Tuesday
Sides, 31-29, -0.30
Totals, 7-8, -1.30
Year, 38-37, -1.60
I have been saying it from day 1 that I thought Michigan State was overrated and they have proved me wrong thus far. I dropped a few units going against them in the ACC/Big Ten challenge, so that’s all I’ve lost on them thus far this year. It’s been 25 years since a top 10 program came into Bradley. It’s been 29 games since Bradley last lost a non-conference game at home. When the schedule was released in early to middle summer, the local newspaper ran a week’s worth of articles on this game. Every article that’s hit the local newspaper on Bradley’s games thus far has the first four paragraphs summarizing the game, and the last few paragraphs mentions the date December 4, 2007 against Michigan State. Carver Arena will be full, and will be for the first time this year. They’ve drawn 9500+ in their home games so far this year, and haven’t sold out partly due to tonight’s game. Nobody wanted to see Florida Gulf Coast, or SEMO, they wanted this game. The city of Peoria has moved it’s city meetings up an hour so that anyone and everyone can either attend the game or be a part of it. This is MSU’s first true road game. It will also be their toughest road game of the year. Bradley will set attendance records here. Bradley also has revenge on their mind from last year’s blowout loss. Bradley played with them for 19 minutes, before MSU put on a run towards the end of the 1H and to start the 2H. As for the game itself, MSU obviously has the size advantage down low. However, it really isn’t going to matter w/ the style of play that Bradley will force. They set more ballscreens than any team in the country, which will get the bigs away from the basket, and probably force MSU to either go small, or get into foul trouble. Bradley starts three players that attempt more three point field goals than two point field goals. Trade an easy 2 for a transition 3. Three is greater than two. Is there value in getting Michigan State favored at a possession or less? Sure. Is there value on a Big 10 team visiting a MVC team laying less than a possession? Sure. 70% of the early public see value as well. What they don’t see, is the biggest thing in the history of Peoria basketball happens tonight. One team who I feel is overrated goes on the road for the first time in a true road setting, and one team has won 29 straight at home vs. non-conference opponents. Think Neitzel has a tough time tonight? Les has come out and said that Ruffin is the greatest PG in Bradley history, possibly in the history of Peoria basketball. Anybody remember Frank Williams (Illinois to the NBA), or Shaun Livingston (High School to the NBA)? Don’t get me wrong, Neitzel is a good player, but when you’ve been going up against this kind of talent your entire life, going up against Neitzel is not saying much (and Ruffin’s brother is AJ Guyton). Izzo and the Spartans can say all they want about they know what they are walking into tonight, but it’s something that they just haven’t experienced. In my honest opinion, the Spartans have to play one of their best games of the season to even come away with a victory tonight…
2* Bradley +4
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Your mom goes to college.
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December 4th, 2007, 11:21
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