Wichita State (3-1) @ Cleveland State (3-3)
Cleveland, OH 1:00 PM CST
I realize that the Shockers were able to destroy Iowa, but I would bet that if you asked a Shocker fan if they think the trip to Kansas City was a success, they would say no. The Shockers had a big opportunity playing the likes of Pittsburgh on national TV with the chance to follow up with a game against Texas in the next round, but they did not come through.
WSU will now travel to the home of LeBron James and take on Cleveland State in a match up of much less significance. Cleveland State holds a 3-3 record on the season, and should not be much for Gregg and the gang to handle. There will be a lot of good football and basketball on TV on Saturday, and fortunately this game is not ones of them. WSU should win this one and win it big.
-Paul Liberty
Evansville (2-1) @ Miami (OH) (1-4)
Oxford, OH 2:00 PM CST
Millet Hall
The Purple Aces take the court for their first road game of the season in a return match from ESPN’s Bracketbuster weekend. Last season the Purple Aces won 75-61 in Roberts Stadium. The Purple Aces are coming off a 64-60 loss against #10 Butler. In that game freshman Colt Ryan scored 12 points in the final minute to make the game interesting in their first defeat of the season.
The RedHawks come into this game at 1-4. Being their first home game of the season, extra excitement should fill the arena. After losing at Towson and at Kentucky (by 2 points), they went 1-2 in the Basketball Travelers Tournament. Their lone win was against Nichols State while they lost to Louisiana Tech and the home team New Mexico.
After a good showing against Butler, will the fresh faced Evansville squad be able to handle a tough road environment?
– Panon
Drake (3-4) @ Austin Peay (2-3)
Clarksville, TN 7:00 PM CST
Winfield Dunn Center
In another return match for an ESPN Bracketbuster game, Drake travels to Tennessee to take on the Governors. Drake is coming off a 1-3 showing in the Glenn Wilkes Classic. The lone win came against Georgia State while they fell to IUPUI at home and Akron and Central Florida in Daytona, Florida. Star guard Josh Young has been battling early an early season injury. He’s played the last few games but this Drake team will go as far as he will carry them.
Anthony Campbell leads the Governors with a 15 ppg average. They will be playing their first home game of the season. The Governors are also coming off the Glenn Wilkes Classic as well. Even though they did not face Drake head-to-head, there have been some common opponents. The Governors also lost to IUPUI but they were able to defeat Akron (who Drake lost to). Based on that alone, Drake should be in for a long afternoon.
– Panon
Southeast Missouri State (1-3) @ Illinois State (4-0)
Normal, Ill. 6:00 CT
Basketball Travelers Classic
Illinois State was able to survive the Spartans of Norfolk State last night as they opened play in the Basketball Travelers Classic in Normal, Ill. Kellen Thornton led the way with his first career double double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. The Redbirds will continue their brutal (sarcasm) non-conference schedule tonight when they host Southeast Missouri Sate in the second round of play.
SMS has had a tough road thus far, going 1-3, and I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel tonight. The redbirds should be able to take care of business tonight, and wouldn’t be surprised if they did so by 20 plus.
-Paul Liberty
Northern Illinois (1-3) @ Northern Iowa (3-1)
Cedar Falls, IA 7:00 CST
McLeod Center
The Panthers finally get to open their season at home Saturday with a game against the Huskies. The Panthers return to Iowa after a 2-1 showing in the Paradise Jam. They dropped their opening game against DePaul but were able to recover quickly and defeat East Carolina and Boston College to salvage a pair of wins in the Virgin Islands. Kwadzo scored 32 in their last game against BC. His average is up to 17.0 ppg to lead the team. Adam Koch and Jordan Eglseder aren’t too far behind in that category.
Northern Illinois started the season losing to a pair of Big Ten opponents on the road, at Northwestern and at Illinois. After a win against Tennessee State they dropped an overtime contest against SE Missouri State. Xavier Silas is the standout guard for the Huskies. He’ll need some help against a deep Panthers team. This will be the first of two games in a row against Valley teams. Next up for the Huskies is a home game against Bradley.
– Panon
Tulsa (5-0) @ Missouri State (4-0)
Springfield, MO 7:05 CT
One of the surprises this season has been the start of the Missouri State Bears season, 4-0. The Bears have had some easy games on the way but have played against the power conference teams, Auburn, and have proven that they will make every one of there games this season a battle. Missouri State was able to continue their winning ways on Sunday when they took care of Eastern Michigan 75-61. With five players in double figures, the Bears showed their willingness to share the ball and spread out the scoring.
To some, tonight’s game against Tulsa will be the biggest on for the Bears yet. I would beg to differ. Tulsa has yet to show that they are capable of beating a quality opponent, as their 5-0 record is against some pretty soft opponents. From what I have seen and read thus far, I hope the Bears will be able to take care of Tulsa, especially on their home court.
-Paul Liberty
Illinois-Chicago (1-2) @ Southern Illinois (2-1)
Carbondale, IL 7:05 PM CST
SIU Arena
The Salukis are playing their first game in a week. Seems like the only Valley team not to play in a tournament so far this season. Last week they lost to UNLV. The Runnin’ Rebels turned a 56-55 Saluki advantage to a 78-69 Runnin’ Rebels victory. Kevin Dillard, Tony Freeman, and Carlton Fay are all averaging double figures for the Salukis. Fay’s production has come off the bench to spark the Salukis.
The Flames will be taking on their second Valley opponent in a row. Osiris and the Redbirds got the better of the Flames 69-65 on Monday night. While that game was in Chicago, the Flames will be traveling to Carbondale. Things are a lot tougher on the road, especially in a place like Carbondale. Robo Kreps leads the Flames at 15 ppg. He’ll need a strong game and some help to pull out this win. Either way, this should be a close game.
– Panon