What's Up In The Missouri Valley 10/26/2020

12 head coaches on the rise entering the 20-21 season--College Hoops Daily

Brian Wardle, Bradley: Back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles have made Wardle an instant March success story. A former player and assistant coach under Tom Crean at Marquette, Wardle’s deep ties in the Midwest figure to make him a potential candidate for future job openings after successful head coaching stints at both Bradley and Green Bay. 

Here’s why Ja’Shon Henry will be a critical piece for Bradley this basketball season--Peoria Journal Star
How former Bradley player Anthony Fields worked his way to a sports agency position--Peoria Journal Star

How Close We Came: Near-Misses in Last Year’s MVC Schedule--Eville-Ways
The 2019-20 Aces Were Never Really Lickliter’s Team--Eville-Ways
Reading The Scheduling Tea Leaves--Eville-Ways
Three Upsides Of The Pandemic For The Aces This Season--Eville-Ways
UE’s Biggest Concern For The Upcoming Season: Rebounding--Eville-Ways
Thomas Jackson embraces opportunity to reunite with Coach Lickliter--gopurpleaces.com

Watch now: Illinois State announces search for new director of athletics--The Pantagraph
Watch now: Illinois State basketball player tests positive for COVID-19; eight players in quarantine--The Pantagraph
Watch now: Alex Kotov believes his style 'a good fit' for Illinois State's basketball team--The Pantagraph
ISU men's basketball player tests positive for COVID; eight must self-quarantine--Vidette Online

Senior guard Paige Saylor recounts her time as a Redbird as she eyes a conference title--Vidette Online
Fogal: Redbird women's basketball disrespected by MVC's preseason poll--Vidette Online
DeAnna Wilson: From Underdog to Division I--goredbirds.com

ISU adds Purdue to 2020-21 men's schedule--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores excited about Larry's potential--Terre Haute Tribune Star
LaRavia seeks to further diversify his game--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Hulman Center changes for basketball--Indiana Statesman
Sycamores Add Purdue Back to 2020-21 Schedule Along with Home Game Against UIndy--gosycamores.com

MVC Men’s Basketball Coaches Express Concerns over COVID-19--Loyola Phoenix
All in the Family: Paxson Wojcik’s Basketball Genes--Loyola Phoenix
Loyola To Celebrate 25 Seasons Of Gentile Arena--loyolaramblers.com

Update: Landon Wolf commits to hometown UNI--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
UNI’s Green second in Jerry West rankings--Northern Iowan

Verplancken prepared to play next year--Southern Illinoisan
League's longevity of assistant coaches a mixed bag--Southern Illinoisan
New frontline could help Salukis turn around rebounding woes--Southern Illinoisan

Robinson Excited to Return to Floor for Valpo Basketball--valpoathletics.com