Championship Thread - Dogs vs Redbirds [Archive]

MetDrakeFan

03-08-2008, 06:19 PM

Predictions? I predicted Drake to win it all in my MVC Tourney thread...but, I had the Salukis in the championship, not the Redbirds, I had Wichita State winning a game, and Bradley beating Creighton.

Oh yea, what channel is this game on? It's on national tv, right? That said, I predict Drake wins it, 78-73.

douglasdmb

03-08-2008, 06:28 PM

About as great of championship game as Valley fans could've asked for. I'm picking :redbirds: to win a close one.

upsaluki

03-08-2008, 06:54 PM

Congrats to both teams. Should be a good one and both are in the NCAAs regardless.

DonRedbird

03-08-2008, 07:06 PM

Aegyptus

03-08-2008, 07:22 PM

Well, I was rooting for 3 teams from the Valley, but I will take 2 given how it was looking earlier this year. These 2 should be in either way at this point, so let the best team win. I am just going to sit back and enjoy.

Topiary

03-08-2008, 07:34 PM

Well both teams are playing well. Drake's gotta hit their outside shots or it'll be ugly. Look for Anthony Slack and Brandon Sampay in the middle for the Birds to make the difference on the boards and points in the paint. We've got some payback in order:redbirds:

Nyghtewynd

03-09-2008, 08:37 AM

IlSU has looked okay, but they haven't played anyone and even struggled for 30+ minutes with a bad MSU team. Drake has looked completely impressive the whole way, and they manhandled CU yesterday. I like Drake here by about 8.

Hail Red & White

03-09-2008, 09:02 AM

No offense to Saluki or Blue Jay fans, but it's kinda nice to see two different teams in the final this year. I don't know off the top of my head, so maybe someone can answer this question...when was the last time either SIU or Creighton did not play for the MVC championship? Drake may be playing for the best seed possible with a win today, while Illinois State wants to take any doubts about its inclusion in the NCAA field out of the Selection Committee's hands next Sunday. Good luck to both teams...hope it's a good showcase for Valley basketball. I'll take ISU in a close one, say...65-62.

Bulldogfanny

03-09-2008, 11:22 AM

Kentucky / Florida - Two bubble teams - lets get to some real basketball from a top 25 team.

shockball

03-09-2008, 11:23 AM

ISU 7 DU 4 16:30 left.
:valley::bulldogs::redbirds:

azbirdfan

03-09-2008, 11:26 AM

S**T! Get that UK/Florida game over with already!!

VromanFan

03-09-2008, 11:27 AM

Anthroshock

03-09-2008, 11:28 AM

Kentucky / Florida - Two bubble teams - lets get to some real basketball from a top 25 team.

I just wish they would stop calling it a "great" basketball game.

Crap.

Bulldogfanny

03-09-2008, 11:37 AM

Drake is HOT!! They were waiting for the live coverage to start playing. Drake 14 - 11 with 11:14 left.

3 minutes in and Enberg has told us Drake was picked to finish 9th three times.

Love that Keno is giving starters a break in the early going. so theyll have a little left at then end.

shockball

03-09-2008, 11:39 AM

and whoever #11 is hits a 3 late in the shot clock.

Bulldogfanny

03-09-2008, 11:41 AM

Nice play by Emmy to Bucky. Can we do that against a tournament team?

Hein72

03-09-2008, 11:45 AM

UNI won in '04 but I don't know who they beat.

They beat SMS in a double overtime game I think.

Bulldogfanny

03-09-2008, 11:48 AM

Parker has 250% of his average scoring for the season Future is bright with this young Jedi.

CaliRdBrd

03-09-2008, 11:51 AM

Parker has 250% of his average scoring for the season Future is bright with this young Jedi.

Please no Star Wars references. You're one step away from Dungeons & Dragons discussions.

WSUbballer

03-09-2008, 11:56 AM

Wow.. Drake is so effing good.

