What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/27/2017

Cream Rising to The Top--Valley Hoops Insider

Men's Basketball Begins MVC Action Thursday--godrakebulldogs.com

Yarbrough earns second consecutive MVC Newcomer of the Week award--Vidette Online
Milik Yarbrough Earns Second Straight Newcomer of Week Honor--goredbirds.com

College Report 12/27/17: Yarbrough, Goods earn MVC weekly honors--The Pantagraph

Loyola Hosts Evansville To Close Out 2017--loyolaramblers.com

Bears finish fall semester with academic success--Springfield News-Leader
Two Bears suspended for violation of team rules--Springfield News-Leader
Scurry and Co. give Lusk a merry Christmas--Springfield News-Leader
Johnson Named MVC Player of Week--missouristatebears.com

Bracket Bits: 12 surprising teams of Christmas--Bracketville

As there are traditionally 12 days of Christmas, let’s plug into that theme and launch Bracket Bits. Our first endeavor? How about the 12 surprising teams of Christmas? Teams which have brought college hoops a little extra joy this season …
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Northern Iowa – While a 6-4 record (against D1 schools) might not seem that impressive, consider the Panther’s schedule (ranked No. 3 nationally). Also consider that UNI has wins over NC State, UNLV, and SMU. Their four losses? Dropping games to Xavier, North Carolina, Villanova, and Iowa State (only XU was at home) is hardly cause for concern. This was supposed to be the year for Missouri State or even Loyola-Chicago to win the Missouri Valley. Instead, here sits Northern Iowa, rising from No. 111 on the preseason seed list to No. 42 (69 slots).

UNI basketball: Panthers to host SIU in conference opener--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

Men's Basketball opens conference play at Northern Iowa--siusalukis.com
Redshirt freshman Brendon Gooch used redshirt year to improve--siusalukis.com

Non-Conference Opponents’ Update December 26-- Hammer and Rails

Valparaiso Crusaders (9-4, 0-0 MVC) RPI: 148, KenPom: 136 – The Crusaders were undefeated when they came to Purdue. They have now lost 4 of 5 after losing at UC-Riverside 73-60, but beating Santa Clara 76-68. Thursday night they start conference play by hosting Indiana State.

Crusaders Open MVC Play Thursday at Indiana State--valpoathletics.com

Women's Basketball to Play Program's First Valley Game on Friday at Drake--valpoathletics.com
A Quarter Century Celebration--valpoathletics.com