TCU (5-4) @ Wichita State (8-1)
Charles Koch Arena
Wichita, KS 7:05 CT
The red hot Shockers will host the Horned Frogs of TCU tonight as part of the Mountain West / MVC Challenge. TCU comes into the game with a dismal 5-4 record and will be looking for a good win in an otherwise disappointing start to the season. The Shockers on the other hand are riding a hot streak and will look to go 9-1 this evening in Wichita.
WSU was able to jump all over the Kangaroos of UMKC with a decisive 73-52 victory. Tonight’s game should not be much tougher, as the Horned Frogs are nowhere near the team they were when they had a certain Mike Jones dropping many points for them. WSU should not have much of an issue tonight, and hopefully I will be out celebrating a CU victory, so I don’t think I will miss much.
– Paul Liberty
Missouri State (8-0) @ Arkansas State (3-4)
Convocation Center
Jonesboro, Ark. 7:05 CT
Missouri State seems to like fast starts. With a record of 8-0, the Bears have been the surprise of the MVC this year, but will be tested as they hit the road for four games beginning with Arkansas State tonight. The Bears will be coming off their eighth straight victory as they were able to make easy work of UT Martin following a hot start, leading 20-7 5:30 into the game.
Next up for the Bears will be the Red Wolves of Arkansas State, a struggling 3-4 squad that is looking for their identity early in the season. Lead by the 2006 SEC Coach of the Year, John Brady, the Wolves will look to pull of an upset tonight as they host the undefeated MVC squad. Coach Brady is no stranger to upsets, as he led his 2006 LSU Tigers to an unlikely Final Four run. I think the luck had run out for John, and the Bears should begin their road trip off to on the right foot.
– Paul Liberty
Alabama State (1-5) @ Southern Illinois (4-2)
SIU Arena
Carbondale, IL 3:05 PM CT
The Salukis are coming off a confidence booster win at Southeast Missouri State. Nothing wrong with playing them. They went on the road and won by 21 for their first road win. Iowa transfer Tony Freeman scored a career-high 26 for Southern. Being benched was motivation for Anthony Booker to have a big game. He came in, scored 10 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and swatted four shots on the night. Don’t forget Kevin Dillard’s double-double too. A complete line for Dillard, he scored 11 points, had 10 assists, grabbed six rebounds to go along with five assists.
The Hornets are in a bit of a hornets nest themselves. They are on the fourth game of a five-game road trip. So far this season they managed one win at home while losing all five of their road contests. It has been over a week since they lost by 4 on the road to Evansville. If they can’t handle Roberts Stadium, they have no chance of surviving SIU Arena. Tramayne Moorer leads the team with a 9.7 ppg average for a balanced team.
– Panon
Binghampton (3-6) @ Drake (4-5)
Knapp Center
Des Moines, IA 5:00 PM CT – Mediacom – Iowa (TV)
Drake Invitational
The Bulldogs were able to kick off the Drake Invitational at the Knapp Center in much better fashion then last week when they hosted the Hy-Vee Classic. After last week’s opening game loss, the Bulldogs offensive outbreak was more than enough to hold off South Dakota. Despite allowing former Bluejay Steve Smith to score 6 points and grab 8 rebounds, Drake outscored them 96-81 for the victory. By far, their biggest offensive night of the season. Josh Young led five players in double figures with 21.
The Bearcats are winners of two out of their last four this season after a slow start which saw them lose four of their first five. Playing Drake will be their first game of the weekend before they round out the round-robin tournament with a game against South Dakota on Sunday. Greer Wright is the lone player in double figures averaging 12 ppg. It’s a rough start for a a team that won the America East regular season and tournament championships a year ago. They finished last season with an opening round loss to Duke.
– Panon
Siena @ Northern Iowa
McLeod Center
Cedar Falls, IA 7:05 PM CT – KWWL (TV)
In a Bracket Buster rematch from earlier this calendar year, the Saints travel to Cedar Falls this time to face the Panthers. Revenge will be on the mind of the Panthers after falling on the road 81-75 last February. On Tuesday the Panthers defeated Iowa in Cedar Falls. Kwadzo A. scored 20 to lead the Panthers. On any night, it could be one of a handful of Panthers to lead the team. How does Ben Jacobson do it? Does he draw a name out of a hat in the locker room?
The Saints are coming off their first MAAC win of the season. The team they beat? Iona. The same Gael team that defeated the Bluejays in “The Happiest Place on Earth.” They have a senior walk-on guard, Just-in’love Smith, who was named for that exact reason. His mother was just in love with him. While the senior doesn’t see too many minutes, it is teammates Clarence Jackson and Alex Franklin who lead this team. Just-in is quite the leader too. Before walking on to Siena he spent four years in the military with a year in Iraq. Even before the game starts, this young man should have the respect of everyone in the arena.
– Panon