The time for putting rivalries aside is over. The time for "rooting" for other teams in the Missouri Valley is over. The conference season gets under way tomorrow night, when the Salukis travel about 200 miles north on Route 51, to take on the Illinois State Redbirds in the first of 18 Missouri Valley conference match-ups.
The Salukis have fared well against the Redbirds over the last few seasons, having won each of the last 9 consecutive meetings. While I expect the outcome to be similar this time around, we are looking at a much improved ISU squad, compared to the woeful line-ups of the recent past. The boys from Normal, Illinois posted an 8-3 non-conference mark, highlighted by a 13 point victory on the road against St. John's. They also played a resurgent Florida State outfit close for most of the game before running out of gas down the stretch.
Who should we watch out for? Well... junior college transfer Boo Richardson handles the point and leads the team in scoring (12 points and 6 assists ). He sets the pace for the Redbirds and as he goes... they go. In their 7 victories he has averaged over 15 ppg, while only 5 ppg in their 4 losses. Also, another new face filling up the net this season is Dominitrix (Dom) Johnson. His season average of 12 ppg is inflated by a 32 point night against the Seminoles, but that doesn't make him any less of a threat. He can hurt a team from beyond the arc and he shoots 92% from the line. As for their low post players... Anthony Slack and Greg Dilligard, are both double digit scorers and solid rebounders, but they aren't flashy or overpowering in any way, shape, or form... plus Dilligard is gimpy, coming off of a severe ankle sprain during practice this week.
Bottom line... the Salukis can't take this team too lightly. Last season, the Redbirds didn't have a single player averaging more than 10 ppg and through 12 games, this year's squad has four players above that mark. They are also undefeated on their home floor this season at 6-0. However, after taking all factors into consideration and after providing a thorough and even-handed evaluation of this year's incarnation of ISU basketball, I think the Salukis will work through some early jitters and handle this team to the tune of 65-52. Make book on it.
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3 comments:
That prediction seems about right to me. ISU is probably a "Thursday" team in the MVC tournament but there are no gimmies in the valley this year . Bottom Line- if SIU wants to win this conference then they have to win games vs "thursday" teams . 12-6 could win the conference, but I would say one team will get to 13 or 14 wins. If you lose to ISU it wount be you.
Also, a side note. There are still tickets remaining for the Wichita St game. If you need a ticket you should get one ASAP. This is going to be a game that sets the early tone for the conference season.
Any road win by 10-plus qualifies as a blow-out in the MVC. I'll take the Dawgs here by 60-53. Isn't Indiana State around 121 in the Sagarin? That's vastly higher than Central Michigan, which came into the Arena at 261 and stuck around most of the game.
In todays Sagarin ISU comes in at a surprising 79th.
SIU comes in at #36. I'm a stats guy, but I think this one is a bit misleading. I think ISU will have problems scoring. Lowery will be wise to slow the game down and work half court sets unless the fastbreak presents itself off turnovers.
I am going to go LOW SCORING with this prediction. 56-49 SIU.
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