ISU86
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The Redbirds complete their final road trip of the season (and play their final true road game) as they venture to The Knapp Center to face the Bulldogs.
ISU is tied for ninth place in conference at 5-13 (10-19 overall) whereas DU is tied for first place at 14-4 (23-6 overall).
The "Teachers" are led in scoring and assists by Darius Burford (12.6, 2.5) and rebounding by Kendall Lewis (7.3), Seneca Knight (11.6), Lewis (10.8) and Malachi Poindexter (10.1) also average in double-digits; the "Drakes" are led in scoring by Tucker DeVries (19.2), rebounding by Darnell Brodie (7.2) and assists by Roman Penn (5.4), Penn (12.6) also averages double-digits. The 'birds generally go eleven and the 'dogs go ten deep on any given night.
According to NET Ranking, Illinois State's (271) toughest opponent was Bradley (66, two losses), their best win was against Belmont (118) and their worst loss was to Illinois-Chicago (290); Drake's (72) toughest opponent was Mississippi State (42, win) and their worst loss was to Richmond (165).
At this point in the season, there are more common opponents than not (although there were none in their non-conference); as far as strengths, the Redbirds have it only in free-throw percentage, steals and blocked shots.
In an oddity of the new twenty-game conference schedule, this is the first (and only) match-up between ISU and DU this season (coming in conference game nineteen).
The two teams are headed in opposite directions, as Illinois State is currently on a five-game losing streak while Drake is on a nine-game winning streak.
Our Redbirds are still short-handed (essentially riding five players) and worn down. We may encounter a distracted Bulldog squad as it is Senior Night in Des Moines and they could also be looking ahead to their regular season finale match-up at Bradley (they could lose to us and still control their championship path), but that will not be enough.
Spike 76, Reggie 65
ISU is tied for ninth place in conference at 5-13 (10-19 overall) whereas DU is tied for first place at 14-4 (23-6 overall).
The "Teachers" are led in scoring and assists by Darius Burford (12.6, 2.5) and rebounding by Kendall Lewis (7.3), Seneca Knight (11.6), Lewis (10.8) and Malachi Poindexter (10.1) also average in double-digits; the "Drakes" are led in scoring by Tucker DeVries (19.2), rebounding by Darnell Brodie (7.2) and assists by Roman Penn (5.4), Penn (12.6) also averages double-digits. The 'birds generally go eleven and the 'dogs go ten deep on any given night.
According to NET Ranking, Illinois State's (271) toughest opponent was Bradley (66, two losses), their best win was against Belmont (118) and their worst loss was to Illinois-Chicago (290); Drake's (72) toughest opponent was Mississippi State (42, win) and their worst loss was to Richmond (165).
At this point in the season, there are more common opponents than not (although there were none in their non-conference); as far as strengths, the Redbirds have it only in free-throw percentage, steals and blocked shots.
In an oddity of the new twenty-game conference schedule, this is the first (and only) match-up between ISU and DU this season (coming in conference game nineteen).
The two teams are headed in opposite directions, as Illinois State is currently on a five-game losing streak while Drake is on a nine-game winning streak.
Our Redbirds are still short-handed (essentially riding five players) and worn down. We may encounter a distracted Bulldog squad as it is Senior Night in Des Moines and they could also be looking ahead to their regular season finale match-up at Bradley (they could lose to us and still control their championship path), but that will not be enough.
Spike 76, Reggie 65