Daily Archives: February 22, 2011

>Bradley-Illinois State

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>Bradley at Illinois State

  Unlike recent seasons, this one has been a struggle for the downstate teams.  In fact, this is a battle of the last place teams in the Missouri Valley Conference.

   Bradley’s struggles are somewhat confusing because they returned four of their starters from last season.  Senior Andrew Warren is leading the team in scoring with 19 ppg and tied for the team-lead with Jordan Prosser for rebounds with 5.4 rpg.  Dodie Dunson is the only other player averaging double digits in scoring, putting in 10 ppg.  One positive for the Braves has been that they have won four of their last six games, after losing 11 straight.

   Illinois State, on the other hand, lost Osiris Eldridge and Dinma Odiakosa from last year’s squad, so it was somewhat expected to struggle, but whether it was this much, it is unknown.  The Redbirds have lost 14 of their last 17, including their last six.  After being explosive on offense in recent seasons, Illinois State has only one player, Austin Hill who is averaging over 10 ppg and he is only pouring in 10.6 ppg.  Prediction:  Bradley 67-60

>Michigan State-Minnesota

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>Michigan State at Minnesota

   Talk about battle of the teams on the bubble for an NCAA tournament bid.  Minnesota was expected to be at this point, Michigan State was not.  The Spartans got a HUGE win Saturday against Illinois and will look to get another one, this time on the road when they face off with the Gophers.  Tom Izzo even said himself that “this game (vs. Illinois) was bigger for us than for them.  We needed this one.”  But if they are going to end up getting the win, Kalin Lucas is going to need help.  He was the only one with more than nine points in the win vs. the Illini.

   Minnesota has lost five of six and this one proves to eb just as vital for their tournament hopes, as it does for the Spartans.  Turnovers and shaky shooting have been downfalls for the Gophers and they will need Blake Hoffarber and Trevor Mbakwe to keep up their stellar play.  Prediction: Spartans win 80-70

>Illinois at Ohio State

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>Illinois at Ohio State

   After starting the season 24-0, Ohio State has gone on a bit of a rough patch, losing two of their last three, to Wisconsin and Purdue, on the road.  It has been the doings of a red-hot guard that has done them in each time.  Jordan Taylor did it for Wisconsin and E’Twaun Moore for the Boilermakers. Now Illinois is hoping a third guard (Demetri McCamey? Brandon Paul?) will cause the Buckeyes some more problems as they head into their matchup in Columbus.

   I seem to write this every time, but this game is of importance to the Illini, especially after their loss Saturday to Michigan State.  They need at least a split in their final four games (OSU, IA, PUR, IND) to pretty much guarantee them a bid.  One problem for the Illini has been winning on the road in conference, as they have dropped five of seven of those contests. Prediction: Ohio State wins 77-70