WSU VERSUS UNI PREDICTIONS AND PREGAME DISCUSSIONS

[Dave Stalwart]

That's not a bad point. It might actually be better if both teams take a loss from the other.

We talk all the time about the need to get tested adequately prior to the dance. Having this particular matchup three times over the course of about a month has to be very good for both teams as they prepare to dominate the Dance and make a dual run to the elite 8. It's about time the MVC made a bunch of chest beating power 5 fanbases mad again.

I really want this particular win because it's the regular season title. On the other hand, there is an immediate opportunity to get the St. Louis title a little later. Then we become best friends, regardless of who wins these games and we kill it together through the rest of March.

[1972Shocker]

Very light powdery snow for the last couple of hours. Not much accumulation. 16 degrees but not a lot of wind which is always a key factor.

Supposed to get around 3 inches of snow tomorrow but one meteorologist said it is a system that will develop right on top of us and those are the most difficult to predict.

Supposed to get some freezing rain on Sunday to top off the snow.

[purrrrrfect]

No it's not. A team that wins the first 2 meetings wins the 3rd like 75% of the time. I'll have to find the numbers I ran a couple years ago. Turns out, most of the time, if a team is good enough to win the first two meetings it is because they are better and they are likely to win the 3rd.

Probably in most cases if you have a powerhouse over far less team. (Baylor women over Texas Tech, etc). But two teams with even talent, etc, I'd probably guess the stat is far less. I know from experience at least it was always that in HS. 1998 - #1 and #2 in the state in the same class (3A) and were in the same conference. #1 was defending state champ, and beat #2 both times in regular season (once by 9, second by 16 (on the road). #2 won by 5 in the Substate Semifinal (Round of 32). Happened like that for 3 years straight in the conference. That's just through my own personal experiences of watching and playing. But like I said,you are probably right if you are comparing exceptional teams vs. subpar teams. I'm guessing though, equal teams would be diff possibly.

Edit: I should have mentioned number 2 then went on to lose to #7 team in the state on nuetral floor that they beat twice during the regular season.

[Cdizzle]

How do you determine equal? If Team A beats Team B 2 out of 2 times, you're still going to call them equal? I am curious if you will still hold that opinion tomorrow evening if UNI wins.

[1972Shocker]

How do you determine equal?

After the Shocks win the Valley tomorrow they will be 27-3 (17-1). UNI would be 27-3 (16-2). Both winning against the other at home.

Rarely are things ever exactly equal but that is pretty damn close.

Rubber game in St. Louis? Let's hope. That would be another day to remember.

[ShockerFever]

WSU opens up as 7 point favorites.

Vegas must be on pot.

[Cdizzle]

WSU opens up as 7 point favorites.

Vegas must be on pot.

I'm actually a bit surprised by that. Somebody somewhere thinks the home court advantage is going to be worth something tomorrow.

Just gonna come down to making shots. Gotta put the ball through the hoop.

[ShockerFever]

If you are trying to scare me away..it won't work. I've made no statement that UNI would win or would slap you guys around again. So I have no reason to eat any crow. I give respect and kudos where deserved. .

It's funny you mentioned that because you predicted a double-digit UNI victory on your board. I guess we better go over there and tell UNI fans how dumb, unrealistic, and disrespectful you are.

You're two-facing it a bit, coach.

[purrrrrfect]

How do you determine equal? If Team A beats Team B 2 out of 2 times, you're still going to call them equal? I am curious if you will still hold that opinion tomorrow evening if UNI wins.

talent level, resumes could be another....I have a good HS example, but it doesn't really prove my point once I wrote it down. LOL.

