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Me and the wife are en route from Huntsville, Alabama (it’s weird going without @ORob1)! We left at 5:35 a.m., should get there between 4-5. We’re excited for some basketball and (maybe more so) some baseball this weekend! See y’all at the Mabee tonight

You beat me to it on this post, and your preview is a lot better than I had so far. ORU is 26-4 all-time vs. the Purple Aces, with all 30 meetings falling between 1981-1987 in Midwestern Cities/Collegiate Conference play. Seems like only yesterday that MLB All-Star Andy Benes was mowing down college hitters for the Aces on his way to being named College Player of the Year in 1987. Now, it's been THIRTY-SEVEN YEARS since these two programs have faced off. Man, that makes me feel old...

A TU basketball fan, bemoaning the empty seats for their afternoon home game on Super Bowl Sunday, observed: "It looks like we're having another Blue Out today."

It comes from baseball, in the early 1900's. A "dobber" (correct spelling) is the little button at the top of a ballcap. Legendary sportswriter Ring Lardner wrote of a professional baseball coach of that time who would encourage his players to "not let their dobber down" when things got tough (ie. don't hang your head).

ORob2 appears to have outkicked his coverage.....TheEagleman is in the same boat....enjoy the game tonight and bring home a W!!!

Outstanding - drop by section 104!

ORU is -3.5....Bison have won 3 of last 4 including a pair in OT....Good Guys need to get some revenge for the loss last month in Fargo.....gonna be a close game....

Thanks, OT! I crown you "Historian par excellence" of the Sports Forum! It seems the Jacks coach might not be sure which sport his team is playing...

Opening day is tomorrow with the Purple Aces coming to town for a 3 game series. No one on either team was born when these two teams battled in the Midwestern City Conference but old timers like myself remember those days. The Purple Aces are picked to finish in 3rd place in the MVC pre-season which is where they finished last year. There is some talent on their roster. First Baseman Chase Hug made D1baseball.com's Top 50 First Basemen list, #29, and also made the pre-season All-MVC Baseball Team. Last season, Hug was an All MVC selection and was named to to the MVC All Defensive Team and MVC All Tournament Team. He seems to be solid in the field and at the plate. Shortstop Simon Scherry also made the D1baseball.com top 50 list at his position (#22). I can't find any game notes yet and haven't taken the time to sort through their pitching staff. As @Old Titanpoints out in a different thread (why there? ) the weather could be a little dicey tomorrow with temps in the mid 40's and a chance of rain. No rain in the forecast on Saturday but temps don't warm up until Sunday. I will be tuned in to the Summit League Network and hope to see the Golden Eagles open the season with a home series sweep!

Soooo....hopefully something will be different this summer, as opposed to LAST summer which left him so utterly unprepared to play man defense at the D1 level this season. (...and set screens without fouling...and not reach and/or belly-up on defense...and rebound on both ends....etc.)

Agreed. I will be surprised if Josh leaves unless he has someone in his ear giving bad advice.

I find Josh to be pretty talented, with a year of D1 ball and the right coaching/development this summer I can see him taking a big leap next year. Most true freshman his age get to learn from and go against a more experienced big in practice for a year before seeing real playing time, he did not get that. I don’t think we have the talent or the coaching staff to develop bigs, I wouldn’t be so hard on him.

ORU is at its best when they are even or win the rebounding war and have double digit assist totals. When that happens they have won. That is the secret to their success this season.