other MVC tourney game talk

[jasonpeoria911]

-Well MO State gave ISU all they could handle this evening. I think if MO State didn't have the play in game, they would of topped ISU tonight. Simply ran out of gas towards the end.

-Then a typical SIU game. Currently tied at 17 with 2 minutes left with UNI leading most of the first half. This game be lucky to make it into the 50's LOL.

Jason

[tornado]

I had a really enjoyable time talking with numerous fans of the other MVC teams.
Mainly the Creighton, SIU, Missouri State, and Indiana State fans are in the exact same boat as the Bradley fans...
basically discappointed with how their teams did and looking forward to next year (even though the Bluejays advanced, a lot of their fans know that they are not playing well and are possibly close to benig done.)

Creighton-- their fans are hopeful about next year as their juco guards (one's just a soph) came on really strong, as did freshmen Stinnett, Lawson, Millard, Harriman, and Walker. They are going to be good. After the Indiana State-Drake game finished, Sycamore head coach Kevin McKenna came and sat with his wife right in the middle of the Creighton section and talked with a lot of their big boosters, and I sat right in the middle of them. Oddly, they talked a ton about Creighton and little about the Sycamores, McKenna, as is obvious, actually recruited most of the players on the Creighton squad, and knew all their parents intimately. One odd thing, though, numerous CU fans were kinda anxious to see Dotzler go, as he has never panned out despite getting tons of playing time and opportunity.
I actually thought it a bit bush to hear some of the insider Bluejay fans cursing and booing every time Dotzler entered the game and questioning what the hey Altman was doing!

SIU-- They know they just spent a whole lot of money to retain Chris Lowery....and now it appears some of the SIU fans are a bit uneasy about having done this.
They sounded a lot like certain BU fans who hated the slow, low scoring style of play, and turned against Mo as soon as the wins melted into losses.

Indiana State-- very hopeful with their new coach, and blamed a whole lot of the past 6-8 year horrors on Royce Waltman who never got along with any of his players, the fans, or even the InSU brass.
The informed Sycamore fans know full well, they have the potential freshman of the Year in the Valley for next year and they can't wait to team him with his good friend, and All Frosh 1st Teamer, Isiah Martin.

http://www.tribstar.com/sports/local_story_222002946.html?keyword=topstory

Dan Ponemann rates Carl Richard as the 7th best 2008 player in Illinois, higher than Jeremy Robinson, Stan Simpson, Josh Crittle, Nick Freundt, Matt Roth, and 4-Star Verdell Jones.

http://illinoishsbasketball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=1

Missouri State-- fans love Barry but are wanting to start fresh and know Barry has to go. There is even some talk among Bears fans that they'd like to hire a new coach but keep Barry around in some capacity
...a scenario I wouldn't bet on. But recent recruiting isn't paying off.
Juco PF Wade Knapp had only one basket and one rebound in Thursday's game and absolutely nothing (0 pt, 0 rebs) in Friday's, while MSU loses almost all of its scoring to graduation.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/bryanburwell/story/6BE350E5173AFB9086257406001A2E57?OpenDocument

Evansville-- fans are definitely looking at next year, and really have been since day one this season, as the Aces have done poorly all season.
But they will their two best players returning as senior guards (Shy Ely and Jason Holsinger)
and....actually NINE of their top ten scorers all return for new coach Marty Simmons.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/mar/08/it-wont-be-like-this-again/

Of course we BU fans want to see how freshmen Eddren McCain and (redshirt) Anthony Thompson will mesh with sophomores Sam Maniscalco and Will Egolf next year, but we will also have a couple potential all conference players returning in Andrew Warren and Theron Wilson.

[BUFAN]

Thankx tornado, lots of good stuff. Thanks for sharing it.

[IlliBraves]

Well, now that BU is done, I'm rooting for ISU all the way. I'd like the Valley title to go to an Illinois team, and ISU hasn't won one in quite awhile, although BU's been waiting a little longer. We might also need ISU to win out to ensure the Valley gets 2 bids, especially with UNI upsetting SIU in the quarterfinals last night.

[jasonpeoria911]

Well Drake cruised on into the champ game. Meanwhile ISU and UNI are trying to build a mansion LOL. Only 8 total points scored in the first 9 minutes of the game, thats just nuts.

Jason