[Rosiak's Blog] Game 9: IPFW; plus a few other notes

[ToddRosiakSays]

Game 9: IPFW; plus a few other notes


Dec. 11, 2008 7:27 p.m.  




Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

That's what IPFW stands for, and hopefully that'll head off a few of the emails I invariably get the day after it plays MU.

Saturday's game will be the third meeting between the two schools. MU beat IPFW on Dec. 17 of last year, 80-56, with Dominic James' 17 points leading the way.

The Mastodons (4-5), members of the Summit League, are a markedly different team than they were a year ago. Gone are seven seniors from a 13-18 team, while two starters -- 6-7 forward David Carson and 6-foot-1 guard Ben Botts -- return.

Carson leads the team in scoring at 15.2 ppg, while Botts is scoring 11.7 ppg and has knocked down a team-best 16 three-pointers. Another player to watch is 6-6 Deilvez Yearby, a transfer from Kansas State who is chipping in 8.2 ppg and leads the team at 6.1 rebounds per game.

IPFW has lost at Michigan State, 70-59, as well as at Xavier and at Ball State, but did pick up its first road victory of the season on Wednesday at Valparaiso, 63-46.

"I think they’re a better team. Their personnel’s a little different," Williams said when asked how this year's version of IPFW compares to last year's. "They still run 4-out motion, still run a lot of different things within their 4-out motion. Primarily a man-to-man team. They’ve started, I think, six different lineups in their games, maybe five. So he’s mixing their personnel.

"I don’t know if that’s related to how their team’s practicing or who they’re playing. But the team that they started Wednesday night played really well. I mean, they won at Valpo by 20. They’re not in finals this week, so they haven’t had a break in their rhythm. I think they’re playing the best they’ve played all year, and I thought they were really good against Michigan State. I think that each game since then they’ve improved."

-- Although Joe Fulce (knee) and Chris Otule (foot) are heading in the right direction with their respective injuries, Williams said he still doesn't see either returning prior to the end of the month.

"I hope that they can shoot 2-line layups on Saturday," he said when asked if either player might be ahead of schedule with regard to their recoveries. "As I’ve said all along, and I’m not a doctor, I think it’s Presbyterian. It’s been Presbyterian since the first time you asked me, and I’m not being a jerk. I’ve never had anybody have a fractured kneecap, nor has anybody that’s treating Joe had that, and Chris is a big kid and he has a broken metatarsal, and that just takes time.

"You can do as much treatment as you want, but biology’s got to take its course and that just takes time. So I hope it’s Presbyterian, and I’d say that they’ll be really, really bad players against Presbyterian."

-- And finally, in a bit of scheduling news, MU has committed to play in the CBE Classic in November of 2010.

As many MU fans remember, the last time the Golden Eagles took part in the event in 2006, they knocked off Texas Tech and Duke en route to the tournament title.

The setup would be the same as it has been: two home games, followed by two games leading into Thanksgiving at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.

MU's championship in 2006 came at the old Municipal Auditorium.

The Golden Eagles will play in the Old Spice Classic during the week of Thanksgiving next season in Orlando.

-- Delivered by Feed43 service



http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/36013789.html

[TallTitan34]

MU has committed to play in the CBE Classic in November of 2010.

As many MU fans remember, the last time the Golden Eagles took part in the event in 2006, they knocked off Texas Tech and Duke en route to the tournament title.

The setup would be the same as it has been: two home games, followed by two games leading into Thanksgiving at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.

Nice!  The CBE usually has some quality competition.

I went to the last CBE and had a great time in Kansas City.  I highly recommend making the trip if you can!

[Blackhat]

Random Ponderings:  Not saying what Buzz is saying isn't true but he's pretty good at sandbagging.     Wonder if that'll be how he operates in years going forward.   I have a feeling we'll hear a million times how young the guys are next year.   Not saying its a bad thing but with Crean it didn't seem like he was sandbagging every other minute in regards to lack of big, etc.

[The Lens]

Random Ponderings:  Not saying what Buzz is saying isn't true but he's pretty good at sandbagging.     Wonder if that'll be how he operates in years going forward.   I have a feeling we'll hear a million times how young the guys are next year.   Not saying its a bad thing but with Crean it didn't seem like he was sandbagging every other minute in regards to lack of big, etc.

I guess it all depends on your perspective.  You're a TC lover, I'm a hater. 

When Buzz talks:

You hear sandbagging
I hear a guy who's upfront with injuries and doesn't hide behind HIPPA

When TC talks:

You don't hear sandbagging
I hear coach talk about the Flu more in one radio broadcast than most doctors do in a lifetime