ST. LOUIS —
The commissioner of the Missouri Valley Conference says he would rather have the tournament title game televised on the Food Network if CBS can’t guarantee it will televise the entire game nationally.
Doug Elgin told The Associated Press on Monday that central and northern Illinois and all of Indiana didn’t see the conclusion of Creighton’s 68-65 nail-biter over Wichita State. Wichita State shaved a 13-point deficit to one in the final minute and Malcolm Armstead missed a potential tying 3-pointer just before the buzzer Sunday.
“They’ll never be able to make this up to us,” said Elgin, adding the conference had received “hundreds” of complaints from irate fans. “Our concern is our most important game of the year carries nationally — all of it. That’s certainly what we bargained for.”
CBS switched some viewers to the start of Indiana’s victory at Michigan for the Big Ten title. The 10-team Missouri Valley has four schools in the areas that missed the finish of the championship game — Bradley, Illinois State, Indiana State and Evansville.
CBS spokeswoman Jennifer Sabatelle said the decision to switch games affected about 17 percent of the country and was made when Creighton had a 10-point lead with 3:50 remaining at 4:05 p.m. EDT, time for another tip-off.
“We pulled out the home territories of the Big Ten to get them to the start of the Michigan-Indiana game,” Sabatelle said. “The overwhelming majority stayed on the Missouri Valley championship.”
CBS acquired the rights to the title game through ESPN, with the Valley’s consent.
Elgin said the finish of last year’s title game, Creighton’s overtime victory over Illinois State, was pre-empted in certain markets, too. Discussions with CBS since Sunday’s game have not been satisfying for Elgin, who called the decision “inexcusable” and a “bitter pill to swallow” for the conference.
“I’ve vented a lot on this, maybe to excess,” Elgin said, referring to his Food Network crack. “I do think we want to continue to have discussions on this and make sure our jewel is protected.”
Creighton returned to the rankings at No. 23 and had an impressive RPI ranking of 25 after winning the conference tournament for the second straight year and earning an automatic NCAA tournament berth. Wichita State was ranked earlier in the season and had an RPI of 39 and could get an at-large NCAA tournament bid.
The Valley televises every regular-season game on Fox Sports Midwest and via the Internet on ESPN3.
Elgin had little to say about rumors Creighton might want to leave the Valley to join the so-called “Catholic Seven” in a reformed Big East. He added the Valley won’t be caught in the lurch.
“We respect the right of any institution to determine its own destiny,” Elgin said. “We haven’t been informed of any invitation extended or discussions made, and we’re prepared to move forward strategically if any decision is made.”
Sports
MVC chief irate over CBS blackout
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Ethan Page is the race director for the Terre Haute Triathlon.
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TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
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A former Terre Haute North track and cross country standout, Ethan Page is the race director as the race falls under the reign of Page’s new company, Crossroads Events. -
Olds pitches South to share of MIC baseball title
Friday night, winning the second game 5-0 and earning a share of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title.
Damon Olds was dominant on the mound for the Braves, striking out 14 and walking just one while pitching a three-hit shutout. -
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The second game, which started after Senior Night festivities between games, ended past the Tribune-Star deadline. -
Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
ISU couldn’t do it. -
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Brandon Behringer went 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Vikings, who secured second place in the Western Indiana Conference.
Kaden Lawson had double for South Vermillion (15-7), which finished 4-2 in the WIC. -
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His baseball equivalent might be Rick Sutcliffe of the 1984 Chicago Cubs.
When Tyler Seibert returned to the Terre Haute South track and field lineup Thursday for sectional action at Terre Haute North, it was like the midseason trade the Cubs made for Sutcliffe that earned them a playoff spot. -
South switches up lineup to defeat North in tennis sectional
Terre Haute South coach Bill Blankenbaker said two weeks ago that he would change the Braves’ lineup after the 3-2 dual-meet loss to Terre Haute North.
The Patriots knew it was coming, but they couldn’t do anything to stop it. -
Behind 16 hits and Manaea's pitching, ISU beats Bradley
Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
First came the public announcement that Bob Warn Field would host the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Later, Sean Manaea’s availability to pitch ISU’s series opener against Bradley was in doubt. -
Indiana State women add five transfers, including experienced D-I point guard
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PREP ROUNDUP: North slips past Northview in eight-inning baseball game
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TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain. -
Vigo County Youth Soccer Association to host Indiana Soccer Cup Games
The Vigo County Youth Soccer Association will welcome more than 7,000 people to its Springhill Drive facility through two tournaments in the next five weeks.
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METRO ROUNDUP: North, South well-represented on All-Star teams
Two Terre Haute schools, two Terre Haute coaches and four Terre Haute All-Stars.
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Wabash baseball tops Rose-Hulman
Wabash College scored two runs in the third inning and two in the fifth to top Rose-Hulman 4-1 in non-conference baseball Wednesday afternoon.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
- High School
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Olds pitches South to share of MIC baseball title
Friday night, winning the second game 5-0 and earning a share of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title.
Damon Olds was dominant on the mound for the Braves, striking out 14 and walking just one while pitching a three-hit shutout. - South wins first half of doubleheader against Lawrence North
- PREP ROUNDUP: Calleja pitches West Vigo past South Vermillion
- Seibert returns from injury to win three events as Braves win sectional crown
- South switches up lineup to defeat North in tennis sectional
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- College
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Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
ISU couldn’t do it. -
Behind 16 hits and Manaea's pitching, ISU beats Bradley
Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
First came the public announcement that Bob Warn Field would host the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Later, Sean Manaea’s availability to pitch ISU’s series opener against Bradley was in doubt. -
Indiana State women add five transfers, including experienced D-I point guard
Indiana State coach Teri Moren believes the addition of five more newcomers to the program — in addition to the five who had already joined the program earlier this calendar year — will provide her coaching staff the athleticism and depth it needs to play a successful, up-tempo brand of basketball next season.
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Metro roundup: Woods softball takes seventh in national tournament
The St. Mary-of-the-Woods softball team finished seventh in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association softball tournament on Tuesday at Firestone Stadium.
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Metro Roundup: Indiana State’s Shakir Bell on Performance Awards watch list
College Football Performance Awards has announced its watch list for the 2013 CFPA FCS Running Back Award, and Indiana State’s Shakir Bell earned a spot on the list.
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Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
- Sports Columns
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Ethan Page is the race director for the Terre Haute Triathlon.
-
TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
Today is the day for the Thunder in the Valley, and the Terre Haute Triathlon is under new leadership in 2013, the 28th year for the event at Hawthorn Park.
A former Terre Haute North track and cross country standout, Ethan Page is the race director as the race falls under the reign of Page’s new company, Crossroads Events. - TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
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TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. - Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
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TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
Soggy weather conditions, which have rightfully drawn the ire of Wabash Valley race fans and crews in recent days, continue to plague promoters where it hurts the most — their pocketbooks.
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TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers





