What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 2/6/2021

Mailbag: How good is Belmont? HOW GOOD IS STETSON?--Mid-Major Madness

What's the best mid-major program in the country and why is it Belmont?
— 'stacheVille (@615eternal) February 5, 2021

I really want Belmont to be the best mid-major program in the country, so instead of litigating what defines a mid-major, let’s just exclude teams in the A-10, Mountain West, and Spokane. Want to fight with me over why we cover those leagues? We’ll talk about it another time.

Of the remaining teams we cover, I don’t think Belmont is the best, but the Bruins are close. Right now I’m giving the edge to Loyola University Chicago. The Ramblers are beating opponents by so much that they seem to have broken KenPom — rising from 55 in the preseason all the way to 16 despite three losses and just one win against a top-100 team. They’re are one of the best defensive teams in the country and Cameron Krutwig has been the best player in the MVC by a decent margin. The seniors also have Final Four experience and have never won fewer than 20 games in a season.

Belmont isn’t far off, though. While Loyola is one of the best defensive units in college basketball, the Bruins are one of the best on offense, ranking third nationally in eFG%. They’re unbeaten in an albeit much weaker Ohio Valley and are also on a sustained run of program success. Belmont has had some close calls and an ugly loss to Samford, but there’s something to be said for finding ways to win and starting 19-1, no matter the competition.

How good of a coach is Todd Lichliter?
— @WhatWouldDingoDo (@WhtWouldDingoDo) February 5, 2021
I’m always up for some Lickliter appreciation. The Evansville head coach inherited an impossible situation last year and went 0-13. Throw that out the window. He’s got the Aces at 8-8 this year with a winning record in the Missouri Valley (6-4). Going back to his days at Butler, Lickliter has always run a painfully slow offense. Slow, but effective. His Bulldog teams ranked in the top 20 in offensive efficiency three times, though he couldn’t get that to translate into a failed stint at Iowa. He brought Butler to two NCAA Tournaments and the Bulldogs went to the Sweet 16 each time. As a Horizon League team. Before Butler did that whole “go to the national championship game” thing twice. That’s awesome.
Evansville’s a young team and is punching above its weight in a very good Valley. Let’s see where the Aces are a year from now.