What's Up In The Missouri Valley 1/17/2018

The Morning Dish – Tuesday, January 16, 2018--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu:
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Drake leads the Missouri Valley; Northern Iowa is in last. And it would surprise no one if the Panthers defeat the Bulldogs Tuesday. Such is life in the topsy-turvy Valley, where UNI was one of the preseason (and December) league favorites and Drake was picked last.

Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings: Western Kentucky is a serious contender in Conference USA--Mid-Major Madness

RANK TEAM RECORD LAST WEEK POINTS
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18 Loyola Chicago 14-4 21 54
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21 Missouri State 14-5 11 47

Northern Iowa pulls away early in 2nd, beats Drake 68-54--CBS Sports

LISTEN: About that I-74 rivalry...--Peoria Journal Star
Bradley’s Thomas not into goodbyes--Peoria Journal Star
Braves Travel to Face I-74 Rival Illinois State--bradleybraves.com

Pretender or Contender: A Look at Conference Play’s Early Overachievers--CBB Central

Missouri Valley: Drake

Status: Contender

Drake’s massive turnaround in year one of the Niko Medved era has been one of the better stories of the college basketball season. Medved inherited a senior-laden roster and has led it to a 5-1 start to MVC play. Reed Timmer is one of the most underrated guards in college basketball, and Nick McGlynn has had a major breakout season to give the Bulldogs a big boost in the frontcourt. If they can survive the upcoming 3-game stretch of Northern Iowa, Missouri State, and Loyola, the Bulldogs should be in prime position for a top-3 seed in Arch Madness this March.

What we learned from UNI's 68-54 win --Des Moines Register
Drake Men's Basketball Falls at UNI, 68-54--godrakebulldogs.com

Aces welcome Indiana State on Wednesday--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - UE Men's basketball looking to turn page on Drake defeat--gopurpleaces.com

Women's basketball to host "We Back Pat" night on Friday--gopurpleaces.com

MVC notebook: Transfer rule change has coaches worried--The Pantagraph
Redbirds focus on stopping losing skid with rival coming to town--The Pantagraph
Marra: Yarbrough and Johnson set the pace in MVC--Vidette Online
Redbirds, Braves to Battle in Redbird Arena--goredbirds.com

Four Future Redbirds Nominated for McDonald’s All-American Game--goredbirds.com

Davis returns to help ISU in another evenly-matched MVC game--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores Travel Down Highway 41 To Take On Evansville Wednesday Night--gosycamores.com

Missouri State goes for second-straight win as Bears host Valley newcomer Valparaiso--Springfield News-Leader

UNI climbs out of early hole to top Drake, 68-54--The Gazette
UNI basketball: Panthers sticking with modified starting lineup--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
College basketball: UNI wipes out big early deficit, tops MVC leader Drake--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
UNI Takes Down MVC-Leading Drake, 68-54--unipanthers.com

Smithpeters on hot streak as Salukis head to Loyola--The Southern Illinoisan
Men's Basketball returns to action at Loyola on Wednesday--siusalukis.com

'Absolute bear' Mileek McMillan grows as surprise starter for Valparaiso--Post-Tribune
Men's Basketball Heads to Missouri State For Wednesday Night Matchup--valpoathletics.com

MVC Women's Basketball Weekly Notebook (Jan. 16)--The Missouri Valley