Ill State @ MSU (7PM Jan 4)

[cpacmel]

Illinois State
Wilkins 15 points

Brown 14 points 6 boards
Allen 14 points

Ekey 8 points 12 boards 2 steals

Carmichael 7 points 10 boards

Moore 6 points 6 assists 2 turnovers

Threloff 4 points 5 boards

Mo State

Weems 18 points (7-17 FG) 8 boards

Gulley 16 points 9 boards

Kirk 9 pts

Pickens 8 points 4 boards 2 blocks

Downing 6 points 4 boards 3 assists

[BirdmanBB]

I don't know about the press but it was late and he had to do something. I credit Lusk for at least trying something different.

I absolutely hate excuses but with Caleb out and our shots just not falling, it just felt like everything was conspiring against us. We still almost never get a friendly whistle from the refs even at home where you expect to get some extra calls. I hate to say it but this was more about us losing the game than Illinois State winning it. Hopefully we can some payback in Normal.

Outside of the SIU game we actually hold teams pretty well on their shooting numbers. I thought we played great D in this one, but have to admit, the key to the game was Weems sitting for most of the 1st half. He rallied late, but you would have to wonder if Lusk rolled the dice with him the 1st half things might have been different.

However, not sure it was more about Missouri St. playing bad than ISU playing well. We made some clutch shots everytime Missouri St. was threatening to come back.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Illinois State seems decent. The Minnesota Gopher transfer looked pretty good. Forgetting his name right now. I like Jankovic. And he has a good staff with Beane as a recruiter and a great bench coach in Rob Judson. Top 3-4 staff in the conference.

I don't mean to take away from the Redbirds win. They did enough but we sure seemed to really help them.

[glm38]

Just got back from the game. Very disappointing. Rebounding (or lack thereof) is our Achilles heel this year in my opinion.

Congrats to Illinois State.

[LJay]

Thud...the sound of falling back to earth.

I watched this online and that wasn't the same team that was in Omaha.

Profound, Patterson out and gulley and downing sick, still not as bad as that showing. Gotta rebound.

Kirk tonight played better than Patterson in Omaha.

MCDermott was puking before the Tulsa game and spitting bile into a cup every time he came off the floor and scored 35. Nut up.

[LJay]

I hate to say it but this was more about us losing the game than Illinois State winning it. Hopefully we can some payback in Normal.

I agree with this. The webcast I watched had the MSU broadcasters (solid broadcast) and late in the game they said that Illie State was 2-12 from 2 but 5-12 from 3 in the second half. It actually felt that way watching the game. Kinda ugly. Some of those 3's came after offensive rebounds.

Anyway, in the Valley this year anybody on any night........

[FeartheQ]

Bad loss. Tough one on Saturday. Gotta shoot the ball better

[MSUBear42]

MCDermott was puking before the Tulsa game and spitting bile into a cup every time he came off the floor and scored 35. Nut up.

He should've turned water into medicine and he would have scored 60+.



Awful awful game. ISU out-hustled, out-played, out-everything'd us last night. AWFUL game.

[Wufan]

The ups and downs of a team are certainly more pronounced with new players and new coaches. Execution and results are likely to be all over the place for the Bears this season, but you can see that the Bears are going to be competing at a high level for years to come.

Congrats to Ill St. I've liked the personnel on this years Redbirds team all along, but have felt (as with many) that Jank has under-produced. Ill St. is one of many very competent teams in this years Valley.

[hot nuts]

Tough one on Saturday.

Looks like this can be said for every game this year (with the possible exception of matchups with Bradley).