What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 1/23/2024

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 1/23/2024

College basketball midseason catch-up: Contenders, Cinderellas, the bubble and more--The Athletic

Mid-major teams who could go on a run
Note: I’m going true mid-majors here and leaving out the mid-major plus programs from leagues like the Mountain West, American, Atlantic 10 and WCC.
Indiana State: Josh Schertz was one of the best coaches in Division II at Lincoln Memorial, and he’s built an offensive juggernaut at Indiana State in his third season there. The Sycamores are the best shooting team in the country. Five of their top six all shoot north of 40 percent from 3. Schertz built it with speedy guards and a slo-mo center in Robbie Avila, who reminds me of Georges Niang during his Iowa State days. Avila can bury 3s, pass and he’s got every move in the book from the post.
Drake: Let’s hope the selection committee gives us two Missouri Valley teams, because both Drake and Indiana State are worthy and will be dangerous. Tucker DeVries, the coach’s son, is arguably the best player in the country at the mid-major level, and a DeVries-led team has proven to be a tough out. The Bulldogs had Miami, an eventual Final Four team, down by eight with just over five minutes to go in the opening round of the tournament last March.
Must-watch teams
Indiana State: Elite spacing, shooting, speed and they share the rock. Leading scorer Isaiah Swope is the type of little shot-maker people fall in love with. Think Max Abmas. Swope embraces the big stage. He had 26 points last month at Michigan State, which Indiana State led midway through the second half at Breslin.