But are they impressive enough?.. :ermm:

Drake is a legitimate Sweet 16 possibility, maybe even Elite 8, if they play like this consistently..

:bulldogs::valley:

Aegyptus

03-09-2008, 11:57 AM

Man, I sure hope the layoff doesn't hurt Drake. The way they are playing right now, I don't care what seed they are ... they are going to get themselves some wins in the tourney.

Just love this Drake story.

40-19 at the half.

Hortonfldhse

03-09-2008, 12:00 PM

Seems like everything was falling for Drake. that had to be by far their best half of basketball this year. Couple that with a cold shooting Redbird team and you get the score at half

shockball

03-09-2008, 12:04 PM

DU has 10 points off the bench in the first half.
halftime stats
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=280692181

jaypharmalum

03-09-2008, 12:04 PM

I tunred the game on just as Drake took a 5 point lead, at the beginning of the 19-0 run. Obviously, I am good luck for the Doggies as they won all other three times I saw them this year. You guys owe me.

Keep up this any *maybe* you could somehow squeeze out a high enough seed to come to Omaha for NCAA.

gosalukie

03-09-2008, 12:05 PM

After that first half and now that my salukis are NIT bound, I am on the Drake bandwagon..........Go Bulldogs!!!!!!!!! Wow!:bulldogs::bulldogs:

Hein72

03-09-2008, 12:05 PM

Bulldogfanny

03-09-2008, 12:10 PM

From ESPN Bubble watch.. Barring a disaster against Drake, the Redbirds should like their chances at this point.

ISU Red should be in but this is not good for them. I expect Keno to play some bench for experience if DU maintains 20+ lead.

I don't like Ohio State winning today vs. MSU or Syracuse's last two wins. Go Clemson today vs. Virginai Tech.

Really would love to see two MVC teams in the tournament.

Bulldogfanny

03-09-2008, 12:13 PM

Drake is on fire. Amazing as I thought they were starting to slump after the win at Butler. Wow are they proving me wrong.

Ill. St. even if they cant win this game they need to close the gap. Dont want to give the committee any doubt they deserve to be in.

:bulldogs::redbirds::valley:

I think the Defense has really picked up after the WSU game. DU has been picking up screens, jumping out on players and having much better positioning than that mid-season stretch where we lost a few games.

WSUbballer

03-09-2008, 12:13 PM

I don't wanna see an NCAA Tournament full of BCS at-larges again. It's so boring.

I think there's a conspiracy out that all the BCS locks are losing to their BCS in-conference foes in order to help get as many of them in as possible.

Yuck..

Hein72

03-09-2008, 12:21 PM

I would be pissed if 24-9 :redbirds: get bounced by a bunch of 19-12 .500 in confrence BCS schools.

WSUbballer

03-09-2008, 01:03 PM

Congratulations on an IMPRESSIVE championship run Drake!

:bulldogs::valley:

SalukiProf

03-09-2008, 01:06 PM

Welcome back to the dance :bulldogs:. :valley:

Hortonfldhse

03-09-2008, 01:07 PM

Congrats Drake on the *** whuppin' you put on us. Of course if the BCS bias comittee doesn't put us in because of this I will be pissed. Drake probably would have beat most teams today as hot as they were and every bounce seemed to go there way but regardless they play a great brand of basketball that will be hard to beat in the tourney.

tampabluej

03-09-2008, 01:09 PM

Savor this, Drake fans. You've earned it.

:bulldogs:

ISU (red) fans: See you in the big dance.

SIU, Jays fans: NIT bids are forthcoming.

:valley:

D Fast

03-09-2008, 01:14 PM

I did not expect this kind of game at all. Grats to both teams.

Way to go :bulldogs:

getreal4

03-09-2008, 01:17 PM

Wow! Bulldogs are for real! :bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs:

JSMBulldog

03-09-2008, 01:19 PM

I'm really proud and surprised by the effort put forth by the Bulldogs. These guys look like they are really ready and willing to go to the tournament and cause some damage. I predict a 5-seed at the worst for the Bulldogs.

