By Peyton Wesner
2:00 PM EST
14-15 (10-7) Indiana State
at 8-22 (3-14) Bradley
Significance: With a win, Indiana State clinches 3rd seed in Arch Madness.
14-15 (10-7) Indiana State
Solid Wins:
-Illinois State 63-61 (Road)
-Evansville 79-75 in Overtime (Home)
-Missouri State 71-56 (Home)
-Illinois State 71-70 in Overtime (Home)
"Never Shoulda Happened" Losses:
-Eastern Illinois 60-56 (Home)
-Missouri-Kansas City 73-70 in Double Overtime.
-Drake 84-78 (Road)
-Missouri State 60-56 (Road)
Last Game:
-Loss To #11 Wichita State 63-53 (Home)
Players to Watch:
---#11 Devonte Brown (JR)
-12.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, & 3.2 APG.
---#4 Brenton Scott (FR)
-11.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, & 1.0 SPG.
---#1 Khristian Smith (JR)
-10.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, & 1.7 APG.
---#5 Justin Gant (SR)
-9.5 PPG, & 4.2 RPG.
---#15 Tre' Bennett (JR)
-8.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, & 3.0 APG.
---#0 Jake Kitchell (SR)
-6.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, & 1.0 BPG.
8-22 (3-14) Bradley
Solid Wins:
-Central Michigan 84-73 (Home)
-Southern Illinois 63-44 (Home)
-Missouri State 61-59 (Home)
-Evansville 56-53 (Road)
"Never Shoulda Happened" Losses:
-Texas-Arlington 86-75 (Home)
-Robert Morris 68-61 (Home)
-UC Irvine 55-47 in the Semi-Final of the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.
-Arkansas-Little Rock 64-54 in the Consolation Championship of the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.
Last Game:
-Loss To Missouri State 80-77 in Triple Overtime (Road)
Players to Watch:
---#2 Warren Jones (JR)
-12.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, & 1.6 SPG.
---#5 Tramique Sutherland (JR)
-12.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, & 1.0 SPG.
---#4 Auston Barnes (SR)
-9.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, & 1.0 SPG.
---#24 Omari Grier (JR)
-7.9 PPG & 1.8 APG.
---#21 Josh Cunningham (FR)
-7.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, & 1.0 SPG.
---#0 Ka'Darryl Bell (JR)
-6.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, & 1.0 SPG.
Prediction:
So Indiana State is going to win today? I mean that is at least what the pattern tells me will happen. The Indiana State Sycamores were eventually put away last Wednesday by the Wichita State Shockers by the score of 63-53. The Sycamores were able to hold the eleventh best team in the nation to 40.3% shooting and even neutralized leading scorer Ron Baker causing him to shoot one for eleven from the floor for three points. The problem for Indiana State was that their offense went dormant as the team shot 34%. The only Sycamores that were able to score profusely were Juniors Khristian Smith and Tre' Bennett. The duo ended the night with thirty of their team's fifty-three (Smith had twenty points and Bennett had ten points) points. The two Seniors, Justin Gant and Jake Kitchell, were held to twelve combined points while leading scorer Devonte Brown made no shots. Easily stated is the fact that Indiana State must have a better shooting performance as a collective group to wrap up the third seed at Bradley. The Bradley Braves are capping of another poor season as they come in on a five-game losing streak. On Wednesday, the Braves lost an absolute heart-breaker in Triple Overtime to the Missouri State Bears. To start the game, the Bears came out running and looked to have the game in hand, but the Braves never stopped fighting and eventually Tramique Sutherland hit a jumper to send the game to the First Overtime tied at fifty. Later, in the Second Overtime, Sutherland made a pair of free throws to extend Bradley's lead to three, but Missouri State would have a chance. On the last possession of the period, three-point specialist Austin Ruder swished a long three to force another overtime for the Bears. In the Third and final OT, Bradley found themselves down three with one second left and Warren Jones at the free throw line. Jones intentionally missed the free throw, but the ball didn't bounce into one of his teammates' hands and the game was lost. The game was truly amazing and neither team deserved to lose, but sometimes that is just how it goes. Freshman Josh Cunningham was great in Springfield and ended the game with fifteen points and twenty-one rebounds. In addition, Tramique Sutherland chipped in twenty points while Warren Jones bucketed sixteen. Since Bradley had fifteen more minutes to score points, I do not see Cunningham, Sutherland, and Jones putting up the same big numbers. Expect Devonte Brown to re-discover his shooting stroke and Khristian Smith to continue his as Indiana State's defense to holds Bradley under sixty in a close one.
