What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/23/2019

The Morning Dish – Thursday, November 21, 2019--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu

The slate gets busy as the early season tournaments get underway, with first round action in two eight-team tournaments on tap and semifinal action in another, as well as the start of another multi-team event.
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The quarterfinals of the Charleston Classic begin with Missouri State battling Miami (11:30 a.m.), then Florida takes on Saint Joseph’s (2 p.m.) to finish the afternoon session. In the evening, Xavier takes on Towson (7 p.m.) and Buffalo takes on UConn (9:00 p.m.)
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The Junkanoo Jam gets underway in the Bahamas with Air Force battling Loyola Marymount (4 p.m.) and Duquesne taking on Indiana State (6:30 p.m.)
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Staying in Iowa, Drake gets a test in the form of a visit from Lehigh (8 p.m.)

The Morning Dish – Saturday, November 23, 2019--Hoopville

Side Dishes

Tournament/multi-team event roundup:

In other games in the Charleston Classic, Missouri State edged Saint Joseph’s 71-69 and Buffalo edged Towson 76-73 in consolation round action. The other semifinal was a very different game, with Florida breaking away from Miami 78-58 to get the day going.
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The Paradise Jam got underway with quarterfinal action, with Valparaiso taking out Grand Canyon 78-74, Nevada beating Fordham 74-60, Cincinnati just getting past Illinois State 66-65 in a dandy, and Bowling Green edging Western Kentucky 77-75 despite 19 points and 12 rebounds from Charles Bassey.
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Some injury news we missed from Thursday: Southern Illinois suffered a big blow earlier in the week, as the school announced Aaron Cook will be out 4-6 weeks with a broken hand suffered in Tuesday night’s loss at Murray State. The senior is their leading scorer and assist man through the first six games.
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Tonight’s Menu

The action slows down just a bit for a day as football takes over and a couple of tournaments take a one-day break before finishing up.
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The Paradise Jam has consolation round action with Grand Canyon playing Fordham (3 p.m.) and Illinois State taking on Western Kentucky in what should be a nice mid-major matchup (5 p.m.)

Future College Basketball Non-Conference Schedules for 2020 and Beyond--Watch Stadium

Illinois State

TBD: UTSA
2020-21: Northern Kentucky
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Northern Iowa

November 15, 2020: Northern Illinois
December 19, 2020: at Marshall
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Valparaiso

TBD: Eastern Michigan
2020-21: Charlotte

News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Thursday, Nov 21st--Hoops HD

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
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-MISSOURI STATE VS MIAMI FL (Charleston Classic). Missouri State is off to a so-so start, but they did look good the other night against Xavier and are still the favorites to win the MVC. If they want a chance to land inside the bubble then they’ll need to pick up some wins in this tournament.
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-DUQUESNE VS INDIANA STATE (Junkando Jam). Duquesne is off to a 3-0 start and stands a very good chance of being 6-0 by the end of this tournament. Their opponents haven’t exactly been high caliber, but they are worth keeping an eye on this year.

News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Friday, Nov 22nd--Hoops HD

NEWS AND NOTES
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-Duquesne squeaked out a win against Indiana State in the Junkanoo Jam. I do not believe Duquesne is a world beater, but they are unbeaten and they have a long string of winnable games ahead of them, so they could at least have a much more bloated record (albeit against cupcakes) than what we normally see out of Duquesne.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
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-VALPARAISO VS GRAND CANYON (Paradise Jam). GCU got off to a rocky start, but they are coming off an impressive looking win against Montana State, so perhaps they can turn the corner by playing well in this tournament. Valpo wasn’t expected to do much this year, but they are 3-1 and this event is an opportunity for them to pick up some decent wins.

-MISSOURI STATE VS SAINT JOSEPH’S (Mytrle Beach Invitational). Saint Joseph’s wasn’t expected to be much this year, but they have shown a bit of potential so far, and this would be another decent win for them to pick up. Missouri State was the preseason favorites to win the Missouri Valley, and although they’ve played well in some games, they really don’t have the actual wins yet. This one would be good if they’re able to get it.
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-ILLINOIS STATE VS CINCINNATI (Paradise Jam). Cincinnati was tested on the road against Ohio State, but didn’t get over the hump in that one and has just played and won buy games outside of that. This tournament is a chance for them to begin to build their resume. They better not overlook this Illinois State team who is pretty good and could use this event to bolster their profile as well.
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-EVANSVILLE VS EAST CAROLINA (Island of the Bahamas Showcase). Evansville is coming off a home loss to SMU, but they still have that huge win against Kentucky on their resume and if they still have a path to landing inside the bubble if they can continue to string together wins. East Carolina isn’t all that good, and it really is a team they should beat.

