What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 1/30/2024

The Other Top 25: Utah State moves up to No. 1; Memphis spirals--Mid-Major Madness

The Other Top 25: Jan. 29, 2024

Rank Team (First Place Votes) Points Previous

6 Indiana St. 110 9

9 Drake 90 8

21 Bradley 27 22

Rank	Team (First Place Votes)	Points	Previous
6	Indiana St.	110	9
9	Drake	90	8
21	Bradley	27	22

2024 NCAA Tournament Bubble Watch: Only 6 teams locked into wide-open field as February looms--The Athletic

Others

Drake,

Indiana State,

Spotlight on: Saint Mary’s and Indiana State

Indiana State’s resume at a glance: 18-3, 9-1 Missouri Valley; NET: 24, KenPom: 37, SOS: 127, Q1: 1-3

Up the Sycamores! Turns out Purdue isn’t the only program bettering Indiana in the Hoosier State. The boys from Terre Haute are an impressive 18-3, with only a trio of Q road losses to Alabama, Michigan State and MVC foe Drake. Coached by Josh Schertz — in his third season after 13 at Division II Lincoln Memorial — Indiana State has one of the best offenses in the country, shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range and holding the top effective field-goal percentage in the country, according to KenPom. Southern Indiana transfer Isaiah Swope is the team’s leading scorer at 18.4 points per game and 41.4 percent from distance.

With zero Q1 games and only a pair of Q2 opportunities left as things currently stand, Indiana State needs to nab the first of those in a home rematch with Drake on Saturday and probably will need to at least reach the MVC championship game to have a shot as an at-large team. The MVC does have a history of multiple tourney bids, happening five times since 2012 and with four teams getting in as recently as 2006. But whether Indiana State makes it via auto qualifier or sweating out a bid on Selection Sunday, a trip to the tourney would be the Sycamores’ first since 2011 and only the fifth since Larry Bird led the program to the national title game in 1979.

MVC/OVC Weekly Stars--Valley Hoops Insider

Weekly Stars – Players of the Week

Missouri State’s Alston Mason scored a career-high 36 points during a win over Drake and 22 in a second victory over Valparaiso. The junior guard also handed out a career-high nine assists in against Valpo. Mason is the Valley’s fourth leading scorer (18.4 ppg) and this is his second ‘Player of the Week’ award.

Newcomers of the Week

Isaiah Swope joins Indiana State teammate Ryan Conwell as a two-time ‘Newcomer of the Week’ award recipient. Swope scored a career-high 30 points against Illinois Chicago and added 19 during the Sycamores’ overtime victory against Bradley. Swope is the Valley’s third-leading scorer (18.4 ppg) and leads the MVC by making 3.6 triples per game.

Freshman Weekly Stars

Johnny Kinziger is a first-time weekly award winner. The Illinois State guard is the Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Week’ after a week where he averaged 11.5 points, five rebounds and 2.5 assists during the Redbirds split of two games. He is the Redbirds’ second weekly winner as Myles Foster earlier received a ‘Newcomer of the Week’ honor.

MVC Broadcaster Kevin Lehman--Valley Hoops Insider
State of the Valley 2023-24 - Midway Point--MISSOURI VALLEY BEAT

Women’s Bubble Watch: Could we see a two-bid Ivy League?--Mid-Major Madness

Win Your Auto-bid

Drake Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are one of those teams that would be fun as hell to watch in the NCAA Tournament; they’re capable of scoring in bunches, even against elite competition. Their three Quad 2 wins show they’re no joke either – plus they pushed Minnesota to double OT on the road and gave Creighton a push in Omaha.
Belmont Bruins

A home win over Middle Tennessee is a nice line on the resume, but it can’t be your only one. The Bruins desperately need to beat Drake on Feb. 17 before they could even begin to think of an at-large case.

Robbie Avila, Indiana State coming to Belmont Wednesday--NashvilleHoops.blog
Men's Basketball Hosts [rv/rv] Indiana State Wednesday at the Curb--belmontbruins.com

Women's Basketball Secures Third-Straight Win--Belmont Vision

Bradley fall to Indiana State in overtime despite Deen’s career night--The Bradley Scout
Game Preview: Bradley vs Northern Iowa--bradleybraves.com

Drake Men's Basketball Preview: Valparaiso & Indiana State--godrakebulldogs.com

Aces take on UIC on Wednesday at Ford Center--gopurpleaces.com

In search of better shooting, Illinois State travels to Murray State--The Pantagraph
Johnny Kinziger earns MVC Freshman of the Week honors--The Vidette
Redbirds Take to the Road for Midweek Battle at Murray State--goredbirds.com
Johnny Kinziger Named MVC Freshman of the Week--goredbirds.com

Wilson earns third MVC Player of the Week honors of season--The Vidette
Wilson Earns League-Leading Third MVC Player of the Week Honor This Season--goredbirds.com

Men’s college basketball rankings: Iowa State and TCU make big moves up--The Athletic

Indiana State

The Sycamores shoot the fewest number of mid-range jumpers in the country — only 28 all season, per Synergy — and they’re one of the most accurate teams at the rim, shooting 64.3 percent. They get it done with elite spacing that sets up cuts and by never settling off the bounce, continuing to drive until a lane develops. Their guards also have awesome footwork as they’re driving downhill. Let Julian Larry demonstrate:

Indiana State’s 95-86 overtime win over Bradley on Saturday was one of the most entertaining games of the season. Back and forth unreal shotmaking. There’s not a team more fun to watch in college hoops than the Sycamores, who will be favorites in their 10 remaining games. The toughest one left is this Saturday against Drake, which gave Indiana State its lone loss in conference play.

ISU NOTEBOOK: Sycamores topping MVC at midpoint--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Sycamores get more notice in polls; ISU assessing Saturday's ticket situation--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Belmont stakes high for ISU, which still sits alone atop MVC standings--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Sycamores Survive OT Thriller in Sellout--Indiana Statesman
Swope Named Newcomer of the Week--gosycamores.com
Men's Basketball National Polls Update for January 29--gosycamores.com
ISU Travels to Belmont for Midweek Matchup--gosycamores.com