WSU Versus Southern Illinois Predictions and Pregame Discussions

[The 'hut]

A "Maroon Out" according to the Southern paper. I have never liked the color maroon. Faded, dirty red. Despised the teams in my high school league that used maroon. The color even influenced where my children went to high school. It could also be from nightmares about the suffocating defense the Shockers faced from the Salukis for several years. I think this time the defense is on the side of the team wearing black. I hope to see waves of defenders on Mr. Bean (e). The players didn't make the schedule for SIU, so they are a confident bunch. Confidence is huge in athletics and regardless of your like or dislike of the quotable Mr. Hinson, his scheduling has achieved its purpose. This is a tough one for that reason mainly, but also there are some guys that can fill it up if on a streak. I bet one of them even uses a head fake like Barry's wife has in her repertoire.

Black 72
Dirty Red 68

[ShockerEngineer]

For food i would recommend 17th Street Barbque in Murphysboro. This place is famous in southern illinois and they overnight their food all over the world. The guy who owns also has opened other locations in Marion, metro St louis and Las Vegas.
Alot of us who go back (i live in Colorado) look forward to quatros and pagliais pizza joints. Both are very close to campus.

My family eats their ribs every year when my dads cousin (from around there) comes to visit. Definitely recommend it.

[Eric]

Usually I get a bad feeling when we're going to have a tough one. No such feeling. I am feeling a reality-check for the ugly dawgs.

[stldog]

345 non conference sos? Wow

All these facts are killing my fun. It's starting to sound more like Barry scheduled way down this year in an effort to manufacture some energy with wins. I've been had.

Maybe it's not so much that SIU is "back" and more that they didn't have much of a challenge in that great looking record.

I will choose to hold out hope that his plan will work.

You've pretty much nailed it. Hinson's schedules are designed to make him look good and save his job. Who's going to fire a coach--or not extend his contract--if can present a shiny 20-win season to the administration and fans?

And no, I don't think SIU is "back" at all. They might get that shiny 20-win season this year, but I really think this alleged rebuild is taking place on quicksand. There is just not a lot of foundation here.

Still, I will say this: it's hard for any team to go 6-0 on the road, even against a schedule full of patsies, so this team does appear to have a pulse. If a couple of players can make you guys pay for the double- or triple-team on Beane, and if Olaniyan can stay out of foul trouble and hold his own inside, WSU will definitely have a fight on its hands.

[stldog]

I appreciate the SIU insight from a couple of good posters.

SIU's schedule does suck. The SIUE loss sucked bad. But you have to be doing things right to get to 14 wins at this point. Would SIU have won by 20+ on the road last year? I don't care if it is Badley, that's some solid improvement.

They're gonna be fired up for this one. First sellout in a while there. First place is up for grabs early on. Beane is obviously a stud but there have been other contributors along the way. Rodriguez is obviously orchestrating the offense and is an improvement there. Their other guards have stepped up too. They may be weaker down low, but so are we.

I'm hopeful our defense will carry us. A lot of our guys are used to playing in front of solid out, loud arenas. They've played in front of 60,000 in Atlanta before. I don't think that will be intimidating. SIU is capable of pulling off the win, even without the home court.

I think we'll need our A game here. And certainly need to improve upon Wednesday's outing to be in a good position in this one.

Conservatively, I'll say it'll be about a 5 point game either way. If we're gonna go 16-2 or 15-3 in the Valley, this very well could be one of our L's.

I really think if you guys come out and take charge early--knock us around with your D and do what you are capable of on O--SIU might fold as readily as your old family Monopoly board. We just haven't been challenged much this year. (And if they don't fold, I will be impressed and might even start to believe in this team.)

[Dave Stalwart]

My hope is that the winning culture will help on some level for SIU, even if the schedule isn't strong yet. Maybe if they get used to winning it will help them long term. I really want SIU to be a contender again. The valley is all wrong when SIU and Bradley are at the bottom.

[stldog]

For food i would recommend 17th Street Barbque in Murphysboro. This place is famous in southern illinois and they overnight their food all over the world. The guy who owns also has opened other locations in Marion, metro St louis and Las Vegas.
Alot of us who go back (i live in Colorado) look forward to quatros and pagliais pizza joints. Both are very close to campus.

For something a bit different, there are two places on the Strip that probably won't be mobbed, both of which do what they do competently:

Aban Kitchen is a Middle Eastern place, and Reema's is Indian.

If you don't mind driving out of town a couple miles, check out Midland Inn.

[Kel Varnsen]

I really think if you guys come out and take charge early--knock us around with your D and do what you are capable of on O--SIU might fold as readily as your old family Monopoly board. We just haven't been challenged much this year. (And if they don't fold, I will be impressed and might even start to believe in this team.)

You're damn right we will. Hehe.

Sorry, you set yourself up for that one. Appreciate the insight, though! Looking forward to tomorrow afternoon.

[Stickboy46]

You've pretty much nailed it. Hinson's schedules are designed to make him look good and save his job. Who's going to fire a coach--or not extend his contract--if can present a shiny 20-win season to the administration and fans?

And no, I don't think SIU is "back" at all. They might get that shiny 20-win season this year, but I really think this alleged rebuild is taking place on quicksand. There is just not a lot of foundation here.

Still, I will say this: it's hard for any team to go 6-0 on the road, even against a schedule full of patsies, so this team does appear to have a pulse. If a couple of players can make you guys pay for the double- or triple-team on Beane, and if Olaniyan can stay out of foul trouble and hold his own inside, WSU will definitely have a fight on its hands.

I'm curious if we will actually try to double Beane. We were able to contain Ballentine pretty well just by using a rotation of Zach Brown, Baker and McDuffie. I'd assume Marshall will start the same way with just a single person on him until Beane shows that he is as good as he has been even against Elite Defenders.

That's a 6'2 178 guard going against a 6'4 210, 6'6 216, and 6'8 185 combo of defenders.

[Dave Stalwart]

Here's a question. I've always though Balentine was the best guard in our league (excluding WSU players) for several years. Is Beane a better guard than Balentine?

[Kel Varnsen]

Here's a question. I've always though Balentine was the best guard in our league (excluding WSU players) for several years. Is Beane a better guard than Balentine?

I would say yes. Definitely more efficient.

[stldog]

You're damn right we will. Hehe.

Sorry, you set yourself up for that one. Appreciate the insight, though! Looking forward to tomorrow afternoon.

Haha! Maybe I should have said "slap." :glee:

[stldog]

I'm curious if we will actually try to double Beane. We were able to contain Ballentine pretty well just by using a rotation of Zach Brown, Baker and McDuffie. I'd assume Marshall will start the same way with just a single person on him until Beane shows that he is as good as he has been even against Elite Defenders.

That's a 6'2 178 guard going against a 6'4 210, 6'6 216, and 6'8 185 combo of defenders.

Good point. I guess I kind of forgot that we're playing a quality team that has skilled enough players to play him straight up. Again, we haven't faced the likes of y'all yet.

[ShockerFever]

WSU opens up at -2.

[ShockdaWorld]

Here's a question. I've always though Balentine was the best guard in our league (excluding WSU players) for several years. Is Beane a better guard than Balentine?

I think Balentine scares me more that Beane as a coach if I'm trying to game plan for them. Doesn't mean he's better, could just be because we've all seen him go off on several occasions.