---Indiana State 62, Bradley 58
2:00 PM EST-Full Court
18-11 (10-7) Illinois State
at 19-10 (9-8) Evansville
Significance: With a win and Indiana State loss, Illinois State clinches 3rd seed in Arch Madness. Otherwise, these two face off next Friday in Game 2.
18-11 (10-7) Illinois State
Solid Wins:
-Old Dominion 64-45 in the Semi-Final of Paradise Jam.
-DePaul 78-72 (Road)
-Missouri State 69-55 (Road)
-Evansville 77-51 (Home)
-Loyola (IL) 48-45 (Road)
Single-Digit Conference Losses:
-Indiana State 63-61 (Home)
-#16 Wichita State 70-62 (Road)
-Indiana State 71-70 in Overtime (Road)
-#20 Northern Iowa 54-53 (Road)
-Southern Illinois 65-59 (Road)
-#15 Wichita State 68-62 (Home)
Last Game:
-Win Against Southern Illinois 73-56 (Home)
Players to Watch:
---#3 Daishon Knight (SR)
-14.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, & 1.0 SPG.
---#44 DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (JR)
-12.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, & 1.1 SPG.
---#22 Reggie Lynch (SO)
-9.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, & 2.8 BPG.
---#4 Bobby Hunter (SR)
-7.5 PPG & 2.1 RPG.
---#24 Deontae Hawkins (FR)
-7.1 PPG & 5.3 RPG.
---#1 Paris Lee (SO)
-6.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, & 2.6 SPG.
---#11 MiKyle McIntosh (FR)
-6.4 PPG & 4.2 RPG.
19-10 (9-8) Evansville
Solid Wins:
-San Francisco 79-72 in Third Place Game of Gulf Coast Showcase.-Belmont 65-62 (Road)
-Ohio 81-69 in Overtime (Home)
-#23 Northern Iowa 52-49 (Home)
-Indiana State 89-78 (Home)
-Drake 61-52 (Home)
Single-Digit Losses:
-Green Bay 64-62 in Semi-Final of Gulf Coast Showcase.-Murray State 81-79 (Home)
-Indiana State 79-75 in Overtime (Road)
-Loyola (IL) 71-70 (Home)
-Drake 70-65 (Road)
-Bradley 56-53 (Home)
Last Game:
-Loss To #10 Northern Iowa 68-57 (Road) Players to Watch:
---#31 D.J. Balentine (JR)
-18.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, & 3.2 APG.---#55 Egidijus Mockevicius (JR)
-12.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, & 2.3 BPG.
---#5 Mislav Brzoja (SO)
-7.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, & 2.6 APG.
---#50 Blake Simmons (SO)
-7.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG, & 2.3 APG.---#12 Adam Wing (JR)
-6.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, & 2.1 APG.
