vs SEMO - 12/21/23 - 7 pm - ESPN+

[isuquinndog]

vs SEMO @ CEFCU Arena

TV: ESPN+ (sign up here)

Radio: Varsity Network (WJBC)

Live Stats: Stats

Redbird Tickets

Moving on to SEMO as we steam towards getting into full MVC play. The Redhawks come in at 4-7. They lost to Evansville by 19 at home and then in a tournament by 16. Their four wins are against Central Arkansas, Missouri Baptist, Harris-Stowe (who?) and Lindsey Wilson College (I am not making this up). We are their last non-conf game before OVC play. We should win this going away.

 

[Phantom]

Keep the momentum going after a nice bounceback, double-digit win. The DBs have gotten into a good zone at times attacking and creating shots, so more of that, please. And feed Myles. He's another threat in the paint and can help us getting to the line. Shots will start falling, I think, but we seem a lot better in tempo than just setting perimeter screens and lettin' 'er fly Shooter Flatch style (where they also go in and out.) Mal seems to be comfortable with drive & kick, so work some of that in. If KLew can get going too, that would be nice.

Just f'ing win.

 

[fdbird83]

SEMO is coached by former Saluki player and coach Brad Korn.

 

[Redbirdwarrior]

This SHOULD be a 15+ point win and we should be able to get some good minutes for guys off the bench here.

 

[ISU86]

SeMo has exactly one victory against Division I competition. This is exactly the caliber of opponent we should exert our will on; however, I cannot recall the last game where ISU defeated a D-I school by twenty-plus points.

I tend to doubt we will see it here. We have yet to play a game where we have not had some sort of extended lull in the first half. Even Sunday, when we came firing at the opening tip, NDSU was able to surpass us before halftime (and for one extremely hot second half Burford effort we may have been collecting a "L"). Not to mention this may be a look-around game for both Holiday break AND UK. I do not think we will lose this game, but it will not be the prettiest present under the tree to unwrap.

We will win, it will not necessarily be "in-doubt", but they will linger along the fringes and we will not be putting them in the rearview mirror.

Redhawks 63
Redbirds 76

 

[Adunk33]

This SHOULD be a 15+ point win and we should be able to get some good minutes for guys off the bench here.

It'd be great to have a large enough lead the last 10 min that you can get Pence some additional run and see what's there. Davis has jumped him in the line up.

Johnny had a tough game against NDSU. First time all year I felt he actually looked like a freshman. It'd be cool to get him and Pence some extended minutes with the game in hand.

 

[MadBird]

SeMo has exactly one victory against Division I competition. This is exactly the caliber of opponent we should exert our will on; however, I cannot recall the last game where ISU defeated a D-I school by twenty-plus points.

Well, last season's senior day, pretty close, ISU over EU by 19. EU hit a deuce with 21 seconds left to cut it from 21. Not that that's anything to get puffed up about.

21 point win over Ball St. in 21-22. Same year 38 point win vs. EU. 2 in one year!!

So it happens from time to time. Helpful if Evansville is in town!!

 

[Baltimore Bird]

Baltimore Bird will be in the house for his 1st home game since 2014. I am excited to be back at Redbird Arena. I will also be at Pub II around 500 PM with Pistol1957 and I heard there may be a Slade Running Bear sighting. I will wear an Orioles hat. Stop by and say hi if you are there.
GO BIRDS!

 

[ISU86]

38 point win vs. EU!

Otherwise known as Head Coach Dan Muller's penultimate game.

 

[Birgs]

It'd be great to have a large enough lead the last 10 min that you can get Pence some additional run and see what's there. Davis has jumped him in the line up.

Johnny had a tough game against NDSU. First time all year I felt he actually looked like a freshman. It'd be cool to get him and Pence some extended minutes with the game in hand.

I still don't understand why they didn't RS Pence.

 

[TBS_20]

SInce we should handedly win....birds 75 SEMO 69. They look past them and struggle.

 

[Manchester Matt]

I'm 0-2 so far this season, but I think the third time is the charm in a convincing win.

ISU 77
SEMO 59

 

[ISUalum19]

Lets keep the momentum rolling boys!! Offensive tune up game. Should win this one with some wiggle room.

Birds 79 SEMO 51.

 

[cpacmel]

Illinois State -14.5

Over / Under. 134.5

 

[Redbirdfan76]

We need a blowout game to get some others some game time and to improve our KenPom numbers.
We are currently in the bottom third in all of division 1 in offensive points per possession. Defensively we are in the upper third for points given up per possession. As we have all noticed we are better defensively this year. If we ever start hitting some threes with consistency, we could be a very tough out in conference play.

 

[stielowp]

I still don't understand why they didn't RS Pence.

