Game 7

[Blers]

I thought WU fans talking about home cooking at UNI were full of it. But holy crap how does Loyola get 1 free throw in regulation and UNI get 17!?!?!?

Just awful. Loyola played very poorly overall offensively. But I don't know how anyone can look at the phantom Richardson call at the end of regulation(blocking with about 8 seconds left... No way it was a foul) and not at least slightly question what was going on.

[BirdsEyeView]

Summary of the "War on 74"

Bradley is still bad.

[2livewu]

Illinois State looked great. Even at 3-2 the game was never in doubt. Little concerned about their depth. The way they're playing right now, they belong in the tourney.

Alize Johnson is my POY right now. Dude is a monster. Great motor. How have they lost 3 times?

Loyola should have won, but too much one on one from Milt.

Evansville isn't good. Drake and SIU was awful to watch.

[BuBrave2006]

Summary of the "War on 74"

Bradley is still bad.

I actually didn't think Bradley played that bad...and that's the problem. The gap in talent level is still huge. The fact that we can play "okay" and still get blitzed on our home court by our main rival without much of a challenge is a problem. We're putting the pieces in place, and I still like where we are going, but we still have a lot of fat to trim. Would be lucky to make top 6 this season.

[BEARZ77]

Alize Johnson is my POY right now. Dude is a monster. Great motor. How have they lost 3 times?

It's called the Lusk factor; I don't know that people outside Springfield who don't see Lusk game to game realize how bad he is. This team is right there talent wise to be contesting for a title; a guy like Alize is obvious, but some guys like Kendrix and Dixon who simply don't get utilized effectively are much better than what plays out. Kendrix was really coming on at the end of his sophomore year despite Lusk constantly messing with him. He entered this season as the 4th leading returning scorer and 6th returning rebounder in the conference; those are numbers usually indicative of a player entering a junior year who is closing on being all MVC caliber, and he is talent wise. Granted Chris can be his own worst enemy, but he isn't the first talented kid Lusk just seems unable to effectively manage and push the right buttons with. Even a guy like Alize has had at least two games this year where Lusk has inexplicably sat him long stretches in close games we lost. While in general, the players don't voice much discontent, there seems to be always some conflict with some of our most talented guys. Marshall, Kendrix recently, and right now it's not fully clear what all is leading to Rousseau's absence although in fairness, it may not have anything to do with Lusk. And that's just the player management and development aspect; he's probably even worse at overall strategy, in game decisions and other technical aspects of being a coach. Bear's fans are in that terrible purgatory of wanting our young guys to do well and wanting to win, but realizing modest success now leads to extended mediocrity in retaining Lusk. We are at least because of the talent, entertaining to watch, but any lead against any team heading into the last 10 minutes can be easily Lusked away, and at least 3-4 times a year[ see SIU/Air Force] a Lusk team will simply not even show up to compete.

[Redhawk]

Summary of the "War on 74"

Bradley is still bad.

I actually didn't think Bradley played that bad...and that's the problem. The gap in talent level is still huge. The fact that we can play "okay" and still get blitzed on our home court by our main rival without much of a challenge is a problem. We're putting the pieces in place, and I still like where we are going, but we still have a lot of fat to trim. Would be lucky to make top 6 this season.

Agree with you Bu it was more that ISUr played great on both ends. I liked what I saw from some of the young Braves. Give it time...but I think Wardle appears to have the program improving!

[Cdizzle]

I thought WU fans talking about home cooking at UNI were full of it. But holy crap how does Loyola get 1 free throw in regulation and UNI get 17!?!?!?

Just awful. Loyola played very poorly overall offensively. But I don't know how anyone can look at the phantom Richardson call at the end of regulation(blocking with about 8 seconds left... No way it was a foul) and not at least slightly question what was going on.

It's not just home cooking. It happens elsewhere as well. Koch is a legitimately terrible D1 basketball player, but occasionally you get a referee crew that buys all the flailing and flopping that Jacobson teaches. He's a turnover machine when he doesn't get bailed out by the refs. If Shaq Morris or McIntosh were treated like Koch they would foul out the opposing team in the first half and average 35 a game.

UNI had a 12 minute stretch without a FG to end regulation, all of 1OT, and the first 2 minutes of 2OT. It was disgusting to watch. LUC never had a chance. 30-8 on FTA.

[DUBulldog]

Bulldogs blew a 13 point 2nd half lead and trailed by 5 with 15 seconds to go. Ore Arogundade then went on a 5-0 run to send it to OT. OT was back and forth, Salukis led by 3 when Arogundade hit another clutch 3 to tie it, and SIU didn't score again. Bulldogs played OT without Timmer who fouled out near the end of regulation.

[hot nuts]

I liked what I saw from some of the young Braves.

I also like what I saw from Bradley last night. I hope they continue to play that way for years to come.

[tribecalledquest]

I liked what I saw from some of the young Braves.

I also like what I saw from Bradley last night. I hope they continue to play that way for years to come.

I see what you did there

ISU is really, really good. Lots of talent. Happy for Paris Lee. Solid dude. He has had a great MVC career. Exactly what you want in a PG at this level. ISU can win a game or two in the tournament if the Birds make it.