@ Missouri St (2-5) - Saturday, 1/20/24 - 1 pm - ESPN+

[StLRedbird]

I didn't think the birds got a ton of breaks in the first half. MOST was forcing contact and getting whistles - they were in the bonus at 14 min mark and draining their free throws. But the refs wised up and stopped calling those. Coulda folded and didn't. GREAT to see Chase looking comfortable, 'cause he could be a difference maker.

 

[Redbirdmike]

Boy, a much needed win on the road! Chase being in there and learning on the fly gives us some hope for the future. Just wish it were earlier in the year, but it is what it is. I love when Burford is in scoring mode. Luke got us some much needed three point action in the first. Solid performance by Foster with 11 and 9. I’m not sure who needed this game more, with both teams absolutely reeling coming into this one, but I’m sure glad it was us coming out on top Never easy to win on the road in the MVC. Coac P will finally get some sleep tonight. We’ll take it, thank you very much!

 

[Bird Friend]

So . . . we're 3-5 in the conference . . . with only 1 win at home?

 

[Dmills]

So . . . we're 3-5 in the conference . . . with only 1 win at home?

I noticed that as well. I'll take 2-2 on the road. 1-3 at home? Not so much.

 

[CB2K]

I agree with the positive sentiments about Burford and don't understand some of the other comments. I went back to rewatch the game to make sure I was watching the same game as everyone else. DB maybe took 2-3 bad shots with one he forced as time was winding down. So what. No one is 100% efficient at all times. He is going to make mistakes. I want him to get his points since that's how you win games when the basketball goes through the hoop. He is a force and disruptor on offense and a challenge for defenses to matchup and contain. He had a nice feed to Miles down the lane and passed to a wide open Kasubke for three. He was 8-15 today. He is shooting 43% before today's game and 83% from the stripe and a rough 22% from downtown (worst of his career). DB has slowed things down from last year and is making better decisions and also has bulked up and can bang better down low when he is working for a shot amongst the trees -- by the way, he definetely has some quick hops.

Miles also made some good passes as well out of the post. He will sometimes put his head down and determine to go for the basket which is fine with me. We all dreamed we would someday get an inside presence again and Miles is that large mass who will work for buckets down low. Yes, we finally got one and I am not going to start complaining that the inside presence is trying to back the defender down and shoot and maybe at times in a predetermined mind set. Go back and watch some of the games -- he passes out of the block more than has been claimed on this board. Is there room for improvement -- yes, absolutely, but I like what he brings.

We need Miles and DB to score -- where else is the offense going to come from consistently? Teams have learned to double and triple team Miles so others have to step it up. Looking forward to Mal getting his stroke and rhythm back -- we need him.

Hitting threes is so important for this offense to work. When we don't then the offense clogs and stagnates where the team is forced to jack up shots that aren't the best and leads to a 15 page analysis from experts of what is wrong. The offense has been frustrating. ISU is a defense first team but it is nice to see when the offesne hits some threes and keeps fighting and makes some nice passes for assists as they did today -- they start looking legit. Consistency has been the constant challenge. Looking forward to more improvements from a team that has struggled this year.

Anyway, the losing streak ended on the road so we all can finally enjoy a W.

 

[Birdswin]

Two of the three Valley wins for the Birds - road games at UIC and now Mo State. Go figure.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

Two of the three Valley wins for the Birds - road games at UIC and now Mo State. Go figure.

I’ll take road wins however they come, but the early schedule was definitely friendly in providing some low-hanging fruit with games against similarly challenged teams.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

We don’t win today’s game without Kasubke’s first half scoring. His shooting is so hit or miss, but I give him credit. He plays hard and doesn’t get discouraged if he misses a few shots. Unlike some others on this team.

Bryant Allen 2.0 with his side-spinning shot. BA used to get red hot for stretches and carry the team, then suddenly was bouncing shots off the backboard or throwing up wide open air balls.

Luke isn’t quite so extreme, but unconventional strokes are probably more subject to streakiness.

 

[Phantom]

When either of the DBs get going, we're in a much better spot to win games. Their production opens up a lot of other things, even on a godawful shooting team like we have. Nice to see us get some 3's down, but if we aren't going to move the ball much, then we have to attack the basket. FTs need to improve too. But a win is a win is a win is a win is a win.

 

[SgtHulka]

When either of the DBs get going, we're in a much better spot to win games. Their production opens up a lot of other things, even on a godawful shooting team like we have. Nice to see us get some 3's down, but if we aren't going to move the ball much, then we have to attack the basket. FTs need to improve too. But a win is a win is a win is a win is a win.

We shoulda hired Dick Bennett

 

[DoubleDeuce]

We shoulda hired Dick Bennett

Now you're just talking like a db.

 

[ISU86]

Nice to win ANY game at this point. Felt like the top portion of the MSU roster is more talented, so I would imagine the Bears fan base is less than enthused having lost to what was a floundering team at home. Also, only drew 2,100 (in a newer arena than ours, for those who lament our attendance numbers).

When Burford is taking (and hitting) a majority of his shots in that twelve foot range, good things seem to follow for others. Still not a Banks believer, too often he looks like a man without a plan.

Did anyone else notice, at the end of the game, Pedon was swapping Kasubke (offense) and Kinziger (defense)? Seemed bass-ackwards from their supposed "advertised" plusses.

 

[Birgs]

Nice to win ANY game at this point. Felt like the top portion of the MSU roster is more talented, so I would imagine the Bears fan base is less than enthused having lost to what was a floundering team at home. Also, only drew 2,100 (in a newer arena than ours, for those who lament our attendance numbers).

When Burford is taking (and hitting) a majority of his shots in that twelve foot range, good things seem to follow for others. Still not a Banks believer, too often he looks like a man without a plan.

Did anyone else notice, at the end of the game, Pedon was swapping Kasubke (offense) and Kinziger (defense)? Seemed bass-ackwards from their supposed "advertised" plusses.

Really good observation. That was sort of a role-reversal.

 

[Bird Friend]

We shoulda hired Dick Bennett

Our ADs woulda hired this Bennett:

 

[sportenwood]

It looked to me like Luke was subbing in for Foster not Kinzinger. Maybe I just wasn't seeing the other sub.

 

[Hamdonger]

Our ADs woulda hired this Bennett:

Hey. It'd be a heck of a show, though.

 

[Brick]

It looked to me like Luke was subbing in for Foster not Kinzinger. Maybe I just wasn't seeing the other sub.

Kasubke had four fouls I believe

 

[jwa123]

It’s heart warming to see things reverting slowly back to normal. A loss generates 8 pages of comments while a win comes in at 4 pages.

 

[SgtHulka]

Now you're just talking like a db.

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INSERT INTO FACE SHOCK (00);
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[Redbird28]

It’s heart warming to see things reverting slowly back to normal. A loss generates 8 pages of comments while a win comes in at 4 pages.

Tough to beat a fire the coach drum when the team wins...

Was nice hearing Emmenecker complimenting Foster for his passing out of the post. Not sure why DB was catching flak for one missed kickout. He brought his A game in this one and we needed every bit of it to end that L streak. Kasubke was a difference maker in the first half with his defense, and hitting a couple shots. Both aspects helped us build that halftime lead. All in all, a good outing.

Now, let's build on it and knock off Belmont on Tuesday to get back to .500 on the season.