Opening Week Games

[Mikovio]

Brutal loss. 3 missed FTs in last 90 seconds including a front end of a 1-and-1. I'm madder than a Lions fan this Thanksgiving.

[uniguy]

I really thought we were going to have one of the best teams in UNI history. I have officially lowered my expectations. The team is still good, but nowhere near the best UNI teams.

Also continue to have no guts in the clutch. Have not been the same since we lost to A&M. That game broke our program.

[BCPanther]

No killer instinct.

[tribecalledquest]

It doesn't appear AJ Green spent the offseason focusing on defense.

[tribecalledquest]

Terrific win by Drake! I just wish they had challenged themselves a bit more in the non-conference to give themselves more opportunities. They're a good team and I feel like they underscheduled for where they are (Not that I should throw any stones as a Valpo fan since our schedule isn't much better.) Still LOVE to see the Valley well represented and showing well in the non-conference! This was a HUGE win today! Also great work by Bradley getting by Toledo and setting up a big opportunity tomorrow against Xavier! Now if UNI can get by WKU we'll have had ourselves a really good day. I think the story of the day for the Valley will be Drake's win in Manhattan moreso than the Illinois State blowout by Ohio State. Do you think anybody honestly expected anything else to happen in that game?

Not a lot Drake can do about scheduling. You have to play who will play you, particularly this year. It is a no win for better teams to play Drake. Nobody wants to play a nobody who might very well beat them.

This isn't remotely true.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

I wouldn't worry. St. Mary's and WKU (this year) are good losses. Both are very good teams.

[BEARZ77]

I wouldn't worry. St. Mary's and WKU (this year) are good losses. Both are very good teams.

Not sure yet on St Mary's; they're always well coached , but were picked 3rd in the West Coasts preseason poll, and between 3rd to 5th in most preseason rags. In watching them twice, they don't seem to have the quality star players they often have , but as I said, are kinda like UNI in the past, they have a system, run it well, and recruit to it. I think they'll be good, but I don't see them at the level of past St.Mary's teams.

What I saw in UNI in two games is obviously they aren't at a "UNI level" defensively yet, nor were they their usual self with ball security. Teams never get to the foul line against then in conference play, and they aren't often in mid teens in turnovers. Offensively, they will blow some teams apart when they are clicking on their treys; so many quality shooters. But they are best when Phyfe is established early down low. What I really didn't like seeing is I think Jake is caught in a quandary with Green late game. They just give the ball to Green, everyone else just stands around watching while he goes 1:1 . Now he's so good, that I understand the rationale, but I thought 3 straight possessions just wasn't a smart approach when you have so many weapons . He'll give it up some, but he's a scorer, so that's his focus; I'd run offense first, then swing it back to him if you don't get the shot you want with about 10 seconds left. Him maintaining the ball the entire possession just doesn't force the defense to do much.

Nothing has changed as far as their conference possibilities, but gonna be a tough path to the NCAA tourney now.

[Adunk33]

There’s a term in Bloomington/Normal that I believe fits both UNI and Bradley’s games yesterday.

The Panthers and Gargoyles both “birded” it. As you probably know, for decades, the Redbirds have been notorious for being close but no cigar in game they probably should’ve won had the ball bounced their way another time or two.

Northern Iowa is going to be a very good team. Born and Kimmons are legit players. Noah Carter didn’t have quite the game he did previously and UNI desperately missed his 9-threes. . UNIs carelessness with the ball was shocking. I’ve been watching this league for years and don’t ever remember seeing a more undisciplined Coach Jake team. But it’s the second game of the season. Watching the first two games, it very much seems Green is pressing. UNI needs to be careful. A season ago in their MTE, ILST lost a close one to Cincy, close one to WKU (both good teams), and then lost their third game to Grand Canyon. I think that was the starting point of the Birds crashing down last year. However, I think UNI will be fine and contend for the league title. They’ve given college hoops fans a couple fun games to open the season.

For Bradley, they thought they had that game won when the kid in the corner three late. Then from what I could tell, played very passive defense. Looking at the numbers in the game, Bradley only shot 6 FTs and missed 4. Xavier shot 8. Value your free points, and that game is won. Like I said with UNI, plenty of time to work out the kinks but that 3-2 zone in the second half was no effective. Though the game was VERY low scoring, there were at least 4-5 times Xavier got an open shot in the corner while BU was in their zone. The wings play too high and can’t recover when the ball gets swung to the corner. They’ll get it fixed.

I look forward to watching the other MVC teams play today! I didn’t get to watch Drakes impressive K State win. Look forward to seeing them.

Hopefully no other MVC teams “Bird” it today.

[BEARZ77]

Bears open today against NAIA local program Evangel and follow with game against a small school from Arkansas Ecclesius tomorrow. Negative note is projected starting pg juco AA Demarcus Sharp will be out indefinite time with some sort of foot/leg injury. Probably shouldn't affect game outcomes for a while given the weakness of Bear's early schedule, but hopefully he's back in time to play a bit before conference . Always something , even with weak schedule it's imperative with 8 newcomers for Bears to have time to jell pre- conference. Sharp is integral to Bears hoped improvement. Soph Black, or freshmen Patterson and Wicks will need to run the show for now.

[TheDrake]

Bulldogs win big over South Dakota. Up by 20+ for most of the 2nd half. Final tally 69-54.