MVC Game #17

[isuquinndog]

Standings
As of 2/19/2024

SCHOOL	MVC	PCT.	HOME	AWAY	STREAK	ALL	PCT.	HOME	AWAY	NEUT	L10
Drake	13-3	.812	8-0	5-3	W4	22-5	.815	14-0	5-4	3-1	8-2
Indiana State	13-3	.812	7-1	6-2	L2	22-5	.815	11-1	7-4	4-0	8-2
Bradley	10-6	.625	6-2	4-4	L1	18-9	.667	11-3	5-5	2-1	6-4
Southern Illinois	9-7	.562	5-3	4-4	W1	17-10	.630	12-4	4-5	1-1	5-5
Belmont	9-7	.562	6-2	3-5	W4	16-11	.593	10-2	5-8	1-1	5-5
UNI	9-7	.562	5-3	4-4	W2	15-12	.556	9-3	5-7	1-2	6-4
Murray State	8-8	.500	4-4	4-4	L1	11-16	.407	7-7	4-7	0-2	4-6
Missouri State	7-9	.438	4-4	3-5	W1	15-12	.556	8-4	4-8	3-0	5-5
Illinois State	7-9	.438	3-5	4-4	W2	13-14	.481	8-6	4-6	1-2	5-5
Evansville	6-10	.375	5-3	1-7	L3	15-12	.556	10-3	4-9	1-0	5-5
UIC	3-13	.188	2-6	1-7	L2	10-17	.370	5-8	3-8	2-1	2-8
Valparaiso	2-14	.125	1-7	1-7	L8	6-21	.222	5-10	1-11	0-0	1-9

Games
*All games on ESPN+, other networks noted. All games CST

Wednesday, 2/21/2024
UNI (9-7) 73 @ Illinois State (7-9) 81 - 7 pm
Belmont (9-7) 69 @ Drake (13-3) 84 - 7 pm - MVC TV Network
Evansville (6-10) 79 @ UIC (3-13) 88 - 7 pm
Indiana State (13-3) 83 @ Valparaiso (2-14) 64 - 7 pm
Bradley (10-6) 86 @ Missouri State (7-9) 62 - 7 pm
Murray State (8-8) 68 @ Southern Illinois (9-7) 72 - 7 pm

Not a good schedule for people who like to watch multiple games! Only 4 games to go!

 

[gobirds85]

Standings
As of 2/19/2024

SCHOOL	MVC	PCT.	HOME	AWAY	STREAK	ALL	PCT.	HOME	AWAY	NEUT	L10
Drake	13-3	.812	8-0	5-3	W4	22-5	.815	14-0	5-4	3-1	8-2
Indiana State	13-3	.812	7-1	6-2	L2	22-5	.815	11-1	7-4	4-0	8-2
Bradley	10-6	.625	6-2	4-4	L1	18-9	.667	11-3	5-5	2-1	6-4
Southern Illinois	9-7	.562	5-3	4-4	W1	17-10	.630	12-4	4-5	1-1	5-5
Belmont	9-7	.562	6-2	3-5	W4	16-11	.593	10-2	5-8	1-1	5-5
UNI	9-7	.562	5-3	4-4	W2	15-12	.556	9-3	5-7	1-2	6-4
Murray State	8-8	.500	4-4	4-4	L1	11-16	.407	7-7	4-7	0-2	4-6
Missouri State	7-9	.438	4-4	3-5	W1	15-12	.556	8-4	4-8	3-0	5-5
Illinois State	7-9	.438	3-5	4-4	W2	13-14	.481	8-6	4-6	1-2	5-5
Evansville	6-10	.375	5-3	1-7	L3	15-12	.556	10-3	4-9	1-0	5-5
UIC	3-13	.188	2-6	1-7	L2	10-17	.370	5-8	3-8	2-1	2-8
Valparaiso	2-14	.125	1-7	1-7	L8	6-21	.222	5-10	1-11	0-0	1-9

Games
*All games on ESPN+, other networks noted. All games CST

Wednesday, 2/21/2024
UNI (9-7) @ Illinois State (7-9) - 7 pm
Belmont (9-7) @ Drake (13-3) - 7 pm - MVC TV Network
Evansville (6-10) @ UIC (3-13) - 7 pm
Indiana State (13-3) @ Valparaiso (2-14) - 7 pm
Bradley (10-6) @ Missouri State (7-9) - 7 pm
Murray State (8-8) @ Southern Illinois (9-7) - 7 pm

Not a good schedule for people who like to watch multiple games! Only 4 games to go!

The scheduling of Valley games seems a bit wonky. Maybe split the games between Tuesday/Wednesday? Maybe change a few of the start times 30 mins or even an hour? I'm sure it's ESPN the Ocho driven, but I don't see how moving the start times a bit would hurt.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

The scheduling of Valley games seems a bit wonky. Maybe split the games between Tuesday/Wednesday? Maybe change a few of the start times 30 mins or even an hour? I'm sure it's ESPN the Ocho driven, but I don't see how moving the start times a bit would hurt.

