Missouri State - 01/11/2023 - 7:00 PM - ESPN+

ISU86

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Former Redbird Dana Ford bring his Bears into CEFCU Arena for their only regular season conference match-up (with the new twenty-game schedule).

Dana has gone 6-3 all-time versus his alma mater (all against Dan Muller), 0-1 with Tennessee State and 6-2 with Missouri State. MSU is 8-8 overall (7-8 versus D-I opponents), 4-2 in conference; ISU is 7-10 overall, 2-4 in conference.

According to NET, the Bears are ranked 120 and the Redbirds are ranked 250; MSU's toughest opponent was at Saint Mary's (8, loss), best win was over Drake (97) and worst loss was to Purdue-Fort Wayne (151) whereas the Redbirds toughest opponent was versus Louisiana State (90, loss), best win was over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (116) and worst loss was at Illinois-Chicago (269).

Chance Moore is the only Bear averaging double-digits (13.0) and former Beacon Donovan Clay is the leading rebounder (6.2). The Bears have been better than their competition at virtually every statistical category except free-throw percentage (59.1%).

The teams have five common opponents (Ball State, Belmont, Evansville, Illinois-Chicago, Northern Iowa). Both team fell to the Cardinals and defeated the Purple Aces; the Bears won over the Flames and Panthers whereas the Redbirds were victorious over the Bruins.

An ideal opportunity to start a win streak. Cannot come out flat, even for a short-period (as we did for the first four minutes in Evansville). The Bears have played a considerably tougher schedule but their wins are mainly from the bottom half of it. Would not feel good about our chances at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, but at home it is a toss-up.

Redbirds 67, Bears 65
 

Redbirdfan76

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This will be an up and down game for the Birds. If we get to the free throw line 20+ times, we will eke out a win. MSU only shooting 59% from the line.

If Birds don’t get to the line at least 20 times, Bears will win by about 4.
 
P

Popsto4

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Former Redbird Dana Ford bring his Bears into CEFCU Arena for their only regular season conference match-up (with the new twenty-game schedule).

Dana has gone 6-3 all-time versus his alma mater (all against Dan Muller), 0-1 with Tennessee State and 6-2 with Missouri State. MSU is 8-8 overall (7-8 versus D-I opponents), 4-2 in conference; ISU is 7-10 overall, 2-4 in conference.

According to NET, the Bears are ranked 120 and the Redbirds are ranked 250; MSU's toughest opponent was at Saint Mary's (8, loss), best win was over Drake (97) and worst loss was to Purdue-Fort Wayne (151) whereas the Redbirds toughest opponent was versus Louisiana State (90, loss), best win was over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (116) and worst loss was at Illinois-Chicago (269).

Chance Moore is the only Bear averaging double-digits (13.0) and former Beacon Donovan Clay is the leading rebounder (6.2). The Bears have been better than their competition at virtually every statistical category except free-throw percentage (59.1%).

The teams have five common opponents (Ball State, Belmont, Evansville, Illinois-Chicago, Northern Iowa). Both team fell to the Cardinals and defeated the Purple Aces; the Bears won over the Flames and Panthers whereas the Redbirds were victorious over the Bruins.

An ideal opportunity to start a win streak. Cannot come out flat, even for a short-period (as we did for the first four minutes in Evansville). The Bears have played a considerably tougher schedule but their wins are mainly from the bottom half of it. Would not feel good about our chances at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, but at home it is a toss-up.

Redbirds 67, Bears 65
I’m really hoping this is the game where everything comes together for this team. Sometimes they’re so close but still feel like lightyears away. It would be nice to get a 9+ point W.
 

Adunk33

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Just to further exemplify how the slow starts have doomed the Birds...in league play, opponents have scored 208 points to ISU's 162. In the second half, Birds have the advantage 234-189. Including the @ Murray St OT game, the Redbirds have been out scored 405-401. It just goes to show how close the squad is from being 5-1.

Dana is one of those coaches who really leans on the portal year in and year out. While tracking over the summer, I noticed the total number of players on his roster. He's got 16 guys, who have all been on scholarship somewhere at some point so how that shakes out, I have no idea. 9 of the 16 are D1 transfers, 4 of those 9 are from high majors and then they've also got guys from St. Peters, Valpo, Colo St (former Redbird recruit, Kendle Moore), and Hawaii. Dana is a great evaluator of talent and recruiter, but like his mentor, he's struggled to put any level of sustained success in terms of regular or post season conf championships.

The "talent" arrow is going to point MoSt's way in this one so the guys cannot beat themselves. The book is out on the Redbirds. The squad doesn't have many (if any) really strong ball handlers. Teams know that and are going to pressure the ball to force TOs and easy buckets the other way. As I've been saying all year, don't be afraid of contact, get to the line and hit your FTs. FTs and taking care of the ball are the keys to the game for me.
 

Phantom

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Get the feet out of the feces to start the game for a change, be aggressive on 50-50 balls, hit the glass and FTs and this one is winnable.
 

DaveBird10

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Ryan Pedon mentioned on his coaches show last night a few stats to keep in mind when watching the game.
-Attack the defensive glass. Mo State leads the MVC in offensive rebounds. They are a long and lanky team with P5 transfers who attack the glass and do feed the ball into the post.
-Over the last 3/4 games basically since the Birds got back from xmas they are 4th in the conference in assists over that time span, that's a stat that Pedon wants to continue to improve as the guys continue to become more and more aware of playing with each other and what coach is looking for.
-Don't turn the ball over and don't foul. Coach Pedon said if we can control our turnovers and not foul we will be in this game at the end.
 

BTbird

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Dana has gone 6-3 all-time versus his alma mater (all against Dan Muller), 0-1 with Tennessee State and 6-2 with Missouri State. MSU is 8-8 overall (7-8 versus D-I opponents), 4-2 in conference; ISU is 7-10 overall, 2-4 in conference.
I still don't count that half court bank shot buzzer beater against us a few years ago as a win for MSU :)
 

Bird Friend

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So what the f*** has happened to McCheese? He's playing with zero confidence on the offensive end. He's quickly falling off my short list of who I'd hate to see leave . . . which now has Mal on it with his current level of play.
 
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