2023-24 Around the League and Other Games of Interest

[SteinPizza]

****. That was a winnable game by Drake, but horrid free throw shooting and late mistakes killed them. It also seems like Tucker kind of disappeared late in the game when they needed him to step up, or at least figure out a way to get him the ball.

Issac Jones for Washington State is a beast. 6’9, with a 7’2 wingspan. He reminds me of a bigger version of Eric Coleman. He’ll give Iowa State problems, and Iowa State is by no means a lock to win.

[CyCarp]

9 points in the last 9 and a half minutes for Drake - and two of those were an uncontested layup very near the end. Ufft. Combine that with putrid FT shooting. Not good.

[sivert]

Tucker was holding his arm weird at the end. I wonder if he hurt his shoulder.

[SteinPizza]

Tucker was holding his arm weird at the end. I wonder if he hurt his shoulder.

I didn’t notice that, but it’s plausible. He had issues with one of his shoulders all year. I heard that on the street, and it was mentioned in radio broadcasts. It might explain why he gave up the ball near the end when they needed a basket, vs driving and shooting.

[orangetennis]

Domask with a triple double in Illinois' win.

[achrist70]

Who were all the former Valley players playing at P5 schools this year that made the tournament

Domask at Illinois
Mask at Nebraska
Reeves at Kentucky
Yesfu at Washington State (injured)

Who else?

[CincyPanther88]

I know it's fun to make fun of Drake and them losing cost the Valley the future possibility of being a multi-bid league but it's not going to happen. If Bradley and WSU making the Final 4 and us beating #1 Kansas wasn't going to do it, it isn't going to do it now. If ISUb couldn't get in with that record and their NET, no one is getting in with an at large unless they went undefeated and lost in the finals of Arch Madness. We knew they wanted more P6 teams in but they really never publicly admitted it. Now they are saying the quiet part out loud. The SEC commissioner said that they really can't have the mid majors advancing so far in the tournament. Others are calling for an expanded tournament which may let a few more mid majors in but you know it's mostly going to be mid or bad P6 teams. Iowa would have definitely got in with an expanded tournament. Some people, including former coach and current ESPN analyst Mark Adams, have said just break off and form a mid major tournament. I get where they are coming from but is anyone going to watch that besides fans of mid majors? Plus it's going to go against the other tournaments. Maybe not next year or the year after that but eventually they are going to pit the fix in so the mid majors get the fuzzy end of the lollipop. I think all we can do is grin and bear it.

[orangetennis]

Trees into NIT semis after beating Cincinnati tonight. Avila with a big go ahead 3 in the final minute.
Loudest I've ever heard Terre Haute, lol

[SteinPizza]

Trees into NIT semis after beating Cincinnati tonight. Avila with a big go ahead 3 in the final minute.
Loudest I've ever heard Terre Haute, lol

I agree on the Terra Haute crowd. Lots of energy and noise evident on TV. Avilia was big. The 3 you mentioned, and he had a couple of big defensive plays near the end.

Per an article today in the St Louis Post Dispatch, sources say Schertz is still the frontrunner for the SLU job. SLU currently has 4 players in the portal.

[CyCarp]

Indiana St about to go to the NIT finals. I'd like to think the selection committee is learning their lesson, but I know better.

[BCPanther]

Indiana St about to go to the NIT finals. I'd like to think the selection committee is learning their lesson, but I know better.

Did the league patch on the front of the jersey change?

[orangetennis]

Unless the TV ratings were super high, committee won't care a lick!

['70 Grad]

Are there some schools left holding a spot open for Shertz?

[PantherAlum09]

Are there some schools left holding a spot open for Shertz?

Saint Louis is presumed to be the spot for him, but it will be interesting when Musselman goes to USC if Arkansas will try to get Schertz.

[BCPanther]

Are there some schools left holding a spot open for Shertz?

Allegedly he's signed a Memorandum of Agreement with St Louis but there's about to be a whole bunch of new dominoes with Muss going to USC.