My Ncaa Game Of The Year !!!!!

Wabash Wonders · #1 02-20-2009, 08:43 PM

OK, now that I have your attention, heres the deal. I am obviously in no position to be posting a GOY,so I only did that to get your attention but read on and see what you think. While most will be concentrating on the big bracketbuster games and other major games tomorrow, this game is as low profile as it gets, but I am confident this should be a blowout! As some of you know, I have posted some key info a few times this year concerning Indiana State and every time, this info provided both sides and total winners. All of the previous info was always against ISU, but now the tide has turned and this team is on a roll.

Indiana States opponent tomorrow is Toledo. Now to be honest, I know nothing about Toledo, other than the fact they are next to last in the MAC and have only 5 wins this year and only 3 in conference. 1 of their wins was against West Georgia which I think is a Division II school. Their other wins were all against teams with losing records(Umass 9-15, E. Michigan 4-22, C. Michigan 8-16, and Ball St. 11-13). Bottom line is, this team is really bad! Also, they are 0-13 on the road(tomorrows game is at Indiana State).

Now I know some of you are saying." What a minute, Indiana State is only 8-19 and in next to last place in the MVC, so they aren't that good either." Trust me, this team is much better than their record indicates. Let's take a closer look. First off, ISU started the season playing its first 8 games without the services of their top player and leading scorer, Harry Marshall.(academic reasons) ISU went 1-7 during that stretch. Marshalls first game of the year was at Purdue, where the Sycamores were 25 point underdogs, but played the Boilermakers tough losing by only 14. Marshall in his first game scored 16 points and dished out 6 assists. ISU then began league play at Northern Iowa(who is tied for the league lead at 12-4) and proceeded to upset them in OT. After 3 losses(to league leading Creighton, Evansville and at Drake) ISU then beat 3rd place Illinois St.(11-5 in league), however in the process Marshall went down with an injury and missed the next 2 games(thats 10 games this year without their best player) and the team was also hit with a flu bug that either sidelined or weakened many of their players for a few games. Only in the last 2 weeks has this team finally gotten completely healthy and right now are riding a 4 game winning streak(3 road wins including a 2nd win at Illinois St.)

Speaking of the last 4 games, lets look at some individual and team stats for those games. First we have redshirt freshman Jordan Printy, who got some playing time early in year due to Marshall being out. This guy has gotten better and better with each game. He has now moved into the starting lineup and has seasonal averages of 23.6 minutes, 7.0 points and 1.6 assists a game. However in the last 4 games, he has averaged 35 minutes, 10.5 points and 2.8 assists a game. Forward Jay Tunnell has been all but unstopable the last 4 games averaging 21.5 points a game while shooting 69%, yes 69% from 3 point land!!(18-26).

As a team, ISU has averaged 62.2 points a game, while shooting 40.6% from field and 35.1% from 3 pt land. In the last 4 games, they are averaging 74.5 points a game while shooting 48% from field and 44% from 3 pt land.

One other tidbit...Earlier this year, ISU played Ohio(who beat Toledo last week 91-58) and lost 62-50. But this was a game when Marshall was out, and Prinity scored only 2 points in 11 minutes. ISU shot only 34% in that game. If they played Ohio now, the result would be much different.

Indiana State is possibly the hottest team in Missouri Valley Conference right now and being at home tomorrow in front of a big afternoon crowd is the perfect perscription for a blowout win. Look for them to cover both 1st half and game...

INDIANA STATE -11