To the Cougars of Chicago State, Illinois doesn’t exist. And their really large city sitting along that really large lake is the 51st state. Sorry Puerto Rico, they beat you to it. And if this little fact doesn’t make a degree from this fine institution next to worthless, it should at least make the geography department a running joke. But if we can dispense with bad nomenclature humor, there’s a much bigger task at hand. Namely preparing my dear readers for tonight’s second round game.

Chicago State (1-0) somehow squeaked past St. Bonaventure last night, winning the right to get kicked in the face repeatedly by the Longhorns. They were carried largely by redshirt sophomore guard David Holston, who is listed at 5’8″, but is actually not much taller than Earl Boykins. Holston scored 43 against the Bonnies last night, which broke the school record of 40 according to some random staffer on the Chicago State bench.

But more important than Holston’s J.J. Redick impersonation was Chicago State’s absolute lack of rebounding skill. The final box score had them only outrebounded 37-30 by St. Bonaventure, but much of that defecit was made up during the Cougars’ winning push in the final eight minutes of the game. And if it weren’t for a monumental meltdown by the Bonnies at the line (the team finished 22-for-41 from the stripe), the Longhorns would have a different opponent in tonight’s ballgame.

Last season, Chicago State finished the year 11-19, yet still somehow made the championship game of the Mid-Continent Conference tournament, where they finally fell to Oral Roberts, 85-72. The Cougars return seven seniors from that team, so they should be quite experienced….at losing. Besides 7-footer Chidozie Chukwumah, the Chicago State team is a small one that will most likely be abused the same way that Alcorn State was.

So bring the family out to the Erwin Center tonight for a little doubleheader, or show up late and forget about those losers in the consolation game. The Horns are scheduled to tip at 7:30, but I’m personally banking on it being a little later than that. Come early, be loud, stay late, and wear orange…but don’t plan on drinking Dr. Pepper. Because apparently the FEC is the only place in the whole state of Texas that doesn’t sell it.