Other MVC reports

[Da Coach]

Jim Les liked Wade Knapp's game, and wanted him at Bradley. But he chose Missouri State, mostly because it's closer to where he's from in Kansas.

Here is an article from yesterday's Springfield (MO) Leader. They say that Knapp chose MSU over Nevada (what!, no mention of Bradley?).
And one quote--
Knapp can play either center or power forward, although most of his minutes will be as backup to senior center Drew Richards
I would not be surprised if he is starting ahead of Richards by midseason.

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071024/SPORTS040101/710240376/1002/SPORTS

[Da Coach]

Here are a few more reports on MVC teams from the last 24 hours

Jamaal Tatum was cut by the Atlanta Hawks yesterday when they reduced their roster to the required maximum of 15 players--

http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/hall/newfullstory.asp?ID=118759

Falker, Shaw ready to be SIU's new duo--

http://thesouthern.com/articles/2007/10/25/sports/21931536.txt

Creighton basketball preview--

http://www.gocreighton.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1000&ATCLID=1287278

Indiana State men still trying to acclimate to new system----

http://www.tribstar.com/sports/local_story_299001210.html

Mission accomplished: Hatch ready for WSU--

http://www.kansas.com/sports/lutz/story/173873.html

[tornado]

One of the Sycamore big men has left the team, Steven Jeffers, but he was a walk-on.


Missouri State has their scrimmage Saturday, and they have a really great incentive to get people there!!

"the first 3,000 fans receiving a coupon for a free spinach and artichoke dip appetizer
Admission is free"



The story on Falker and Shaw does point out one potential vulnerablility for SIU.
Boyle is hurt, although he has never been much of an offensive threat, and so that leaves only Falker and Shaw as frontcourt players with experience.
If fatigue or injury requires anyone else play in the frontcourt, then they'd have to go with one of their two freshman, one of whom (Nick Evans) by all reports is a serious redshirt candidate and not ready for D-I.....as nobody else has either played D-I ball before or had any significant prior court time.
Should they have to deal with a couple of injuries, then they could be thinner in the frontcourt than BU was last year, but no guards that can hit the jumper to compensate.
As good of a coach as Chris Lowery is, he's really never faced a tough or unexpected problem like that, where he would have to make adjustments.
That's why I think Jim Les should have been MVC COY last year.


And one other report on a team that's not in the MVC, Arkansas...

Three of the Razorback players are being suspended from their Red and White scrimmage tonigh,
due to "the players’ efforts off the court or in the classroom" according to head coach John Pelphrey,
or for violation of team rules....two are starters AND are the two best returning players
....Patrick Beverley, Gary Ervin, Michael Washington.
One other kid has a broken finger, so with four players missing, the team has only
TEN players total to even play the scrimmage game.
WOW-- there are a few coaches around who could learn a thing about discipline from this guy!!

Here was what Pelphrey said in yesterday's press conference about the player discipline problems:

“I shouldn’t be dealing with the things I’m dealing with. It’s not acceptable.
...I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

[meth]

I am not convinced this is solid discipline. It is a token move only, just meant to send a little signal.
He already knows those two guys are starters, and they don't need the work as much as the other guys who'll now get more court time in the scrimmage. If the guy wants to put some teeth into his discipline, bench them for some game that matters, not a token benching in a meaningless practice game.