The college hoops spotlight will be on Carbondale this Saturday, as the SIU Salukis (9-10) and Creighton Jays (14-4) collide at the Arena.
ESPN is coptering in their top guys in slick suits to present Game Day to the hoops-mad nation. Tip off for the Dawgs and Jays is 8 p.m. The game has been sold out for months.
Viewers will get an update on the Valley race, which has so far been a stunner. Drake is snorting the clear air and leading the field as they approach the half pole. Illinois State is two lengths back, with Creighton and Indiana State matching strides at three.
SIU is four back after being boxed on the rail by Missouri State and Northern Iowa is pushing on the outside. Bradley's boosters are already tearing their tickets in two and Wichita State is visible only with binoculars. Evansville is rumored to be lingering in the paddock.
Creighton will find the "sunny southland" a literal as well as figurative myth. Egypt currently shivers under a sullen January chill and the Dawgs are in no hospitable mood either.
Dana Altman's Blue Jays are no fluke, however. Fresh off an overtime loss to Drake, they are still in line for a possible conference title and will be a tough draw in St. Louis come March.
CREIGHTON AT-A-GLANCE: Lead MVC in Scoring (74.3 ppg.) and FG% (45.9). Four players avg. over 80% from the line and a 10-12 man rotation keeps the needle on full. Star Quality: Dane Watts - 6'8" senior, 12.7 ppg and 6.9 boards. Secret Weapons: Booker Woodfox - 26 of 58 from deep (44.8 %); P'Allen Stinnett - 43 inch vertical and the team's second leading scorer (10.9 ppg). Wild card: Handling the intensity of a raucous SIU Arena.
SOUTHERN AT-A-GLANCE: Currently snakebit in close games, but formidable against the MVC at home. Captain of the Ship: Bryan Mullins (10.8 ppg. / 5.3 apg) - clutch and savvy... the hand on the tiller for this squad. Seniors: Randal Falker (12.2 ppg) and Matt Shaw (12.0 ppg) - if they both show up on the same day the Dawgs roll. Dirty Work: Tyrone Green - explosive in the paint; Tony Boyle - rugged on the glass. Wild card: Last 5 minutes... can this team close out games as well as they close out on defense?
Check out ESPN2 for Saturday's action.
