UNI vs. MSU -- Think we can talk about it??

[DRAKELAWPANTHER]

I am absolutely terrified of this game.

[panther2317]

I think UNI used the days off well...they had some of their most intense practices since the season began according to a W/CF Courier article in yesterday's edition. Something the players felt was much-needed to refocus on the fundamentals. Hopefully it transfers to game action Thursday and Saturday nights. GO PANTHERS!!!

[tcondon]

Folks, this is a huge game. Not only for the mindset of the players and coaches, but for NCAA Tournament chances.

I understand some of you don't look ahead (looking at panther2317's mantra of one game at a time ) but this game could be the straw that breaks the camels back, or puts the Panthers back on the upswing.

The road is tough in any conference, from the ACC to the Ivy League. Because coaches and players know each other so well, it is tough to steal victories on the road.

But with the upcoming schedule, this is a game that UNI can steal. A tired Missouri State team, while UNI has had a week to prepare. With road trip still on the horizon against Southern Illinois (we know their record there), Drake (a place the Panthers have struggled) Indiana State (they are 9-1 at home with wins over Butler, Purdue, Creighton and Wichita) along with Creighton and Bradley, you are looking for spots to pick up the victories. I believe this may be the best shot outside of the game in Evansville (no gimme, BTW).

I'm hoping to see an inspiring basketball team that can find a way to pull off the upset in Springfield. If they don't, I believe this team is going to find it difficult to be in the NCAA Tournament without a great run in St. Louis.

[unigriff]

Saw Viet in the hallway just before class with Jones,

Me-I hope you guys take em down tomorrow.
Viet-Yea, We HAVE to! No other way but win.
Me-Damn straight!


In class,
Me-Good luck, hopefully bigE can wake up.
SJ-Yea, Stout too.
Me-How was practice yesterday?
SJ-good, pretty laid back, easy. Same for today.
Me-what bout that sunday suprise practice after Creighton?
SJ-it sucked like hell, let's not talk bout it.

I think they are pumped up though! Anybody else realize we play SIU ubber quick already! crazy!

[Schack]

More evidence (as if we need it) that this is an extremely important game.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=lunardi_joe&id=2733623

[PantherHawk]

Just need to play our style of game and not get caught up in the rush of Mo State. Their crowd is gonna be loud, this game is huge! I really see it a close game, but UNI needs to be patient and get it down low! Let the bigs carry us! Mo State is gonna shoot lights out like they normally do and i truely beleive they are the best team in the Valley besides us. They are playing with a chip on their shoulder and if we can steal this one, it would be big in late feb early march! I am predicting UNI 61 Mo State 57.

[panther2317]

Tempo, playing tough defense without fouling and shooting the ball well are the keys. I think UNI has to work inside-out on offense. We have to recognize shooters on defense and understand that MSU wants to work quickly on offense. Making them run the clock is a good thing. If the game is in the 60's, UNI wins. If it's in the 70's or above...MSU might be victorious.

[SMK4UNI]

Is this game going to be on TV?

[BearChief]

Greetings from Springfield. My feeling has been all year that the Bears aren't going to lose a game at home this season. We've got a veteran club that seems to understand you have to defend your home floor in order to win a conference title. We played poorly at SIU and at the same time SIU had their best offensive night in two years. It was an abberation. Add to that the fact that UNI has beat us at home two years in a row, and these Bears aren't gonna be too happy tonight.

[merkpanthers]

Hey if the Bears are going to be angry tonight then I like our chances. They will be trying to force the ball in the hoop and hopefully take lots of bad shots and with our tough D that's a great combo. The rest this week was huge for the team in my opinion. We needed to refocus after a couple of tough losses and get back to playing UNI basketball. Winning in Springfield will be very tough especially with this years team and their last output at home against E'Ville 106-54 where they couldn't miss a shot and everything was clicking for them. I have no idea how they are even allowed to give free admission to their basketball games this week. that should be some sort of NCAA regulation and to have both of them against UNI is just bad. I understand the situation, but something should be done about that. That just means that the crowd will be loud like always in Springfield. I think that it is huge for us to get our game started right off the bat in this one because it didn't happen the last 2 games and the time off hopefully should be a benefit for that. this game, like every game in the Valley, will be a tight one and when the buzzer sounds I think we will have the upper hand. Go Panthers!!!

[unigriff]

merky, you and you're observations...sighs...you crazy kid! Just like those persky shox, we have MSUs number as of late...I don't see us relinquishing that border battle title anytime soon!

[BearChief]

They are only giving away a limited number of free tickets. UNI has given away lots of free tickets in the past to fb and bb games trying to get a decent crowd.

We aren't doing it to get a big crowd. The men's program at MSU has never given away free tickets in the past. They're doing it as a nice gesture to a lot of people in this area who haven't much to smile about in the last 6 days. There are still some 30,000-40,000 people in Springfield alone who haven't had power since Friday or Saturday.

[UNI MadCat]

I have no idea how they are even allowed to give free admission to their basketball games this week. that should be some sort of NCAA regulation and to have both of them against UNI is just bad. I understand the situation, but something should be done about that. That just means that the crowd will be loud like always in Springfield.

To steal a famous quote... "are you fo' real?"

Who really gives a crap what their promotions are!?!

And another thing... has anyone actually been to MSU?? I've gone once and it was anything but loud -- and they beat us and had a good team... I want to say it was '98 or something... like the year before they went to the Sweet 16 with Alford. Anyway, I've watched numerous games on TV and always thought it seemed dead in there. However back during their tremendous women's b-ball days, it seemed pretty much the opposite -- a loud, tough place to play.

Perhaps things have changed in the last year or two but I never thought of it as a real raucous environment to play in. I remember talking to students there at the time and they were talking about how the old folks just sat on their hands most of the time.

Again though, this could all have changed by now. My post will probably incite some sort of tyraid (sp?) on their board about how "we" don't think they're loud and that they will show us tonight!!

[hud21]

I'm suspect to believe that MSU might not show up for the first 10 or so minutes of the game. As was stated before, the Springfield area has been without power for the last week. I can't see a way this could positively affect the MSU team. Even if they moved to a building with electricity, which they no doubt did, it probably threw a wrench in their week plans. I think that if UNI can pounce on the bears early that the game might be over before the fans who get in free get in their seats.

[Matboz]

anyone know where there is a gametracker or anything similar online for this game? I'm listening to Gary ... but I also like to have a gametracker if possible