have a rare chance of late to look at opening lines tonight and noticed the braves at -1(-119) against the visiting salukis. i know siu has been weak on the road but this line is basicly static from the siu win in carbondale last month. bradley will be without ruffin and warren, both significant losses. braves were only 3-7 without ruffin earlier this season, yet no apparent line adjustment for the loss of both? siu, preseason mvc no. 1, appears to be playing into form.
siu@bradley
- Thread starter loophole
- Start date
Eating his Wheaties helps his left
Injured Bradley guard Andrew Warren thinks speculation that he could return to action by the Missouri Valley Conference tournament may be too optimistic.
"That's a bit too soon," said Warren prior to the Braves' Saturday night win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "I'm not ruling it out, but that's kind of pushing it. The doctors (Peoria surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Garst) told me 4-6 weeks. And four weeks is a week after the (Valley) tournament.
"You never know, I might heal in three weeks. It's a waiting game to see how the bone responds. But what I'm hoping for is to be back for any postseason tournament in the NCAA or NIT and wearing a protective glove."
Warren, the Braves' third-leading scorer at 13.1 points per game, broke a bone in his left hand during the Creighton game on Feb. 16. Two days later, he underwent a one-hour surgery to have a stabilizing plate and six screws inserted into the hand.
On Tuesday, the stitches will be removed and a smaller cast will be placed on his hand. At that point, the 6-foot-5 sophomore will begin hand strengthening exercises and cardio work.
"I've just been pumping the calcium and milk and getting plenty of rest," he said. "I keep (the hand) elevated, take my medication (for infection and pain) and eat about four bowls of cereal a day."
BIG BRACKETBUSTER DAY: Missouri Valley Conference commissioner Doug Elgin is basking in the glow of an impressive showing by his league in this weekend's sixth annual BracketBusters series.
The Valley went 7-2 in the event Saturday (wins by Drake, Creighton, Southern Illinois, Bradley, Indiana State, Missouri State and Evansville and losses by Northern Iowa and Wichita State) and concluded at 8-2 with Illinois State's Sunday night win over Wright State.
The most important fact of the weekend was the top five MVC teams won the five broadcast games, topped by No. 18 Drake's 71-64 win at eighth-ranked Butler.
"There is a mindset that if Drake had lost again that people might have said, 'They've lost three out of four, they're staggering,' " said Elgin, who was present at Hinkle Fieldhouse for the matchup. "But this definitely puts an exclamation point on their regular season.
"With this win, Drake assured that they not only won't have sweaty palms between our tournament championship and Selection Sunday, but they'll also probably be above the 8-9 seeding cutline. It certainly makes for an easier road when you've got that higher seed."
The knock on the Bulldogs' wondrous 24-3 season from national pundits was they didn't have a signature win on their resume. Considering Butler's ranking, undefeated home record and recent NCAA tournament success, that's no longer the case.
"What the Drake win also does is put a greater value on the games all of our teams have played against them," Elgin said. "Now people not only have a different read on Drake's strength and it raises the profile of Creighton and Illinois State."
Elgin was complimentary of Bradley's season and noted that their 2-5 record while Daniel Ruffin was sidelined with injury will definitely be taken into consideration by the Selection Committee.
But, considering the Braves have already lost 12 games, "Bradley faces longer odds (as an at-large candidate) than teams who have only eight losses (Creighton and Illinois State). But the Braves are a very talented team that has come on strong. So I wouldn't necessarily rule them out."
Bradley's RPI rating continued to rise after Saturday's win. The Braves are at No. 79, fifth in the league. Drake is No. 11, Southern Illinois is 50th, Illinois State 51st and Creighton 53rd.
"Six years in, generally speaking, the BracketBuster concept has worked," Elgin said. "You can't ask for a better opportunity to put your best foot forward with the basketball committee."
Injured Bradley guard Andrew Warren thinks speculation that he could return to action by the Missouri Valley Conference tournament may be too optimistic.
"That's a bit too soon," said Warren prior to the Braves' Saturday night win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "I'm not ruling it out, but that's kind of pushing it. The doctors (Peoria surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Garst) told me 4-6 weeks. And four weeks is a week after the (Valley) tournament.
"You never know, I might heal in three weeks. It's a waiting game to see how the bone responds. But what I'm hoping for is to be back for any postseason tournament in the NCAA or NIT and wearing a protective glove."
Warren, the Braves' third-leading scorer at 13.1 points per game, broke a bone in his left hand during the Creighton game on Feb. 16. Two days later, he underwent a one-hour surgery to have a stabilizing plate and six screws inserted into the hand.
On Tuesday, the stitches will be removed and a smaller cast will be placed on his hand. At that point, the 6-foot-5 sophomore will begin hand strengthening exercises and cardio work.
