Thoughts on Sycamores vs. SIU

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Decided to go watch the game at the Bally, still haven't eatin anything tonight so I am going to try and make this quick. Sycamores got off to a cold start, the D kept us around early. How we went on that run to lead by 9 at half is amazing to me and we kept lighting it up in the second half. I believe we shot well above 50% in the second half. That was a big win for the Sycamores and now we only have 2 more left in the Valley. Sycamores seemed to have really turned things around. Here we go!

Odum: Got into a little foul trouble tonight, however we didn't have much of a let down when he wasn't in the game (I will get to that in a second). He really seems to hit his free throws better on the road, that 16 points is a little deceiving as they all came late - however they were VERY important points for the Sycamores. Once again he did a little bit of everything tonight with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. Solid!

Richard: Haven't seen the final box score on Richard yet but he appeared to have a tough night shooting the ball. Did however knock down a couple big 3's and pulled down several boards for the Sycamores. Good thing is we didn't need Richard to score tonight - he had a tough matchup inside with the bigger SIU team and handled them pretty well.

JP: Gotta give a shout out to him, he gave the Sycamores a huge lift off the bench. Made 3 big 3s for the Sycamores and was really more aggressive tonight than I have seen him in a while. The nice thing about him in the game when he's shooting ball is he takes care of it - he does everything within the framework of the offense and that's nice. If he can keep shooting the ball like this watch out!

Steve: Best game he has had in a month by far - he is the main reason we didn't have a let down when Odum went to the bench with foul trouble. He had 7 assists tonight and a couple nice steals. Other than slipping toward the end of the game he had a rather flawless night of basketball. The future is bright for the Sycamores - Steve is still a little raw, but he's coming around for sure.

Lathan: Hit double figures tonight for the Sycamores, he did a nice job getting to the line and knocking down his free throws. Sycamores shot 32 of those tonight (that's a big number). Lathan should get credit he only turned the ball over count em' 1 time tonight. Job well done for him, thought he played well on both ends.

AC: Man he really has been quiet as of late - I know defenses are really keying on him but you'd think he'd get hot here soon right? I know, I know he made a couple 3s tonight. It's just he had been filthy hot a month or so ago. I want him to get that hot again.

Koang: Hit a big 3 for the Sycamores early in this game when we struggled to get anything going. I think that is the only shot he had tonight, but I am happy to see that he has a role on this team. I think he's a good guy to have on the floor at times with his length and hustle, he really plays hard for you and I like that about him.

Walker: He only had 4 rebounds tonight but he shot the ball much better from the post. Was 4 of 6 from the floor and played some big minutes inside for the Sycamores. I think this was one of his better all around games in awhile. We out rebounded a team that is much bigger than us, Walker helps make that possible for us.

Martin: Big lift off the bench in limited minutes, he was ultra aggressive when he was in the game and had some big points and rebounds tonight for the Sycamores. Martin has accepted his role on this team and for the past month or so when he is on the floor he makes the very most of his time. He HAS to continue to do what he's doing for the Sycamores.

Lucas and RJ: Didn't want to leave them out but they both played sparingly tonight. Thought RJ struggled and that might have had something to do with SIU size inside. Tough to say to much about 2 kids that played less than 5 minutes.

As I said before big win for the Sycamores. We have really faired pretty well on the road in the Valley this season. Especially if you consider how we started out the year on the road in the Valley. My favorite thing about this team is they play HARD. Only maybe on one occasion this year do I think they got out efforted (not a real word) and that was @ Creighton. The Sycamores were the better team and we took care of business. Now time for me to get a late night snack/dinner!

 

[Eleven]

My quick thoughts... (also watched from the Bally... did you see me there SSOM?)

Lathan - thought this was one of his best games "playing within the system". REALLY enjoyed watching him tonight.

Carl - I've read thoughts about it being an "off night" for Carl... and then you look up and he's sitting there again with nearly a double-double. 8 points, 9 rebounds... that's not too bad for an "off night".

Walker - Pretty good night all around - outside of one thing..... practics those FREE THROWS Myles! You know what they say, you may as well take them, because THEY ARE FREE!

Printy - Thank GOODNESS SOMEONE HIT THAT FIRST SHOT!!!!!

