2 MVC games Sunday, Jan. 5

[Da Coach]

There are 2 MVC games Sunday, January. 5 - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...50105/group/18

[Da Coach]

There are 2 MVC games Sunday, January. 5 - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...50105/group/18

Drake 4 Murray State 1 after six minutes of play - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401722462
Only one basket so far, by Drake, the rest of the scoring via free throws.

[Da Coach]

Murray State 26 Drake 26 at halftime - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401722462

[Da Coach]

Murray State 26 Drake 26 at halftime - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401722462

Watching this game... Drake tries to run at least one pick and roll play virtually every possession. They are very good at it, but Murray State is prepared and does a lot of switching on defense to prevent Drake from scoring on it most of the time. Drake's shooting has been terrible in the 2nd half, and Murray State opened a 9 point lead in the first 8 minutes. Score now is 39-30 with 12 minutes left.

I hope Bradley spends time practicing against the Drake pick and roll.

[braves16]

Half
ISU-44
siu-23
ISU has made at least 10 3's this half.

[Da Coach]

Illinois State leads Southern Illinois at halftime 44-23 - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401722463

SIU doesn't even look like they are trying any more.

[yoda]

some interesting numbers-
ISU didn't go to the FT line til the final 5 sec of the half, they're mostly shooting 3's (10-18 )
SIU has been to the FT line 11 times but only made 5, and nobody on SIU seems to want to rebound

[Da Coach]

Drake loses again for the second time this week.
Final score: Murray State 66 Drake 59 - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401722462

Drake drops to 2-2 in the MVC, 12-2 overall
Murray State is now 2-2 in the MVC, 8-7 overall

[braves16]

ISU up 68-41 with 7 to go.

[Da Coach]

Illinois State delivers a 31 point beat down to SIU.
Final score: Illinois State 85 Southern Illinois 54 - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401722463

Standings after 4 games - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...ngs/_/group/18

MVC schedule this week- One game Tuesday, 5 games Wednesday then 6 games Saturday - https://mvc-sports.com/calendar.aspx?path=mbball

[Steve Zalutsky]

Kind of Bummed Drake lost again! Now the hype for Wednesdays game is not what I thought it would be.Drake has come back to Earth and now I wonder will Carver sell out against Drake? This just goes to show that on any given day, any MVC team can beat a favorite! Bradley now the only undefeated MVC team, will for sure get every teams best effort and how Bradley handles this will show us how adept they will be to win a title as Valley favorites! Wednesday's game will still be fun and I hope Carver arena is LOUD! Drake will be in almost a must win and I expect their best effort!Let's see how Bradley plays Wednesday. They can't keep sqeaking by with subpar efforts! I believe they will need to create some separation in the upcoming game because if it's close, all the pressure I believe will be on the home team!!!!!

[Da Coach]

Bradley is not going to go through the rest of the conference season undefeated. I predicted before the season started that the winner will probably have at least 4 or 5 losses. And as much as I want to see Bradley dominate the MVC, I still believe they will take a few losses. And you are right, the MVC schedule has been very favorable to Bradley so far. The 4 teams Bradley has played so far, are in the bottom half in the preseason poll. The upcoming Drake game will be the first team Bradley plays that was picked in the top half of the poll. And then they don't play another one until Jan. 18 at Murray State.
Bradley still has 2 games against each of the teams picked # 2 through #6- # 2 UNI, # 3 Murray State, # 4 Illinois State, # 5 Drake, and # 6 Belmont.
The coaches are doing a good job trying to utilize the bench more, and trying not to play the starters too many minutes, IMO. There are 3 Drake players in the top 7 MVC players in minutes played per game, and I think it's taking it's toll on them. There are no Bradley players among the top 18. So I am not going to question their personnel decisions.

Preseason MVC Men's Basketball Poll
1. Bradley (46 first-place votes) -- 597
2. UNI (2) -- 527
3. Murray State (1) -- 473
4. Illinois State -- 397
5. Drake -- 388
6. Belmont -- 373
7. Southern Illinois -- 337
8. Indiana State -- 207
9. Evansville -- 199
10. Valparaiso -- 173
11. Missouri State -- 116
12. UIC – 110

[tomahawk chop]

Bradley is not going to go through the rest of the conference season undefeated. I predicted before the season started that the winner will probably have at least 4 or 5 losses. And as much as I want to see Bradley dominate the MVC, I still believe they will take a few losses. And you are right, the MVC schedule has been very favorable to Bradley so far. The 4 teams Bradley has played so far, are in the bottom half in the preseason poll. The upcoming Drake game will be the first team Bradley plays that was picked in the top half of the poll. And then they don't play another one until Jan. 18 at Murray State.
Bradley still has 2 games against each of the teams picked # 2 through #6- # 2 UNI, # 3 Murray State, # 4 Illinois State, # 5 Drake, and # 6 Belmont.
The coaches are doing a good job trying to utilize the bench more, and trying not to play the starters too many minutes, IMO. There are 3 Drake players in the top 7 MVC players in minutes played per game, and I think it's taking it's toll on them. There are no Bradley players among the top 18. So I am not going to question their personnel decisions.

Preseason MVC Men's Basketball Poll
1. Bradley (46 first-place votes) -- 597
2. UNI (2) -- 527
3. Murray State (1) -- 473
4. Illinois State -- 397
5. Drake -- 388
6. Belmont -- 373
7. Southern Illinois -- 337
8. Indiana State -- 207
9. Evansville -- 199
10. Valparaiso -- 173
11. Missouri State -- 116
12. UIC – 110

I would hope we have 4 losses or less. Ill. St. right now looks like a top 4 team along with UNI, Drake and us. I do think injuries could play a major part in all of this because a lot of these teams are fairly equal in talent.

[Da Coach]

I would hope we have 4 losses or less. Ill. St. right now looks like a top 4 team along with UNI, Drake and us. I do think injuries could play a major part in all of this because a lot of these teams are fairly equal in talent.

Bradley is perhaps the team with the best combination of good size and guys who can score and defend inside, as well as strong point guard and peripheral shooting guys. I expect that plus the home court will have Bradley favored Wednesday. But as you say, injuries could change things. Let's keep the longest win streak in the MVC going.