Would you move Illinois State’s game tonight to 6:00 or 8:00?

 

[MadBird]

Would you move Illinois State’s game tonight to 6:00 or 8:00?

My somewhat "overthought" response:

First, if I were king, college sports events would only be allowed to start at 7pm during the week, 1 or 2 pm on Saturday, and no games on Sunday. Second, I'm totally opposed to "moving" start times to accommodate TV. Games should be scheduled to accommodate the attendees.

That being said, I'd be more inclined to spread the games around during the week, than stacking them up on one night with different start times. 7pm is fine, just put some on Tues, some on Wed, some on Thurs, etc.

7:30 is better than 8. I hate an 8pm or 9pm start time. 6 is better than 8.

 

[Redbird60451]

Would you move Illinois State’s game tonight to 6:00 or 8:00?

I would move it to 8 along with the Bradley MoSt game.
Murry St SoIL and the INST Valpo to 6.
Drake is the TV Game so it has to stay at 7
Leave the Evansville UIC game where it's at, because at 6 pm people can't get there, and being in that neighborhood walking to your car @ 9 is better than walking to your car at 10.
That gives you the opportunity to flip around based upon the action and able to follow games that are important to your seeding in 2 weeks. Yes it's inconvenient for the two 8 pm games. But it might have lead to a 2nd game on TV somewhere.

 

[gobirds85]

Would you move Illinois State’s game tonight to 6:00 or 8:00?

6 or 6:30 would be fine. That way we get to watch more Valley bball, but as it is with every game tipping off at 7, it takes that opportunity away.

 

[Adunk33]

I would move it to 8 along with the Bradley MoSt game.

Answer me this- are you going to the game tonight? As someone who is, being home around 9-9:30 on a week night is much more desirable than 10-10:30

 

[Rollbirds]

I’ve been known to have one game on my phone and one on TV. Obviously prefer to watch on the bigger screen but if 2 games are going at the same time and want to watch both it’s one way to do it. Suppose could watch on a laptop or iPad too and get 3 or 4 games at once. Basketball Feast!

 

[Redbird222]

Answer me this- are you going to the game tonight? As someone who is, being home around 9-9:30 on a week night is much more desirable than 10-10:30

I have season tickets and 7pm is the ideal start time for me. However I would rather have an 8pm start vs a 6pm start. Trying to get to the balance work, the commute and arrive in time for a 6pm start is extremely difficult.

Getting home later does not bother me.

 

[ScoreboardDotRace]

If my option anre only 6pm or 8pm I’d take later game every time. I recall the Birds had some 6pm starts during the Muller tenure and like 222 said getting there for the tip was a tight squeeze sometimes.

If you have the Redbird room passes too, it becomes even tighter if you want to get what you pay for.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Answer me this- are you going to the game tonight? As someone who is, being home around 9-9:30 on a week night is much more desirable than 10-10:30

Or someone driving down from the Chicago area getting home after midnight on a weekday 8PM game. Or fighting the traffic to make it to a 6PM (or 6:30PM) game.

 

[Adunk33]

Or someone driving down from the Chicago area getting home after midnight on a weekday 8PM game. Or fighting the traffic to make it to a 6PM (or 6:30PM) game.

Agree. 7 seem to be the sweet spot. It sucks because Valley fans do want to watch multiple games but in terms of going to the game, it's ideal for a weeknight.

At one point, ESPN+ offered multi-screen viewing, where you could have 4 games going at once. I'm not sure if they eliminated that feature or not. But, with their being 6 games tonight, that wouldn't 100% solve the issue at hand.

 

[Bird Friend]

My somewhat "overthought" response:

First, if I were king, college sports events would only be allowed to start at 7pm during the week, 1 or 2 pm on Saturday, and no games on Sunday. Second, I'm totally opposed to "moving" start times to accommodate TV. Games should be scheduled to accommodate the attendees.

That being said, I'd be more inclined to spread the games around during the week, than stacking them up on one night with different start times. 7pm is fine, just put some on Tues, some on Wed, some on Thurs, etc.

7:30 is better than 8. I hate an 8pm or 9pm start time. 6 is better than 8.

Don’t you need attendees in order to accommodate them?

 

[Redbird60451]

Answer me this- are you going to the game tonight? As someone who is, being home around 9-9:30 on a week night is much more desirable than 10-10:30

As someone who lives 2 hours away and rides the train out of the city for 1.5 hours before I even get in my car. No I'm not going to the game tonight. 8 pm I might have considered it, maybe sneaked out and caught the earlier train I normally miss by 10 minutes, could get there with a stop for dinner at Wally's.

Also I don't believe in attendance, I'm in the crowd that the University makes more money off of Television and the ads around it, and by me watching I add to the ratings to prove it. And that is just the way things are moving, that's how kids want to consume the game (I'm not saying better or worse but it is what it is)

They would have made more money having the game on the Marquee network instead of ESPN+ (click on link at top of page and support this forum for discussion or I think this will work too if you copy and paste https://go.web.plus.espn.com/c/1379240/1140147/9070 if you don't have ESPN+ already).