Ok, last two:

Martin - THIS is what people have been waiting for/expecting from Martin...and what some of us KNEW was in there if given a chance to play without worry of finding a seriously dark hole. A little more limited in time than I would prefer - and took a bad 10ft. jump shot, but he gave a lift when this team NEEDED some lifting.

Odum - One of the things that will always benefit a winning team is this.... a point guard that can handle the ball (redundent?).. and can hit free throws late. Jake had to make at least 8 points from the line at the end of the game... and they were HUGE shots.. It all but wipes out memories of a recent game that could have been iced on the line! Way to go Jake.

I'm telling you... NO ONE wants to play ISU in the tourney.

Talked to Avery tonight... just wanted to verify something.... I asked how many times his team won in Carbondale... he said 0. I know SIU is a different team right now, but it is still worth mentioning, that it's not an easy place to win historically.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Lol! Thanks for your comments 11 - love it when other people get in on the action! I am sure I seen you at the Bally. I was sitting in one of the booths wearing a white Indiana State Basketball Nike T-shirt and blue Sycamore hat. lol So wearing the same thing as nearly everyone... ahaha

 

[ISUCC]

Golden said Odum will be evaluated for a concussion, what happened??

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Golden said Odum will be evaluated for a concussion, what happened??

Went up for a rebounded and got knocked in the back of the head - he hit both free throws, I think he will be fine. He's a gamer, I'd suspect that he will play for sure. It's going to take more than a knock in the back of the head to keep him out.

 

[BlueBleeder]

Went up for a rebounded and got knocked in the back of the head - he hit both free throws, I think he will be fine. He's a gamer, I'd suspect that he will play for sure. It's going to take more than a knock in the back of the head to keep him out.

Unfortunately if he doesn't pass the physical exam....his toughness won't get him on the court. They don't play around with head injuries anymore. Lets just hope he passes the test and feels good for saturday!

 

[bill chip]

Unfortunately if he doesn't pass the physical exam....his toughness won't get him on the court. They don't play around with head injuries anymore. Lets just hope he passes the test and feels good for saturday!

I agree totally, we need that kid. But do not take chances, as SSOM said earlier, this game is meaningless, BUT I wanna win them all.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

Unfortunately if he doesn't pass the physical exam....his toughness won't get him on the court. They don't play around with head injuries anymore. Lets just hope he passes the test and feels good for saturday!

I figured someone would be quick to make that point. Not that it isn't fact - my point is he stepped up to the free throw line and knocked them down. It didn't appear to be "that" bad - but sometimes that can be tough to judge watching a game that offers less than perfect picture quality. We will see - I'd guess he will play. But if he can't go it's really not that big of a deal.

 

[Callmedoc]

Well, I dont think he is that worried about a concussion, according to his twitter, he's more worried about his body... Saying, "I need an #icebath"

 

[Eleven]

It was a physical game, that's for sure.. There were often bodies on the floor.

 

[BankShot]

Only maybe on one occasion this year do I think they got out efforted (not a real word) and that was @ Creighton.

Come on now, I like a well manicured bed of roses as much as anybody, but let's not over-fertilize or risk burning the plants!

Wyoming (lack of O2?)
UE (both 2nd halves?)

Other than that, you're Sycamore synopse is well conceived. :imslow:

Also:

Decided to go watch the game at the Bally, still haven't eatin anything tonight...


Yo Dawg...I can't figure this out. With the various munchies available @ the Bally, what da hell are you doing fasting?

Bally44 or Sycamore Fan, get this boy some PIZZA (to go along w/ his suds)!

 

[BankShot]

duplicate

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I was at the Evansville game and we didn't lose that game @ Evansville do to lack of effort - even in the second half. The officiating was horrible and we turned the ball over at an outrageous clip. We didn't lose that game from lack of effort. I'd agree that the second half vs. Evansville in the HC was a pretty poor effort in the second half, good point.

I am throwing 2 games out because I didn't see them or listen to them. Ball State and Wyoming - your probably right they got out hustled in those games, no doubt about it. It's a pretty simple argument to make that the Sycamores are a different team now - even were a different team in the midst of our 5 game losing streak.

For the most part these guys get after it pretty good on both ends of the floor and I heard someone mention it last night, no one in the Valley wants to see the Sycamores come St. Louis. They can say what they want, I wouldn't want to face a team as streaky good as the Sycamores have been this season. If this team fires that weekend then watch out, if not though it will be an early exit.

