What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 1/1/2018

NIT Bracket Projection: Jan. 1, 2018--Hoopville

NIT Tournament Bracket (italics for bubble):
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2. UCLA
7. Northern Iowa
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2. Minnesota
7. Loyola (IL)

Podcast: Debating the No. 1 team--Mid-Major Madness

After that, we delved into the Missouri Valley and discussed what to make of that mess. Without Wichita State, there does not appear to be a dominant team, and, even stranger, there are no really bad teams either. In other words, Arch Madness will be a ton of fun.

Bradley run sends Braves past N. Iowa 72-53--CBS Sports
Drake hangs on for 70-67 win over Southern Illinois--CBS Sports
Missouri State ends Valparaiso's home winning streak, 67-50--CBS Sports
Illinois State holds on for 84-81 OT win against Indiana St--CBS Sports

Wessler: Darrell Brown’s game screams for attention in Bradley win over UNI--Peoria Journal Star
Reynolds: Ferocious 5-minute siege propels Bradley over Northern Iowa--Peoria Journal Star
3-Pointers Lifts Bradley Past Northern Iowa, 72-53--bradleybraves.com

Braves Top Illinois State 62-42 To Open Valley Play--bradleybraves.com

Men’s Basketball Improves To 2-0 In the MVC With A 70-67 Win At SIU--godrakebulldogs.com

Women's Basketball defeats Loyola, 72-46--godrakebulldogs.com

Gasper and Lively combine for 37 as Aces fall to Lady Bears--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSTANT REPLAY - UE Women fall to Missouri State--gopurpleaces.com

1/1 Men's Basketball Players of the Week--College Sports Madness

Missouri Valley Milik Yarbrough F Illinois State

Yarbrough, Redbirds rally to top Indiana State in overtime--The Pantagraph
Redbirds ring in new year with overtime victory over Indiana State--Vidette Online
Redbirds Rally in 2017 Finale over Indiana State--goredbirds.com

Redbird women drop Valley opener at home--The Pantagraph
ISU women close out 2017 with loss in MVC opener--Vidette Online
Redbirds Fall to Bradley in MVC Opener--goredbirds.com

Familiar refrain for Sycamores in OT loss at Illinois State--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores Fall At Redbird Arena In Overtime--gosycamores.com

Sycamores play Santa Claus — twice--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores Say So Long to 2017, Fall to Salukis--gosycamores.com

Loyola Opens New Year By Hosting Indiana State Wednesday--loyolaramblers.com

Second-Half Surge Pushes Drake Past Loyola, 72-46--loyolaramblers.com

Bears stay hot going into new year--Springfield News-Leader
Bears Spoil Valpo’s Home Valley Debut with Solid Road Victory--missouristatebears.com

Offense Shines in 95-65 Win at Evansville--missouristatebears.com

The Morning Dish – Monday, January 1, 2018--Hoopville

For other surprises, let’s look at the Missouri Valley. How about Northern Iowa starting off 0-2 after losing at Bradley on Sunday? The Panthers have lost four in a row now after a great start that included wins over SMU and NC State to reach the championship of the Battle 4 Atlantis and wins over UNLV and UT-Arlington. Granted, the schedule got a bit tougher, but the 0-2 start is a bit surprising.
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Some of these surprises may end up being something that doesn’t last. Northern Iowa and UT Arlington, for example, seem a little too good to let this set a real tone and lead to finishes near the cellar of their respective conferences. But as the calendar turns over, we have a few surprises, along with reminders of how much it helps to be at home.