MVC’s New Dean Likes His Team – Post SLU Exhibition--Valley Hoops Insider
Illinois State falls in exhibition matchup with Green Bay--The Pantagraph
Redbirds Set To Host SIUE In Lone Exhibition Contest--goredbirds.com
Indiana State men's basketball withstands Rose's hot start to win exhibition--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Southern Falls 82-75 in Exhibition Finale--siusalukis.com
2026-27 Missouri Valley Men’s Basketball Conference Preview--Mid-Major Madness
Meet the Valley: 11 Teams to Know--Valley Hoops Insider
Evan Bradds coached in the NBA and at Duke before turning 32, and now Belmont's future is in his hands--Busting Brackets
The coaches behind the coaches: 10 college basketball assistants who deserve more recognition--Busting Brackets
9. Brian Ayers, Belmont
Brian Ayers represents a different kind of valuable assistant coach. Rather than building his reputation through frequent moves between prominent programs, he has spent much of his career contributing to Belmont's sustained success. Ayers previously coached Evan Bradds during his playing career and remains on the Bruins' staff as the former Belmont star begins his first season as head coach. That relationship creates an interesting dynamic, with an experienced assistant helping a younger head coach navigate the responsibilities of leading a Division I program.
Belmont has established one of the most consistent winning traditions in mid-major basketball, and Ayers has been part of the program through important stages of that development. His familiarity with the university's expectations, recruiting philosophy and basketball culture provides continuity during a significant coaching transition. The Bruins are attempting to maintain their success while adjusting to Bradds' leadership and the challenges of the Missouri Valley Conference. Ayers' experience could prove especially valuable when Belmont encounters the inevitable difficulties associated with a new coaching staff.
Scout Team: Meet Belmont head coach Evan Bradds--Basket Under Review
How Bradley Braves men's basketball fared in exhibition vs Saint Louis Billikens--Peoria Journal Star
Five takeaways from Bradley women’s basketball’s exhibition against North Central--The Bradley Scout
Five forgotten college basketball seasons that were more remarkable than most fans realize--Busting Brackets
1. Drake's 1968-69 team nearly changed college basketball history
The 1968-69 Drake Bulldogs produced one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college basketball history, emerging as a national contender only two years after finishing last in the Missouri Valley Conference. Under head coach Maury John, the Bulldogs developed into an outstanding team that finished 26-5 and advanced to the Final Four. Their greatest achievement nearly came against one of the most dominant programs the sport has ever seen. Drake faced UCLA in the national semifinals, challenging a Bruins team led by Lew Alcindor that was pursuing its third consecutive national championship. The Bulldogs pushed UCLA throughout the contest before suffering an 85-82 defeat, finishing just three points away from one of college basketball's greatest upsets.
Drake responded to that disappointment by defeating North Carolina 104-84 in the national third-place game, providing a remarkable conclusion to an extraordinary season. Willie McCarter scored 28 points and distributed 10 assists in the victory, while Willie Wise and Dolph Pulliam also played significant roles throughout the team's historic campaign. Their accomplishments helped establish a standard that remains important to Drake basketball decades later. Although the Bulldogs never captured the national championship, their performance against UCLA demonstrated that they belonged among the nation's elite. The fact that Drake came so close to defeating Alcindor's Bruins makes the season even more fascinating in retrospect.
3 takeaways from Drake women's basketball media day--Des Moines Register
Mylea Monahan ready to make long-awaited Drake debut--Des Moines Register
When college basketball shocked the world: 10 regular-season upsets that still seem impossible--Busting Brackets
2. Evansville 67, Kentucky 64 (November 12, 2019)
Kentucky entered its November 2019 matchup against Evansville ranked No. 1 nationally and playing at Rupp Arena, one of college basketball's most intimidating home environments. The Wildcats were considered overwhelming favorites against a Missouri Valley Conference opponent that had little national recognition. Evansville, however, refused to follow the expected script and produced a stunning 67-64 victory. The result immediately became one of the biggest regular-season upsets in recent college basketball history.
