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Well, the worst two road games are behind us. I don't think anyone was surprised by the outcomes. I doubt we can beat IPFW or SDSU at home but I think the games will be much closer. Now that we've played 5 conference games, I've had a few observations. We need Sam back, Lacis and Jurgens (encouraged by his shooting tonight) had 12 of our 19 turnovers. Obanor and Malone hardly played in the second half, not sure why. E-man with 14 points, 18 boards, and 3 blocks(he has 10 blocks in the last 5 games). I think our conference ceiling is 3rd place (South Dakota and Omaha being right there with us). Denver is worse then expected, NDSU looks to be having a down year, North Dakota is new to the conference but has won a couple games and Western Illinois is right where they usually are, at the bottom. I think E-man is a lock for 1st team all conference and should be the POY next year if we can convince him to stay. Speaking of next year, I perused the SDSU forum and there are several fans that think another conference title will get their coach a new job and that David Jenkins would/could transfer out. I think we have a good chance of being top 2 or 3 next year regardless of who is coaching SDSU. We have two of the best freshman in the conference, a returning point guard with experience, a young point guard in Milton or Abmas(hopefully both) and a gaping hole at Center that needs to be filled with a long, rangy big man similar to Kerwin. I'm optimistic about the future and hey, maybe we catch SDSU or IPFW on an off night in the tourney and make a run this year. Also, I hadn't seen anyone post this but Adam mentioned on his radio coverage the other night that Coach Mills doesn't wear ties when he coaches because he heard that it allows 13% ( I believe was the number) less blood to the brain. I figured Old Titan would like to hear that

_____________________________ If he starts winning 20 games a year, he can wear a speedo for all I care. I'll put winning, recruiting, retention of key players, and play calling ahead of choice in neckwear every day of the week.

If that's TRULY his theory (and not just a weak excuse, or a joke), I would submit that these guys somehow managed to get by on 87% blood flow: And, that routinely NOT wearing a tie does not always result in positive blood flow: Finally, crap like this reminds me of the parable from The Book of Peanuts about Charlie Brown gritting his teeth to prevent strikeouts, when it was pretty obvious from his loopy swing that his problems at the plate did not lie in his mouth. A coach can eschew suits, ties, sport coats, shirts, pants, etc. and the outcome will be no different if his team can't/won't take care of the ball, keep from fouling, play tough defense, or make free throws. My thing about wearing ties on the sideline as a coach at ORU is this: you better have some street cred to pull off the casual look, like being a former star player, or a Hall of Fame coach who has earned the right to wear whatever he wants. But a first-time coach, with barely any playing or coaching credentials, at a private Christian school in a metropolitan setting in the South, a school that lives (and reportedly recruits) by an honor code? I frankly think he and his entire staff should be wearing their Sunday finest. Win 20 games a couple of times, and THEN lose the tie. But not before.