Feast Week Viewing Guide: Saturday, November 23, 2019--Blogging The Bracket

Islands of the Bahamas Showcase Semifinals
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Championship

Liberty Flames (6-0, ASUN) vs. Rice Owls (5-2, C-USA), 5 p.m.
Kansas City Roos (3-3, WAC) vs. East Carolina Pirates (2-3, American), 8 p.m.
Consolation

Morgan State Bears (3-3, MEAC) vs. Milwaukee Panthers (4-2, Horizon), 11 a.m.
George Washington Colonials (1-4, A 10) vs. Evansville Purple Aces (3-2, MVC), 2 p.m.

Things didn’t go to plan for some of the favorites in Friday’s quarterfinals in Nassau, as Evansville was unable to build on a win at Kentucky in the Bahamas, falling to East Carolina by an 85-68 score in the final game of the night. They’ll now take on a GW team that dropped its game to unfancied Kansas City in the consolation bracket. However, the top half of the Islands of the Bahamas bracket was chalk, as Liberty blew out Morgan State and Rice, who has already defeated Penn and UC Santa Barbara, took down Milwaukee.
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D.C. Classic Day 2

FloHoops.com ($) will stream both Washington, D.C. games.

FIU Panthers (3-2, C-USA) vs. UNCW Seahawks (3-3, CAA), 1 p.m.
Cleveland State Vikings (2-4, Horizon) vs. Eastern Kentucky Colonels (3-3, OVC), approx. 3:30 p.m.

I forgot about this one yesterday, but won’t make the mistake for the final day of this new event, which is played at the Wizards’ practice facility/Mystics home arena in Southeast D.C. UNCW will return to this venue for the CAA Tournament in March, though the Seahawks will hope their first game in that event goes better than their 47-46 loss to Cleveland State yesterday. That was the Vikings’ first win over a D1 opponent this season. CSU and FIU have the opportunity to go 2-0 in the Nation’s Capital—the Panthers took down EKU 89-70 on Friday.

U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Consolation Semifinals

FloHoops.com ($) will stream both games.

Grand Canyon Antelopes (3-3, WAC) vs. Fordham Rams (3-1, A 10), 3 p.m.
Illinois State Redbirds (2-2, MVC) vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4-1, C-USA), approx. 5:30 p.m.

While Fordham lost to Nevada (3-3, MW) as expected, Grand Canyon couldn’t pick up a key win for the WAC, as the Antelopes fell to Valparaiso (4-1, MVC) 78-74. It was heartbreak city in the bottom half of the bracket, however, as Illinois State dropped its second straight close decision (while scoring 65 points) to an AAC opponent, 66-65 to Cincinnati (3-1, American). That result ended the possibility of an early Valley matchup between the Redbirds and Crusaders. ISU will take on WKU, stunned by Bowling Green (4-1, MAC), 77-75, in a blow to the Hilltoppers’ at-large hopes.

Missouri Valley – MTE = Defining Moments--Valley Hoops Insider

What to look for when Bradley plays Radford--Peoria Journal Star
Twenty years later, Hersey Hawkins returns home to Bradley--Peoria Journal Star
Bradley holds off scrappy Radford 70-61--Peoria Journal Star
Braves bend, but don’t break to take down Norfolk State--Bradley Scout
Senior guards lead Bradley to fourth straight win--Bradley Scout
Braves Win Fourth-Straight, Top Radford, 70-61--bradleybraves.com

COLUMN: Women’s basketball needs a player to dish--Bradley Scout
Braves keep Leathernecks on short leash, win big--Bradley Scout
Braves Blow By Western Illinois 84-49--bradleybraves.com
Women’s Basketball Hosts Miami (Ohio) Saturday--bradleybraves.com

Sleep Index: We’re wide awake on most things but there’s room for improvement--Mid-Major Madness

Drake

Drake bulldogs. Going to win the MVC again
— Foo Jenkins (@foojenkins) November 21, 2019

Sleeping?: 7.

You may be on to something here, Foo. The Bulldogs don’t have a notable win yet, but haven’t slipped up either — and that’s saying something in the always-baffling Valley. Siena transfer Roman Penn has also stepped in and been one of the best playmakers in the country in the early going (second-best assist rate in the entire NCAA), including an 18-point (7-9 FG), 9-assist effort in a win over Lehigh. The Gulf Coast Showcase does present a potential opportunity against Northeastern or South Alabama, if Drake can get past Miami Ohio.

The Valley has been topsy-turvy — look no further than Evansville — in the early going, so why not bank on a team that held steady last year? Interestly, they’re essentially posting the same offensive and defensive balance so far (top-137 in both) that served them well last year.