WuDrWu

03-09-2008, 01:25 PM

Amazingly impressive season for the Bulldogs. Congrats to the team and their loyal fans. Good luck in the tourney and enjoy the ride.

:shockers::bulldogs::valley::redbirds:

skinny_uncle

03-09-2008, 01:44 PM

Congrats to the Bulldogs. It's been a long time coming. Enjoy your trip to the Dance.
:bulldogs:

goaces

03-09-2008, 01:52 PM

All Aces fans are living vicariously through Drake basketball. Best story in college basketball in my 40 plus years of watching the game. Bulldog basketball represents all that is good in the college game today. Enjoy this moment Drake AND Valley fans.

P.S. Please mail UE your instructions for turning program around. :lol:

MetDrakeFan

03-09-2008, 01:59 PM

...P.S. Please mail UE your instructions for turning program around. :lol:

Hire Dr. Tom! lol:lol: :valley:

kyyle23

03-09-2008, 02:13 PM

Congrats go out to every Drake fan, you guys rocked it from the first day until the last. Enjoy this accomplishment

consider me impressed :grin: :yes:

WSUfan

03-09-2008, 02:21 PM

:bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs: :bulldogs:
:valley::valley::valley::valley::valley::valley:
:bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs: :bulldogs:
:valley::valley::valley::valley::valley::valley:
:bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs: :bulldogs:
:valley::valley::valley::valley::valley::valley:

RiseUp

03-09-2008, 02:27 PM

Hire Dr. Tom! lol:lol: :valley:

Dr. Tom did it the right way. He laid the foundation and Keno took it and ran with it, tweaking the system and putting his own stamp on it.

The only downside to Drake's impressive championship today was that it had to hurt the Valley getting a second team in the Dance. And, that would be a shame.

:bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs:
:valley::valley::valley:

azbirdfan

03-09-2008, 02:35 PM

Unbelievable game!! I give Drake all the credit in the world, congrats!! Illinois State's worst loss of the year before this game was by 13 points to Indiana in Chicago and that was early on.

Every other loss this year for us was in single digits and decided in the last 2 minutes of the game. I hope this doesn't kill our chances at a berth.

gutwrencher

03-09-2008, 02:43 PM

THAT'S what I'm talkin' about baby....and what I've been babblin' about ALL year. Damn....we are....THE DRAKE BULLDOGS!

:bulldogs::valley::bulldogs::valley::bulldogs::val ley::bulldogs:

:bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs:

Bring on selection Sunday at the Knapp!!!!!!!!!

Nyghtewynd

03-09-2008, 02:52 PM

I have not seen a more impressive half of basketball from ANYONE in the country than Drake played in the first half. Not Duke, not UCLA, not UNC, not anyone. That was as close to a perfect half as you can play.

That being said, other than the big O, IlSU no-showed. The Valley may have five NIT teams.

Hail Red & White

03-09-2008, 03:13 PM

I can't add many more superlatives to what's been written already about the Drakedogs' dominating performance in St. Louis today. DU really was clicking on all cylanders against the Redbirds. Funny to think some of us might have been thinking Drake was starting to "lose it" by suffering 3 losses down the stretch of the regular season. Then again, the losses were by a total of 7 points. Just goes to show how competitive the MVC was/is in basketball. As a Bradley fan, I doff my cap to Bulldog Nation!

Awesome

03-09-2008, 03:21 PM

Congrats to Drake on their impressive and unpredictable championship. While I would've liked to see ISU Red win, to guarantee the league gets two teams in, Drake is going to be an outstanding representative for the Valley. Even if Drake is the only school to get in, they should be able to show the power of the Valley with a few wins. Here's to Drake not getting a horrible seed, and here's to ISU Red getting a bid.

