What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 6/30/2021

Historically Good or Uniquely Unknown?--Valley Hoops Insider
College basketball mid-major rankings: Ohio checks in at No. 3 in way-too-early Top 25--Heat Check CBB

13) Northern Iowa Panthers

Northern Iowa was stung by the injury bug early last season. Star player AJ Green experienced a hip injury in just the second game of the season and then played just once more. The Panthers struggled to just a 10-15 record with their star missing 22 total games. Green is now set to return for his senior year, though, and much of his supporting cast is back in play as well. Austin Phyfe and Trae Berhow, namely, are excellent players in their own right that fill out the core. Bowen Born and Nate Heise both showed potential as freshmen last season and that well-earned experience could pay dividends on a better team. UNI had high hopes for last year that were dashed in a hurry; they are now getting a second chance and should be among the best teams in the MVC.
10) Missouri State Bears

Missouri State quietly put together one of the better mid-major seasons in the country last season. While they lacked the quality wins of other programs, they simply handled their business in just about every other contest. Aside from their five games against Drake and Loyola Chicago, in which they went 0-5, the Bears were 17-2 last season. They finished in the KenPom Top 100 and now return their top two players in Isiaih Mosley and Gaige Prim. Prim is a MVC POTY contender while Mosley could be a big-time breakout candidate from a national perspective. The Bears are also bringing back Ja’Monta Black and Demarcus Sharp, in addition to adding a solid transfer in Donovan Clay (Valparaiso). The MVC has a lot of really talented teams at the top for the season; Missouri State is one of them.
5) Drake Bulldogs

Drake surprised much of the basketball world last season while leaping out to an 18-0 record over the first three months of the campaign. They wound up finishing 26-5 (NCAAT included) and ranked at No. 55 on KenPom. With Darian DeVries back on the sideline and six of his top seven scorers from last season also returning, the Bulldogs appear poised for another excellent season. Roman Penn’s injury near the end of last season somewhat derailed Drake last year but he will be at full health heading into this campaign. Critical running mates Tank Hemphill, Tremell Murphy, and DJ Wilkins are all returning as well. Losing Joseph Yesufu to Kansas is certainly a blow but this team still features the steady creator (Penn) and strong perimeter shooting that led them to a Top 40 adjusted offensive efficiency rating last season. Expect the Bulldogs to be near the top of the MVC again this time around.

4) Loyola Chicago Ramblers

Porter Moser is no longer walking the sidelines, nor will the now-graduated Cameron Krutwig be the offensive hub in 2021-22. Yet, Loyola-Chicago appears poised for yet another strong season out of the Missouri Valley. 30-year-old Drew Valentine was promoted to the head job this offseason and he is far from the only familiar face coming back. The Ramblers are returning a decent chunk of their core from last season; Lucas Williamson, Keith Clemons, Tate Hall, and Aher Uguak all decided to use their “extra year” of eligibility to return to the program. Sharpshooting guard Braden Norris is also returning, and he could emerge as the team’s top scorer. You are not going to find many teams in the country with as much experience as Loyola Chicago. The scheme will look very different without Krutwig and with a new head coach, but the Ramblers should remain excellent. Perhaps not as elite as they were this past season, but deserving of a preseason Top 50 placement. Superb defensive play and quality 3-point shooting will lead the way again.