Mid-Season - (almost)

[ORUTerry]

After next Monday, we should have a better idea of how the conference race is settling out?. We will at least have an idea about the second half of the conference season. It is still important to note that things can change quickly in this conference; remember how UMKC seemed to be in the driver?s seat last year with two wins over ORU? Right now, IUPUI and ORU are in first place ? two games ahead of UMKC (5-3) and Valpo & Southern Utah (4-3). UMKC and Valpo both seem to have hit a mid-season funk. Valpo?s skid is apparently a result of injuries (Huff), illness (Miles), and suspension (Kone) which has caused chemistry problems. These are issues that can (or maybe can't) be rectified. Not sure why UMKC is playing so poorly; basically they are not shooting the ball well ? and that can affect everything else (defense, etc.) The Roos have a talented guard tandem, so it is possible for them to ?bounce? back.

As of now, ORU is concerned about IUPUI with the February 11th date looming as a big contest?. Assuming ORU takes care of business. In the conference, the Jags have won convincingly, but also struggled against ORU (lost by 10) while beating Oakland by 1 at Oakland, winning by 1 at home against Southern Utah and beating UMKC by 6 at UMKC. The Jags are athletic and play a 4 or 5 guard lineup ? creating all kinds of match up problems. They isolate players and work to beat their man off the dribble going one-on-one ? not a lot of assists. Difficult to do if a team plays zone against them (SUU, Oakland & UMKC) or can match them athletically (ORU).

ORU must win the game tonight against Western Illinois to keep pace with IUPUI. The Golden Eagles handled WIU handily in Tulsa earlier in the year (83 to 69) as the Leathernecks could not find an answer for Caleb Green or Larry Owens. Expect to see more zone defense tonight. Let?s hope Chris Riouse, Moses Ehambe, Jonathan Bluitt and Eric Fowlkes have good shooting night so as to open the defense for Green and Owens.