I am a MVC fan from another school. My observation is that SIU has one of the most talented teams in the MVC. But right before the conference season I picked them as 7. Not because they have the 7th best talent but because IMO they have the worst coach in the MVC outside the Ind. schools. She consistently takes talented teams and under achieves. She recruits well enough but finds a way to lose games that should be won. I and many others I know were surprised she returned as coach this year. Having said that I think that this year SIU certainly is capable of beating all or realistically right now all but one of the MVC teams. I would go a little farther than one observed on this Board. If right before the game SIU traded coaches only with Drake I think SIU would probably win. Hittner (5) is a great player but I would take Rhine(50) over her if given the choice. They are widely regarded as the 2 best players in the MVC this year but IMO Petree from Bradley and Franklin from Missouri State, both sophomores are two players I would take in a second over the two Drake players, because they play both ends of the court exceptionally well.
The seventh place finish is a bit harsh. But I don't see this team being better than fourth or fifth. As far as Stein being the ultimate problem, I'm not completely sold on that. But with three all-conference level starters, you could point a finger that direction. IF we lose to MSU Friday we'll be 1-4 which is where we started last season and finished 8-10. I don't see us going 7-6 the rest of the way. 9-4 is my guess. I don't see us sweeping Bradley, but I do see us taking out some revenge on UNI up there - we shot really poorly against UNI here.
"The bureaucratic mentality is the only constant in the universe." ~Dr. Leonard H. McCoy
Perhaps 7th is too low but 5th is the absolute top end IMO. Bradley is the surprise team in the MVC and almost certainly will finish in the top 4. I think I need to add that IMO Stein might be an average coach but this league has at least 6 really good young coaches so IMO she is the worst coach of the 7 non-Indiana teams. However Stein recruits pretty well and plays a physical defense so she is not terrible just average. Average this year with improved talent in the MVC may get SIU a 7th place finish not so much because they have regressed but because others have progressed more with the MVC being ranked the 7th best conference in the country I see a very small chance of SIU beating UNI up there Remember their all conference big girl was in street clothes that game. Drake likely will have trouble winning up there. If SIU could somehow beat MSU or play them really close my opinion of SIU's conference prospects would change
I very much enjoy the content here from two people who I suspect have certain knowledge and awareness of MVC women's basketball that I do not currently possess.
Here's what I know for sure: 5 took over the game in the fourth quarter on the road, for Drake...against SIU. In essence she played point guard and ensured the victory for her squad.
I suspect 50 is really really good, too.
Thanks for educating!
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5 is great. No question about it. Just wanted to make sure you were aware of how great 50 is as well. I do agree that 5 can really cause problems by handling the ball in half court by shooting, getting fouled or passing. Lately she is making a living at the free throw line. Bradley beating Loyola by 22 at Loyola in 4th quarter. They just blew out Illinois State who was not bad. I guess we will find out how good they really are as the season evolves but they are playing at a very high level right now. In regards to Mo State Willard can kill you with her scoring but she has been cold lately. Their best two players in my view are Calip and Franklin. They are just players who are winners. Franklin likely the best athlete in the conference and so strong (4 time Arkansas 6A shot put champion). And Calip probably the strongest and the smartest guard in the onference(valedictoriam of high school and basketball savvy off the charts). Their bench is full of players who would start for most teams in the MVC.
So far, so good.
SIU 20
Lady Bears 21
End of one.
"The bureaucratic mentality is the only constant in the universe." ~Dr. Leonard H. McCoy
Even better 2nd qtr.
DAWGS 35
Lady Bears 27
Ended the half on a 10-2 run. Could be more. FT's an issue. 3 of 7.
"The bureaucratic mentality is the only constant in the universe." ~Dr. Leonard H. McCoy
Lost a couple off the lead, but still up!
SIU 49
Lady Bears 44
End of 3.
Love the defensive effort. Weathered the halftime adjustments...
"The bureaucratic mentality is the only constant in the universe." ~Dr. Leonard H. McCoy
Under 5 media timeout....
59-54 Dawgs.
"The bureaucratic mentality is the only constant in the universe." ~Dr. Leonard H. McCoy
SIU beats #17 Missouri State with a layup with 2 seconds left. First win against a ranked team since 1991
WEEEE
HAAAAVE
AAAAA
WINNER!!!!!!!
70-68 SIU ON A BUZZER BEATER BY GABBY WALKER
And down goes the #17 team in the country!!!!
"The bureaucratic mentality is the only constant in the universe." ~Dr. Leonard H. McCoy
First win against a ranked team since 1991! Great play call to win it.
A cool thing happened after the game shows how awesome these kids are.
My 70 year old mother basically demands that I take her to the women's games. After this one she wanted to go down and see some of these women up close. She's 5' 4", and she's never really seen many women as tall as some of our players are. (I'm 6'3" -ish) Anyway - I'm in front of her going down the stairs; I fist bump Brockmeyer, I double high five Silvey and call her a cold blooded assassin, for her late 3 after a poor-ish shooting night. then we come to Nicole Martin.
I high five her pass along my congrats and she slides behind me, I hear my mother say something, Martin says something back I turn around and they're hugging and kinda jumping up and down. My mother said Martin told her a few times "Thank you for coming, we love you guys and your support!"
Class act there, folks. Totally out of the blue running up to a little old lady - total stranger - and hugging her. Made my mother's day.
Thank you, Nicole Martin. You're awesome!
"The bureaucratic mentality is the only constant in the universe." ~Dr. Leonard H. McCoy
I totally agree about the high-energy young coaches we have in the Valley. Agugua-Hamilton stepping in and not missing a beat at MSU after Harper left for UT. The coach I really like of this group is Bradley's Gorski, she was Stein's top assistant here. She's pretty impressive.
"The bureaucratic mentality is the only constant in the universe." ~Dr. Leonard H. McCoy