Congrats.

:bulldogs: :valley: :redbirds:

P.S. I see the Valley returning with a vengence next year. Eight teams in the post season!!!!

Angrybluejaydan

03-09-2008, 03:42 PM

Congratulations Drake!:bulldogs:

Here's a couple of things to think about:

1. With Drake in the 20 spot, and looking to move up, We will have 5 different teams from the MVC make the season ending rankings during this decade. The teams include Creighton from 2003:jays:The Shockers and Braves from two years ago when they landed in the Sweet 16:shockers::braves: and the Saluki's, a couple of times:salukis:

2. If Drake:bulldogs: can keep rolling and make that Sweet 16 that would be 4 different MVC teams to hit the Sweet 16 during this past decade:Salukis:salukis:Shocks:shockers:and Bradley:braves:

We gotta hope for Illinois State to get an at large. The 30 point loss didn't help, but it was to a Top 20 team for crying out loud!

As for the Bulldogs, count me as impressed!

BTW: GO JAYS!:jays:

Ace Dad

03-09-2008, 04:11 PM

Not sure that one fantastic year means the program has turned around. Just like one "out of character year" for SIU does not mean their program is in the dumps.

This has been a fairy tale year for Drake and they deserve all the accolades. However, not sure if Coach Keno thinks he has "turned the program around." Drake University needs to finish in the top 3 or 4 consistently the next 3-4 years before the "program" is turned around.

DannyCooksey

03-09-2008, 06:22 PM

Congrats to Drake

That was one first rate a**-whipping you laid on the Redbirds today. You have a great team that played great today. Good luck in the NCAA's and represent the Valley well.

:bulldogs:

frontrowdrake

03-09-2008, 06:32 PM

One of the things I have loved about beeing a Drake fan these last 7 years and of course especially this year, is the incredible fans of the entire Valley. When the Dogs were bad there was very little kicking us while we were down, and now this wow-of-a-season, I read all these congratualtions posts. Congratulations to each and everyone of you for being part of a really unique group, that loves their team and loves their opponent-buddies throughout the Valley. Blessings on all of you.:bulldogs::valley::clap:

gutwrencher

03-09-2008, 06:36 PM

This has been a fairy tale year for Drake and they deserve all the accolades. However, not sure if Coach Keno thinks he has "turned the program around." Drake University needs to finish in the top 3 or 4 consistently the next 3-4 years before the "program" is turned around.

Based on the past? We have turned around, it's a no-brainer. As far as the next few years, Drake will NOT belly-flop. Now, if you think we go 21 games without a loss and finish up at this date at 28-4....that will not happen. It does not need to happen like that to have a good year. With the kids we have on the return....and the solid players we have coming in....plus Keno.....it all spells out a winning program for the Bulldogs. I'm not sure if that will sit well with non-Drake fans, but it's going to happen that way so might as well suck it up now and be ready for it.

The MVC will be strong next year. We have some outstanding young players around the Valley who will be monsters next year. It will be much tougher for Drake, but they have proved to be able to handle just about anything thrown at them, so I am not worried at ALL about next year or the year after. I AM excited as hell for these next few years though and will be waiting all summer for it to start up again.

:bulldogs::valley::bulldogs:

drakeguy

03-09-2008, 06:55 PM

Way to go Bulldogs! Easily the best performance of the year, and against a very talented team. ISU should still be in the dance, good luck to the Redbirds. Gotta love Emmecker!!

MSNSaluki

03-09-2008, 07:46 PM

It's gonna be hilarious for the next 9 months with Drake fans telling everybody else on Valley talk to **** ... enjoy the mountaintop! Well deserved, my friends.

Now, kick some *** in the NCAA tournament.:bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs::bulldogs :

PS - Illinois State ... you are going too.

