ISU86
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2017
- Messages
- 1,366
The 'birds return to CEFCU Arena to take on Chicago State.
CSU "left" (read: jumped before pushed) the Western Athletic Conference and now are one of only two true Division I independents (the other being Hartford, and they are in the process of reclassifying to Division III).
The stop in Normal is game four of a seven game road trp. This is also within a stretch where only two of eighteen games will be at home. For the season, the Cougars will play only eight of their thirty-one regular season games at the Jones Convocation Center. Of those eight, only two are current Division I institutions in full standing (IUPUI, Valparaiso) with two others transitioning (Southern Indiana up, Hartford down).
They currently have a 3-10 record, 1-2 vs MVC schools (W vs Valpo, L's at Murray State and Southern Illinois). They love to push the ball, and if they are hitting their outside shots they can be a formidable opponent; if not, the game can be sloppy and ugly. They are athletic and can move the ball well in spurts; they can also be undisciplined and prone to chucking rushed shots. They are led in scoring by Wesley Cardet, Jr. (16 PPG), who followed Head Coach Gerald Gillion from Samford. Also averaging double digits are Jahsean Corbett and Elijah Weaver (USC/Dayton transfer).
It will be interesting to see how the team responds after their performance in Indianapolis (which followed three hard fought W's at home). At this point, my preference would be to hold McChesney out to better have him set to go when conference play resumes at UIC (we can try and predict who (and why) from Kotov/Schmitt/Sissoko/Andrews may play and the ones that will sit). We should still have enough to win this game, even in his absence. I do think this will be closer than we would all prefer it to be.
Redbirds 74, Cougars 67
CSU "left" (read: jumped before pushed) the Western Athletic Conference and now are one of only two true Division I independents (the other being Hartford, and they are in the process of reclassifying to Division III).
The stop in Normal is game four of a seven game road trp. This is also within a stretch where only two of eighteen games will be at home. For the season, the Cougars will play only eight of their thirty-one regular season games at the Jones Convocation Center. Of those eight, only two are current Division I institutions in full standing (IUPUI, Valparaiso) with two others transitioning (Southern Indiana up, Hartford down).
They currently have a 3-10 record, 1-2 vs MVC schools (W vs Valpo, L's at Murray State and Southern Illinois). They love to push the ball, and if they are hitting their outside shots they can be a formidable opponent; if not, the game can be sloppy and ugly. They are athletic and can move the ball well in spurts; they can also be undisciplined and prone to chucking rushed shots. They are led in scoring by Wesley Cardet, Jr. (16 PPG), who followed Head Coach Gerald Gillion from Samford. Also averaging double digits are Jahsean Corbett and Elijah Weaver (USC/Dayton transfer).
It will be interesting to see how the team responds after their performance in Indianapolis (which followed three hard fought W's at home). At this point, my preference would be to hold McChesney out to better have him set to go when conference play resumes at UIC (we can try and predict who (and why) from Kotov/Schmitt/Sissoko/Andrews may play and the ones that will sit). We should still have enough to win this game, even in his absence. I do think this will be closer than we would all prefer it to be.
Redbirds 74, Cougars 67
