MVC final- Illinois State vs. Creighton

[Da Coach]

Does ISU have a chance? Apparently some people think they do-

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x587872289/Wessler-Illinois-State-not-finished-dancing

Kirk sounds pretty certain about his prediction that ISU will win today-
Do not be surprised on Sunday afternoon if Illinois State assures the Missouri Valley Conference of putting three teams in the NCAA tournament.
The young Redbirds still haven??™t cracked the RPI top 100. The only bubbles they??™re close to are the ones they might pop. You won??™t see their season resume displayed on national television, and no commentators will debate their Big Dance chances because they have only one. That is to beat Creighton in the MVC championship game and claim the league??™s automatic spot in America??™s favorite bracket....

And it can happen. In fact, I predict it will.
But ISU is good enough right now to make it three for the first time since 2006. And if the Redbirds get that far, they??™re good enough to win a game.
No doubt about it.

Or will the game be more like the 2008 Final- when upstart Illinois State made it to the final game of the tournament against league favorite Drake, lead by Adam Emmenecker and Bucky Cox- The result was a 79-49 blowout win by Drake-

http://www.archmadness.com/news/archives-print/2007-08/611/drake-79-illinois-state-49-recap/

What are the predictions? I think Creighton will win, but ISU deserves serious postseason consideration.

[DUBrave5]

Does ISU have a chance? Apparently some people think they do-

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x587872289/Wessler-Illinois-State-not-finished-dancing

Kirk sounds pretty certain about his prediction that ISU will win today-
Do not be surprised on Sunday afternoon if Illinois State assures the Missouri Valley Conference of putting three teams in the NCAA tournament.
The young Redbirds still haven??™t cracked the RPI top 100. The only bubbles they??™re close to are the ones they might pop. You won??™t see their season resume displayed on national television, and no commentators will debate their Big Dance chances because they have only one. That is to beat Creighton in the MVC championship game and claim the league??™s automatic spot in America??™s favorite bracket....

And it can happen. In fact, I predict it will.
But ISU is good enough right now to make it three for the first time since 2006. And if the Redbirds get that far, they??™re good enough to win a game.
No doubt about it.

Or will the game be more like the 2008 Final- when upstart Illinois State made it to the final game of the tournament against league favorite Drake, lead by Adam Emmenecker and Bucky Cox- The result was a 79-49 blowout win by Drake-

http://www.archmadness.com/news/archives-print/2007-08/611/drake-79-illinois-state-49-recap/

What are the predictions? I think Creighton will win, but ISU deserves serious postseason consideration.

I think Creighton takes it to them from the very beginning like they did to Evansville last night that way they leave no doubt about making the tourney. We all know that they should be a lock, but stranger things have happened. I did tell a friend of mine before this weekend started that ISU could cause some trouble so I wouldn't be surprised to see them make this a game, but in the end I think it is Creighton all the way.

[lefty]

I would think that ISU's length would give CU some trouble shooting but that wasn't the case the first two times they played.....CU has to shoot well to win since their defense is suspect......ISU does have some confidence going in but CU was able to rest some before today's game....

If ISU can hold CU under 45% from the field I think they win....

[MDCowboy]

If ISU does win, they probably cost themselves at least 2 seeding lines thanks to their crappy
Nonconf schedule. They are at best a 14, but more likely a 15. Maybe that will finally show their coach that he needs to challenge themselves more.

[wily coyote]

I'm sure Creighton is favored but I agree with KW. I think ISU will beat CU. At least I hope so CU is my least favorite school in the conf.

[BSSFan#1]

If ISU does win, they probably cost themselves at least 2 seeding lines thanks to their crappy
Nonconf schedule. They are at best a 14, but more likely a 15. Maybe that will finally show their coach that he needs to challenge themselves more.

Exactly. Creighton's soft non-conference schedule is about to haunt them next Sunday.

[TNel]

If ISU does win, they probably cost themselves at least 2 seeding lines thanks to their crappy
Nonconf schedule. They are at best a 14, but more likely a 15. Maybe that will finally show their coach that he needs to challenge themselves more.

Crappy schedule aside, they have shown great improvement AS A TEAM this year. Wish we could say that. In the here and now, I'd gladly trade our SOS for their opportunity to be playing on CBS for a shot at the Big Dance.

[shaunguth]

I think Creighton takes it to them from the very beginning like they did to Evansville last night that way they leave no doubt about making the tourney. We all know that they should be a lock, but stranger things have happened. I did tell a friend of mine before this weekend started that ISU could cause some trouble so I wouldn't be surprised to see them make this a game, but in the end I think it is Creighton all the way.

Agreed. Also, I would hate to see Jank's apparent all-or-nothing strategy of winning the MVC tournament pay off.

[Bradleyguy10]

CU with 19 points in 7.5 minutes...we're at about 20-25 points in an entire half..

We need some offensive prowess next season.

[Bravesfan]

Exactly. Creighton's soft non-conference schedule is about to haunt them next Sunday.

I think he means ISU's soft non-conference schedule.

[Bravesfan]

ISU on a 6-0 to pull within 5, 27-22, under 4 minutes to go.

Nice that we finally got to see the entire game this year as the previous game did not go over the allotted time.

[Bravesfan]

Wow! ISU continues to amaze me! They finish on a 15-3 run to take a 31-30 halftime lead. They continue to play some great defense, though something a bit surprising also. Creighton is actually playing some great defense today too! So it looks like both teams will be grinding things out right to the end.

[Bradleyguy10]

I must admit I'm rooting for ISU to win this one.

[Fyrebyrd]

CBS Announcer "Ever since Tulsa won in 1996, every team in the league has won the tournament once"

Funny, I didn't see Bradley

[TheAsianSensation]

CBS Announcer "Ever since Tulsa won in 1996, every team in the league has won the tournament once"

Funny, I didn't see Bradley

Or Wichita or Evansville

That wasn't even close