Prediction:
If you cannot make it to today's game this afternoon, don't worry, most likely these two will be playing in the last game of Session Two Friday Afternoon. The Illinois State Redbirds are back to flying high as they have won their last three games after dropping three straight. In their last outing, the Redbirds achieved vengence for their first meeting loss at Carbondale against the Southern Illinois Salukis. Although the score was tied at halftime, Illinois State behind twenty-four points from DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell pulled away and won by the safe margin of seventeen points. Speaking of Akoon-Purcell, he has been great in his last six games and come in averaging 15.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Despite, the good offensive performance as a team, Star Senior Daishon Knight did have a rough game against SIU and shot four for twelve from the floor for eleven points. Knight and Akoon-Purcell will look to help their team have a chance for the third seed in Arch Madness this afternoon against Evansville with a win. The Evansville Purple Aces' Western road trip that just ended is definitely one to forget. Away from the Ford Center, UE was defeated by an average margin of fifteen points while being held to forty-three and fifty-seven points respectively. The Missouri Valley Conference's leading scorer D.J. Balentine, like his counter part Diashon Knight, had a tough time putting "the biscuit in the basket" and finished the two-game span with a shooting percentage of 33.3% and twelve points per game. In my opinion, the only player that actually showed up to Wichita and Cedar Falls was Egidijus Mockevicius. Mockevicius played tremendous against "The Valley's" best and achieved double-doubles in both performances. But will he be able to get one against the MVC's best shot blocker Reggie Lynch? I think not! In the first meeting between these two, Illinois State ran the Purple Aces out of the gym in a twenty-six point victory. Evansville shot terribly in the game, just like at Wichita State, and finished with a shooting percentage of 32.7%. Honestly, I do not believe UE will shoot as bad as they did in Bloomington, but I do think Redbird DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell will have a good game and take it to Sophomore Blake Simmons, who will most likely be guarding him. And about D.J. Balentine, I have no idea how he will play, but I will say the more he scores, the better the chances of Evansville winning are.
---Illinois State 67, Evansville 64
2:00 PM EST-ESPN
27-2 (16-1) 10. Northern Iowa
at 26-3 (16-1) 11. Wichita State
Significance: Winner wins regular season conference crown and clinches 1st seed in Arch Madness.
27-2 (16-1) 10. Northern Iowa
Lunardi's Bracketology: 4 Seed
#2 Best Mid-Major According to CollegeInsider.com
Solid Wins:
-Stephen F. Austin 79-77 in Overtime (Road)
-Virginia Tech 73-54 in Semi-Final of Cancun Challenge.
-Northwestern 61-42 in Championship of Cancun Challenge.
-Iowa 56-44 (in Des Moines)
-Loyola (IL) 67-58 (Home)
-Indiana State 66-60 (Home)
-Illinois State 54-53 (Road)
-#12 Wichita State 70-54 (Home)
-Indiana State 61-51 (Road)
-Illinois State 83-64 (Home)
Losses:
-VCU 93-87 in Overtime (Road)
-Evansville 52-49 (Road)
Last Game:
-Win Against Evansville 68-57 (Home)
Players to Watch:
---#10 Seth Tuttle (SR)
-15.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, & 3.2 APG.
---#11 Wes Washpun (JR)
-8.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, & 1.1 SPG.
---#1 Deon Mitchell (SR)
-7.2 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, & 1.0 SPG.
---#14 Nate Buss (JR)
-6.8 PPG & 2.7 RPG.
26-3 (16-1) 11. Wichita State
Lunardi's Bracketology: 5 Seed
#3 Best Mid-Major According to CollegeInsider.com
Solid Wins:
-Memphis 71-56 (in Sioux Falls)
-St. Louis 81-52 (Home)
-Seton Hall 77-68 (Home)
-Alabama 53-52 (Home)
-Illinois State 70-62 (Home)
-Loyola (IL) 67-53 (Road)
-Evansville 61-41 (Road)
-Indiana State 74-57 (Home)
-Illinois State 68-62 (Road)
-Evansville 62-43 (Home)
Losses:
-#25 Utah 69-68 in Overtime (Road)
-George Washington 60-54 in the Championship of the Diamond Head Classic.
-#18 Northern Iowa 70-54 (Road)
Last Game:
-Win Against Indiana State 63-53 (Road)
Players to Watch:
---#31 Ron Baker (JR)
-15.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, & 1.2 SPG.
---#23 Fred Van Vleet (JR)
-12.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, & 1.8 SPG.
---#12 Darius Carter (SR)
-11.5 PPG & 5.4 RPG.
---#32 Tekele Cotton (SR)
-9.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, & 1.3 SPG.
