What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/21/2017

Bradley basketball’s race to 10 wins earliest in program history--Peoria Journal Star
Braves Wrap Up Non-Conference Schedule at Ole Miss--bradleybraves.com

Men's Basketball Closes Non-Conference Season Against Eastern Shore--godrakebulldogs.com

Response to humiliating Duke loss more important for UE--Evansville Courier & Press

Fourth-quarter burst sends ISU women to victory--The Pantagraph
College Report 12/21/17: Transfer Martin leaves ISU basketball team--The Pantagraph

Redbird women fight back late to down Long Beach State--Vidette Online

Lack of scouting report concentration is problem ISU must fix--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Elon Visits Hulman Center In Final Non-Conference Contest Friday--gosycamores.com

Sycamores Fall in Physical Battle Against Butler--gosycamores.com

The next Northwestern? These 12 teams could be next to snap their NCAA tournament droughts.--Chicago Tribune

Loyola (Last NCAA bid: 1985)

From Southern Illinois (2007) to Bradley (2006) to Evansville and Missouri State (both 1999), there is no shortage of potential Missouri Valley contenders with long NCAA tournament absences. But the Ramblers (10-2), who boast a six-point win at Florida, are worth highlighting even after a loss to Wisconsin-Milwaukee over the weekend.

Loyola ranks eighth in the country in three-point percentage at 42.5 percent, and senior forward Aundre Jackson (13.2 points per game, 63.8 percent from the floor) is a handful at the offensive end. It's also gone from being a subpar Horizon League team to the bottom of the Valley when it switched leagues in 2011-12. This is Porter Moser's best Ramblers team yet and should be in the mix in what should be a wide-open league race.

Ramblers Welcome UIC On Friday Afternoon For Non-Conference Finale--loyolaramblers.com