Shockwaves

FInal: WSU 64, ISU 58. Creighton was no fluke. Big win for the Shockers.

25.7 remaining: WSU 60, ISU 53. Phillips will see Murry in his sleep. Twice he stripped him in the final minutes.

1:11 remaining: WSU 56, ISU 51. Hawkins and Murry with threes. WSU was 1 of 10 before those two fell. ISU ball after Eldridge missed a long three.

2:43 remaining: WSU 50, ISU 49. Bad possession by WSU. Hawkins has to force up a three at the buzzer. It almost banked in.

3:22 remaining: WSU 50, ISU 49. Aaron Ellis with 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Durley with four fouls. If I were a Shocker, I would not want this to be a one-possession facing Eldridge with the ball.

7:57 remaining: WSU 44, ISU 44. Eldridge with only three points since scoring 10 early in the game. Clemente has 13 for WSU. Ellis has 10. WSU’s press is working. So are the changing defenses. ISU can’t quite get comfortable. ISU is 8 of 17 from three. WSU is 1 of 8.

11:35 remaining: ISU 39, WSU 38. Being close to ISU’s shooters isn’t quite enough. The Birds hit guarded threes quite comfortably. One by Phillips, with Kyles right on him, gives ISU the lead.

14:49 remaining: WSU 37, ISU 34. Clemente with nine points in this half and 13 for the game.

18:15 remaining: WSU 29, ISU 28. WSU goes up on a steal and layup and free throw by Clemente. Nice start by WSU. The press has ISU slightly rattled and the Low Brass Cheer is cranking. Not sure the charging call on Clemente was legit. He may have pushed off.

Halftime: ISU 28, WSU 21. Eldridge made an unbelievable play to steal WSU’s inbound pass and throw in a prayer from way beyond the arc. But it was just after the buzzer. WSU is 0 for 6 from three, and credit goes to ISU’s defense. The Redbirds get after it on the perimeter. No easy passes or shots. Aaron Ellis leads WSU with six points. Eldridge leads ISU with 10.

1:30 remaining: ISU 28, WSU 20. ISU is so quick and big the Shockers get no easy looks from three.

3:41 remaining: ISU 26, WSU 18. You get the feeling the Redbirds are toying with the Shockers. They appear to be able to turn it on and off. WSU works like crazy to get close. ISU pulls away. Seven WSU turnovers are a big factor. WSU is 0 for 3 from three. ISU is 4 for 7.

7:10 remaining: ISU 19, WSU 16. Hawkins with a steal, save and follow dunk after Hannah missed a layup. David Kyles is guarding Eldridge.

11:38 remaining: ISU 14, WSU 10. WSU’s worst nightmare is Eldridge waking up from his three-game slump. He has 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting and looks every bit like the POY candidate he is.

15:51 remaining: ISU 7, WSU 6. Three turnovers for the Shockers. In addition to playing hard, they need to play better to keep moving forward. ISU’s man-to-man defense is giving them problems.

Late-arriving crowd tonight. The student section is half full. I expected more after Saturday’s win.

ISU starters – Eldridge, Holloway, Phillips, Oguchi, Odiakosa. WSU - Hannah, Clemente, Murry, Hawkins, Stutz.

Here’s where I’ve traveled with this team:

1. Summer and early fall - picked WSU seventh in the MVC and thought that might be optimistic.
2. Early November – After watching practice and exhibition games, picked WSU to win 17 games.
3. Early December - After watching the Old Spice Classic, felt .500 in the Valley was realistic.
4. Mid-January - Hoping nobody noticed when I picked WSU to win 17 games.
5. Tonight - No idea, although I think the general trend of good effort against Drake and Creighton is a good sign. No guarantees but I like the direction. Will that be enough against a talented team?

Around the Valley

• MVC defenses are locked on Drake’s Josh Young.
• Harry Marshall is starting for Indiana State tonight. Big news for the Sycamores.
• UNI’s bench is one of the reasons the Panthers are in first place.
• Don’t read this story. It’s a topic I want to write about later this season.
• Creighton is baffled by its ups and downs after hammering Evansville.
• The view from Normal.