Prediction:
College Gameday is in Wichita! Why you ask? Because Northern Iowa at Wichita State is the best game on Saturday's slate of college basketball action. The Northern Iowa Panthers currently have the biggest active winning streak in the Missouri Valley Conference as they have won sixteen straight. The Panthers only conference loss came in a game that never should have been that close. The opponent was Evansville at the Ford Center and UNI had control in the first half with a ten-point halftime lead. The second half was the difference. The Purple Aces outscored the then twenty-third ranked team in the nation 32-19 in the second twenty-minutes giving them a three-point lead with about two seconds remaining. With Seth Tuttle watching from the bench because of five fouls, the pressure found its way on the shoulders of Jeremy Morgan as he fired a desperation three pointer at the buzzer to tie the game. The attempt was off the mark and Evansville upset the Panthers. In my opinion, the loss was the best thing to ever happen to UNI because it made the team realize that they must show up every game to win and cannot just throw their uniforms on the court and expect a victory. Since the loss, the Panthers have played every game to win and are averaging 63.8 points per game on offense while the defense has held teams to an average of 50.9 points per game. In fact, Northern Iowa has held three conference opponents to thirty-nine points! The team is led by Larry Bird Trophy Award Canidate Seth Tuttle, who always steps up when needed. In the first meeting in Cedar Falls, Tuttle bucketed a career-high twenty-nine points. Gregg Marshall's Wichita State Shockers plan on holding him to much less today. If you do not know who the Shockers are by now either you do not watch college basketball or you have been in a three-year coma. Wichita State's only conference loss, as previously mentioned, came to UNI on the road. The "Fantastic Four" of Wichita State (Ron Baker, Fred Van Vleet, Darius Carter, and Tekele Cotton) was held to the poor percentage of 34.2% (thirteen for thirty-eight combined shooting) and only forty-four points. In addition to their offensive woes, their defense was the worst I have seen all season and allowed Northern Iowa to shoot 60% from the field. Since the loss, Wichita State has taken care of business though and come in winning their last seven, setting up today's showdown. Who wins you ask? I love the Northern Iowa Panthers, but honestly I see it being a hard task to win at the Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers' faithful will be loud and proud this afternoon, and I believe that will play a factor. In addition, Tuttle can only do so much, and will need teammates like Washpun, Mitchell, Buss, Bohannon, and Morgan to produce points. Wichita State does not have just one player to score but a four man wrecking crew led by Fred Van Vleet. Van Vleet has been an offensive beast in his last five games and has averaged 17.2 points per game to go along with 4.2 assists. Deep down, I know Wichita State wants revenge and will come out with a "chip on their shoulder." With that being said, I forsee the Shockers shutting down UNI's perimeter game and causing Tuttle to do it all by himself. On the other end of the court, Van Vleet and Baker will dominate the Panthers' guards in route to a double-digit win.
---Wichita State 66, Northern Iowa 54
4:00 PM EST
9-20 (6-11) Drake
at 10-20 (3-14) Southern Illinois
Significance: With a win, Drake secures 7th seed in Arch Madness.
9-20 (6-11) Drake
Conference Wins:
-Indiana State 84-78 (Home)
-Bradley 69-57 (Road)
-Evansville 70-65 (Home)
-Southern Illinois 63-61 (Home)
-Bradley 60-54 (Home)
-Missouri State 78-43 (Home)
Single-Digit Conference Losses:
-#16 Wichita State 66-58 (Home)
-Loyola (IL) 50-47 (Road)
-Illinois State 64-56 (Home)
-Evansville 61-52 (Road)
Last Game:
-Loss To Loyola (IL) 80-75 in Overtime (Home)
Players to Watch:
---#12 Reed Timmer (FR)
-11.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG, & 2.5 APG.
---#2 Gary Ricks Jr. (SR)
-10.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, & 2.2 APG.
---#11 Jacob Enevold Jensen (SR)
-8.0 PPG & 5.5 RPG.
---#3 Jordan Daniels (SR)
-7.3 PPG.
---#25 Chris Caird (SR)
-7.2 PPG & 2.1 RPG.
10-20 (3-14) Southern Illinois
Conference Wins:
-Loyola (IL) 59-52 (Home)
-Bradley 70-59 (Home)
-Illinois State 65-59 (Home)
Single-Digit Conference Losses:
-Missouri State 53-50 (Home)
-Indiana State 59-56 (Home)
-Evansville 75-66 (Road)
-#18 Northern Iowa 59-52 (Home)
-Missouri State 52-46 (Road)
-Drake 63-61 (Road)
-Loyola 66-62 (Road)
-Evansville 72-64 (Home)
Last Game:
-Loss To Illinois State 73-56 (Road)
Players to Watch:
---#25 Anthony Beane (JR)
-16.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, & 1.2 SPG.
