What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/18/2019

Hoop Thoughts: The controversial new flop rule, the man behind Monmouth’s viral dunk, how Bilas prepares and more--The Athletic

With the score tied at 56-56 and 57 seconds remaining in a game between Xavier and Missouri State on Friday night, Bears senior forward Lamonte West rose to attempt a 3-pointer from the left corner that could have given his team a chance to pull off a huge road upset. Here’s what happened next. If this play had been called correctly, Xavier’s Paul Scruggs would have been called for a foul, and West would have been rewarded with three free throws. At the very least, there should have been no call. Yet, not only was there no foul called, but West was assessed a Class B technical foul for flopping.
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Other Hoop Thoughts
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• You’re telling me Evansville, the team that went into Rupp Arena and knocked off then-No. 1 Kentucky, was picked to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference? Gosh, I can’t wait to see those other seven teams.

Braves storm back in the second half, extinguish UIC--Bradley Scout

Braves rout Red Devils--Bradley Scout

Men’s Basketball Cruises Past Simpson Sunday Afternoon--godrakebulldogs.com

This Week in Mid-Major: Evansville focused on what’s next, East Tennessee State on what could be, and we have a new No. 1--The Athletic
Bennett: Against the spread picks for Monday’s best college basketball games--The Athletic

SMU at Evansville (-2), 7 p.m., ESPN+: Both teams are undefeated, but SMU has yet to play a team ranked better than 219th on KenPom.com. Evansville, on the other hand, won at Rupp Arena and got its follow-up out of the way by beating NAIA school IU-Kokomo on Thursday. It’s difficult to get a good read on the Mustangs because of their schedule or know if the Purple Aces were just a one-hit-wonder. So I’ll just take the home team riding a wave of good feelings and hope for the best. The pick: Evansville

NCAA Basketball: Will Evansville become mid-major star of 2019-20?--Busting Brackets
The Aces are November's Cinderella facing a pivotal matchup with SMU | Lindskog--Evansville Courier & Press
Aces set to face SMU on Monday at the Ford Center--gopurpleaces.com