N. Iowa/Wichita St. in-game thread.

[Bravesfan]

Great Valley final so far as Wichita St. is up 31-28 at the half over N. Iowa. Obviously WSU needs this victory as this is their only shot at the Big Dance. N. Iowa is in even with a loss IMO.

A couple of other observations that I found interesting. First you have far in away the best defensive team in the tournament up against a pretty strong offensive team. UNI has given up 40 points a game while WSU has averaged 69 points a game. Obviously something has to give as NO team is going to stay as stingy on defense as UNI has forever. Obviously to be a great NCAA Tournament team, a great defense will carry a team, but there has to be at least an average offensive output to advance far.

Right now it looks as though WSU has enough offensive punch to somewhat neutralize UNI's defense. And this shows in a close game with the slight advantage going to WSU right now. WSU is making their three's and they have attacked the basket nicely. A fair number of WSU turnovers early on, but they have taken care of things since then. It should make for a great second half of play!

And one other sure bet from this game: UNI will give up far more than 40 points today!

[Bravesfan]

Things looking good as WSU is up 39-33 at the under 16 timeout.

Now 39-35 WSU.

[BradleyBrave]

UNI now in control, but it should be a good finish. Up 6 7:32 to play.

Egleseder and Stutz are battling in the post, it's fun to watch.

[Big Mike]

WOW.....11:30 with no field goal for WS

[BradleyBrave]

Looking like our 3rd straight 1 bid year. That's what happens when your league champ wins the tournament 3 years in a row.

[Big Mike]

as much as I want WS to win.....UNI really looked good in the tourney....plus one million less for the league to split amongst the teams

[Bravesfan]

Wow! What happened to WSU over the last ten minutes???! That's what UNI will do to teams. WSU had good shots over that span, but they also forced some and lacked some patience. Keep UNI in the low 50's and WSU still would have had a shot.

So I guess we are a one bid wonder for the third year in a row. I think the Valley needs to do better than that. But as far as UNI is concerned, I'd be shocked if they don't make the Sweet 16 this year!

Hmmm, they just showed Doug Elgin on CBS. It looked like he didn't look too happy. I wouldn't be if our conference got one bid to the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row!

[Bravesfan]

UNI wins 67-52, and showed why they will be ranked in the top 25 again come tomorrow. How we beat this team at home will always be subject of some interesting conversation! Heck, how did UNI lose to Evansville a couple of weeks ago?! I guess that shows that every team in the country will have an off night or two each season.

Oh, and I guess we can't completely write WSU out of the NCAA Tournament just yet. With Illinois losing yet again today, there may yet be a couple of openings popping up this week!

Hey, I can at least dream, can't I?!

[Stryker]

I wouldn't count WSU out of the NCAA yet, jsut because everyone that says they are out aren't the ones deciding it. Guess we will find out next week.

[Future Walk-On]

UNI wins 67-52, and showed why they will be ranked in the top 25 again come tomorrow. How we beat this team at home will always be subject of some interesting conversation! Heck, how did UNI lose to Evansville a couple of weeks ago?! I guess that shows that every team in the country will have an off night or two each season.

Oh, and I guess we can't completely write WSU out of the NCAA Tournament just yet. With Illinois losing yet again today, there may yet be a couple of openings popping up this week!

Hey, I can at least dream, can't I?!

Illinois is done.

[Da Coach]

Final-
WSU 52
UNI 67
box score- http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/mvc09.htm?DB_OEM_ID=7600

game story- http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?...meId=300662460

UNI was 10-20 from three. They will need to keep that up to advance in the NCAA tournament. Wichita State outrebounded UNI 39-27. But Wichita State had 16 turnovers to UNI's 5. JT Durley had 8 turnovers by himself! WSU shot just 32.7%, and was a woeful 23.1% in the second half.

Bradley's 17 point loss to UNI doesn't look so bad now. UNI beat Drake by 15 points, Bradley by 17, and Wichita State by 15 points. A pretty convincing performance.


BTW, Seth Davis on the CBS halftime show during the Michigan-Michigan State game, just said that UNI should be an 8th or 9th seed! Seems a little low to me.

[BUfan14]

State game, just said that UNI should be an 8th or 9th seed! Seems a little low to me.

I hear that too, and I was kinda shocked. They are just outside the top 25 in the polls, are in the top 25 RPI, and just won good conference tourny impressively with only having 4 losses! I would say a 5 or 6 seed, if not at minimum a 7 seed.

[Bravesfan]

I hear that too, and I was kinda shocked. They are just outside the top 25 in the polls, are in the top 25 RPI, and just won good conference tourny impressively with only having 4 losses! I would say a 5 or 6 seed, if not at minimum a 7 seed.

And they will be back in the top 25 tomorrow. Top 20 is not out of the question either.

[AZ BU Fan]

It will be interesting to see how many bids the Pac 10 gets to the NCAA. If WSU isn't worthy of a bid, I can't see the Pac 10 getting at large bids if Cal wins the Pac 10 tourney...UNI is ranked higher than Cal at this time, and, ASU isn't receiving any votes for top 25 either....

If Cal wins the Pac 10 Tourney and the Pac 10 gets an at large bid, or multiple at large bids, I suggest another "test" for the NCAA Tournament - the SMELL Test....Something stinks!!

[molar50]

Prediction: UNI gets the 8 or 9 seed. The selection committee loves to screw Valley teams. It almost would be better to be a 12 seed and have a better chance to make the Sweet 16.