2024-2025 Around the League and Other Games of Interest

[achrist70]

Realistically would could have/ should have won against.

Wichita State
St. Bonaventure
Washington State
Valparaiso
Murray State

@SIU: I don't know if we really should have won this one, but we are the better team, just had the worst game of the season.

If we win 5 or 6 more games we are 20-4 or 21-3 and 11-2 or 12-1 in league. In that case we are on the bubble for an at large. I know that it's probably not realistic to expect us to never have an off night, even 09-10 and 14-15 lost at Evansville. But I do think the difference from the UNI teams that make the dance and the good teams that don't are taking care of these types of games.

[PantherAlum09]

Realistically would could have/ should have won against.

Wichita State
St. Bonaventure
Washington State
Valparaiso
Murray State

@SIU: I don't know if we really should have won this one, but we are the better team, just had the worst game of the season.

If we win 5 or 6 more games we are 20-4 or 21-3 and 11-2 or 12-1 in league. In that case we are on the bubble for an at large. I know that it's probably not realistic to expect us to never have an off night, even 09-10 and 14-15 lost at Evansville. But I do think the difference from the UNI teams that make the dance and the good teams that don't are taking care of these types of games.

I don't know. It's basketball. Sometimes you have games where you can't shoot or you lack some energy on defense. We took too long to adjust to Wichita State, St. Bonaventure controlled us most the game, Washington St. destroyed us in the first half and it was a tall task to come back from. Valpo and Murray were both playing much better basketball at the time and we were not playing good defense at all. SIU just absolutely thumped us. I think we are what our record says this year. It's fine, but we aren't a 20 win team at this point. If we play defense like we did against Bradley we could be in business, though.

[MVCBeat]

Our losses to the 10th and 11th place teams loom large. Could be tied for 1st right now, controlling our own destiny to win the league title.

Not sure that would be possible with our injuries now, but those losses are still brutal.

On the other hand, the fact that our losses are to the clear first place team, and three teams in the bottom half, mean we are in good shape tiebreaker wise with the teams in the same vicinity as us in the standings.

[BCPanther]

On the other hand, the fact that our losses are to the clear first place team, and three teams in the bottom half, mean we are in good shape tiebreaker wise with the teams in the same vicinity as us in the standings.

That's where I went.

Since there's no SOS tiebreaker or anything, the Valpo, Murray and SIU losses are MILES better than a Belmont or UIC or Illinois State loss would be.

We all know the 2 or 3 (preferably whichever one doesn't get Illinois State on Friday) is the best path to winning that tournament. Stirtz, Mascari and Abreu are going to have 100 minutes in 50 hours on those legs by halftime on Sunday.

[Wxcpanther]

That's where I went.

Since there's no SOS tiebreaker or anything, the Valpo, Murray and SIU losses are MILES better than a Belmont or UIC or Illinois State loss would be.

We all know the 2 or 3 (preferably whichever one doesn't get Illinois State on Friday) is the best path to winning that tournament. Stirtz, Mascari and Abreu are going to have 100 minutes in 50 hours on those legs by halftime on Sunday.

Opposite side of the bracket from Drake, and Illinois State getting a matchup with the Bulldogs is the ideal scenario for the bracket. Don't care where we finish in the top 4 so long as the bracket looks like that

[06panther10]

Drake at Illinois State tonight. Keep an eye on that one...

[BCPanther]

Agreed. Illinois State is so close to breaking through and getting a big one.

Somebody knows something too, the line is only Drake -2.5.

[Wxcpanther]

Agreed. Illinois State is so close to breaking through and getting a big one.

Somebody knows something too, the line is only Drake -2.5.

Illinois State is a bad matchup for them, no one on their roster can handle Walker. They were fortunate to come away with the win in Des Moines.

[CyCarp]

Agreed. Illinois State is so close to breaking through and getting a big one.

Somebody knows something too, the line is only Drake -2.5.

And the line moved in favor of Illinois State. Drake is only -1.5 now

[BCPanther]

Valpo is 6 1/2 minutes from doing us a solid.

Be real nice to be two games clear of Belmont with the tiebreaker basically locked.

[asihe_1991]

Drake handled Illinois State pretty easily. 7 point difference at the end but Drake never really let them get closer than 9 or 10 for the entire 2nd half.

[PantherAlum09]

Drake handled Illinois State pretty easily. 7 point difference at the end but Drake never really let them get closer than 9 or 10 for the entire 2nd half.

Stirtz is just an insane difference maker. He is so dang good at running that offense. Throw in the fact that Banks and Combs have become viable offensive options for them and they have really just gotten better. A ten point deficit to them feels like 20, so you have to jump on them quick and stay ahead somehow. I think we actually had a chance in Des Moines, but neither team could shoot for the first 4 minutes or so.

[asihe_1991]

Stirtz is just an insane difference maker. He is so dang good at running that offense. Throw in the fact that Banks and Combs have become viable offensive options for them and they have really just gotten better. A ten point deficit to them feels like 20, so you have to jump on them quick and stay ahead somehow. I think we actually had a chance in Des Moines, but neither team could shoot for the first 4 minutes or so.

Yep, we gotta get over this idea here that Drake is actually a fraud. I still think they get away with garbage illegal screens and Stirtz is a pretty good foul-baiter but I'm always going to find something I hate about their teams. They're pretty damn good, simple as that. Stirtz and Mascari play a ton of minutes, but they're 22 year old kids with 2-3 days off between games - don't really think that's going to be a problem for them.

[BCPanther]

Bradley is the fraud, not Drake.

Drake is legit.

[06panther10]

Most impressive game of Drake's season last night. To dictate that game from start to finish, it what was the most obvious trap game of all time, was incredible.

Stirtz is the runaway POY, which is crazy. They lost Tucker Devries and replaced him with a better basketball player.