Final: Northern Iowa 68 Bradley 65

[Da Coach]

Northern Iowa (13-11, 6-6) vs. Bradley (14-10, 6-6) Sunday, Feb. 10, 2:00 PM. The game is on ESPN3.

Bradley and UNI are in a 3 way tie with Evansville for 4th place in the MVC.

MVC Standings-
Creighton ..........9-3....20-4
Wichita St. ........8-4....19-5
Indiana St..........8-4....15-8
Bradley............. 6-6....14-10
Evansville..........6-6....13-11
Northern Iowa....6-6....13-11
Illinois State.......5-7....14-10
Drake ...............5-7....11-12
Missouri State....5-7.....7-17
Southern Ill.......2-10....9-14

UNI website-

http://www.unipanthers.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=26200&SPID=90717&SPSID=626938

UNI is 13-11, 6-6- schedule and results-

http://www.unipanthers.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=26200&SPID=90717&SPSID=626930

Roster-

http://www.unipanthers.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=26200&SPID=90717&SPSID=626937

UNI stats- The Panthers starting five of Seth Tuttle, Anthony James, Deon Mitchell, Jake Koch, and Marc Sonnen all average between 9.3 ppg and 12.5 ppg. Similar to Bradley, they don't get a lot of points or minutes from their bench players.

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/UNI.HTM

Bradley stats-

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/BU.HTM

MVC stats-
Overall-

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/CONFLDRS.HTM

MVC only-

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/CONFONLY.HTM

[Future Walk-On]

Thanks Drake. What a joke.


BU - 69
UNI - 45

[LittleBrave]

We really need more students to come out and cheer on the Braves.
This is the same position we were in 3 seasons ago when we faced a #19 UNI team after a heartbreaking loss at home to ISU-red.

We have played fairly well vs. the Panthers at home in recent years, and this may be the biggest game we've played vs. them since 2007 (NIT season when we ended up losing to them after beating VCU, killing any small hopes of dancing).
A lot on the line, and this game could have huge implications for BU in the end seeding, as it's looking like only 1 or 2 games will separate the 4th seed from the 9th.

Another meaningful game...in FEBRUARY!!!
(At least for this year's team with the modest expectations, it is...2 years from now, hopefully "meaningful" means contending for a championship!)

[Future Walk-On]

but remember we are only 6-6 because the Valley is WAY DOWN

[tornado]

but remember we are only 6-6 because the Valley is WAY DOWN

FWO -- you weren't one of those just two months ago saying that the Valley was superstrong and would easily get 3 teams in the NCAA and maybe four - were you??
One thread had people saying Drake's win over Detroit & ISU's over Drexel were proof of how strong the Valley was from top to bottom---

I believe what we are seeing now is evidence that the Valley IS weak this year - very weak outside of the top couple teams, and that Wichita is still being hurt by the injuries...
- and just like last year we might see our very best team get into the NCAA and win maybe one early round game - then get humbled....
As much as everyone, myself included, would love to see four MVC teams get bid and some of them make it to the Sweet Sixteen - please wake me when that happens..
Since 2007 - with the exception of the 2010 "lightning in a bottle" by UNI --- the MVC's post-season performances have been pretty mild...

If the Valley is so strong that many were predicting four bids - tell me where's the evidence??

BTW - at about the same time as predictions of four MVC teams in the NCAA - some of our local writers were making other incorrect predictions...
...saying Evansville was leaving the Valley

http://www.courierpressblogs.com/sports/ue/?p=2099

Early on Andy Katz hinted four teams - so, obviously, did Doug Elgin...
"...@ESPNAndyKatz
Valley looking extremely strong. Will be surprised if there are not multiple bids. Creighton, Wichita State, Illinois State (maybe UNI).."
..similar with others including Dick Vitale

[LittleBrave]

FWO -- you weren't one of those just two months ago saying that the Valley was superstrong and would easily get 3 teams in the NCAA and maybe four - were you??

I believe what we are seeing is evidence that the Valley IS weak this year - very weak - and just like last year we might see our very best team get into the NCAA and win mayube one early round game - then get humbled..

If the Valley is so strong that many were predicting four bids - tell me where's the evidence??

BTW - at about the same time as predictions of four MVC teams in the NCAA - some of our local writers were making other incorrect predictions...
...saying Evansville was leaving the Valley
http://www.courierpressblogs.com/sports/ue/?p=2099

I wouldn't consider the Valley to be weak - certainly not as strong as 5,6,7 years ago.
But what did people expect coming into this season?

I think we're seeing a couple teams exceeding expectation (BU & ISU-blue) and a couple not reaching expectations (ISU-red & UNI). Other than that, teams are who most of us thought they would be - even Wichita St. is probably slightly ahead of where most of their fans thought at the start of the season.

I expect 2 bids still - any more would be much better than I thought we'd be.
I guess I would consider "weak" to be the challenges that the visiting team has put on the floor for most of the season, as we've seen the home team make the visiting team seem like a completely different team (every team except probably ISU-red).

[DeltaBrave03]

FWO -- you weren't one of those just two months ago saying that the Valley was superstrong and would easily get 3 teams in the NCAA and maybe four - were you??

I believe what we are seeing is evidence that the Valley IS weak this year - very weak - and just like last year we might see our very best team get into the NCAA and win mayube one early round game - then get humbled..

If the Valley is so strong that many were predicting four bids - tell me where's the evidence??

BTW - at about the same time as predictions of four MVC teams in the NCAA - some of our local writers were making other incorrect predictions...
...saying Evansville was leaving the Valley
http://www.courierpressblogs.com/sports/ue/?p=2099

WSU won at VCUand InSU beat Miami on a neutral floor... Both those teams have 4 loses in conf play.

Also, the worst team in the valley lost by 10 AT SLU currently tied with VCU for 1st in A10, and ILSU took the number 2 team in the nation right to the end on their floor.

[Mikovio]

It's down, but despite that, a case could be made for 3 at larges, just based on RPI and Indiana State's outstanding noncon wins (and some good WSU noncon wins). If some other team wins Arch Madness though, I highly doubt the committee would give the MVC 4, just because it's the 9th rated conference.

[shaunguth]

Another meaningful game...in FEBRUARY!!!

Exactly......now get the students to the games!!!!

[BUBalum05]

And even with BU defying expectations, we're only a couple missed FT's away from beating VT and then not having a let down game against Portland...Casual observers would think BU and the MVC is even better if we were at 16-8 (6-6).

[LittleBrave]

With a win this Sunday, we could very well have a 2-game lead on Drake, Missouri St., and ISU-red to give us a better chance of staying out of Thursday night in St. Louis.

[Rusty 54]

My keys to the game:

Will and TP stay out of foul trouble
Guard the 3-point line
Steals turn into offense

[SFP]

My keys to the game:

Will and TP stay out of foul trouble
Guard the 3-point line
Steals turn into offense

and two more....minimize our TOs and hit our FTs.

[Tulsa Brave]

and two more....minimize our TOs and hit our FTs.

The biggest key may be getting to 60 points. Whoever can get to 60 should win the game.

[Mikovio]

With a win this Sunday, we could very well have a 2-game lead on Drake, Missouri St., and ISU-red to give us a better chance of staying out of Thursday night in St. Louis.

As important as this game is, the games vs Drake, ISU and MSU are more important because they jump us 2 games ahead of those teams, by sealing the head to head tiebreakers. Unfortunately because of our terrible noncon SOS (which given our preseason projections were justified IMO), even if we beat UNI they still hold the tiebreaker over us.