Until next weekend's showdown between league-leading Oral Roberts and pre-season favorite IUPUI, it's shaping up to be a relatively quiet Thursday is on tap in Summit League men's hoops; mostly teams jockeying for position in the middle of the pack.
Coming up Thursday:
* IUPUI @ South Dakota State - 7 p.m.
* IPFW @ Centenary - 7 p.m.
* Western Illinois @ North Dakota State - 7 p.m.
* Oakland @ Oral Roberts - 7:05 p.m.
We don't want to play favorites here, but IUPUI should win on the road while the Golden Eagles are heavily favored to beat the Golden Grizzlies (does the winner take the gold in this one?). Having said that, I'm going to call the ORU-Oakland game the Summit League Game of the Week.
It could get really interesting down the stretch for OU if they stumble. If Oakland loses and Western and IPFW win, we'll have a three-way tie for third place. Two losses and they're staring up from a #6 seed.
I guess we have to wait and see.
Of course, IUPUI has no room for error on their road trip to the Dakotas. After losing to ORU and Centenary on the road last month, they need at least a split this weekend.
Current standings:
1. Oral Roberts 10-0/15-5—W8
2. IUPUI 9-2/17-5—W4
3. Oakland 7-4/12-10—W3
4. Western Illinois 6-5/11-11—W2
5. IPFW 6-5/9-13—W2
6. North Dakota State 5-6/11-11—L2
7. Centenary 3-7/9-13—L3
8. UMKC 3-8/8-16—L2
9. Southern Utah 3-8/5-17—L3
10. South Dakota State 2-9/7-15—L3
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
men's hoops: no room for error this thursday.
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