haha...beat me to it!

Has to be one of the --if not the best game we have played all year.--
--5 guys in double figures
--.553 shooting
--James ANOTHER dbl dbl
--won the rebounding--albeit by only two
--Great defense--but that is normal
--sunk our freebies--AGAIN !!--Beane missing those three in a row helped--BTW a good player was defended well.
--WE RAN AND GUNNED !! No oxen ball this. !! I can tell the team likes it this way. Don't we all !!

Keep it going RAMBLERS !! Could it finally be that PORTER is wising up ??? Maybe !

All this was accomplished on the defensive end, and being smart enough to get to the free throw line.

Montel James has become a prime time player in the MVC. I think he probably deserves a second team recognition at the end of the year.

I disagree about running, Brot. We played it smart, which helped us score. We got points off turnovers. We used their defensive gambling and aggressiveness against them to get points.

But you see, John , we are now being QUICK--Running out after a board and fast fast fast--not the mopeiness (sp) we had in the beginning of the conf race--This night and against Trees we moved SO well--al; was quick. I really think it all commenced when Milton started moving--the rest took it up from him. He looks like he should look. Defense is truly important --but when we defend well and then do nothing as in the stupid Bradley game, we lose. Bottom line is to use a hockey phrase. we have JUMP in our play now.

After my last post, I walked up to a bar in Uptown Normal, where everyone was fixed on the Wichita State-ISU game. ISU won by keeping the game in the 50s against Wichita State.

I don't care how fabulous we look making athletic plays--- I WANT TO WIN. And I think we have to be SMART, DELIBERATE, and HARD WORKING to win at our level. Pretty is ugly if you're a loser.

Well at least two teams are peeking, John, Birds and us. We by defending and running--the Birds playing TEMPLE style if you will. I prefer the Kentucky run style. We had been losing while scoring in the FIFTIES (Bradley et al--while winning by running. ) I must say we ARE now playing smart and we surely are working hard--no question. When we play deliberately we have lost--See Whitesell. I like what I am now seeing--Winning with excitement. You must admit the Tree game and this one both were terrific. BTW Running DOES cause t/os by the runners--Our 63 team turned ball over a ton BUT the opponents were worse ( caused by Harkness and Egan)--Beautiful to watch

I have NOT seen us play this well since Sully --who also ran) --WAIT , there WAS that game against Green Bush when we went on a something like 21-0 run. That WAS neat.

ISU held the shockers to 6 of 27 from the 3 point line. They also made 22 of 26 free throws. That's what it takes to beat teams like that. You have to take advantage of free points at the line -- and GET THERE, and you've got to defend the perimeter as much as possible.

every time I am ready to give up on these guys they play well and win. Still dont know if they are evolving and have discovered their particular winning formula , or are we just at that point of the season where teams have worn out games and the team with the most energy wins. Or is this a back and forth....where other teams found out we struggles against the zone and full court pressure ...and now we have adjusted ( still looked like we struggled getting the ball in last night). Anyway it sure seems like MOntell Jones has started to except the fact that he has to play like two people inside or like Christian THomas.
Anyway lets keep it rolling. I am 0-3 when at games . So I am hesitant to go to Bradley but what the hell

Butler has shown how a low to mid major can build a program. They did it the way JCT suggests. We will nor will any mid major out the high major teams. They get the best of the best year in and year out. You have to out play them.

Jim, You say Butler, I say Gonzaga et al. There is actually NO reason we can not shed that Media term--Mid major, unless of course LUC Admin determines it does NOT wish to re-emerge. I, for one feel this latest up tempo game the Ramblers are playing will help ON THE COURT. But our winning now will do little good unless Admin enters the fray. As for DEFENSE without offense to match, I for one have had it. Gee, its wonderful to say WOW , we won 52-48 !!! Not for me much longer.
Teams that run and gun with D, convince themselves that their errors are FAR outweighed by the errors they cause opponents to commit--But all this is talk unless the School agrees to improve as X, Marq Gonz et al have done. I am sorry , but all the rest is blah blah blah !! Fun , of course and pleasant to do when we beat the likes of La Monroe etc.