Final: MSU 68, WSU 55. I think everybody was prepared for tough times this season. I don’t think anybody was prepared for an 0-6 MVC start and a bad performance against another winless team. The Shockers have a lot of soul-searching to do if they want to avoid last place.
3:37 remaining: MSU 64, WSU 48. Gregg Marshall continues his desperate search for consistent players. Prime example would be guards Clevin Hannah and Toure Murry. Good against Drake, especially in the first half. Eight points combined tonight.
7:37 remaining: MSU 58, WSU 38. WSU is getting hammered on the boards, which used to be the one thing it could count on as a positive. MSU is up 26-18 and owning the offensive glass.
11:07 remaining: MSU 50, WSU 34. The Bears won the race to 50 quite easily.
14:36 remaining: MSU 43, WSU 26. Shockers are frustrated and embarrassed, as well they should be. Things starting to get chippy on both side.
Halftime: MSU 37, WSU 24. Considering the opponent, worst half of WSU’s season. Eleven turnovers.
Add Will Creekmore to the list with a three with four seconds to play in the first half.
- Centenary – Nick Stallings, three, 3 seconds to play
- Siena – Erik Harris, layup, 2 seconds
- Texas Tech – John Roberson, three, 8 seconds
- Gardner-Webb – Aaron Linn, jumper, buzzer
- Creighton – Josh Dotzler, layup, 1 second
- Drake – Josh Parker, three, 1 second
7:46 remaining: MSU 22, WSU 14. MSU is winning with this game with defense. Any pass that isn’t crisp is headed the other way for a layup. Eight turnovers for WSU.
11:58 remaining: MSU 16, WSU 12. Chamberlain with two threes and Stutz with two baskets in the lane. WSU survived its early problems.
15:07 remaining: MSU 14, WSU 5. WSU starters benched.
WSU starters - Hatch, Griskenas, Durley, Murry, Hannah. MSU – Creekmore, Cooks, Knapp, Laurie, Fuehrmeyer.
JQH Arena is as good as billed, although I haven’t seen it with a crowd yet. It looks like a building that is small enough to have a good atmosphere and seem like a college game. It also has all the amenities such as luxury suites and an baseline version of WSU’s Champions Club that overlooks the arena. The concourse history display is interesting. The Bear Wear shop has an outside entrance, which is something I think would have been handy for Koch Arena’s souvenir store.
It is hard to rank the MVC arenas because they come in two categories – on campus and off campus. I have a strong bias toward on campus. Yet, Omaha’s Qwest Center and Peoria’s Carver Arena are two of the better places to see a game in the MVC.
I put WSU, MSU, Creighton, Illinois State and Bradley into the group with a great situations. SIU Arena is in desperate need of a facelift, and one is planned. WIth the right upgrade, it should be a perfect setting for basketball. Drake and Northern Iowa are in solid shape, although neither arena stands out as particularly intimidating or attractive. Evansville and Indiana State arenas are average – neither great nor in bad shape. Neither attracts particularly large crowds.
- The commitment of Johnny Coy puts a shine on today for WSU. I talked to former Shocker L.J. Goolsby, who coached Coy in the summer of 2007. He described Coy as a good shooter who can stretch defenses. He also called him a good shot-blocker (which I did not expect) and rebounder. On a team with good talent – Travis Releford, Marcus Denmon, Steve Moore – Goolsby said Coy was one of their top three offensive options. It is certainly a bonus for WSU to get him several weeks of practice before next season.
- Mike Kennedy is doing his 900th consecutive basketball broadcast. That is a lot of trips to Terre Haute.
Around the MVC
- Tonight’s game may be a race to 50 points. MSU needs help from every healthy body.
- UNI is off to its best MVC start in 18 seasons as member.
- The MWC-MVC Challenge will be a lot more fun when it can be played in a short time period. WSU needs to stay out of 9th and 10th place to participate again.
- Drake is at Illinois State tonight in the big MVC game.
- SIU coach Chris Lowery says his team is 2-1 in its fresh start. Creighton is also in a better mood after a road win.