Live Blog
ISU at Bradley
Chat with Pantagraph sportswriter Jim Benson before the ISU men's basketball game.
- Finally! Sorry about the delay. The wireless connection at Carver Arena is overloaded. So I'm on back-up power, so to speak. Fire away with questions! Right now, Taylor Brown hasn't been on the court warming up for Bradley, but he might pull a Willis Reed.
- Will the birds play in any post season tournament? I doubt they get a NIT bid
- I would say ISU will definitely be playing in either the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) or the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). The CIT seems to be the less expensive alternative so that's the one I think the Redbirds will try and play in. ISU would need to win today and get to the MVC final to probably have a shot at the NIT.
- I haven't asked Jankovich or Friedman about postseason plans yet. Usually that happens after the team loses at the Valley tourney. I think Jankovich would like to extend this season as long as possible to get a head start on next year.
- Taylor Brown is in street clothes and not playing for Bradley today. That's too bad. You had to see a guy miss his Senior Day, especially after missing all last season with a possible heart condition.
- I am a betting man (sometimes). Love Arlington Park! My best guess would be Trey Blue, Darious Clark and possibly Zeke Upshaw. Again, I have no inside information. This is strictly a guess, but in the case of the first two you just have to read the situation and figure good chance of that happening.
- Seems like we need to clear out a couple scholars(maybe 3?). If you were a betting man who do you see leaving?
- We folks back here in warsaw/winona lake hope Nic can snap out of the funk he's in today.
- Nic is in a little bit of a slump, but that's not totally unexpected for a freshman as his first season winds down. I think Nic is just one really good game away from catching fire again. I thought Nic was a lock for MVC Freshman of Year, but UNI's Tuttle is coming on strong. But if voters really look at it, you have to give Nic the nod because he plays the toughest position on the court for a freshman and has been a major contributor all year. BTW, I can't vote for Nic because he is on the team I cover. Same with Dick Luedtke (radio guy for ISU), Jankovich and Todd Kober (SID).If I could, I would vote for Nic. Hands down.
- Why did Brock Spack release Bryant Allen? Seems like a good athlete.
- It was an academic issue. Bryant wasn't doing his school work and probably wouldn't have been eligible. He worked hard in classroom in fall and got a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for hoops. I guess he's not getting a second chance in football. Actually, he's pretty valuable for Jankovich.
- WSU up 12 to 1 on Drake.
- Not a surprise. Wichita is eager for revenge for triple OT loss in Des Moines, plus they're playing for an NCAA Tournament seed and don't want to cut nets down after game off a loss.
- ISU starting usual lineup. Officials are Shawn Lehigh, David Stevens and Brad Gaston. Not exactly the A crew, but what do you expect for this game?
- Bradley just did its three introductions for Senior Day in Taylor Brown, Charonn Woods and Anthony Thompson. It was funny not having any intros at ISU the other night with no seniors. I don't think I've ever seen that before.
- Bradley said it sold over 10,000 tickets for today's game, but if 7,000 show up that would be a good turnout. They will announce the paid crowd, unlike ISU which uses a scanner for an actual count.
- Do the Birds go over to Peoria the day before when they play Bradley or just drive over that morning?
- That's a good question. In Jankovich's first two years, they came over the day of game ... and lost. He decided to switch gears and travel day before game in 2010 and they won. So did it last year and won again. Thus, they came over Friday night and stayed in East Peoria. They don't want to change a good thing.
- How does ISU stack up against the other teams for attendance? Got to imagine we would be in the play in game for attendance
- You are right. ISU is No. 7.
- That's all folks. We will do again an hour before first ISU game in Valley tourney. That better be Friday, right? You can follow my game updates at twitter.com/Pg_Benson. Take care!
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