Bradley looks to be struggling of late. I hope WSU will come out and play a full 40 minutes and not let Bradley feel like they are in this game.

I'm afraid that if they turn the ball over like they did versus Drake then WSU will be at risk of losing.

Bradley has enjoyed their trips to Wichita, it is time for some payback.

There are a couple teams in the Valley where you can say it's a "good time to be playing" a team...those teams appear to be E-ville, CU, Bradley and Drake.

Bradley did seem to play well for most of their game yesterday but petered out at the end...will the loss be weighing on their minds or can they right the ship. Not the most inviting venue to be trying to turn things around though...

The first defining point of the season didn't go well for the Shocks.

I fully believe today is the 2nd. Bradley is not a team that will compete for a Valley title. They are a team that has slapped us around the last 3 seasons. They have confidence playing WSU. If the Shocks expect to take a step forward, this is the game to put their collective foot down and put an end to losing to average teams.

It has been awhile since this team has put together an entire game....some will say they are due, others might say its unlikely to happen.

I'm not sure which camp I am in, but I'll say I am a lot more nervous about today's game than I am excited.

Scouting report is an excerpt from Paul Sullentrop article in the
Wicita Eagle.

Bradley: Brown is Bradley’s breakout player. He started one game as a freshman and averaged 11.5 minutes a game. This season, he scored 25 against Southern Illinois and 21 against Oklahoma State. “I don’t even remember him that much from last year,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “This year, he’s a prime scoring threat for them.”æ.æ.æ. The Braves blew a seven-point lead in the final 1:28 of Friday’s 86-81 loss to Southern Illinois at home. SIU outscored the Braves 14-2 in the final 90 seconds.æ.æ.æ. Bradley is trying to win its third straight at WSU, something it hasn’t done since a four-game streak from 1958-61. Bradley has won three straight overall in the series.æ.æ.æ. The Braves rank ninth in the Valley in scoring (66.8 points a game) and eighth in defense (allowing 67.6 a game). They are last in free-throw accuracy (68.2 percent) and first defending the three-pointers (opponents make 30.0 percent).

Wichita State: The Shockers are 9-0 at home with an average winning margin of 20.8 points.æ.æ.æ. Hannah leads the MVC in free-throw accuracy at 94.7 percent. He has made 36 of 38 this season. Durley (81 percent) and Hatch (80 percent) are also in the top 15 among MVC players.æ.æ.æ. Bradley outrebounded WSU in both meetings last season and once in a 2007-08 game. WSU has out-rebounded 13 of 14 opponents this season and leads the MVC in rebound margin (plus-7.3).

RPIs as of Saturday: WSU 104, Bradley 106

Shox will be fine today at home. I'm MUCH more nervous about the game @ Missouri St on Wed