WSU Versus Illinois State Predictions and Pregame Discussion on Senior Day

[IdahoShocker]

Early odds out of Vegas is WSU -15

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/teams/team-page.cfm/team/wichita-state

[Cdizzle]

Early odds out of Vegas is WSU -15

http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-.../wichita-state

Woooww.

[ShockerFever]

Queue the Illinois State fans that will now say Vegas is full of sh*t.

Ouch, what a slap in the face to the Normal Juggernaut.

[boltforge]

Eternal disappointment ... GoShockers.com lists that you can buy tickets for this game ... When I try it returns: "We are sorry. The number of seats you requested could not be found in any price level at this time. You may request a different number of tickets and try again."

I know the tickets are sold out. But, it is so tempting to try again.

[gdb620]

New Redbird strategy, per the ISUR board: Steal the Shox' pregame food and make them play hungry.

[The Mad Hatter]

New Redbird strategy, per the ISUR board: Steal the Shox' pregame food and make them play hungry.

I'm not sure they really thought this one through:

[Ghost of Rick Lamb]

Hey Shocker friends

Best of luck tomorrow. Not that you need it.

I don't understand all the hate against a team you have dominated the last several years. Seems strange and misguided to me. As great as WSU is why does a team like ISU bother you? Clearly you outclass us in every way. I would imagine we are at most an afterthought. Unless you all have Blue Jay withdrawal and are despertaely trying to manufacture conference hatred wherever you can find it. Makes no sense to me. But there are many things in life I don't understand and I'm old.

I think tomorow will be the most physical game the Valley has seen in a long time. The faint of heart prob shouldn't suit up. I don't expect the Birds to win but I certainly don't expect to be run out of the gym either. WSU is a better team for sure but after reading your board as I do I'm also convinced that ISU is much better than you think they are. Fortunately for you, your coach is smart enough to not overlook the Redbirds. At least not twice in the same month.

I expect a very close and hard fought game. Should be great for TV. One of these years I'd like to come out and see a game at your venue. Always looks great on TV.

Be well friends.

GORL

[ShockdaWorld]

I think the "hatred" or at least part of it comes from the perception of dirty or cheap play. Real or not, it is a common perception from some fans of WSU and at least a couple of fan bases outside of Wichita about ISU, and I don't think Muller does anything to dispel any of those perceptions. In fact, I'm not sure he doesn't encourage them, a'la Chris Lowery from a few years back. I hope it is a well played game and not a hack fest and that the "new rules" are enforced without being over-emphasized as we've all seen so many times this year. I believe if those things happen FOR THE ENTIRE GAME, WSU covers the spread. If not, it could be closer.

[ShockerFever]

Hey Shocker friends

Best of luck tomorrow. Not that you need it.

I don't understand all the hate against a team you have dominated the last several years. Seems strange and misguided to me. As great as WSU is why does a team like ISU bother you? Clearly you outclass us in every way. I would imagine we are at most an afterthought. Unless you all have Blue Jay withdrawal and are despertaely trying to manufacture conference hatred wherever you can find it. Makes no sense to me. But there are many things in life I don't understand and I'm old.

I think tomorow will be the most physical game the Valley has seen in a long time. The faint of heart prob shouldn't suit up. I don't expect the Birds to win but I certainly don't expect to be run out of the gym either. WSU is a better team for sure but after reading your board as I do I'm also convinced that ISU is much better than you think they are. Fortunately for you, your coach is smart enough to not overlook the Redbirds. At least not twice in the same month.

I expect a very close and hard fought game. Should be great for TV. One of these years I'd like to come out and see a game at your venue. Always looks great on TV.

Be well friends.

GORL

I'm curious. Have you ever visited redbirdfan.net? Because it sounds like you either haven't or are ignorant of your own fanbase. Do you lecture your own fans about their hateful feelings and physical violence threats that are busted out on the daily over there?

Seems weird to come over here and act like it's a one-way street. Unless you think your fanbase is the insecure little fish that's supposed to hate big brother. If that's the case, then nevermind.

[WuShock16]

Hey Shocker friends

Best of luck tomorrow. Not that you need it.

I don't understand all the hate against a team you have dominated the last several years. Seems strange and misguided to me. As great as WSU is why does a team like ISU bother you? Clearly you outclass us in every way. I would imagine we are at most an afterthought. Unless you all have Blue Jay withdrawal and are despertaely trying to manufacture conference hatred wherever you can find it. Makes no sense to me. But there are many things in life I don't understand and I'm old.

I think tomorow will be the most physical game the Valley has seen in a long time. The faint of heart prob shouldn't suit up. I don't expect the Birds to win but I certainly don't expect to be run out of the gym either. WSU is a better team for sure but after reading your board as I do I'm also convinced that ISU is much better than you think they are. Fortunately for you, your coach is smart enough to not overlook the Redbirds. At least not twice in the same month.

I expect a very close and hard fought game. Should be great for TV. One of these years I'd like to come out and see a game at your venue. Always looks great on TV.

Be well friends.

GORL

Welcome back, GORL! I enjoy reading your thoughts.

The hatred for which you inquire probably stems from:
-The double-technical with Garrett Stutz and John Wilkins in the Arch Madness semis in 2012...when Garrett was NOT the instigator. @WuDrWu: remembers the incident better and can describe it.
-The incident from 2013 when the two teams nearly engaged in a brawl in the locker room area
-The overall attitude of Dan Muller...giving Illinois State a first place vote last year in the preseason poll, calling his team the best in the Valley "1 through 12," etc.

It's weird because years ago, I would have said that Illinois State was my second favorite Valley squad. I still remember shaking hands with Illinois State fans at Union Station after WSU beat Illinois State to advance to its first Arch Madness Finals appearance.

[ShockerEngineer]

For me, aside from the 2013 incident, the Redbirds left a bad taste in my mouth after one incident at CKA where a Redbird set a screen and appeared to thrust his shoulder into Baker's face. He goes down to the ground, and the player appeared to go to the Redbird bench to celebrate that he had just leveled him.

[newshock1234]

I remember Marshall 1st year I believe, ILL st beat a bad WSU team at CKA and after the game all their players did a disrespectful body slide at half court.

[Shocker Mama]

The Jackie Carmichael karate kick to Tekele Cotton's chest, and then selling t-shirts with a footprint on the chest the next year.

[ShockdaWorld]

Wow...I had forgotten about some of these incidents. The hatred is even more warranted for those of you with a better memory than my own.

[Dave Stalwart]

Illinois State fans have a clouded and short memory. We don't have any reason to care about the Birds, other than the fact that they go all Grayson Allen on us...fans, coach and players, whenever we play them. It's much less about them being on our radar as a program and team and a lot more about them consistently demonstrating that you can't trust them to have good sportsmanship over and over again.