Dawg_tired

03-09-2008, 08:11 PM

Wow. Just got back from St. Louis. What an experience! My personal thanks for all the congrats and thanks to everybody I met in the Lou. I can't tell you how many opposing fans came up after the game and said, go beat the next guys. I was afraid the Dogs would tire, but they only seemed to get stronger. I don't know what it looked like on TV, but the dogs played tremendous defense the whole tourney. When the shots weren't falling against the Jays, the defense kept us going.

I was really worried about the Redbirds. The best thing is my father-in-law said we couldn't beat them three times. He's coming over for dinner this week. Guess what we're serving. Stool you're invited too.

Mc Bulldog

03-09-2008, 08:24 PM

DT .. hooked on Archmadness. :grin:

Birdfan10

03-09-2008, 08:48 PM

Congratulations to Drake on a great season, and an amazing game.

As a Redbird fan this game has ruined my whole weekend. It really is going to be a long spring break thinking whether or not we get in the tourney.

usmcdog

03-09-2008, 08:53 PM

Keita44

03-09-2008, 08:59 PM

Just got back from St. Louis; here are a few things I observed from this weekend:

1. Drake beats teams when we don't shoot well.....and destroy teams when we do shoot well. Heck, even Brent made a turn around jumper from the baseline.

2. One man teams can't win a tourney (Illinois State did well when it shared the ball, as in the UNI game, but when Osiris tried to take over today, they got routed.)

3. The MVC was actually hurt this year by having the championship game on CBS. Now, all of the people that watched the game today think that Illinois State is a bad team, and thus, they will fall in the Bracketology stuff, when in reality, they are a NCAA-quality team.

4. Dana does a very good job of preparing his team. He goes in with probably the youngest team, yet finds a way to beat a very good veteran Bradley team and then play a heck of a game against Drake.

By the way, has DS made an appearance yet? Can't wait to hear his thoughts.....:innocent:

Keita44

03-09-2008, 09:00 PM

This was my first Valley Tournement and was wondering if it is the norm for the 2nd place team not to have a representative present to accept their trophy? I would think someone should be available to accept the award. Any comments?

The team has to stay and do the press conferences and stuff following the game for a certain amount of time, but I agree that they should have had someone come out.

Also, Coleman and Osiris should have been there to accept their first team tourney awards.

Mecha_Bulldog

03-09-2008, 10:27 PM

Just got back from St Louis, and my wife wants me to get this on the board. Sorry to anybody in section 103 who was terrorized by my young kids. To the Drake fan who sat in a seat after my kid spilled honey mustard on it, sorry about that, I swear I did my best to clean it. To anybody who got beaned by a mini basketball, sorry, I swear my daughter threw it just seconds after we told her not to, and thanks for handing it back to us. And to the people sitting next to us, sorry about all that spilled soda pop. :innocent:

Mecha_Bulldog

03-09-2008, 10:45 PM

Seems like everything was falling for Drake. that had to be by far their best half of basketball this year. Couple that with a cold shooting Redbird team and you get the score at half

Either half against Illinois St could've been Drake's best half of the year. This game was Drake's best game since they played a different ISU (Iowa State). That game ended with a similar score, 79-44.

DUBulldog

03-10-2008, 08:23 AM

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

BTbird

03-10-2008, 08:49 AM

Congrats to the Bulldogs! You left no question on who is the best team in the MVC this year.

Good luck at the tourney!

DUBulldog

03-10-2008, 09:11 AM

Not sure if the first half was Drake's best half of basketball this season or not....but it was definitely in the top 3-4. Keno had been saying for the last month that Drake hadn't played their best basketball yet. Guess he was right.

I felt confident about Drake's chances going into yesterday's game, but absolutely could not have predicted that they'd win as convincingly as they did. At the first media time-out, I was worried that ISU might blow the Bulldogs out. Drake was really struggling offensively, and ISU was getting great looks every time down the court. But, once Drake started to get good shots, there was no stopping them.

This team continues to surprise me, to amaze me, and to impress me.