SIU vs USC

[it's boogie time]

I only saw the second half, but SIU did not look like the SIU of the past 5+ years. USC was knocking down some good shots, but the normal intensity didn't look to be there for the Salukis. Maybe it was the three games in three days and the trip to Disney.

It was interesting to see USC basically not guard a couple of SIU's players and double team Falkner. They dared them to shoot and the planned worked.

[thefish7]

Yeah Falker was getting straight double-teamed at times. Not like a help double-team, but just a straight double, I couldn't believe SIU was unable to punish them for that.

Tornado, I thought OJ Mayo played really well. He looked extremely skilled and made a few of the unselfish plays from time to time, to boot.

[tornado]

Here's my two cents on OJ Mayo--
We have been told by hundreds of sources since the kid was in 7th grade that he is the best player in his age group (HS Class of 2007), and that he's the next coming of Magic Johnson, that he's a one and done to the NBA, and that his mere presence on the roster of USC means they are a legit Top 10 team right now.

Instead of believing the hype, my response has been to wait and see, and in fact I actually have a little bit of bias as if to say...
"Come on OJ, prove it...." and I am convinced he has NOT, and certainly isn't the top in the Class of 2007.

So far after six college games...here is what I see...

--In his college debut, at home, against Mercer....USC lost and drew only 3856 fans!!

--Mayo has considerably MORE turnovers than assists on the year so far.(28 TO, 20 Asst.)

--He definitely can score, but needs quite a few minutes on the court and shot attempts to do so. (37 minutes per game, already 97 FG attempts this year, compared to the next most prolific shooters on the team (Gibson and Lewis have shot a total of only 50 times in their 6 games this season).

--He has already done something to lose his starting spot, as coach Floyd had OJ on the bench to start last night's game.

--Ball HOG, Ball HOG, as he has taken 45 of the 82 3-pt shots USC has this year (55%), and almost 40% of ALL the shots, yet has only 30% of the team's total points, while also having 30% of all the team's turnovers.

--he isn't even close to being the team leader in assists although he plays mainly PG

--and don't you find it odd, that last night might well have been his "best game" yet this season by some people's assessment, but it is the one game he played the least, didn't start, and took the LEAST SHOTS of the six games he has played so far.
No coincidence in my mind...I think USC is a better team with OJ playing less and shooting less.
Thus...I am convinced he is the least helpful and least productive of any 22 ppg scorer in America....when you can say the team is better off with his playing less and shooting less.

[MacabreMob]

As s-l-o-w as SIU is known to play, losing by 25 points is just as bad as Bradley losing by 30 to Mich St last year (IMO).

[real fan]

This game shows us that they are not the dominating team that a lot of people thought; I guess Mullens got called for the fouls that he commits but seems to get away with in the valley as he has his hands on the player he is trying to defend most of the time.

[BradleyBrave]

As s-l-o-w as SIU is known to play, losing by 25 points is just as bad as Bradley losing by 30 to Mich St last year (IMO).

I think it's worse. While the game was in Anaheim, it wasn't exactly a home game.

[ser_solace]

That's too bad SIU lost. I would have liked for them to be ranked when they entered conference play, and then we'd get another opportunity at a ranked opponent. A win over SIU would still be great, but it would have bee nice if they were ranked.

They could climb back in with wins over Indiana and Butler.

[jasonpeoria911]

Screw SIU being ranked, we may be ranked before we even get to play SIU LOL. It would help the conference but Bradley could be the top dog if we can get a few huge wins in the next couple weeks. Whens the last time Bradley was even ranked in the top 25? 70's,80's?

Jason

[tornado]

Answer: 2006,
Jason, how can you not remember?

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?seasonYear=2006

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?pollId=2&seasonYear=2006

[jasonpeoria911]

Oh my bad, I guess I forgot to look at the seasons end rankings. Well anyways, it would be great to be in top 25 this early in season then. Especially going into the conference season.

Jason

[georgethedog]

And that about seals it, SIU getting slaughtered by 22 points with 7 minutes to go. SIU stuck on 37 points for about 4 minutes now. This could be an ugly ugly loss if SIU doesn't start scoring. USC playing lights out D and shooting about 70% FG. I guess this'll be SIU's early bad game but they are ranked #19 and will likely be knocked out of top 25. USC was when they lost to Mercer in the first game. Our non-conference games against ranked Butler and MI State look even bigger now if we want to crack the top 25.

Jason

BU will not crack the top 25 even if they win these games. BU will need to win the rest of the pre-conference games plus the first 6-8 MVC games in a row to get a sniff at the top 25. Just my opinion, but I think I am right! Not only that, I personally do not think BU is a top 25 team anyway. OK... I am ready for the onslaught...