Category Archives: MVC media

Q&A with Mike Crowley of WUEV

Mike Crowley is in his sixth season as play-by-play voice of the Aces.

Q: Did Jason Holsinger’s absence due to injury help Kavon Lacey grow up?

A: It helped tremendously. Over his last five games, Kavon is averaging over 8 points a game while shooting 53%. More than anything he knew he had the responsibility of running the offense in Jason’s absence and for a freshmen I think it’s a huge benefit to get that opportunity. Evansville is obviously a better team with Holsinger in the lineup, but the experience of Kavon playing without him will hopefully make the team better in the long run.

Q: How many free throws will Shy Ely shoot tonight?

A: Paul….hopefully about 20. When the Aces are at their best offensively Ely is looking to get to the goal and draw contact. That is one aspect of his game that has really improved this year. If he can get to the line 10-12 times tonight, I think it will give Evansville a good shot to win.

Q: Pick your Valley MVP.

A: That’s a tough call right now. You look at the numbers that both Josh Young and Osiris Eldridge have put up this year and they both can make a great case for Valley MVP. That being said, I think Adam Emenecker has been the main reason why Drake has been able to win the regular season title. To me, he is the definition of a team’s most valuable player. I know the stats aren’t flashy, but that’s my pick and I’m sticking to it.

Q: Sleeves or no sleeves?

A: Sleeves on occasion. While I think its fantastic that Marty Simmons brought back the sleeves earlier this year and embraced the tradition, knowing today’s players they would not want to wear them on a constant basis. I think if Evansville, can bring them out every so often, its a great thing to do.

Q&A with Todd Golden of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Todd Golden is in his fourth season covering Indiana State. He says Wu-Shock reminds him of Kyle Wilson gone horribly wrong.

Q: If Shocker fans squint, will they think they are playing Creighton tonight?

A: To a point. Indiana State runs the same offense, but they rarely press. Indiana State also had enough consistency out of its big men to run the spread offense as intended. No good names either. No Booker Woodfox or P’Allen Stinnett to keep the roster interesting and make P.A. announcers cringe. Read More »

Q&A with Steve Ford of the Evansville Courier & Press.

Steve Ford is in his fourth season covering the Aces for the Courier & Press.

Q: How popular is former Evansville star Marty Simmons, now the Aces coach, and how much does that connection help with fans during a tough season? Read More »

Q&A with Steve Pivovar

Welcome to Omaha and the always impressive Qwest Center. It’s a late-arriving crowd tonight, but I’m told to expect around 16,500. The Bluejay Oompa-Loompas are on the court with their flags, so it’s close to game time.

Creighton has a lot of nerve announcing itself as the Midwest’s top-ranked private college. Benedictine College is the choice of the discriminating student. Read More »

Q&A with Lyndal Scranton of the Springfield News-Leader

Lyndal Scranton has covered Missouri State since the 1990-91 season for the Springfield News-Leader. That’s the season MSU (then Southwest Missouri State) joined the MVC. Read More »

Q&A with Dave Reynolds of the Peoria Journal-Star

Dave Reynolds is the only MVC beat writer worthy of inclusion in pre-game notes put out by the school. Dave has covered 531 consecutive Bradley games (starting in 1990-91) entering tonight.

Q. How close to full speed is Bradley guard Daniel Ruffin? Read More »

Q&A with Robert Crow of The Southern Illinoisan

Robert Crow is in his second year covering SIU. Here is his take on today’s game, and why SIU can still be a factor in the Valley race. Read More »

Q&A with Jim Benson, Illinois State beat writer

Welcome to Redbird Arena. For the first time in several years, I expect a big crowd for a WSU game at Illinois State. It’s been awhile since the community was excited about ISU hoops. Obviously, the Redbirds are giving them a good reason to show up this season. The students are back in class, and two sections are almost full 25 minutes before game time. Let’s start with a Q&A by Jim Benson, the beat writer for the Pantagraph. Jim is in his second season covering the Redbirds.

What’s the biggest difference between last season’s Redbirds and this season?

I would say it’s a combination of a couple things. Many of the key contributors were first-year players a year ago and weren’t quite ready for the intense level of play in Valley games. The other factor is coaching. Tim Jankovich has the Redbirds playing much harder on the defensive end. Offensively, ISU doesn’t have the ball in Boo Richardson’s hands all the time, especially at the end of shot clocks. There aren’t as many set plays on offense, giving the players a chance to free lance more.

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Koch live: Kirk Seminoff’s Creighton-WSU blog

Final: Creighton 68, WSU 65

WSU’s final play was the same play it ran two possessions early. Mekel runs it upcourt, hits Cooz at the top of the key, then Cooz finds Mekel on the right side of the arc. Mekel was never open but had to force it.

Thanks for tuning in tonight. Be sure to check back often to Shockwaves for updates from beat writer Paul Suellentrop.

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On speaker phone with us

WSU basketball coach Gregg Marshall did an interview with an Omaha radio station earlier this week. Apparently, it did not go as either party planned.

Gregg seemed unhappy with the whole thing. The host, Matt Perrault of Big Sports 590, is less than satisfied with the answers and spends several minutes letting his audience know after the conclusion of the interview. Gregg could have been a little more tolerant and talkative. After all, MVC coaches routinely do these kind of interviews and fans enjoy hearing about other teams. It’s all part of the give and take of promoting the conference.

The questions were not out of line or combative. They were designed to get Gregg to talk about the Shockers, which seems reasonable. Perrault could have been better prepared. Not knowing WSU’s record got things started badly. His rant after the interview went on a little long. It is too bad nobody discovered they have common ground as Red Sox fans. That might have gotten things off on a better note.

I have learned that Gregg takes questions literally in many cases. If you ask him if a team has hit rock bottom, be prepared to discuss rock bottom. Gregg has been fine to deal with for the Wichita media, as far as I know. It may take Valley media time to figure him out, and vice versa.

Regardless, it’s an entertaining segment, if you like uncomfortable pauses and barely restrained hostility.