What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 11/18/2017

The Morning Dish – Thursday, November 16, 2017--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu

Early season tournaments are about to start in earnest, as a few of them start today and will be the highlight of the matchups on tap.

In the Charleston Classic, Auburn takes on Indiana State to get it going (11:30 a.m.), then Old Dominion takes on Temple for the afternoon session. The night session starts with a matchup of Clemson and Ohio (5 p.m.) before finishing up with Dayton taking on Hofstra.
The Puerto Rico Tip-Off, which has moved to Myrtle Beach in light of damage done by a natural disaster, starts with Illinois State taking on South Carolina (11:30 a.m.) before Boise State takes on UTEP. In the night session, Iowa State takes on Appalachian State (5:30 p.m.) and Tulsa takes on Western Michigan right after that to close the date.

The Morning Dish – Friday, November 17, 2017--Hoopville

We may be barely a week into the college basketball season, but it’s not hard to make an argument that a number of teams and conferences just might be already entering the most important 7-10 days in their regular seasons.

It’s completely counter intuitive, and it probably shouldn’t be the case for a number of reasons. And no one will argue that conference play and conference tournaments are the heart of any team’s schedule if you were to ask any coach. For schools like Illinois State and Hofstra and leagues like the Missouri Valley and Colonial Athletic Association, though-to name just a couple of many-this has become a critical time of the year, as it is far and away the best time to earn wins over bigger-name (read: football-dominated) schools, the kind that help build power ratings and might get the attention of a certain tournament selection committee in March.

With top programs and conferences becoming ever more intent on colluding to avoid scheduling schools outside their exclusive country club, early season tournaments have become easily the best option-some might say just about the only one now-for those outside the TV Conferences circle to make some noise. They also have taken on increased importance because of their rarity, as with so few chances at these teams after this point, it’s very possible that teams’ and leagues’ performances in them now could be used for or against them when NCAA tourney selection comes in March.

A team like Illinois State knows all about a perceived lack of quality wins costing it a spot in the NCAA Tournament. As such, the Redbirds’ 69-65 win over South Carolina on Thursday in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off quarterfinals was an important step, one with national cachet coming over a Final Four team this past spring, and also one over a team from a Southeastern Conference that has been excellent in the early going and thus should pay off all year long.

Illinois State is a far, far different team from a year ago. Four starters departed the Redbirds, including two via grad transfers, and ISU also has been hit by a rash of injuries before the season. Dan Muller’s team had just eight healthy scholarship players for its opening 98-87 loss at Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday.

The Redbirds weren’t good defensively against FGCU, but they were against South Carolina, using a sticky 2-3 zone that limited the Gamecocks to 29.5% shooting. Add in 18 points from Saint Louis transfer Milik Yarbrough and 17 from blossoming sniper Keyshawn Evans, and ISU posted a win it and the Missouri Valley Conference can be proud of, continuing the conference’s good start through one week with a 19-3 record including six wins at road or neutral sites. Just as important, the Birds also now get a chance to play a Boise State team that is expected to be near the top of the Mountain West, and also will face either a Big 12 (Iowa State) or AAC (Tulsa) team, of which wins against also could only help an MVC team in the ratings and in perception.
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Today’s Menu:

ESPN tourneys in Charleston and Myrtle Beach continue early in the morning, starting with South Carolina against UTEP in a consolation bracket game (10:30 a.m. Eastern, ESPNU). Auburn and Temple meet in a Charleston semifinal in the morning, too (11 a.m., ESPN2), and a busy day also includes Illinois State against Boise State (1 p.m., ESPN2) and Iowa State against Tulsa (7 p.m., ESPNU) in Myrtle Beach, plus Clemson facing Hofstra in Charleston (9:30 p.m., ESPNU).
The Bahamas Showcase opens with some intriguing games. Vermont takes on Bradley from the Missouri Valley, and later in the day Weber State meets Iona.

News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Friday, Nov 17th--Hoops HD

NEWS AND NOTES
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-Illinois State picked up a somewhat surprising win against South Carolina in the Puerto Rico Tipoff. That in and of itself was a nice win, but it’s even nicer when you consider that they have the opportunity to continue to add to their resume.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
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-BRADLEY VS VERMONT (Island of the Bahamas Showcase). We think Vermont can land inside the bubble, and to make that happen it is important that they do well in (win) this tournament.
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-ILLINOIS STATE VS BOISE STATE (Puerto Rico Tip-Off). Really looking forward to this one after watching both these teams pick up nice wins yesterday.
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-NORTHERN KENTUCKY VS JAMES MADISON (Island of the Bahamas Showcase). I really like this NKU team, but they have a razor thin margin for error and in order for the selection committee to even consider them they need to basically win virtually everything.

