So, it has been a ridiculous week for me...between preparing for finals, a random all-expenses paid trip to Chicago for the notorious TBOX with my girlfriend, which included a 9 hour trip back in a blizzard topped off by the news of an arrested co-worker.
Let's just say it has been interesting.
Saturday night, my phone was getting blown up by our Editor in Chief Aren Dow, who was covering the game for me here on ecougarzone.com and for the Alestle, as well as Felix, the Red Storm President while I was trapped in Merkels, ironically the Iowa Hawkeyes bar in Wrigleyville. Just wanted to mention thanks for the updates throughout the night, an ESPN text at halftime and the end of regulation only goes so far, especially when we crawl across the bottomline once every 4 rotations or so. It was appreciated. Special thanks to Aren for taking care of business here with the live chat.
My account of SIUE's first true Division I home win was filled with anxiety, watching the ESPN bottomline like a hawk and waiting on text messages. In a perfect world, I would have been at my table in front of the student section witnessing a double-overtime thriller. Now, rumor has it I am a curse to this team, which in all actuality is probably true.
I can't tell this game better than any one of the 643 people who actually witnessed it. We went into it knowing Kennesaw State would be an important game we could use to gauge this team. They are similar to us as a university on so many levels. They have been in Division I three more years than us, are in a comparable conference with a comparable metro-area surrounding them and pulled off a big home Red Line Upset against Georgia Tech earlier this season. How similar are we? Read A.J. Sanson's story in the Alestle from the Thursday before.
For us to beat Kennesaw State, albeit in two overtimes and albeit Kennesaw State is an accomplishment knowing where this team was just a few weeks ago against those darned Iowa Hawkeyes.
This team keeps getting better. It's gotten to the point where I roll my eyes every time Lennox says "We are just trying to get better everyday," because I swear he says it each and every time I talk to him. Fact of the matter is, SIUE is getting better everyday, and that's even bigger without Mark Yelovich. It's a testament to this team. Once they started to buckle down and learn how much this game can embarrass you they realized it. SIUE couldn't hang with Loyola for 40 minutes, and that was a marginal setback. They played a good half against the Ramblers, but fell apart and lost 78-50. Loyola is now 8-3, after losing 68-60 against No. 5 Kansas State Saturday. Their other two losses were to Butler and Valparaiso. Not bad losses in their league.
The proof SIUE has gotten better is evident.
SIUE 50, Iowa 111(The bottom.)
SIUE 83, Morehead State 64 (MUCH closer game than the score indicates.)
SIUE 65, Tennessee Tech 78 (Had a second half lead.)
SIUE 64, Middle Tennessee State 73 (Overtime, Boarden had a chance to win it.)
SIUE 50, Loyola 78 (Fell apart at halftime)
SIUE 77, Kennesaw State 76, 2OT (Finally.)
Of course, there is still a long way to go, and although it has been very frustrating, the past few weeks have been encouraging to a point. Looking ahead, SIUE has to keep their heads up with the schedule to come.
We won't get any respect from Indiana Friday, after all, they are a new "Leader" in the Big Ten, and Iowa made themselves look like "Legends" against us.
What are they saying about us right now?
Also, fun thing to note from the website analytics, someone found this site googling:
does siue have school tomorrow december 13 2010"
The answer is yes. Yes we did.
5 comments:
I would have gladly stormed the court, but it's easier to arrest one person--but not if there had been more than 50 students at the game, excluding the other athletes there to support their clique (note, the word clique is not meant to be offensive in nature there.)
Two things I saw in this game.
1) Bundalo seemed to sit a lot in the second half with 2 fouls. At one point Forrester had 5 guards, of which none were Messer, in the game and Kennesaw were able to score points. Bundalo needs to be playing as much as he can. Zeke looked tired and didn't appear to want to be there. And Dob, my favorite cougar as Allan well knows, was having an awful night shooting the rock. He had at least 3 misses within 5 feet and he missed our only 2 free-throws of the first half. He always plays hard, but if we can't rely on any of our big men, Nikola needs to be out there for as many minutes as possible.
2) Messer wanted the ball late, but was afraid to shoot. When he took it to the rim it went in. Everything was falling for him. He needs to quit acting like a freshman and lead this team. He is a high-caliber, quality player and played like it saturday.
Thats all from me. Congrats on the win, Cougars. Good luck at IU. Keep it close.
I am about 95 percent sure i saw abel on the bench on friday night. Wearing warmups but he was there. Didn't look very excited to be there. Leshaun was in street clothes. Maybe injured?
I just had heard from some anonymous sources about tillman....a couple of sites had him taken off the roster listing.....anyways I doubt he will be back next semester anyways along with gerald jones and leshaun murphy or whoever else decides to bolt......but on a good note that was a nice surprise to find out they won the game....Bundalo does look better but my fear is that this team will like last year lose steam and just fall apart again......
I think our team could dissolve at the end of the year. I think we have 3-4 seniors at the moment. That alone will set us at a lower roster size. I think Jones is a full-ride player. I don't think he would give that up. We need to start picking up freshmen players. Picking up juniors and seniors will not help our team develop. I think no one is truly happy at SIUE, but hell its nice playing big teams. Players like Chatt and Wickware would see little playing time at a big school. In the grand scheme of things, players who are on our team are most likely glad to just play D1 ball. The frustration is there, but once they think about things, leaving SIUE would be of no benefit.
Key Players vs. Kennesaw
Anthony Mitchell-Key rebounding & points
Mike Messer-On fire all night
Bundalow-Worked great down low
Alex great post sir! I agree fully I think I am more frustrated because I actually loved my time at SIUe and I transfered in after playing tennis at a DIII school and if these guys think they have it bad there hahahahahah!!!! DIII is a joke! We got fucking pounded all the time and no scholly for that shit other than the old worn out track (warm up) we got to keep which I think I fucking threw away after they fell apart! I know its hard to keep their heads up but man just play to win thats what infuriates me because I know there is nothing down the road for them but shoot a W is a W and the woman folk like winners not losers HAHA! Thats why all this disharmony is intriguing to me! But on the good note it seems we finally are seeeing some roles come together....Notice how Boarden is playing so much better off the bench????? That guy when he comes in stretches actually can be a big player! Anthony Mitchell is the same way! He has been playing much more better lately....Bundalo looks good but we need oto have someone else step up because he gets tired easily.....And is Wickware hurting or what? His game has nosedived the lsat couple of games out just not looking the same....I like Chatt and Messer was big last game but again was it a one time thing....Can these guys keep getting better? I guess we shall see but if we get blown out by Indiana (which come on probably wouldnt be that big of a surprise) then I say no....I dont have visions of plum ferries dancing in my head but if we can keep the scores respectable (less than 20 pts) then maybe we can this team is progressing.....Indiana 82 Siue 67 that is my prediction anyone else care to predict?
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