vs Evansville (6-9) - Sunday, 2/18/2024 - 2 pm - ESPN+

[DougSutton]

I was unable to see the game. Anywhere I can find highlights?

Do you have an ESPN+ subscription? If so, you can watch the game on demand and it's easy to scroll through commercials.

 

[DaveBird10]

What a great team win vs a pesky Evansville team that idk if anyone truly knows how good they are and how good they have been playing. Evansville with Humrichous in the lineup is 14-5. They have lost 3 in a row but 2 of those were from last second shots at Murray State and vs Drake. So up until the current 3 game losing streak Evansville was 14-2 with Humrichous in the lineup.
-When Burford comes back he needs to acclimate himself off the bench. There will be a time for him but right now Mal has found his shot (when Mal gets his feet and shoulders squared, his shot is pretty and better then anyone's in the league) and Johnny is playing better then anyone in the league right now.
-So happy for Mal and this coaching staff. Not giving up on a kid when struggling, going back to him and he's having success. The ball movement was great with 19 assists and 10 turnovers.
-80 points in 2 straight games without our leading scorer. Who would've thought.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

What a great team win vs a pesky Evansville team that idk if anyone truly knows how good they are and how good they have been playing. Evansville with Humrichous in the lineup is 14-5. They have lost 3 in a row but 2 of those were from last second shots at Murray State and vs Drake. So up until the current 3 game losing streak Evansville was 14-2 with Humrichous in the lineup.
-When Burford comes back he needs to acclimate himself off the bench. There will be a time for him but right now Mal has found his shot (when Mal gets his feet and shoulders squared, his shot is pretty and better then anyone's in the league) and Johnny is playing better then anyone in the league right now.
-So happy for Mal and this coaching staff. Not giving up on a kid when struggling, going back to him and he's having success. The ball movement was great with 19 assists and 10 turnovers.
-80 points in 2 straight games without our leading scorer. Who would've thought.

When someone is a volume scorer, taking many shots to get 12-14 ppg can take away opportunities from other players who might be hitting at a higher clip.

For the second game in a row, we didn’t break giving up a huge lead. The past how many years, that was the most likely case. That shows this team has gained confidence in itself and has a sense of toughness we have been missing.

There are opportunities for improvement, but this was a must-win for conference tournament standing and to excite the fan base. I have been happier with passing up a bad 3-point shot to try another avenue. Same with more movement from some players vs camping in one space.

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

When someone is a volume scorer, taking many shots to get 12-14 ppg can take away opportunities from other players who might be hitting at a higher clip.

For the second game in a row, we didn’t break giving up a huge lead. The past how many years, that was the most likely case. That shows this team has gained confidence in itself and has a sense of toughness we have been missing.

There are opportunities for improvement, but this was a must-win for conference tournament standing and to excite the fan base. I have been happier with passing up a bad 3-point shot to try another avenue. Same with more movement from some players vs camping in one space.

+100..a”volume scorer taking many shots” that typically has a low assist rate given how often he is in control of the ball. Hands down the most talented player on the team that needs to increase his passing to others when they are open vs passing to others when he is contained and he is forced to make a pass.

Will be interesting when he returns as it will take a lot of character to have your veteran leading scorer come off the bench with a can do attitude after returning from an injury vs starting as many have suggested. We also get real small at guard playing the burford/kinziger combo. Lots of noodling to do for Pedon on overall strategy once Burford returns. No doubt we should be better with Burford skill set than without if we play as a team!!

 

[Bird Friend]

For the second game in a row, we didn’t break giving up a huge lead. The past how many years, that was the most likely case. That shows this team has gained confidence in itself and has a sense of toughness we have been missing.

I don’t remember having big leads . . . let alone losing them . . .

 

[Reggie1857]

I wish Illinois state would join a real basketball conference, where they would have to actually hire a quality coach and get quality recruits for the whole idea to try to win a conference championship and a NCAA appearance
Missouri Valley Conference basketball is just horrid overall. No wonder every quality player needs to go to a better school and conference to have a chance to make the tournament and win some games and advance.

Illinois State prospects for improving their conference affiliation are nonexistent without D1 football, that's no secret.