I would definitely hold the same opinion. i think WSU is a great team and could beat UNI at any time. Both are equally talented in their own ways as has been stated enough elsewhere. I honestly would not be one bit surprised if UNI were to win tomorrow and lose in the championship game. Or to any other team we've beaten twice (e.g ISUr) Do I believe we could win the 3rd time...yes..but I wouldn't be surprised to see a loss. But that's just my personal opinion from playing, coaching, watching in my own experiences. I guess it could be different if you've never been in that situation where you lost the 3rd after winning the 1st 2. Would I think UNI is "better' than WSU...I mean maybe a little, but I wouldn't take away from the fact that UNI had to earn it and things are just clicking this year. I mean really...Can you explain how a team that returned everybody from a 16-15 team goes to 27-2? I can't. It floors me (in shock) of how much just changing the defensively philosophy really alters that outcome. It truly does. That's why if you've read some of my posts on PN I was skeptical of the team early on and what not. I'm always worried about each game...and don't always have complete faith we will win. (BTW I hate that cheer "I believe we will win", almost as much as the soccer chant). And it is solely based on the fact, we still have the same guys playing as last year...it's not like they took a magic pill and became God over the summer. The defense has made me a believer. Coach Jake has made me a believer...that dude can coach! Every game they get better and it's like X-mas every game because you never expect the next present to be better and better than the previous. I'm very grateful for this season's team. Happy for them in so many ways...I don't think many expected this. So again, I say...thank you for hosting Gameday...you're welcome we could help get it there too, and I wish nothing but the best for both teams tomorrow, in StL and in the tourney. May you beat Iowa/ISU and/or Kentucky and may we meet up again in the Final 4 :)

God Bless Shockernation.

Good luck tomorrow and I'll chat with ya in friendliness only after the game win or lose. I hope to have the same from you in either case!

[purrrrrfect]

It's funny you mentioned that because you predicted a double-digit UNI victory on your board. I guess we better go over there and tell UNI fans how dumb, unrealistic, and disrespectful you are.

You're two-facing it a bit, coach.

haha I don't honestly believe we would win by that much. Superstitously that would be cool tho to keep the streak alive. I'd guess first to 60 will tho.

[purrrrrfect]

Any shocker fans in the Austin Texas area wanna meet up to watch the game, PM me!

[molly jabali]

I would not want a season full of 30 consecutive 1 point losses to Kentucky. However, I would trade the win over Loyola Marymount for a 1 point loss to Kentucky back in December in a heartbeat. WSU would have a better RPI, better KenPom, additional national publicity early in the year, and absolutely no worse an NCAA seed, with the possibility of actually seeing an improved NCAA seed.

That aside, I get your point about nearly always preferring a win of any type to a loss of any type. My statement was simply a response to molly's about WSU's loss to Utah being superior to UNI's win over Iowa

I guess since I've watched Iowa 4 times(granted, all on tv) and am pretty non impressed, I'd stand by my statement.

[AZ Shocker]

I guess since I've watched Iowa 4 times(granted, all on tv) and am pretty non impressed, I'd stand by my statement.

Glad you brought this up as it reminds me of something I heard from Bill Walton recently...

I watched a bit of the Iowa and Ohio St. game last night and was very unimpressed. I also watched a bit of a Pac-12 game the other night and heard Bill Walton (who was on the mic) make a comment about a thought he had while watching the UCLA vs. Arizona game the week before. He said while watching that game he was not very impressed with either teams "team play" and that you basically had 10 guys on the court trying to jump over each other. Said there was no skill or fundamental involved. I found that interesting because being a Shocker fan and watching pretty much every game...I've become accustomed to watching "skill" and "fundamentals". The BCS gets all these athletes but not necessarily skilled and fundamental type "team players". They all just wanna jump over each other most of the time. I'll take a Shocker "team play" every day of the week and twice on Sundays thank you. Much more enjoyable to watch in my opinion.

[Veritas]

UNI plays a game with which their fans will be proud, but not enough to win.
Shox by 10

[ShockTalk]

Sorry if this is posted elsewhere:

A spokesman for Northern Iowa athletics confirmed Friday that Young's savior actually was Jacobson. The coach of the nation's 10th-ranked college basketball team alternated between shoveling snow away from the tires and trying to drive Young's car to freedom until he had successfully dislodged it.

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