---#14 Jordan Caroline (FR)
-9.6 PPG & 6.5 RPG.
---#33 Sean O'Brien (SO)
-7.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, & 1.0 SPG.
---#1 Jalen Pendleton (JR)
-6.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.7 APG & 1.0 SPG.
---#5 Deion Lavender (FR)
-6.3 PPG & 2.4 RPG.
Prediction:
---Southern Illinois 61, Drake 59
4:00 PM EST-ESPN3
11-18 (5-12) Missouri State
at 17-12 (7-10) Loyola (IL)
Significance: Win provides momentum heading into Arch Madness.
11-18 (5-12) Missouri State
Conference Wins:
-Southern Illinois 53-50 (Road)
-Drake 62-37 (Home)
-Southern Illinois 52-46 (Home)
-Indiana State 60-56 (Home)
Single-Digit Conference Losses:
-Evansville 56-54 (Home)
-Bradley 61-59 (Road)
-Loyola (IL) 53-50 (Home)
-Evansville 73-66 (Road)
Last Game:
-Win Against Bradley 80-77 in Triple Overtime (Home)
Players to Watch:
---#30 Camyn Boone (JR)
-8.6 PPG & 5.3 RPG.
---#2 Austin Ruder (SO)
-8.0 PPG & 2.2 RPG.
---#23 Dorian Williams (JR)
-7.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.5 RPG, & 1.6 SPG.
---#33 Chris Kendrix (FR)
-6.6 PPG & 3.7 RPG.
---#20 Gavin Thurman (JR)
-5.9 PPG & 2.4 RPG.
17-12 (7-10) Loyola (IL)
Solid Wins:
-Kent State 69-61 (Road)
-Texas Tech 62-44 in the Semi-Finals of the Las Vegas Classic.
-Boise State 48-45 in the Championship of the Las Vegas Classic.
-Bradley 64-49 (Home)
-Evansville 71-70 (Road)
-Missouri State 53-50 without Milton Doyle and Christian Thomas (Road)
Single-Digit Conference Losses:
-#23 Northern Iowa 67-58 (Road)
-Southern Illinois 59-52 (Road)
-Southern Illinois 59-52 (Road)
-Evansville 65-56 (Home)
-Illinois State 48-45 (Home)
-Illinois State 67-60 (Road)
Last Game:
-Win Against Drake 80-75 in Overtime (Road)
Players to Watch:
---#35 Milton Doyle (SO)
(DNP in last eleven with ankle injury.)
-11.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.2 APG, & 1.1 SPG.
---#32 Christian Thomas (SR)
-11.2 PPG & 4.1 RPG.
---#24 Montel James (JR)
-9.2 PPG & 4.4 RPG.
---#4 Devon Turk (JR)
-8.1 PPG & 2.5 RPG.
---#2 Earl Peterson (JR)
-7.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG, & 1.9 APG.
Prediction:
---Loyola 65, Missouri State 60
THE ROAD TO ARCH MADNESS
Arch Madness if it Started Yesterday
1. Northern Iowa 27-2 (16-1)
2. Wichita State 27-3 (16-1)
3. Indiana State 14-15 (10-7)
4. Illinois State 18-11 (10-7)
5. Evansville 19-10 (9-8)
6. Loyola (IL) 17-12 (7-10)
7. Drake 9-20 (6-11)
8. Missouri State 11-18 (5-12)
9. Southern Illinois 10-20 (3-14)
10. Bradley 8-22 (3-14)
Thursday Night
G1: MOST vs SIU (MOST Swept the Season Series)
G2: DRAKE vs BRAD (DRAKE Swept the Season Series)
Friday Afternoon
G3: UNI vs W-G1
G4: EVAN vs ILST (ILST Won First Meeting at Redbird Arena)
Friday Night
G5: INST vs LOY (INST Swept the Season Series)
G6: WSU vs W-G2
PW's Prediction Record Coming into Today: 186-65 (68-17 in the MVC)
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