The Purple Aces received 18 points from K.J. Riley and 17 from Sam Cunliffe, whose late free throws helped secure the victory. Evansville also had an unusual connection to Kentucky because its head coach, Walter McCarty, had played on the Wildcats' 1996 national championship team. The Purple Aces were approximately 25-point underdogs entering the contest, making the result especially remarkable. Their victory demonstrated how quickly national championship expectations can collide with the unpredictability of a single basketball game.
Aces Open 2026-27 Season with Exhibition Against IU East--gopurpleaces.com
Illinois State falls to Green Bay in second exhibition match--The Vidette
Redbirds Fall in Exhibition Finale--goredbirds.com
Heralded freshman adjusting well for Illinois State women's basketball--The Pantagraph
Engineers expect tall task in 'big, talented' Sycamores on Saturday--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Sycamores close out exhibition season with win over Rose-Hulman--gosycamores.com
Which mid-majors have the most expensive rosters?--Mid-Major Madness
Finally, Murray State is lapping the field in the Missouri Valley in terms of spending. They spent big money to retain French star G/F Roman Domon, who averaged 14.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game as a 6-foot-9 freshman last season. He is expected to be a frontrunner for MVC Player of the Year. The Racers brought in a few more Europeans this offseason in Talis Soulhac and Mark Padgen, both expected to be notable contributors. Brayden Shorter is back, and Kaden Magwood comes in from Auburn. Murray also added GW transfer Christian Jones and Belmont transfer Brigham Rogers. Ryan Miller’s squad, if reading between the lines of Norlander’s follow-up, could be spending upwards of $8 million.
Rauf Report: Five Mid-Majors to Monitor--Basket Under Review
Murray State Racers
Murray State has been to 16 NCAA Tournaments since 1988, but none since 2022. Ryan Miller was hired to change that, and he's been aggressive in his first two offseasons...[Subscriber Content]
Roman Domon leads Murray State's comeback win over FIU to finish exhibition play 3-0--WPSD Local 6
Racer men use foul line to overcome FIU in final preseason game--Murray Ledger and Times
Second Half Effort Pulls Racers Past FIU--goracers.com
Murray State women take lessons from early scrimmages into final preseason test--WPSD Local 6
Salukis charge into 2026-27 season--The Daily Egyptian
Southern Faces Tennessee Tech in Final Tune-up Before Regular Season--siusalukis.com
Saluki Women create chaos in exhibition win--Southern Illinoisan
Salukis Defeat Panthers in Exhibition--siusalukis.com
Missouri Valley Media Day Recap and Response--Hoops HD
2026-2027 Missouri Valley WBB Preview--Basket Under Review
Belmont ‘Grand Slam’ Has Bruins Ready--Valley Hoops Insider
Dillon, Smiley Named to MVC Watch List--belmontbruins.com
Eubank, Brodie, McCarn and Rust Named MVC Players to Watch--belmontbruins.com
Bradley Braves men's basketball lands 3 players on MVC watch list for 2026-27--Peoria Journal Star
Missouri Valley Conference Releases Men's Basketball Players to Watch List--godrakebulldogs.com
Drake women's basketball coach Allison Pohlman excited for season--Des Moines Register
Becker, Dailey Included Among 2026-27 MVC Women's Basketball Players to Watch--godrakebulldogs.com
Aces fall to Redhawks in overtime exhibition--gopurpleaces.com
Redbird Quartet Named to MVC Watch List--goredbirds.com
ROUNDUP: Allen, Dagons, Flowers named to MVC’s watch list--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Gregory and Cooper named to the MVC Preseason Watch List--gosycamores.com
Allen, Dagons, Flowers named to MVC’s Players to Watch list--gosycamores.com
Racers Close Exhibition Schedule on Thursday--goracers.com
UNI men’s basketball: Four Panther newcomers named to MVC Preseason Watchlist--unipanthers.com
Salukis Hang On to Win Exhibition Over Lindenwood--siusalukis.com
Haynes, Hill Named MVC Players to Watch--siusalukis.com
Saluki Women's Basketball Takes On Kentucky Wesleyan in Free Exhibition Thursday--siusalukis.com
Baker, Cooper, Davis, & McCline Named MVC Players to Watch--siusalukis.com
UIC Quartet Among MVC Men’s Basketball Players to Watch for 2026-27--uicflames.com
