SIUE hosts UMKC tonight

The SIUE Cougars return home tonight after a respectable showing against Purdue on national television a week ago (I thought it was respectable enough) to take on the University of Missouri at Kansas City Kangaroos. (Who according to a source are staying at the Marriot in Union Station for this game,) hard to imagine they spent Christmas there after their game a week ago at Saint Louis University, but that’s where they are. Probably liked it too much.

The Roo’s have played a rather pedestrian schedule. SIUE is their fourth oponent they will have played inelligible for the NCAA Tournament, the others being North Dakota, (W: 70-63) Houston Baptist (W: 102-87) and Central Arkansas, (W: 78-67) as well as two wins over Division two schools (Lincoln (Mo.) and Truman State.) UND, HBU and UCA are all bottom-50 RPI teams, and none of their wins really stick out.

All in all, UMKC is a very beatable team for the Cougars, who have moved up 21 spots in the RPI to 308 at 2-10 while UMKC enters at 4-5 and number 261.

Last time out, the Roo’s gave a much-improved Saint Louis University Billikins team a battle at Chaifetz Arena, going into the break tied at 25 before losing by seven. Trey McKinney scored 18 and had six rebounds to lead the team in an attempt to pull a major upset against SLU, a team which started the year hot outside of Atlantic Ten play with impressive victories over Nebraska, SIU Carbondale and Belmont.

Exactly a year ago, the Cougars beat the Kangaroos 77-71 at Kemper Arena behind a 24 point effort off the bench by Aaron Garriott, who is no longer with the team. As far as how tonight’s projected starters faired points-wise in that game to get an idea of what we may see tonight: Yelovich (9) Bundalo (14) McCleary (6) Jones (2) Bowles (2).

Last year’s UMKC squad went 7-24, and just 3-15 in the Summit, so they are looking to be a little bit improved this time around, and I expect they will be. SIUE’s record may not indicate it, but all signs point to an also-better squad than last season. Remember, SIUE was a couple of breaks from victories against Lipscomb, IPFW and Ball State.

It’s not horseshoes, and it’s not handgrenades, but there is no NCAA tournament at the end of the road, so almost gets an honorable mention today.

What should the Cougars be looking for tonight? Thankfully not Dane Brumagin, the senior forward who led the Roos with 34 points in last season’s game.

They have a trio of guys averaging in double-figures, Jay Coisnard is their biggest offensive weapon (14.2 ppg) with Latrese Mushatt (11.8 ppg) and Jones (11.1 ppg) following up.

The Kangaroos are not the most inept rebounding team, their highest glass cleaner averages just over 5 a game, the team just under 30 (29.9 RPG)

And Statistically, here is how it breaks down.

PPG FG% FT% 3P% RPG
UMKC 69.8 46.0 68.1 29.9
SIUE 61.4 42.0 69.0 33.0

So a fairly even battle, Cougars have played the tougher schedule out of the two teams, and with this one at home it is going to be a real trap game for the Kangaroos. My money is on SIUE to move to 3-10 on the season, keep in mind UMKC may possibly be looking ahead to their game Wednsesday at Missouri.

Game time is at 7:00, hope to see a packed Vadalabene Center, I will be attending as a fan instead of a journalist for this one, first time I have been able to do that for a while, so I am looking forward to it and being biased.

Allan Lewis
Alestle Sports Editor.

SIUe @ #4 Purdue Preview (7 p.m. CST on ESPNU)

I’m back!

Good afternoon everybody, hope break is going well, hopefully better than its been to the Cougars so far after a 79-61 loss to Loyola at the Vadalabene Center Sunday.

It’s back to the court today for Lennox Forrester and crew, and things don’t get any easier with the fourth best team in the nation waiting.

Purdue is a 41 point favorites against the Cougars.

It’s tough to break down these guarantee games. We know SIUE is the definite underdog in this one, and likely the results will not be pretty. We will lose and the basketball program will get a big check for having the kahoneys to travel to West Lafayette.

After the Loyola game, Forrester was quoted in an article by the Alton Telegraph as saying “If we play like we did (Sunday) we will lose by 70 points.”

Unfortunately I have to attribute them because I was unable to make it out to the game, but it’s the same thing.

