What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 2/18/2020

Missouri St. seeks revenge on Bradley--Associated Press
Drake seeks revenge on Valpo--Associated Press
Illinois struggles, Loyola surges, NIU cools off: This week’s power rankings of the state’s 13 Division I men’s basketball teams--Chicago Tribune

2. Loyola 18-9, 10-4 Missouri Valley (3)

The Ramblers outscored Northern Iowa 11-2 in overtime in an 82-73 home victory Saturday that cut their deficit to one game behind the first-place Panthers in the conference standings.

3. Bradley 18-9, 9-5 Missouri Valley (5)

Elijah Childs is averaging 17.3 points in three games since returning from a hand injury that sidelined him in 12 of the previous 13 games.

4. Southern Illinois 15-12, 9-5 Missouri Valley (2)

The Salukis’ 69-67 loss Saturday to Bradley snapped a 10-game home winning streak dating to Nov. 16.

Races Tighten & Awards Given--Valley Hoops Insider

Bradley Aims to Extend Winning Streak, Hosts Missouri State--bradleybraves.com

Chelsea Brackmann Named MVC Player Of The Week--bradleybraves.com

Bulldogs And Crusaders To Meet In A Critical Valley Hoops Contest--godrakebulldogs.com

Arch Madness Simulator: Week 16--Eville-Ways

Illinois State to Host Action-Packed Saturday for Senior Day--goredbirds.com

Last season's injury gives freshman guard Mary Crompton a 'different perspective'--Vidette Online
Cerna: Madness begins now, not in March--Vidette Online

Parkview star Tyem Freeman is no longer with Missouri State basketball--Springfield News-Leader
Road Test at Bradley Awaits Basketball Bears--missouristatebears.com

Bubble Watch: Breaking down every team in at-large conversation--College Basketball Talk

BUBBLE WATCH FOR EVERYONE ELSE
NORTHERN IOWA (NET: 40, NBC: 11): The Panthers lost at Loyola (94), which is hardly a bad loss, especially in the MVC, but I’m not sure that it is a loss they can afford. Their strong NET and wins at Colorado (17) and over South Carolina (66) on a neutral keep the Panthers in the conversation, but losses at Southern Illinois (151) and Illinois State (203) are killers. UNI cannot lose another game unless it is against Loyola-Chicago in the MVC tournament if they really want a chance at an at-large, and even then, it will be tough.

Staff Bracket – February 17, 2020--Hoops HD

NOTES

– Northern Iowa and East Tennessee State were both ranked above the last of the at-large teams, and have outside shots at bids if they win out. Also, keep an eye on UNC-Greensboro, a team that is in the top 4 out. Both ETSU and UNCG have home tests left against a very tough Furman team plus the SoCon tournament ahead.

STAFF COMMENTS

COMMENTS FROM DAVID

-I’m really not big on Indiana. In comparing them to, say, Northern Iowa (who Chad did select, but seeded behind Indiana) I see an IU team that’s beaten good teams at home, but none of those good teams are particularly good in true road games, and who’s only true win is at Northwestern. I know Northern Iowa just lost at Loyola Chicago, and that does have me holding my nose some, but Indiana hasn’t beaten a team on the road as good as Loyola CHI, so I’d still have them below UNI.

College basketball poll (revised): Our national champ pick, plus top awards and teams ready to shine/disappoint--The Athletic

UNI is one of our favorites to make a Sweet 16 run. (Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports)

Which mid- or low-major will make it to the Sweet 16?
Then: VCU led the way with seven votes, followed by Davidson with two. Others gaining notice were Dayton, Harvard, Liberty, New Mexico State, Saint Mary’s, Utah State and Vermont.

Now: T-1. Dayton and Northern Iowa (6 each). 3. San Diego State (2). T-4. BYU, Liberty, Stephen F. Austin and Yale (1 each)

“Northern Iowa plays at its own pace (which is to say slowly), but the Panthers are quietly one of the 10 or 15 most effective offensive teams in the country. They can get hot enough for the Sweet 16, sure.” — Eamonn Brennan

Panthers Travel to Terre Haute for Showdown with Indiana State--unipanthers.com