We're all disappointed with how the league has been trending the last week +.
However, I did want to share that the Return to Horton game against SIUE was absolutely incredible. I'm not old enough to have witnessed a game back in its glory days but there were 3400 fans in a venue that could probably hold 3800 max, and those last 400 probably would've had to stand. Back in the day, I'm told there were dangerous bleachers on the end zones that went up to the ceiling that got sell out crowds to around 8K. The atmosphere was awesome and fans were engaged. A game like that could really reenergize a fan base that's been sleeping in 2016-17, however, it'll be 9 days until ILST's next home game with finals being this week and a neutral site game Saturday.
SIUE aren't world beaters but there is talk of them competing for the OVC. Gave BU all they had earlier in the week and played a competitive game against the Birds. The Birds are scrappy fighters who have really been making hustle plays during this 3 game win streak. They've been the epitome of a "be ready when your name is called team." Poindexter goes down, Sandage steps up with walk on, Jayden Johnson filling minutes at the 2-4 positions. McChesney goes down, Johnson fills some of his minutes and Ryan Schmitt (who started some last year and hasn't played this year) steps up. Then there is a peak this weekend by Harouna Sissoko, who did not play a minute prior to Saturday's game. Kendall Lewis was in foul trouble and he's put into action to help with the physicality of SIUE. He played 9 minutes, scored 4 point and grabbed a couple boards. Sure, that's a nice sat line. However, with a little over 1 minute to play, Birds up 5 have the ball. Sandage gets stripped at midcourt and SIUE appears to have what is a wide open, momentum changing dunk to bring it within 3. Sissoko glides the length of the court from the opposite lane and well...see for yourself.
https://twitter.com/Redbird_MBB/status/ ... yM8DNcEelwhttps://twitter.com/Redbird_MBB/status/ ... yM8DNcEelwJust a game saving play during an INCREDIBLE event with Doug Collins and a ton of other Redbird Alumni in the building.
Here's the full game highlights if you want to see what it was all about:
https://twitter.com/Redbird_MBB/status/ ... yM8DNcEelwI don't know how many games they're going to win, but they've been damn fun to watch so far in December.