What's Up In The Missouri Valley 1/2/2018

NBC Sports Midseason Mid-Major Power Rankings--College Basketball Talk

4. MISSOURI STATE

Off to a positive start in Missouri Valley Conference play, the Bears have already knocked off Loyola and Valparaiso — two of the league’s stronger teams. Senior forward Alize Johnson is perhaps the best pro prospect of any player on this list as the double-double threat can carry Missouri State on his back during certain stretches. Around Johnson, there is plenty of balance, including senior guard J.T. Miller and junior forward Reggie Scurry. Playing at a slow tempo, Missouri State can to grind out wins using its solid eight-man rotation, or they can score and go more uptempo when the game calls for it.
5. LOYOLA-CHICAGO

The road win at then-No. 5 Florida got the nation’s attention as the Ramblers look like one of the teams to watch in the Missouri Valley Conference. Blessed with a team that loves to move the ball, this unselfish group is very deep and balanced. Seniors like Aundre Jackson and Donte Ingram have been solid. Junior point guard Clayton Custer and junior transfer Marques Townes have also shown flashes of strong play. Freshmen like center Cameron Krutwig continue to develop. Loyola has a high ceiling, but they have to navigate a very difficult league that knows how good they can be.

Standouts from Drake, Northern Iowa honored among best women's basketball players in Missouri Valley history--Des Moines Register

LISTEN: Valley views with Valparaiso beat reporter Paul Oren--Peoria Journal Star
Braves Host Valpo to Open 2018--bradleybraves.com

New Drake A.D.'s mission is to bring heat back to Bulldogs--Des Moines Register
MVC Leaders To Clash At the Knapp Center Wednesday Evening--godrakebulldogs.com

Three Former Women’s Basketball Standouts Named to MVC 25-Year Anniversary Team--godrakebulldogs.com

Consistency on Marty's mind as Aces head to Carbondale to face rival SIU--Evansville Courier
ACES INSIDER - UE Men continue search for first MVC win at Carbondale Wednesday--gopurpleaces.com
Aces look to end skid Wednesday at SIU--gopurpleaces.com
Courier & Press $5 vouchers available for Saturday--gopurpleaces.com

ISU's Hein looks to continue making impact in road game at Drake--The Pantagraph
Yarbrough takes home MVC Newcomer and Player of the Week awards for second time this season--Vidette Online
Milik Yarbrough Sweeps MVC Honors For Second Time this Season--goredbirds.com

College Report 1/3/18: Cirone earns spot on MVC 25-year team--The Pantagraph
Cirone Named to the MVC 25-Year Team--goredbirds.com

Barnes wants to cut down turnovers as ISU visits Loyola--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Road Trip To Loyola On Deck For Sycamore Basketball--gosycamores.com

Joey Wells Resigns as Head Coach at Indiana State--gosycamores.com
Melanie Boeglin Honored as Part of The Valley’s 25th Anniversary of Women’s Sports--gosycamores.com

One MSU basketball player will remain suspended, teammate has suspension lifted, Lusk says--Springfield News-Leader
Hungry Bears Host Perennial Valley Power UNI--missouristatebears.com

Howard, Koch and Stiles Selected to MVC 25-Year Anniversary Team--missouristatebears.com

Panthers, Bears Square off Thursday in Springfield--unipanthers.com

Kalin Named to MVC 25-Year Anniversary Team--unipanthers.com

Men's Basketball hosts Evansville on Wednesday--siusalukis.com

Gallery: Top 10 SIU sports stories of 2017--The Southern Illinoisan

SIU's Brockmeyer named MVC player and newcomer of the week--The Southern Illinoisan
Brockmeyer Named MVC Player and Newcomer of the Week--siusalukis.com

Family time: Valparaiso's Marten Linssen puts on show for parents' visit--Post-Tribune
Valpo Returns To Road For Wednesday Night Matchup at Bradley--valpoathletics.com

MVC MBB Weekly Notes (Jan. 2)--The Missouri Valley

MVC Women's Basketball Weekly Notebook (Jan. 2)--The Missouri Valley