Men's Basketball

From the Other Side: Springfield News-Leader’s Lyndal Scranton

The Bluejays will try to keep their momentum from the hot shooting night they had against Evansville on Wednesday.  They head to Springfield, Missouri to take on Missouri State on Saturday evening.  Missouri State has lost 3 of 4 and are in dire need of a win to stay in the race for third while the Bluejays try to solidify their standings and look to finish strong in another season of the  Wacky Valley.

Once again we caught up with Lyndal Scranton from the Springfield News-Leader who gave us a preview of the last matchup with the Bears where the Bluejays survived 76-72.  He has some hot tips for those headed to Springfield for the game:

White & Blue Review: The Bears have lost three of four coming into Saturday’s game and had a great opportunity to take down Northern Iowa. At this point, do you think Missouri State can have aspirations to get into the NIT or some kind of postseason play?

Lyndal Scranton: Absolutely. Anybody with 18-19 wins and a pulse can get into some sort ofpostseason tournament these days, be it NIT, CBI, CIT or CSI Miami.

WBR: How is Adam Leonard’s back holding up since the game in Omaha?  He  didn’t really contribute much in the game at the Qwest Center.
LS: Adam’s back seems to be doing well. He’s had back to back games of 17 and 29 points and appears to be back to shooting the 3 like he did earlier in the season.
WBR: Who is the player that needs to step up the most over the final stretch run to get the Bears positioned well for the MVC Tournament?

LS: No question Kyle Weems. Since scoring a career-high 30 points on Jan. 9 against Bradley, Weems is in a 7-game funk. He’s averaged just 7.8 points in that stretch and the team is 2-5. He must do more, offensively and stay out of foul trouble on the defensive end, for MSU to succeed.

WBR: Creighton shot lights out from the field in their game Wednesday night against Evansville.  I know in our last conversation, the Bears are allowing opponents to shoot 46% from three point range.  That probably does not make for a good combination for MSU fans.  What do you think?

LS: I would say if Creighton shoots anywhere close to 67 percent Saturdaynight, MSU has no chance of winning. Of course, having seen Evansville twice, I think duplicating that sort of success will be difficult against most opponents, even Missouri State.

WBR: With the new JQH Arena, what are some of the best amenities it has to offer?  What is the environment like there compared to the old gym?

LS: The old place could get loud, but nobody associated with the program wants to move back there. Like at Qwest Center, I think some fans get comfortable in the plush surroundings of a new arena and tend to sit rather than cheer. And fans at JQH don’t have the option of getting fueled on cold alcoholic beverages like those at the Qwest.

WBR: Say I am making my first trip to Springfield.  What are the must-see, do, or eat things to do while there?

LS: Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. It’s the world headquarters and a paradise if you’re into hunting, fishing, golf or athletic apparel. Also, Andy’s Frozen Custard has delicious treats that, while better-suited for warm weather, still are quite good in the dead of winter.

WBR: A few weeks ago, you were pretty on with your final prediction.  What  do you think will be the outcome this time in Springfield?

LS: The Bears have lost twice at home; the Jays have won twice away from home.  Missouri St. 75, Creighton 71.

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