RS has to be a mutual decision, but I doubt either party wanted to do that. Everybody on this board overvalues the RS. It isn't the same anymore (yes, I am talking to any of you that have ever been to a game at Horton that wasn't a "Return to" game.) The days of ANY player staying for a full 4 years with 1 school are numbered. Especially if the player is healthy. All a RS would do is give a player another year (which they probably would use at another school). Give Pence some "garbage" minutes in situations that are good match ups for him (like smaller teams where he can play the "4"). Maybe with a little confidence he can get on a roll and contribute sometime when it is meaningful. I think he could start getting some minutes at the "4" when Lewis and Foster get in foul trouble. Pence can at least hold his own on defense, and doesn't turn the ball over. The offense will eventually come from him, he was a natural scorer in high school. I was most concerned about his defense this year, but it looks like he has put in the work on that this Summer. That could be a reason for the offensive slide, too.

 

[MadBird]

RS has to be a mutual decision, but I doubt either party wanted to do that. Everybody on this board overvalues the RS. It isn't the same anymore (yes, I am talking to any of you that have ever been to a game at Horton that wasn't a "Return to" game.) The days of ANY player staying for a full 4 years with 1 school are numbered. Especially if the player is healthy. All a RS would do is give a player another year (which they probably would use at another school). Give Pence some "garbage" minutes in situations that are good match ups for him (like smaller teams where he can play the "4"). Maybe with a little confidence he can get on a roll and contribute sometime when it is meaningful. I think he could start getting some minutes at the "4" when Lewis and Foster get in foul trouble. Pence can at least hold his own on defense, and doesn't turn the ball over. The offense will eventually come from him, he was a natural scorer in high school. I was most concerned about his defense this year, but it looks like he has put in the work on that this Summer. That could be a reason for the offensive slide, too.

Our pals on the board don't want Walker to RS but want Pence to. Poor Pedon, he gets it from both sides. As stielowp points out, it's mutual. Some kids just want to get out there, even if it isn't a lot right now. And you gotta believe (well, I believe) Pedon's doing what he thinks is best for old state U. AND for the kids involved. We're 11 games into a 31 game season, not including St. Louis. Maybe Pence will be some help sooner rather than later. Davis woke up some last game, and for a while there it looked like he should have taken a RS!! If he'd come out of the blocks better, maybe Pence wouldn't have looked like a reasonable alternative. Hard to say when the light bulb will go on for any of these guys. Keep on pushin'.

 

[Adunk33]

I think having Pence play the four to spell Lewis or Foster in foul trouble or playing small ball is a bit of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. I watched him a lot his junior and senior year and he was an incredibly efficient scorer at all three levels. His three ball got better over time and you get the sense that if he could just see one go in, it could open the flood gates. Defensively, I have no issue with him guarding the 4 spot, he's done a really nice job when given the opportunities this year. Offensively, right now he doesn't have the physicality to play the way Lewis and Foster do. He'd be best slotted at that wing spot and spell Mal and Luke. That said, it does seem like if he embraced the roll (I'm not saying he's not) of being a 4 man and the air apparent to Klew, the teams depth would allow him to play more at the 4 than at the wing. I think Pence is ready to contribute but with the potential emergence of Davis, he gets pushed further down the bench because you just can't play 10 guys and get in a flow unless you are UNI in 2008-2009.

No problem with him losing minutes either, do what Davis did. If you want those minutes, you've gotta earn em. Top 9 right now are DB3, DB10, Mal, Davis, Luke, JK, Klew, Foster, and Lieb. I think the 8th and 9th guy could be pretty fluid night in and night out.

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

I think having Pence play the four to spell Lewis or Foster in foul trouble or playing small ball is a bit of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. I watched him a lot his junior and senior year and he was an incredibly efficient scorer at all three levels. His three ball got better over time and you get the sense that if he could just see one go in, it could open the flood gates. Defensively, I have no issue with him guarding the 4 spot, he's done a really nice job when given the opportunities this year. Offensively, right now he doesn't have the physicality to play the way Lewis and Foster do. He'd be best slotted at that wing spot and spell Mal and Luke. That said, it does seem like if he embraced the roll (I'm not saying he's not) of being a 4 man and the air apparent to Klew, the teams depth would allow him to play more at the 4 than at the wing. I think Pence is ready to contribute but with the potential emergence of Davis, he gets pushed further down the bench because you just can't play 10 guys and get in a flow unless you are UNI in 2008-2009.

No problem with him losing minutes either, do what Davis did. If you want those minutes, you've gotta earn em. Top 9 right now are DB3, DB10, Mal, Davis, Luke, JK, Klew, Foster, and Lieb. I think the 8th and 9th guy could be pretty fluid night in and night out.

Pence play the 4? That statement shocks me a bit. I have yet to see him body up and be physical in a meaningful way. Seems like a stretch but I’ll take your word on it. I must have been going potty and missed some Pence defensive highlights.

 

[Phantom]

Just win however we can. Given our offensive inconsistencies and close games all year, I don't want to start predicting blowouts, no matter who we're playing. Too easy to assume we should win going away tonight. Same way we could say we should be 8-3 or 9-2 right now. Hell, we COULD be 10-1. Tonight would be a nice time to get all cylinders firing and put it on cruise control down the stretch, but lets not put the shit behind the shovel just yet. Just play how we're capable, limit mistakes, and it'll take care of itself.