The Purdue contingent is not too happy about this one being on the schedule. I don’t blame them. SIUE comes into this one ranked #327 in the latest RPI ratings, Purdue is #8, a little down from their AP national ranking due to their strength of schedule. Purdue’s schedule is ranked 69th toughest in the nation up to this point, after playing the likes of North Dakota State (#280) IPFW (#263) Ball State (#220) and CS Northridge (#153). There is a lot of complaining over cupcakes in West Lafayette.

Needless to say, the Boilermakers have beat some decent teams. You don’t climb to the #4 national ranking doing nothing. They have wins over #11 Tennessee in the Virgin Islands, a win over Wake Forest in the Big Ten ACC Challenge and a nice victory over Alabama. SIUE is their final tuneup for Big Ten play, which begins against Iowa (a team I am convinced SIUE could beat, the Hawkeyes are awful) next Tuesday.

Here are a few things Boilers fans are saying on ESPN’s game conversation.

“purdue is going to kick butt tonight they r going to crush siue”

“This game is gonna be a blowout. Boiler up!”

“no matter how soft siu-edwardsville is, it’s hard to resist +41. it’s christmas time… certainly purdue will show some compassion?” (my favorite one!)

“purdue’s schedule needs some big boy games, enough of the playing high school teams.” OUCH!

“remind me again why this game is even being played?? I will be very disappointed if we ever schedule a team of this magnitude – or lack thereof – again.”

So, to conclude, the Purdue people are not really excited about this one.

So, who to watch for Purdue?

E’Twaun Moore (16.1 PPG)
Robbie Hummel (15 PPG 7.3 RPG)
I would expect atleast 20 and ten from Hummel if Cougars cannot contain him. I would expect Yelovich to be matching up with him, expect Stephen Jones getting a lot of minutes for defensive purposes to guard Moore.

Keys to the game for SIUE:

1. Don’t try and run with Purdue. The Boilers average 78 points and SIUE CANNOT run with them. Try and slow things down in the half-court and get some open looks. With this offense it is not going to happen, but that is a way to keep this one somewhat close.

2. Rebounding. As usual with the Cougars, they are 2-0 when they out rebound the opponent, 0-9 when they don’t. They need to pay extra close attention to blocking out.

3. Don’t play like you did Sunday. Forrester said his team would lose by 70 points if this happens. They cannot play scared and have to come out with some swagger.

That’s about all for now, as I wait for my SIUE hoodie in the washing machine. Game time is 45 minutes away from Mackey Arena, and Buffalo Wild Wings for me. Hope to see you there.

Allan Lewis
Alestle Sports Editor

SIUE and Charter reach TV agreement

SIUE sports information announced yesterday an agreement has been made with Charter Communications to air ten SIUE basketball games LIVE from the Vadalabene Center.

This is great news for the university, considering Charter reaches half a million homes in the St. Louis area, and the television contract will allow SIUE to further branch out into the St. Louis market, and put itself into the local college hoops conversation with Missouri, Illinois and SLU.

Don’t know the cost, or any specifics regarding the contract, besides the games will air on Channel 3, the Charter Communications Information Network (basically the public access channel, but it’s a channel nonetheless) as they happen and again in tape delay, Randy Karraker, a well known St. Louis media personality will be doing the play by play, and ten games, including the home openers are set to be broadcast.

This boosts SIUE’s television exposure this season to 12 games, Friday’s men’s opener at the University of Illinois will air on ESPN360.com (also a part of ESPN’s pay per view package on television, so I’m sure Charter will broadcast the feed live on television locally, as they did last season for a pair of games) and the Dec. 22 game at Purdue is on ESPNU.

That explains the new press conferences and confusion over media seating at the VC during the exhibition games. Should be a great thing for SIUE, hopefully it doesn’t take away from attendance at the games.

Here is Charter’s schedule for the season from the press release:

Date Opponent Game Time
Sun., Nov. 15 Milwaukee Noon
Sun., Nov. 15 Illinois State (M) 2:30 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 28 Lipscomb (M) 2:00 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 20 Loyola (M) 2:00 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 22 Missouri State 7:00 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 28 UMKC (M) 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 30 Murray State (M) 7:00 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 5 Milwaukee (M) 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 5 South Dakota (M) 7:00 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 7 North Dakota (M) 1:30 p.m.

Headed to the U of I tomorrow around two with T.J, should be fun, be sure to keep up with the live blog during the game, and as you watch online. Instead of blogging straight into this we will have a link available around 6 p.m with cover it live, so you can interact and ask questions about the game as it happens or share your input. Much more interactive approach, hope you join us!

Allan Lewis
Alestle Sports Editor