What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/7/2021

Others
Locks: Gonzaga, Houston, Loyola Chicago, BYU, San Diego State
Work to do: St. Bonaventure, VCU, Colorado State, Drake, Saint Louis, Boise State, Utah State, SMU, Memphis, Wichita State, Western Kentucky
Drake (22-3, 15-3; NET: 41, SOS: 195): What on Earth should the committee do with Drake? On the one hand, the Bulldogs suffered their third loss of the season a week ago, a 67-61 letdown at Bradley that added a Quadrant 3 defeat to a team sheet with some genuinely rough numbers. On the other hand, Drake is playing without ShanQuan Hemphill, who should be back in time for Arch Madness. On the other other hand, Drake was playing without Roman Penn, who is done for the season, and whose absence undoubtedly makes this team worse. On the other other other hand, Drake did split with Loyola. On the — OK, you get the picture. There’s a lot to weigh with the Bulldogs, and some of it is going to come down to what you value in an NCAA Tournament résumé. We think Drake belongs, but the committee may or may not agree, and avoiding a disastrous early loss in St. Louis is now a must.

Positive COVID-19 test, contact tracing protocols cancel Missouri Valley Conference tournament game--USA Today
Missouri Valley Conference Tournament primer: Loyola the team to beat--Mid-Major Madness
Mid-Money Madness: Preview for the OVC semifinals, Mountain West, bubble matchups, and more--Mid-Major Madness

Northern Iowa vs. Drake, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Spread: Drake -6.5
Total: 140

The quest for a two-bid Valley has been put on thin ice after Drake closed the season with a disappointing loss to Bradley. The good news is that the Bulldogs still control their own destiny in the Missouri Valley tournament, and an appearance in the championship game SHOULD warrant their inclusion into March Madness. I feel this line is extremely short for this game. Drake has been the most profitable betting team in the country, going 20-5 ATS. They are getting a great matchup against a Northern Iowa team that struggles to defend the rim. The Panthers rank 304th nationally in two-point field goal percentage and 290th overall in effective field goal percentage. Drake guards excel at getting points driving to the rim. Drake ranks 29th nationally in two-point field goal percentage, making 54% of their shots from inside the arc. Northern Iowa does not have the perimeter defense to stop the Bulldogs.

The pick: Drake -6.5

Bracketology 2021: Reassessing the picture as the regular-season wraps up--Blogging The Bracket

Locks and Bubble by Conference

14/68 Spots Remain

Conference (Bids) Locks (52) Near Locks (2) Bubble IN (6) Last Four Byes/ Last Four In (8) Bubble Out (12)

Missouri Valley (2)

1: 9. Loyola Chicago* 1: 12. Drake
(First Four)

And the picture could change significantly today. Two conference leaders, St. Bonaventure and Loyola Chicago play in their respective tournament quarterfinals, while Drake, VCU, and Saint Louis—all among the last eight in—will as well. Colorado State, another team in the Last Four Byes group, wraps its regular season up at Nevada tonight. And the Wolf Pack swept Boise State in Reno a month ago.

Conference (Bids)	Locks (52)	Near Locks (2)	Bubble IN (6)	Last Four Byes/ Last Four In (8)	Bubble Out (12)
Missouri Valley (2)			1: 9. Loyola Chicago*	1: 12. Drake (First Four)

College Basketball Viewing Guide for Saturday, March 6, 2021--Blogging The Bracket

MVC Semifinals

CBSSN will air both games.

Game 7: No. 4 Indiana State (15-9, 11-7) vs. No. 1 Loyola Chicago (22-4, 16-2), 1 p.m.
The pair split their season series (at Indiana State).
Game 8: No. 3 Missouri State (17-6, 12-6) vs. No. 2 Drake (24-3, 15-3), 4 p.m.
The Bulldogs won both meetings (at Missouri State).

Last year, the top two seeds, UNI and Loyola, lost in the quarterfinal round for the first time In Arch Madness history. In 2021, the top-seeded Ramblers eased past Southern Illinois in the first quarterfinal of the day, while second-seeded Drake did not even take the floor, thanks to a CoVID issue with the seventh-seeded Panthers. If Loyola and Drake both win today, they should both make the field on Selection Sunday. But if the Bulldogs don’t take advantage of the unexpected rest they earned against Missouri State this afternoon, they’ll have a long wait ahead of them.

The Ramblers should be okay even with a loss, though Indiana State will provide a stiff test, considering the pair split their series in Terre Haute.

Missouri Valley Basketball: 2021 Conference Tournament preview--Busting Brackets
Arch Madness – Day One--Valley Hoops Insider
MVC Quarterfinal Canceled--Valley Hoops Insider
Semifinal Day Pregame Show--Valley Hoops Insider
Semifinal Postgame Show--Valley Hoops Insider
Watch now: Drake's DeVries named MVC Coach of the Year; Hemphill out for tourney--The Pantagraph
Missouri Valley Coaches Prepare for Arch Madness--Off The Inbound
ARCH MADNESS: Southern Illinois Defeats Bradley 73-63. But The Game Almost Didn’t Happen.--Off The Inbound
ARCH MADNESS: Hutson, Strong Defense Lead Loyola Chicago Past Southern Illinois--Off The Inbound
BREAKING: Northern Iowa/Drake Game Canceled Due to COVID-19--Off The Inbound
A Guide to All Teams Competing in Arch Madness--Loyola Phoenix
Southern Illinois Defeats Bradley, Advances to Play Loyola--Loyola Phoenix
Key Carries Indiana State Past Evansville, Sycamores To Meet Loyola in Semifinals--Loyola Phoenix
Yesufu’s Last-Second Layup Advances Drake to MVC Championship, Meets Loyola--Loyola Phoenix