What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 1/22/2024

Men’s college basketball rankings: Houston and Auburn are dominating on defense--The Athletic

CJ Moore's Top 25 for Monday, Jan. 22

23

Indiana State

NR

Indiana State

Let’s welcome one of the most watchable teams in college basketball to the top 25. The Sycamores are hard to guard. They play fast and shoot a ton of 3s, spreading the floor with five shooters who are all willing passers. Playmaking bigs Robbie Avila and Xavier Bledson combine to average 7.5 assists per game and have assist rates (above 26 percent) in point guard territory. Among Indiana State’s top six, Jayson Kent is the only one shooting under 40 percent from 3, and he shoots 34.1 percent. The Sycamores lead college basketball with a 61.4 effective-field goal percentage, and they’re the most consistent offense. They’ve yet to score less than 1.04 points per possession in a game.

Dropped out: TCU, Memphis

Keeping an eye on: Drake, Kansas State, Seton Hall, Boise State, Utah, New Mexico, San Diego State, Saint Mary’s

DePaul coaching candidates: Could a mid-major star be the answer for Blue Demons?--The Athletic

Call list (in alphabetical order)
Josh Schertz, Indiana State head coach. The 48-year-old won 83 percent of his games as a Division II head coach and now has turned a Missouri Valley program into a winner with one of the best offenses in the country. The Sycamores were 16-3 and ranked No. 42 nationally on KenPom.com as of Monday morning with an attack that ranked No. 23 in adjusted efficiency. The trick? Making a ton of shots. Indiana State ranks second nationally in both 2-point shooting (60 percent) and 3-point shooting (41.6).
Brian Wardle, Bradley head coach. He’s built winners from the bottom up at both Green Bay and now Bradley, where the Braves won five games in Wardle’s first season and now have two Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships and one regular season title in the last five seasons. He’s an Illinois native and a Midwest lifer and, at 44, should have the patience and energy for a prolonged build.

The Other Top 25: Dayton assumes top spot for first time this season--Mid-Major Madness

The Other Top 25: Jan. 22, 2024

Rank Team (First Place Votes) Points Previous

8 Drake (1) 105 12

9 Indiana St. 101 13

22 Bradley 28 RV

Rank	Team (First Place Votes)	Points	Previous
8	Drake (1)	105	12
9	Indiana St.	101	13
22	Bradley	28	RV

Late January NIT Bracketology--NIT Bracketology

NIT Bracket (autos in bold, bubble in italics):

1. Kansas St.
U. Pittsburgh
4. Oregon (Pac-12 2)
U. Nevada
3. South Carolina (SEC 1)
U. Florida St.
2. Northwestern (Big Ten 2)
U. Bradley

1. Providence (Big East 1)
U. Indiana
4. Drake
U. NC State
3. Miami FL
U. San Francisco
2. Ole Miss (SEC 2)
U. North Texas

1. Texas (Big 12 1)
U. Boston College
4. Washington St. (Pac-12 1)
U. UNLV
3. Iowa (Big Ten 1)
U. Washington
2. Butler (Big East 2)
U. Syracuse

1. Virginia (ACC 1)
U. James Madison
4. UCF (Big 12 2)
U. Georgia
3. Virginia Tech (ACC 2)
U. Richmond
2. Memphis
U. LSU

Also Considered: Minnesota, Maryland, Arizona St., Stanford, St. Bonaventure, Saint Joseph's, VCU, UMass, George Mason, Loyola Chicago, Charlotte, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Santa Clara, Liberty, Stephen F. Austin, Seattle

NCAA Basketball: Ivisic’s impact on Kentucky, mid-major resumes highlight Jan. 22 Rauf Report--Heat Check CBB

True mid-majors with at-large cases

This is the time of year when bracketology becomes a focal point of the conversation. With leagues like the ACC, Pac-12 and A-10 struggling, there are likely to be more at-large bids available to the one-bid leagues. Here are six true mid-major programs that have a legitimate case right now:

Missouri Valley duo

Indiana State may have the strongest case of any mid-major. The Sycamores boast fantastic metrics (No. 28 in NET, No. 42 in KenPom) and have a Quad 1 win (at Bradley). Meanwhile, they only have three losses, all of which came on the road to top-50 teams (Alabama, Michigan State, Drake).

Even though Drake knocked off the Sycamores, the Bulldogs are behind them in the at-large conversation because of their team sheet — but it’s still a strong resume. Drake sits at No. 44 in the NET and No. 48 in KenPom, with three more chances to pick up significant wins (at Indiana State, home/away vs. Bradley).

Playing With Toughness--Valley Hoops Insider