Women’s Basketball has Four Named to MVC Players to Watch list--uicflames.com
Four Valparaiso men's basketball players land on MVC preseason watch list--The Times
Four Beacons Named to MVC Preseason Watch List--valpoathletics.com
Rhoades, von Schlegell Named Players to Watch--valpoathletics.com
Brendan Mullins Honored by Silver Waves Media--belmontbruins.com
Terry Johnson and Peter Funk earn Silver Waves Media accolade--gopurpleaces.com
Grand debut for Noah Cleveland as Illinois State knocks off Northwestern in exhibition--The Pantagraph
Cleveland, Redbirds too much for Northwestern in exhibition match--The Vidette
Men’s Basketball Takes Down Northwestern 70-64 in Exhibition--goredbirds.com
Indiana State men fall to Bulldogs in exhibition--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Sycamores fall in preseason exhibition at Butler--gosycamores.com
Jones named to Silver Waves Media Top Mid-Major Assistant Coaches List--gosycamores.com
Cullen Neal Named To Silver Waves Media Most Impactful/Influential List--goracers.com
Woldeslassie named to Silver Waves Media Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistant Coaches List--unipanthers.com
Southern Welcomes Lindenwood for Free Exhibition Tuesday Night--siusalukis.com
Five college basketball coaches whose remarkable journeys to Division I deserve more attention--Busting Brackets
1. Ben McCollum, Iowa: Four national championships before reaching Division I
Ben McCollum's coaching career provides one of the most remarkable examples of success translating from Division II to Division I.
Before becoming Iowa's head coach, McCollum spent 15 seasons leading Northwest Missouri State. His teams captured four NCAA Division II national championships, winning titles in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022. The program became one of the most successful in the country under his leadership.
McCollum finally received his first Division I head coaching opportunity at Drake in 2024. Rather than experiencing a difficult adjustment, he immediately guided the Bulldogs to a 31-4 record, Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and an NCAA Tournament victory over Missouri.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of his journey is how consistently his coaching philosophy has worked at different levels. McCollum spent years building a championship program outside Division I before demonstrating that the same principles could succeed against major-conference competition.
4. Josh Schertz, Saint Louis: Building a reputation far from the national spotlight
Josh Schertz spent more than a decade building one of the most successful Division II programs in college basketball before becoming a recognizable Division I coach.
Schertz served as Lincoln Memorial's head coach for 13 seasons, compiling a remarkable 337-69 record. His teams reached ten NCAA Division II tournaments and advanced to the national semifinals three times.
Lincoln Memorial finished as the national runner-up in 2016. The program was also 32-1 when the 2019-20 season ended prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
His success eventually earned him the Indiana State job in 2021. Schertz transformed the Sycamores into an exciting offensive team that reached the championship game of the 2024 National Invitation Tournament.
Schertz's journey illustrates the value of developing a coaching identity over time. His offensive approach and program-building experience were established long before he became a nationally recognized Division I coach.
Different paths, similar opportunities
These five coaches demonstrate that there isn't one established route to becoming a successful Division I head coach.
McCollum and Schertz built outstanding Division II programs before earning opportunities at larger schools.
Their careers also offer an important reminder about college basketball. Some of the most interesting coaching stories develop far from the national television spotlight.
As the 2026-27 season approaches, these five coaches have opportunities to add new chapters to already fascinating careers.
Two benches, one family: The Collins legacy returns to Normal--The Vidette
Domon scores 30 as Murray State basketball beats Incarnate Word in closed exhibition--WPSD Local 6