"I've just been pumping the calcium and milk and getting plenty of rest," he said. "I keep (the hand) elevated, take my medication (for infection and pain) and eat about four bowls of cereal a day."
BIG BRACKETBUSTER DAY: Missouri Valley Conference commissioner Doug Elgin is basking in the glow of an impressive showing by his league in this weekend's sixth annual BracketBusters series.
The Valley went 7-2 in the event Saturday (wins by Drake, Creighton, Southern Illinois, Bradley, Indiana State, Missouri State and Evansville and losses by Northern Iowa and Wichita State) and concluded at 8-2 with Illinois State's Sunday night win over Wright State.
The most important fact of the weekend was the top five MVC teams won the five broadcast games, topped by No. 18 Drake's 71-64 win at eighth-ranked Butler.
"There is a mindset that if Drake had lost again that people might have said, 'They've lost three out of four, they're staggering,' " said Elgin, who was present at Hinkle Fieldhouse for the matchup. "But this definitely puts an exclamation point on their regular season.
"With this win, Drake assured that they not only won't have sweaty palms between our tournament championship and Selection Sunday, but they'll also probably be above the 8-9 seeding cutline. It certainly makes for an easier road when you've got that higher seed."
The knock on the Bulldogs' wondrous 24-3 season from national pundits was they didn't have a signature win on their resume. Considering Butler's ranking, undefeated home record and recent NCAA tournament success, that's no longer the case.
"What the Drake win also does is put a greater value on the games all of our teams have played against them," Elgin said. "Now people not only have a different read on Drake's strength and it raises the profile of Creighton and Illinois State."
Elgin was complimentary of Bradley's season and noted that their 2-5 record while Daniel Ruffin was sidelined with injury will definitely be taken into consideration by the Selection Committee.
But, considering the Braves have already lost 12 games, "Bradley faces longer odds (as an at-large candidate) than teams who have only eight losses (Creighton and Illinois State). But the Braves are a very talented team that has come on strong. So I wouldn't necessarily rule them out."
Bradley's RPI rating continued to rise after Saturday's win. The Braves are at No. 79, fifth in the league. Drake is No. 11, Southern Illinois is 50th, Illinois State 51st and Creighton 53rd.
"Six years in, generally speaking, the BracketBuster concept has worked," Elgin said. "You can't ask for a better opportunity to put your best foot forward with the basketball committee."
PEORIA: Ruffin won?t play vs. SIU
Bradley senior point guard Daniel Ruffin will participate in Senior Night ceremonies, but will not play in Tuesday night?s Missouri Valley Conference game against Southern Illinois at Carver Arena, according to a release issued Monday afternoon by the university?s sports information department.
The university is continuing to review the facts related to Ruffin?s Saturday morning arrest for domestic battery at his campus apartment.
?Daniel Ruffin will not play tomorrow night versus Southern Illinois,? Bradley head coach Jim Les said in the statement. ?He will practice with the team and he will participate in the Senior Night ceremonies tomorrow, but he will remain on an indefinite game suspension until an internal review of the facts is completed. At that time, I will have further comment.?
Bradley (17-12, 9-7 MVC) will close out its 2007-08 regular-season home schedule with a tipoff time of 6 p.m. vs. the Salukis (16-12, 10-6 MVC) on ESPN2. Bradley?s three seniors?Ruffin, Matt Salley and Jeremy Crouch?will be honored in a pregame ceremony to begin at approximately 5:45 and the trio will address the crowd after the game.
Bradley senior point guard Daniel Ruffin will participate in Senior Night ceremonies, but will not play in Tuesday night?s Missouri Valley Conference game against Southern Illinois at Carver Arena, according to a release issued Monday afternoon by the university?s sports information department.
The university is continuing to review the facts related to Ruffin?s Saturday morning arrest for domestic battery at his campus apartment.
?Daniel Ruffin will not play tomorrow night versus Southern Illinois,? Bradley head coach Jim Les said in the statement. ?He will practice with the team and he will participate in the Senior Night ceremonies tomorrow, but he will remain on an indefinite game suspension until an internal review of the facts is completed. At that time, I will have further comment.?
Bradley (17-12, 9-7 MVC) will close out its 2007-08 regular-season home schedule with a tipoff time of 6 p.m. vs. the Salukis (16-12, 10-6 MVC) on ESPN2. Bradley?s three seniors?Ruffin, Matt Salley and Jeremy Crouch?will be honored in a pregame ceremony to begin at approximately 5:45 and the trio will address the crowd after the game.
thanks for the articles ie. appears to be most of the free world is on bradley throughout the day yet no line movement. guess i'll put up my first two plays in awhile. think my posted record stands at 50-48.
siu +1
mo st +1-
glta
siu +1
mo st +1-
glta
that will work loop, 
looking at over in the east carl game if it falls to around 130-131.........
looking at over in the east carl game if it falls to around 130-131.........
