Game Thread: OU vs. Western Illinois

[Grizzfan1]

Even though it is WIU and they are not very good this year (I thought they would be a little improved) it is still a league game and should not be taken lightly. I doubt the guys will do that and plus they know what's at stake especially with an important 3 game roadtrip the next couple of weeks. The layoff between these next few games should give the team more time to recover from nagging injuries even though with Ledrick it may be a bit longer.

[blackandgold]

WIU has had a ton of injuries this season, perhaps more than any other team in the league. I hope for their coach's sake that they get some guys back, but even if they were at full-strength, Oakland is proving to be too much at home in conference play. Hoping to see an electric O'rena for a second straight game and a 20-20 performance from Benson!

Here's a game preview from the Grizzlies Gameplan blog: grizzliesgameplan.blogspot.com/2011/01/game-preview-oakland-vs-western.html

There is a pretty solid Q&A with WIU student radio guy who has called all of their games this season with some nice discussion of the team's injury plague.

[ouguy]

Im excited for the game today! Hopefully we do not look past this Leatherneck team, because you never know.

I'm looking for OU to get a decent lead and to use the size of our bench to get through this game. I know WIU is quite injured, so hopefully we will be able to rest all of our walking wounded and give them the long week off to rest up for the IPFW matchup next saturday.

I see snow in the forecast for today, but I hope it doesn't lower our turnout tonight. This is everyones last chance to see the Grizzlies for almost 3 weeks. And come on, we live in Michigan, not California, for crying out loud!

[Garry Gilbert]

I'll be there and I'm bringing 15 friends and family members to sit in the alumni area. Go Grizzlies.

Western Illinois is my wife's alma mater, so I hope to see the Grizz roll by about 30.

[Germane]

Ken Pom has Oakland favored 82-60, while realtimerpi predicts an Oakland win 87-50. I'll take just about any kind of win going into the next week off, when we have time to get healthier.

[Grizzfan1]

Betting line has OU as a 19.5 favorite.

[sportsdoctor05]

I watched all of 5 minutes of this game on channelsurfing, but looking at the box score of this one, & the last few games Valentine really stepped his game up!! I mean 17 & 14! I know its a depleted WIU team, but I'm impressed w/ his play of late especially considering he started the season out looking lost on many possessions, & correct me if I'm wrong, but he was supposed to be the 3rd string small forward right?

The next few games will be against some solid teams, so hopefully we'll get healthy & fare well.

[Germane]

I'll take this kind of win any day. Three Oakland players get double doubles (Valentine, Benson, Hamilton), we win by nearly 30, no injuries, and we had a full house with a great Grizz Gang performance (again).

[Leobrn12]

Nice win! Great to see Drew improving every single game! Has anyone seen a player improve so much during half of a season before?!?!

Its a shame I didn't get a ticket to this game. I drive up there to see standing room only! I would of stood the whole game, but my girlfriend wouldn't have it. Was there some kind of big promotion or something going on at the game?

[exodus1500]

I was seriously worried about valentine earlier in the season. He literally looked like they stuck a sophmore high schooler out there, just completely lost. I think the big games early taught him a lot. You dont get better playing people worse than you and I think it may have forced him to step up and focus himself. he is turning into a better shooting nelson the way he is playing D and killing the boards.