What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 1/3/2024

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 1/3/2024

Under the Radar Game of the Day (Evansville at Indiana State) – Wednesday, January 3rd--Hoops HD
High Scoring Standouts--Valley Hoops Insider

Players of the Week

Southern Illinois’ Xavier Johnson begins the week as the nation’s second leading scorer (24.6 ppg) after producing his fifth 30-point performance of the season. Johnson led the Salukis to their third straight win (ninth overall) and evened their league mark to 1-1. The Valley’s leading assist man (5.8 per game) added five helpers and three boards.

The Valley ‘Player of the Week’ award is Johnson’s second of the season.
Newcomer High Scoring Standouts

Illinois State’s Myles Foster was outstanding in defeat. The Monmouth college transfer scored 20 points and grabbed fifteen rebounds during the Redbirds defeat at Kentucky. Both figures were season highs for the Valley’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’, who is now the MVC’s fifth leading rebounder (7.5 per game). Foster’s weekly honor is the first for any Redbird player this season.

Rookie Winners

Valparaiso’s Jahari Williamson produced Valpo’s highest scoring freshman performance in almost four years by racking up 24 points during the Beacons’ loss to Elon. He and rookie teammate Cooper Schwieger were Valpo’s high scoring standouts as each topped the 20-point mark. Williamson earned this week’s Valley ‘Freshman of the Week’ honor. Schwieger claimed that distinction during the season’s third week.

1/3 Updated KenPom and NET rankings--Racer Basketball
News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Wednesday, Jan 3rd--Hoops HD

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-EVANSVILLE AT INDIANA STATE (Missouri Valley). Both teams are off to a great start, and Indiana State is good enough to land inside the bubble if they can hold serve throughout league play. They don’t have a huge margin for error, though, and they may be challenged tonight.