Oh and I wasn't feeling any Pizza - I had just got done coaching my 5th grade team at the Boys and Girls Club and we got beat in the playoffs by a lesser seed. I wasn't the least bit happy or in the mood to eat any food. lol

 

[BankShot]

So what happened in the BC 5th gr. playoffs? Why def. by a "lower seed?" Come on now...sounds like an ISU/UE game profile.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

So what happened in the BC 5th gr. playoffs? Why def. by a "lower seed?" Come on now...sounds like an ISU/UE game profile.

I can't go out and make layups for my team and heck they even called fouls for the first time all season. We must have been like 3 of 12 from the free throw line, that hurts when you get beat by 2 points. We got out of the gates a little slow like the Sycamores, down 8 zip right away. I coached a good ball game, this one aint on me - it's all their fault! No pizza party for them this year! And I was thinking about renting the party room at the Bally for them, bring them in the back door ya know

 

[4Q_iu]

JP: Gotta give a shout out to him, he gave the Sycamores a huge lift off the bench. Made 3 big 3s for the Sycamores and was really more aggressive tonight than I have seen him in a while. The nice thing about him in the game when he's shooting ball is he takes care of it - he does everything within the framework of the offense and that's nice. If he can keep shooting the ball like this watch out!

Big lift off the bench; led by JP! The folks at GoSycamores need to check the stats; JP hit #131 3-ptr vs Drake; he's now at 134.

Martin: Big lift off the bench in limited minutes, he was ultra aggressive when he was in the game and had some big points and rebounds tonight for the Sycamores. Martin has accepted his role on this team and for the past month or so when he is on the floor he makes the very most of his time. He HAS to continue to do what he's doing for the Sycamores.

Definitely a good game from Isiah; needs to maintain it for the rest of the season, regardless of when we stop playing.

 

[Little Eddie]

I can't go out and make layups for my team and heck they even called fouls for the first time all season. We must have been like 3 of 12 from the free throw line, that hurts when you get beat by 2 points. We got out of the gates a little slow like the Sycamores, down 8 zip right away. I coached a good ball game, this one aint on me - it's all their fault! No pizza party for them this year! And I was thinking about renting the party room at the Bally for them, bring them in the back door ya know

8-0 to start the game...sounds like the coach didn't have the girls mentally prepared to win the game. I blame SSOM for the loss fo sho...

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

8-0 to start the game...sounds like the coach didn't have the girls mentally prepared to win the game. I blame SSOM for the loss fo sho...

Watch this, watch this - No we were ready Eddie! lol

First off it's a boys team - but it's played at the Boys and Girls Club. Secondly if you've ever watched 5th grade hoops (i'm sure you have) it's really a helpless feeling most of the time. You can only control so much - that team that beat us got lucky. I told my kids after the game that I'd have to call them and let them know about a party/get together after the season because I didn't plan on getting beat tonight... lol

 

[4Q_iu]

Golden kernels...

– ISU swept the MVC Illinois schools (Southern Illinois, Bradley, Illinois State) on the road for the first time since … ever.

Remember, ISU did not win in Carbondale from 1981-2006. ISU didn’t win in Peoria from 1998-2011. Illinois State did not join the MVC until 1982.

Even the Larry Bird era teams never pulled it off. The 1979 Sycamores played Illinois State, but the game was at Hulman Center. The 1978 Sycamores lost at Bradley and at Southern Illinois. ISU only played Bradley twice in its pre-MVC days and lost to the Braves in 1969 and 1970 at Robertson Field House.

In fact, it’s the only time other than 1979 that ISU has won at SIU and Bradley in the same season. It’s the only time other than 2009 that ISU won at SIU and Illinois State in the same season.

It is also the first time ISU has won two in a row in the series with SIU since 1981.

Wow!! First Ill-school Road Sweep! Somewhat arcane but still!
Hoping we take the next at home; have to be the favorite. We haven't won 3 (or more) consecutive salukie games since LB days! Prior to Larry, it was the first 8 games of the series (1916-17 / 1930-31) when we took the first 8 games...

http://l.wbx.me/l/?instId=b7149de4-...p://blogs.tribstar.com/downinthevalley/?p=446

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Bo Borowski hates the color blue. True story.