What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 10/28/2017

Ranking all 351 college basketball teams, from Duke to Alabama A&M--CBS Sports

58. Missouri State Bears

It's been an era or so since Missouri State made the NCAAs (1999), but if this team stays healthy it's going to be the best in the Valley. The Bears will step in and take the throne now that Wichita State is out of the neighborhood. Credit to Mo State's administration for having patience with Paul Lusk. It should pay off this season. Alize Johnson is the name to know and the guy that's going to push the Bears to 20-plus wins.
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74. Loyola-Chicago Ramblers

If Missouri State doesn't win the Valley, Loyola probably will. Porter Moser lost Milton Doyle, the team's best player, but a five-pack of quality seniors return, including preseason all-league selections Donte Ingram and Aundre Jackson. To me, unquestionably a top-100 team.
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109. Illinois State Redbirds

The Redbirds should've gotten an at-large call from the selection committee last season. Now Dan Muller enters the season with two new assistant coaches (he lost two to Michigan in late July) and a lot of talent gone via transfer. ISU should still be a dark horse consideration to take the MVC.
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122. Northern Iowa Panthers

Set for a bounce-back season after a predictable but aberrational 14-16 season in 2016-17. Still, not convinced this is going to become a top-two team in the Valley. Jeremy Morgan's departure is why. Bennett Koch steps in as the alpha. Doug McDermott's cousin, Adam, is on this roster.
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155. Southern Illinois Salukis

Will probably tussle with Valpo for the right to be in the top half of the MVC. Barry Hinson's team loses its three most productive players. Non-conference could be a roller coaster. Another team with a great name on the roster: Thik Bol.
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160. Valparaiso Crusaders

New kid on the block, as Valpo makes the move from the Horizon League. It's a great fit for the Missouri Valley, which made the best possible replacement after losing Wichita State.
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172. Indiana State Sycamores

The Sycamores lost too many one- and two-possession, and overtime, games in league play last season. Luck will be on their side in 2017-18. Senior Brenton Scott is among the four or five best players in the Valley.
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226. Evansville Aces

Three senior starters gone from a 16-17 team. Probably will decelerate to 13 or 14 wins.
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231. Bradley Braves

Brian Wardle needs to find himself a Keifer Sykes to change the direction of this program. The Braves are young and still working on getting fluidity on offense.
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287. Drake Bulldogs

Probably, again, will be the worst team in the Missouri Valley. Here's the good news if you're a Bulldogs fan. You've got Niko Medved as your coach now, and he just helped turn Furman from an afterthought into a top-three team in the SoCon. That program had almost no history. Drake could be in good hands here.

Conference Preview: Missouri Valley--Hoops HD
32 Conferences, 32 Days: Missouri Valley--CBB Central
Whose League Is It?--Valley Hoops Insider
Medved & Lottich – New Kids on the Block--Valley Hoops Insider

Bradley Red-White scrimmages set for Saturday--Peoria Journal Star
Bradley to aid hurricane victims with exhibition game if approved--Peoria Journal Star
Luuk Van Bree ‘shoots lights out’ in Bradley basketball scrimmage--Peoria Journal Star
Wardle to Wichita State coach: “Let’s play”--Peoria Journal Star
Get to Know the Braves: Darrell Brown--bradleybraves.com
Season Ticket Pickup Starts Monday--bradleybraves.com
Braves Open Season with Red-White Scrimmage--bradleybraves.com
Darrell Brown Earns Preseason All-MVC Honors--bradleybraves.com

Bradley men 7th, women 6th in MVC preseason polls--Peoria Journal Star
Bids for the Braves Auction - SOLD OUT--bradleybraves.com

Braves Host Annual Red-White Scrimmage--bradleybraves.com
Women’s Basketball Picked Sixth In MVC Pre-Season Poll--bradleybraves.com

UNI men picked second in Valley preseason poll, while Drake picked to finish last--Des Moines Register
Timmer Named To MVC Men’s Basketball Preseason First Team--godrakebulldogs.com

Annual Bulldog Club Tipoff Breakfast Held At Downtown Marriott--godrakebulldogs.com

Drake women picked to finish first in MVC preseason poll; UNI slotted third--Des Moines Register
After early NCAA exit, Drake’s Hittner primed for big sophomore season--Des Moines Register
Women’s Basketball Picked to Repeat in Missouri Valley Conference--godrakebulldogs.com

Evansville picked ninth in preseason Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball poll--Evansville Courier & Press
Media day ushers in new era for Missouri Valley Conference basketball--Evansville Courier & Press
5 takeaways from Missouri Valley Conference media day--Evansville Courier & Press
Frederking, Kuhlman show off shooting prowess during HoopFest--Evansville Courier & Press
Ryan Taylor expected to be the 'go-to guy' for Evansville men's basketball--Evansville Courier & Press
ACES INSIDER - Get to know your Aces : Marty Hill--gopurpleaces.com
Ryan Taylor named to MVC Preseason All-Conference Second Team--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - Get to know your Aces: Evan Kuhlman--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - Get to Know your Aces : Dainius Chatkevicius--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - Get to know your Aces : Noah Frederking--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - Get to know your Aces : John Hall--gopurpleaces.com

Purple Aces hold HoopFest at Meeks Family Fieldhouse--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - UE Men and Women light up Meeks for Hoopfest--gopurpleaces.com

Women's Basketball tabbed eighth in MVC Preseason Poll--gopurpleaces.com

Muller: Redbirds 'on the right path' heading into Hoopfest--The Pantagraph
ISU picked 4th, Missouri State 1st in MVC preseason poll--The Pantagraph
Men’s basketball projected to finish fifth in MVC preseason poll--Daily Egyptian
Illinois State Picked Fourth in Preseason Conference Poll--goredbirds.com

Yarbrough, Green make favorable impressions during Redbird Hoopfest--The Pantagraph
Redbird Basketball Programs Perform at Hoopfest--goredbirds.com

Tabbed 7th in Valley, ISU women aim to 'change some opinions'--The Pantagraph
Gillespie geared to rebuild Redbirds in debut season--Vidette Online
Women’s Basketball Picked Seventh in MVC Preseason Poll--goredbirds.com

Sycamores Join Exhibition Relief Trend--Valley Hoops Insider
Auburn Basketball Preview - Pt. 2 - Non-Conference Schedule-- College and Magnolia

Thursday, November 16: Indiana State Sycamores – 10:30AM

Last Year: 11-20 (5-13), 9th Place in the Missouri Valley Conference

Postseason: Lost in 1st Round of MVC Tournament

The Sycamores return leading scorer Brenton Scott (15.9 PPG) from a team that had a disappointing season. The alumni of Larry Bird did score an upset of Butler early in the season but that was the clear high mark of the season for Indiana State. This will be the first ever meeting between the Tigers and Sycamores.