What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/6/2019

The Morning Dish – Wednesday, November 6, 2019--Hoopville

Side Dishes
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In other good ones on the night, ... Northern Iowa edged visiting Old Dominion 58-53
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With no other shockers on the night, it’s worth highlighting some notable individual efforts.
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In Loyola-Chicago’s 82-48 thumping of UC Davis, Cameron Krutwig flirted with a triple-double as he had 15 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists.
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Tonight’s Menu

One day of games is in the books, with many more to come.
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In a matchup of two good mid-majors, Illinois State hosts Belmont (8 p.m.)

Nick in the AM: In banning reporter, Bradley might have learned wrong lesson--Peoria Journal Star
Bradley drops opener at Saint Joseph’s 86-81--Peoria Journal Star
Braves Drop Opener at Saint Joseph’s, 86-81--bradleybraves.com

Aces earn season-opening win over Brescia--gopurpleaces.com

Illinois State women's basketball team awakens from slow start, rolls past Truman State in opener--The Pantagraph
Women's basketball overcomes early woes in route to win--Vidette Online
Redbirds Triumph Over Truman State in Season Opener, 87-60--goredbirds.com

Live blog: THIS IS NOVEMBER--Mid-Major Madness

Update: 8:54 p.m.
Loyola University Chicago vs. UC Davis

It’s only been two seasons since Loyola University Chicago made its miraculous Final Four run, but it already feels much longer than that.

Sure, Sister Jean is still on the sidelines. So is perpetual mid-major, hot-coaching name Porter Moser. Ramblers point guard Clayton Custer is on hand for the Ramblers’ season-opener against UC Davis, but as a spectator. Cameron Krutwig, the lone starter from LUC’s Final Four team, is on pace for a double-double (nine points, six rebounds) at halftime.

If one half is indicative of anything, then the Ramblers aren’t doing too shabby thus far. After weathering a slow start against a team picked in the bottom half of the Big West, the defending regular-season Missouri Valley Conference champs rallied back to lead 39-22. Loyola is outshooting the Aggies 56.3% to 33.3%, but that might not mean too much in light of how much UC Davis struggled offensively last season.

So far, UC Davis’s lone bright spot is senior center Matt Neufeld. Through one half, the onetime-Saint Louis Billiken is six points shy from tying his career-high of 17 points. The Aggies haven’t scored in 2:25.

— Kyle Cajero