Under the Radar Games of the Day: Bahamas Showcase Quarterfinals--Hoops HD

The first game of the day features the Missouri Valley Conference’s Bradley Braves against the America East’s Vermont Catamounts. The Braves are 2-0 on the season, being led by Donte Thomas who is averaging 11 points and 9 rebounds through the first two games. While they may have a shot at contending in their conference this year, their opponent is a clear favorite in theirs. Vermont is 0-1, but that one loss was a tough 4 point road game at Kentucky. Four different Catamount players were in double figures in that game, showing that this team is very deep and very dangerous.

Bell-Haynes makes go-ahead FT, Vermont edges Bradley--CBS Sports
Bradley tops UTSA in Island of the Bahamas Showcase 71-69--CBS Sports
Bradley starter Koch Bar misses Bahamas trip because of passport issues--Peoria Journal Star
Bradley falls to mid-major power Vermont 65-64--Peoria Journal Star
Bradley pulls win out in last second--Peoria Journal Star
Bradley Edged by Vermont, 65-64--bradleybraves.com
Last-Minute Rally Leads Braves Past UTSA--bradleybraves.com

Women’s basketball blows past nonconference foes--The Scout
Men’s basketball grits out 2-0 start--The Scout

Timmer, Woodward lift Drake past Wake Forest, 77-74--CBS Sports
Men's Basketball Upends Wake Forest, 77-74--godrakebulldogs.com

Women’s Basketball Downs Liberty, 96-68--godrakebulldogs.com

My big weekend preview: Princeton, BYU, and hidden mid-major gems--Mid-Major Madness

4 Players to Watch:
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Ryan Taylor, Evansville

In a conference that has featured Final-Four-caliber Wichita State teams and tournament-level squads from Northern Iowa and Illinois State, the Missouri Valley’s scoring champion has come from Evansville each of the last four years. If the first three games of the season are any indication, that streak could run to five. He’s posted 23.2 points per game so far against inferior competition.

Taylor, Smith have 17 each, Evansville gets 3rd straight win--CBS Sports
Taylor, UE basketball look to keep foot on gas; host SEMO on Thursday--Evansville Courier & Press
3 reasons UE basketball beat SEMO, 66-50--Evansville Courier & Press
Former Evansville star Marcus Wilson relives glory days at 'Aces Pregame Party'--Evansville Courier & Press
Men’s basketball improves to 3-0 win 66-50 win over SEMO--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSTANT REPLAY - Team effort leads Aces to 3rd straight win--gopurpleaces.com
Aces complete homestand Saturday against Binghamton--gopurpleaces.com

Women's Basketball caps-off road swing at EIU--gopurpleaces.com

Thursday Recap: No brutality, but Illinois State’s upset headlined the day--Mid-Major Madness
Boise St beats Illinois St 82-64 in Puerto Rico Tip-Off--CBS Sports
ISU falls to Boise State in Tip-Off Classic semifinal game--The Pantagraph
Broncos stampede Redbirds in semifinals of Puerto Rico Tip-Off--Vidette Online
Redbirds Fall in Second Round of Puerto Rico Tip-Off at Myrtle Beach--goredbirds.com

Old Dominion tops Indiana State 62-44 in Charleston--CBS Sports
ISU can’t solve ODU defensive riddle in 62-44 defeat--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Lansing frustrated by lack of adherence to scouting report by Sycamores--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Old Dominion Uses Second Half Run To Down Sycamores--gosycamores.com
Sycamores Set For Sunday Showdown With Ohio At Gildan Charleston Classic--gosycamores.com

Sycamores blown out by IUPUI--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamore Women’s Basketball Falls at IUPUI Friday Night--gosycamores.com

Is it Loyola’s time in Valley of opportunity?--Mid-Major Madness
Clayton Custer scores 20 as Loyola beats UMKC 66-56--Chicago Tribune
Custer scores 20 as Loyola-Chicago beats UMKC 66-56--CBS Sports
Is it Loyola’s time in Valley of opportunity?--Mid-Major Madness
Illinois needs to schedule more games in Chicago--The Champaign Room

Traditionally, the United Center game falls on the weekend before Christmas day. This year, Illinois will play New Mexico State on the 16th at 7:00pm. On Wednesday the 13th, Longwood travels to Champaign to play the Illini at State Farm Center. Instead of facing a team that has played division one hoops for thirteen seasons, schedule a game in Chicago at DePaul/Loyola/UIC on Friday night.

Undefeated Ramblers Return Home To Battle Samford Sunday--loyolaramblers.com

Cold Start Dooms Loyola In 73-49 Loss To Youngstown State--loyolaramblers.com

The Morning Dish – Saturday, November 18, 2017--Hoopville

Side Dishes
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Missouri State star Alize Johnson has done it again. The senior had 23 points and 20 rebounds in last night’s 57-54 loss to North Dakota State, his second 20-20 game and the second one of the season (Washington’s Noah Dickerson has the other one).