Nationally televised game won't be a bust

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Bruce Weber will have a chance to prove himself to the nation and his alma mater at the same time.

ESPN announced Sunday night that SIU will face Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Weber's alma mater, Feb. 22 in the ESPN Bracket Buster game, which will be televised on ESPN2.

Weber was out of town recruiting and was not able to be reached for comment, but his players said there would be no extra incentive in the game simply because it is against their coach's old school.

The team wants to win on what will be a national stage - something they say is incentive enough.

"It's going to help no matter what," said junior Brad Korn. "We'll get more national exposure and hopefully pick up a win."

Some players did express disappointment over their opponent. Many were hoping for a higher RPI team such as Fresno State or, even better, Hawaii. Many on the team, including Weber, wanted to draw Hawaii because it would mean a home game in Honolulu next year. Instead, they will play in less-than-sunny Milwaukee.

UW-Milwaukee's Ratings Percentage Index is only 96 despite a 16-5 record, but Korn said he will take the Panthers. UW-Milwaukee plays in the Horizon League, a team SIU found out can be dangerous when it lost to Illinois-Chicago earlier in the year.

"It really doesn't matter to me, but it probably would have been nice for the RPI and the selection team if we could have gotten one of those teams and beat them," Korn said.. "But it's not going to help us at all if we lose, so first of all we gotta win."

The Bracket Buster was designed to give mid-major teams a shot at national exposure a few weeks before the NCAA Tournament. Three other Missouri Valley Conference teams - Creighton, Northern Iowa and Illinois State will compete in the Bracket Buster.

Sophomore Darren Brooks said the exposure, not the opponent, is the important part of the Bracket Buster, so he is happy to be playing anyone.

"I kind of wanted to play a higher RPI team like Hawaii but at the same time we get to play on ESPN2 and get a little exposure," Brooks said. "So it worked out pretty good."

Reporter Michael Brenner can be reached at mbrenner@dailyegyptian.com