At stake tonight is ninth in the MVC. It’s not much, but nobody wants to finish last. The ninth-place team plays at 6:05 p.m. on March 6. The last-place team plays at 8:35 p.m. Both game are played in a nearly empty Scottrade Center and the atmosphere is dreadful.
For the 8-9 winner, top-seeded Drake awaits at noon the next day. The 7-10 winner gets the second seed and a few more hours of rest.
WSU hasn’t finished last in the MVC since 1996. It would truly be a cruel story to go from first to worst in two seasons. The Shockers have 20 minutes to avoid that fate.
Big plus for WSU: No fouls for Couisnard. Many of his problems this season can be connected to fouls. When he is on the floor and playing smart defense, he is darn productive. Look for Evansville to run Ely at him in the second half to try to pick up some fouls.