#24th Rated Bucknell Bison (Coaches Poll)

[pantherfan4ever]

And don't forget that Duke and Villanova is also the kind of "watered down" competition that Bucknell "is used to" this year. Sure, I hope we stomp the crap out of them, but when did we become so cocky?

I think Bucknell is a lot better than everyone is givin them credit for, but dont bring up Duke or Villanova because those games shouldnt even count when we talk about their watered down schedule. Usually playing a team as good as duke or villanova makes you better, but they beat bucknell so bad that it really didnt make bucknell a better team for playing them.

but i agree, a lot of our panther fans seem very cocky.. i would like to think we never become cocky like the higher-major schools..

[pantherfan4ever]

All I know is we better be ready to play our best basketball on Saturday.

i believe we have a game before saturday (ISU) that we should be focusing on playing our best at before we think about saturday

[Newsbreaker]

Um, Obviously.

[ColoradoPanther]

Pretty sure Iowa was ranked in '89 when 23,000 of us beat them. I'll have to go back to the tape and double check...

[Born-a-Panther]

Pretty sure Iowa was ranked in '89 when 23,000 of us beat them. I'll have to go back to the tape and double check...

you're correct -- they were ranked 22nd I believe.

[Panthers Win!!]

For those looking for more info on Bucknell there is a decent primer of what to look for in their team located on the Bucknell message board located here: http://boards.basketball-u.com/ubbth...ucknell&page=0

[Bison137]

I think Bucknell is a lot better than everyone is givin them credit for, but dont bring up Duke or Villanova because those games shouldnt even count when we talk about their watered down schedule. Usually playing a team as good as duke or villanova makes you better, but they beat bucknell so bad that it really didnt make bucknell a better team for playing them...

Half agree. Bucknell played terribly vs Duke and that game probably didn't help make the team any better. Against Villanova, however, after starting slowly and watching Villanova fill up the basket with NBA 3's, the Bison outplayed VU for the middle 20 minutes of the game and cut a 19 point early deficit down to 4 and 6 points at various points in the second half. Bucknell wore down in the latter part of the game and Villanova pulled out to a deceptively large margin late. Hopefully we'll give you a good game Saturday.

Villanova just beat #1 UConn by 5 points tonight, BTW.

[Panthers Win!!]

I think those teams that play in conferences that aren't high in the RPI but are undefeated the scariest. While you can look at nonconference scores personally I think it's hard to get a feel for Bucknell based on their nonconference losses. They are undefeated in conference, essentially going unchallenged so it's hard to know just how good they can be when challenged at this point in the season. As well, matchups seem to be so important in these types of games. If they matchup well with us or have a great game plan that they execute well (see MSU last Saturday) who knows what can happen even on UNI's home court. One thing's for sure though, the Panthers and the coaching staff won't underestimate the quality of Bucknell team because of the perceived quality of the Patriot League.

[Bison1999]

Matchups

Matchup strength comes down to the following question: How strong are your #s 4 and 5?

Go Bison!

[Marc Wigim]

Half agree. Bucknell played terribly vs Duke and that game probably didn't help make the team any better. Against Villanova, however, after starting slowly and watching Villanova fill up the basket with NBA 3's, the Bison outplayed VU for the middle 20 minutes of the game and cut a 19 point early deficit down to 4 and 6 points at various points in the second half. Bucknell wore down in the latter part of the game and Villanova pulled out to a deceptively large margin late. Hopefully we'll give you a good game Saturday.

Villanova just beat #1 UConn by 5 points tonight, BTW.

He's right... Villanova had a crazy shooting stretch, and the Bison were close down the stretch (with about 5:00 left, I think they'd pulled to within 5). Villanova was just awesome that night.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Our bigs are #1 and #2 in rebounding in the MVC. Stout has had about 6 double doubles in a row. Coleman is athletic and strong. Santos comes off the bench and is athletic and long. We sometimes go four guard offense, but now that Crawford is back, things are going to look a little different.