What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/4/2022

Under the Radar: Preseason Special--Hoops HD

We also discuss teams like UAB out of Conference USA, Toledo and Kent State in the MAC, and Drake out of the Missouri Valley as teams that could end up inside the bubble come Selection Sunday and not need to win their conference tournaments to make the NCAAs.

Rauf Report: Bold predictions for all 32 college basketball conferences--Heat Check CBB

Missouri Valley

drake runs the table, finishes mvc play undefeated

Even without Loyola-Chicago, the Missouri Valley is going to be good again with the additions of Belmont and Murray State. That said, Drake is head-and-shoulders above everyone else with its talent and experience. That dominance will show throughout the regular season as long as the Bulldogs can stay healthy.

Post Season Hopes Jeopardized – Breaking – Update on 4 Drake Bulldogs--Valley Hoops Insider
Seven Big MVC Openers--Valley Hoops Insider
Bigger and Better: Predicting the men’s MVC--Bradley Scout
State of Illinois basketball: Any NCAA Tournament contenders out there?--Daily Herald

A new look means a new foe stands atop the women’s MVC--Bradley Scout

What was the lineup? Who looked good? What Bradley learned from its exhibition win--Peoria Journal Star
One-On-One: Which Bradley transfer will make the biggest impact in year one?--Bradley Scout
New guard duo looks to make big splash for the Braves--Bradley Scout
Calm, Cool and Connor: Hickman brings expectations into second season--Bradley Scout
Men’s Basketball Preview: Behind seasoned returners, it’s time for redemption--Bradley Scout
Bradley takes season opening exhibition--bradleybraves.com

Bradley’s head coach Kate Popovec-Goss is meant for this--The Next Hoops
All eyes on Caroline Waite--Bradley Scout
Women’s Basketball Preview: Newcomers on the court and on the sideline will have to trust the process--Bradley Scout
Women's Basketball tops McKendree in Exhibition--bradleybraves.com

5 storylines to follow during the Drake men's basketball season--Des Moines Register
Drake basketball exhibition shows Bulldogs are plagued with injuries--Des Moines Register
Drake Reaches Triple Digits in Exhibition Victory--godrakebulldogs.com

Women's Basketball Preview: Green Bay--godrakebulldogs.com

How Evansville men's basketball survived a scare in its final dress rehearsal--Evansville Courier & Press
Men’s basketball wraps up preseason with another win--gopurpleaces.com
Men’s basketball opens regular season on Monday--gopurpleaces.com

Regular season opens Monday for women's basketball--gopurpleaces.com

Women's assistants get job done for Sycamores--Terre Haute Tribune Star
ISU women get tested, but beat Lincoln in exhibition--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Balanced offense leads Sycamores past Lincoln (Mo.) in exhibition--gosycamores.com

Bears Take the Court for Saturday Exhibition Game--missouristatebears.com

What we learned about Missouri State Lady Bears, Beth Cunningham after exhibition win--Springfield News-Leader
Lady Bears Defeat Miners 58-44, Await Season Opener--missouristatebears.com

Bracketology: 10 teams with critical opening weeks in 2022-23--Heat Check CBB

Murray State Racers

There is a ton of new about Murray State this season. The Racers are in a new conference (Missouri Valley), with a new coach (Steve Prohm), and a bevy of new players. DJ Burns is the only returner from last season’s 31-3 (18-0 OVC) team. Murray State is projected to finish in the middle of the MVC but has tremendous pedigree as a mid-major program. Given the Racers’ roster turnover, making an early statement will be difficult — but opportunities present themselves on their schedule.

Murray opens the year on the road Nov. 7 at Saint Louis, an Atlantic 10 team with at-large aspirations. The Racers then return home for a one-game reprieve against NAIA Lindsey Wilson (Nov. 12) before heading to the Myrtle Beach Invitational (Nov. 17-18, Nov. 20). The three-game event in Conway, SC will afford matchups against Texas A&M, Colorado/UMass, and another possible resume-builder. It is an action-packed opening couple of weeks for a program needing to integrate so many new pieces on the sidelines and the floor.

If the Racers can quickly develop chemistry and steal a game or two in the first couple of weeks, they could be poised to exceed expectations.

Murray State's Anderson stands out in Racers exhibition game--WPSD Local 6
"Racing to March" - Murray State preseason special--WPSD Local 6
Prohm, Racer men have good night at Bank--Murray Ledger & Times
Wright On; First review of Racer men’s debut? Prohm has players that care--Murray Ledger & Times