WSU vs ILLINOIS STATE Predictions and Pregame Discussions

[Shock Top]

While I am thinking of it, does anyone have a link or a video of the game @ISU last year?

I would love to relive that glorious ending!

Here is the audio, at least.

The ending, beginning with the kick, begins around the 3hr11min mark.

http://audio.knssradio.com/a/71137500/wsu-men-s-basketball-at-illinois-st-02-17-2013.htm

[Shocker-maniac]

I don't see how you can say that Wilkins shot was unintentional. Part of the obvious ISUR game plan was for Wilkins to rough up Stutz and take him out of his game (if the referees would have called it that would have ended it but they didn't). When this happened, it looked to me when I played it over and over again on the DVR that this was no accident.

Agree. There was no way it was unintentional.

[WuDrWu]

That is a blatant false statement: Coach Jans did not make any obscene gestures. He was definitely upset and yelling, but never gave the finger.

This. I also believe this to be a lie. Also, the incident in the back hall of RA last year is 100% the fault of ISU, their staff and their organization. Items were launched at the floor. Anyone believing some of those weren't intended at WSU are not being honest with themselves.

I made the comment about their students being hyped up on meth...obviously it was in jest. They're doing everything they possibly can to try and get an advantage...I get that.

I thought WSU got a favorable whistle in the game here a couple weeks ago. That being said, nothing I saw made me think the outcome was in doubt or would be in Normal if WSU plays anywhere near a B+ or better game. And I'm the one that is always advocating that the other guy has a say. They do. ISU could play lights out and shoot 55-60% and if they do, WSU will have to be special to win, especially on the road. All I'm saying is that there is a wide margin of talent, preparedness, coaching and overall game management (on and off the floor) and they all favor WSU, at least today.

My history with meeting fans from ISU has, too, been positive. However, the comparison between Marshall turning over a sign (wow that's horrible) and going ape **** on the Valley is nothing compared to the grape checks on Stutz at Arch Madness. I will never forgive ISU for that, and as far as I am concerned, every staff and fan from now to eternity has to wear that badge of shame. They will never suffer enough 20+ point beatings for my satisfaction.

Maybe they are trending up. I don't disagree they have some talent. Particularly, I think Lee and Lynch are going to be handfuls in the coming seasons. However, I'm not convinced Muller knows what he's doing, and so far he appears over his head, but he's young and certainly he can (and probably will) get better. Gregg has certainly gotten better in 7 seasons at WSU and he had been a head coach for nearly a decade coming in.

I am tired of hearing about how WSU fans are too full of themselves. I know I'm biased, but I don't see it (that often). We have to fight constantly against the national bias that judges teams like Nova on their best game, while punishing teams like WSU for their worst. Anyone with a fair eye can see the bias. We have to fight it all the time. We don't get a 20 minute report on SportsCenter on why we're underachieving. It's a constant battle to just get a seat at the table. Please forgive an angry fan base for trying to carry a little water from time to time.

[WuDrWu]

The act was embarrassing not the person. The shot was unintentional and if it wasn't are you going to hold it against a school that no longer has ties to anyone on that team? John Wilkins(the player at fault) is gone. All his coaches are gone. Can't blame Muller and ISU fans for those ills. If the tables were reversed you'd say the same.

It was a recurring theme throughout the game, it was COMPLETELY intentional AND coordinated and it was purposeful. And again, I don't care if everyone is gone or not. From my vantage point, ISU fans (and WSU detractors as a whole) have made a much bigger deal out of press conferencegate then WSU fans have out of grapecheckgate. Your casual dismissal of the incident here reinforces this singular fan's desire to hold all ISU fans, coaches, player and alumni alike accountable for the next few decades, at a minimum. I've never seen so much as 1 contrite comment directed at one of the best kids to ever go through WSU, maybe even the conference. He didn't deserve that treatment. I surely DO NOT speak for ShockerNation, but in my eyes, you guys get to wear that for awhile. Good luck tonight. I trust our team will treat your team with a ton more respect than has been dished out to us lately, but I also hope our team whips yours and leaves you crying into your red koolaid as they shake hands and walk quietly off the court.

One game at a time.

[Play Angry]

How can a fan demand respect for no longer having thugs on the roster when Daishon Knight plays every game?

[another shocker]

i'm expecting a hard fought game from the birds

[Phantom]

Hey there Shox fans!

Well, here we are again. Should be interesting tonight for sure. The 1st meeting went about as I expected, while tonight hopefully is different for us. It's been neat to see how my Redbirds have grown and improved over the course of the year. But still, we are incredibly young and not sure if we're ready to take down a top-5 team...you guys are the real deal. But it'd be great to see.

Hopefully it's a raucous crowd at Redbrd Arena and a fun game. I'm sure the intensity will be there. The recent past (and apparently neverending sides to the story) have fired things up bigtime between our schools, but that's not always a bad thing. I for one don't enjoy the vitriol spewing between our fanbases that have always gotten along great, but competition and the occasional incident will do that I guess.

Regardless, here's to a great Valley game tonight!

[newshock1234]

Did this guy really say we are rivals? Lol, it really can't be a rivalry if its a total domination by 1 side. Enjoy another ass whipping tonight!

[Phantom]

I didn't say the word "rivalry" once in my post, but then again I'm a realist and hopefully don't represent the clowns/asshats/delusional turds/dumpster-whatevers that many of you see Redbird fans as LOL.

Hoping for a good conference battle tonight!

[ROOT ANGRY!]

hey, phantom. sorry for the rude response to a classy post. bad manners seem to be in style here of late.
i'm ready for a tough, hard-fought, clean shocker win!

[molly jabali]

Must admit, I've chuckled several times in this thread....

[WstateU]

[asiseeit]

Ditto Root Angry. Hope we can again jump to an Early lead and play the second half
getting NW, DG and even Early some open looks. Fred is going to have an off night
sooner or later and/or opponents are going to game plan to stop him, therefore, he
has to have reliable wing shooters to take the heat off of him. As of now we only have
two guys shooting the three well and Fred is one of them. Maybe tonight will be the
night someone else finds his shot. WSU 79 Wanna bees 67

[jdmee]

The act was embarrassing not the person. The shot was unintentional and if it wasn't are you going to hold it against a school that no longer has ties to anyone on that team? John Wilkins(the player at fault) is gone. All his coaches are gone. Can't blame Muller and ISU fans for those ills. If the tables were reversed you'd say the same.

You called our coach an embarrassment, however, please look at the recent history between the two programs objectively and tell me which is the embarrassing program.

We have the grapecheckgate and a game where an Illinois State player (Wilkins) was kicked out of the game for receiving two technical fouls.
The next game at Wichita State we have a player (Wilkins) again receiving a Technical Foul (some one please remind me what it was for)
The next game is the Jackie Kickgate, where an Illinois State Player kicks a Wichita State player (I don't think there was intent)
The last game we have our star point guard having to go to the locker room because an Illinois State player going for a loose ball went into his leg. (I don't think there was intent)
We also have one team recently has had multiple players suspended from the team.

On the other hand we had a coach, who was reprimanded by the league and apologized for it, went into a interview before he should have.

[ShockerFever]

God, just get over yourself please.

It sounds like you're the one that needs to get over me.

Just curious, have you ever played soccer in your life?