I'm not holding my breath.