Under The Radar Game of the Day – Thursday, November 21st--Hoops HD
Roman Penn, stout defense lead Drake basketball past Lehigh to improve to 4-1--Des Moines Register
'He'll be excited to be back': Drake's Tremell Murphy set to return from 5-game suspension Monday--Des Moines Register
Penn Scores 18 As Men's Basketball Defeats Lehigh, 74-58--godrakebulldogs.com

Women’s Basketball Hosts Western Illinois Sunday Afternoon--godrakebulldogs.com

The week after: Evansville is staying engaged after its historic upset win--Mid-Major Madness
Evansville basketball treating Bahamas getaway as a 'business trip' to continue hot start--Evansville Courier & Press
At the buzzer: Slow start dooms Evansville in loss to East Carolina--Evansville Courier & Press
UE Insider: 'Selfish' play continues to hinder Evansville basketball after ECU loss--Evansville Courier & Press
Family reunion: Brothers Jawaun and Tristen Newton go head-to-head in the Bahamas--Evansville Courier & Press
Press Row Preview – East Carolina--gopurpleaces.com
Men’s basketball falls in Bahamas opener--gopurpleaces.com

Aces break school record in road loss at Austin Peay--gopurpleaces.com
Aces back home to face Marshall--gopurpleaces.com

Mid-Money Madness: Look for Harvard to feast on Holy Cross--Mid-Major Madness

Cincinnati -13.5 vs. Illinois State

The John Brannen era in Cincinnati has gotten off to an interesting start with the coach opting to bench the Bearcats’ best player in Jarron Cumberland. Brannen called this a “coach’s decision” and didn’t give any additional details. If you look at what The Athletic wrote on the situation, it seems as if there may even be a rift between the coach and player around his role in the team’s new motion-heavy offense. Illinois State is a good team that beat Belmont to open the season and nearly beat UCF in its last game. There is just too much internal chaos at Cincinnati right now for my liking and we’ve seen what Missouri Valley schools can do early on in the non-conference slate.

The Pick: Illinois State +13.5

Cumberland leads Cincinnati over Illinois St. 66-65--WCPO
Howard Fleming Jr. becomes fourth recruit for Illinois State basketball team--The Pantagraph
Freshman Antonio Reeves making his 'point' as Illinois State set to face Cincinnati at Paradise Jam--The Pantagraph
Cincinnati rallies to tip Illinois State in Paradise Jam first-round game--The Pantagraph
Illinois State men's basketball announces four members of signing class--Vidette Online
Trouble in Paradise: ISU men's basketball suffers late collapse--Vidette Online
Illinois State Signs Howard Fleming to NLI--goredbirds.com
Illinois State Falls in First Game of Paradise Jam--goredbirds.com

Hickey: MVC volleyball set to conclude regular season--Vidette Online

BASKETBALL

Missouri Valley Conference basketball is making some major noise this season as teams have already secured six wins over Power Five programs, collectively. With four wins from MVC teams this week, the conference has already surpassed its total Power Five victories from last season. The average margin of victory in each win is approximately 10 points.

This past week, Drake women defeated Iowa State at home, Missouri State beat Oklahoma on the road, Illinois State University defeated in-state Big 10 rival University of Illinois and Northern Iowa hosted in-state rival Iowa in their 22-point victory. The Valley is now responsible for 50% of the entire Big 12 Conference’s losses this season, and almost 38% of all Big 10 losses. The only Power Five conference the Valley has yet to face is the ACC.

Illinois State women hold off Northern Illinois--The Pantagraph
Illinois State women's basketball confident in Mary Crompton's shooting--The Pantagraph
Illinois State tops Northern Illinois in close battle--Vidette Online
Road Trip to North Dakota Up Next for Redbirds--goredbirds.com

Wins are bottom line for ISU at Junkanoo Jam--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Duquesne streaks last as ISU falls to 0-4--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Barnes erupts for 29 as ISU wins 1st game of season--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Men’s basketball heads to Bahamas for tourney--Indiana Statesman
Sycamores Battle To The Buzzer Against Duquesne--gosycamores.com
Sycamores Torch The Nets In Win Over Loyola Marymount--gosycamores.com

Sycamores Put Out the Flames in Chicago--Indiana Statesman

Ramblers Roll in 85-62 Win over IUPUI--CBB Central
NCAA Basketball: A look at Texas Tech and Loyola Chicago’s “big” point guards--Busting Brackets
Loyola Men’s Basketball Finds Three-Point Success in Victory Over IUPUI--Loyola Phoenix
Loyola Fires On All Cylinders, Blows Past IUPUI, 85-62--loyolaramblers.com
Loyola Part Of 2020 Myrtle Beach Invitational Field--loyolaramblers.com
Ramblers Open Cayman Islands Classic Versus South Florida Monday--loyolaramblers.com

Loyola Matches Program’s Best Start, Wins In Double Overtime At Kansas City, 72-67--loyolaramblers.com

Quick Takes: Hoyas look the part against Texas--Bracketville

Additional Quick Takes …
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Missouri State missed another chance to collect a resume builder by falling to Miami. The Bears now have close loss to both Xavier and the Canes – plus the early loss to Little Rock. Thursday’s miss also keeps the Bears away from the winner’s bracket, where additional opportunities would have surfaced. The good news: they still have trips to LSU and VCU.