Next year when my son is living in Waterson I will yell at him to get his sorry butt out of the dorm and drag some moppy headed friends there with him. But until then, weeknight games, probably not going to make it. Next time I'll see them live is in the house of horrors that is Valpo, with their $10 seats 10 feet from the floor.

 

[Aggie]

It is the TV viewership that benefits from the multiple nights, multiple start times. Why did the big conferences go coast to coast? One game can start at 10 am central, and run games all Saturday until a 10pm central time zone on the west coast. That is an 11 am eastern time and an 8 pm pacific coast time and if my math is correct that is 7 games, 14 teams spread through out the day. And yes especially during the week a nine o’clock SIU versus ISU blue May be the best game on TV and be on one of the tvs in sports bars. It is all about the exposure not if people attending are inconvenienced over a start time. 84 inch tvs have changed the picture. Pun intended. Yes, more butts in the seats would help. More students would be nice. If a nine pm start time hurts students attending then ISU students are amateurs compared to the 1980 students I knew. The Valley needs the exposure, period.

 

[Bird Friend]

It is the TV viewership that benefits from the multiple nights, multiple start times. Why did the big conferences go coast to coast? One game can start at 10 am central, and run games all Saturday until a 10pm central time zone on the west coast. That is an 11 am eastern time and an 8 pm pacific coast time and if my math is correct that is 7 games, 14 teams spread through out the day. And yes especially during the week a nine o’clock SIU versus ISU blue May be the best game on TV and be on one of the tvs in sports bars. It is all about the exposure not if people attending are inconvenienced over a start time. 84 inch tvs have changed the picture. Pun intended. Yes, more butts in the seats would help. More students would be nice. If a nine pm start time hurts students attending then ISU students are amateurs compared to the 1980 students I knew. The Valley needs the exposure, period.

The 1980s students would've had trouble with the 10 AM start time on a weekend, IIRC . . . those are still a bit fuzzy.

 

[Dmills]

After today's results, we are now in line for the 7 seed. Super pumped about that. My ideal scenario would have us at the 5 seed (realistically, I don't see the 4 seed as attainable). If we earn the 5 seed, we would play Valpo Thursday and then hopefully SIU as the 4 seed on Friday. I would like that match up a lot. We lost twice to them in games we should've won. We do not have the tiebreaker against Belmont or SIU (unless we get fortunate with a 3 way tie). We do have the tiebreaker against UNI and Murray State. That way, we would likely face Indiana State, and Drake/Bradley if we went the distance. As the 6 or 7, we would likely have to play Drake, Bradley, and Indiana State.

 

[Dmills]

After today's results, we are now in line for the 7 seed. Super pumped about that. My ideal scenario would have us at the 5 seed (realistically, I don't see the 4 seed as attainable). If we earn the 5 seed, we would play Valpo Thursday and then hopefully SIU as the 4 seed on Friday. I would like that match up a lot. We lost twice to them in games we should've won. We do not have the tiebreaker against Belmont or SIU (unless we get fortunate with a 3 way tie). We do have the tiebreaker against UNI and Murray State. That way, we would likely face Indiana State, and Drake/Bradley if we went the distance. As the 6 or 7, we would likely have to play Drake, Bradley, and Indiana State.

Bradley has a tough remaining schedule against us, SIU and Drake, so no guarantee they hold onto the 3 seed. If SIU steals the 3 seed, I would love the 6th seed as well. I just don't think we match up well with Bradley's athleticism. We will find out much more on Saturday.

 

[Adunk33]

Harry Schroeder recently interviewed Foster. Foster said that Pedon was coaching them to win the MVC tournament. What I am seeing right now from the team as they hit their stride, is that they could've very easily been a top 4 team. However, what I am also seeing with the current rotation, it will be very difficult to put together 3 or 4 wins in consecutive days. The rotation is technically 8ish but when you look at minute distribution, it's 6, but really 5. Johnny, Kendall, Myles, and Malachi all played 33+ minutes last night. The three bench guys that came in combined for a +/- of -2. Getting Darius back will certainly help but it goes back to how can he assimilate into what has been working. Gonna need another piece if there is any hope in making a run at the Arch.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Harry Schroeder recently interviewed Foster. Foster said that Pedon was coaching them to win the MVC tournament. What I am seeing right now from the team as they hit their stride, is that they could've very easily been a top 4 team. However, what I am also seeing with the current rotation, it will be very difficult to put together 3 or 4 wins in consecutive days. The rotation is technically 8ish but when you look at minute distribution, it's 6, but really 5. Johnny, Kendall, Myles, and Malachi all played 33+ minutes last night. The three bench guys that came in combined for a +/- of -2. Getting Darius back will certainly help but it goes back to how can he assimilate into what has been working. Gonna need another piece if there is any hope in making a run at the Arch.

Watching the interview now...Harry has referenced Illinois State being in Peoria twice already. I used to like Harry...now he's dead to me.