What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/29/2018

Allen begins to emerge at Terrific 24--24/7 Sports

Allen plays at a high school that is a bit off the beaten path in Kentucky, and also isn't one on of the major shoe sponsored basketball circuits. Even with that he has emerged in a big way with his play this spring, and is beginning to become a major target for high-major schools.

"I have had Providence, Purdue, Belmont, Western Kentucky, Xavier, Illinois State, Marshall and some other schools," said Allen.

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/28/2018

Wardle feels good about the Braves, whether they add one more or not--Peoria Journal Star

Former Evansville guard Dru Smith transfers to Missouri--College Basketball Talk
From the NBA to Evansville--Valley Hoops Insider
Evansville’s McCarty – Assembly Required--Valley Hoops Insider
UE basketball offers Bosse rim-protector Kiyron Powell--Evansville Courier & Press
Former Evansville guard Dru Smith commits to Missouri basketball--Evansville Courier & Press
Walter McCarty Basketball Camp registration now open--gopurpleaces.com

Boyd to give Redbirds scoring punch beginning in fall 2019--The Pantagraph
Hillsman gives ISU experience, size for 2019-20 season--The Pantagraph
ISU men's basketball lands transfer Boyd--Vidette Online
Redbird hoops adds transfer Hillsman--Vidette Online
Men's Basketball Hands Out Awards at Team Banquet--goredbirds.com
Illinois State Adds Dedric Boyd--goredbirds.com
Illinois State Adds Transfer Jaycee Hillsman--goredbirds.com

Knight elects to transfer from ISU--Terre Haute Tribune Star
ISU basketball gets to work on getting better--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Trey Knight Elects To Transfer From Sycamore Basketball--gosycamores.com

College basketball fans need this Loyola-Chicago bobblehead--Fansided
Loyola extends Porter Moser through 2026--College Basketball Talk
Loyola extends coach Porter Moser through 2025-26 season--The Sporting News
Porter Moser, Loyola agree on multi-year extension following Final Four run--The Dagger
The memories still vivid, Loyola is reaping the rewards from its magical March run--The Athletic
Loyola AD Steve Watson on Porter Moser's new deal: 'We were committed to keeping him here for a long time'--Chicago Tribune
Porter Moser, 'the perfect fit for Loyola,' gets contract extension through 2025-26--Chicago Tribune
Men’s Basketball Players Still Catching Up on Missed Classes--Loyola Phoenix
BREAKING: Moser Receives Revamped Contract Extension--Loyola Phoenix
Loyola Announces New Contract For Men’s Basketball Coach Porter Moser--loyolaramblers.com
Clayton Custer Named National Jesuit Player Of The Year--loyolaramblers.com

UNI athletics unveils rough draft of five-year plan--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

SIU AD out after trying to fire Hinson--Peoria Journal Star
Sports column | Todd Hefferman: For Carbondale and Edwardsville, breaking up is hard to do--The Southern Illinoisan
SIU Athletics | Bell's tenure filled with many highs, lows--The Southern Illinoisan

Saluki women’s basketball signs junior transfer Gabby Walker--siusalukis.com

Hutton: NCAA commission's report a snoozer for Valparaiso University and basketball coach Matt Lottich--Post-Tribune

Jerry Kill to assume responsibility for SIU Carbondale athletics program--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/23/2018

Ten Questions to Consider: End of Season Edition--Rush The Court

Which new head coach will make the greatest impact on his new school three years from now? While Tom Crean at Georgia likely makes the biggest immediate impact, the home run hire of the offseason came at Drake. Darian DeVries, a longtime assistant at Creighton, became the fourth Drake head coach in the last 16 months. An Iowa native, DeVries is someone who understands the needs and culture of a program like Drake. Three years from now, the Bulldogs could be mimicking Northern Iowa as a frequent 20-win program and flirting with Missouri Valley Conference championships.
...
How good can Loyola-Chicago be next season? The darlings of this year’s NCAA Tournament return three starters, including MVC Player of the Year Clayton Custer. The key for their continued high-level success next season could come to the continued growth of Cameron Krutwig. As a freshman, Krutwig led the Missouri Valley in offensive rating and was dominant on the glass.

Is ESPN+ A Positive for the Valley?--Valley Hoops Insider

Three Sycamores In National Spotlight This Week--gosycamores.com

UNI honors student athletes at PESPYs--Northern Iowan

MVC Announces the Hiring of Katie Mucci--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/22/2018

Matthew Graves rejuvenated to be back in state as UE basketball assistant--Evansville Courier & Press
University of Evansville announces multi-station 'Purple Aces Radio Network'--Evansville Courier & Press
UE basketball lands commitment from 6-3 guard Jawaun Newton--Evansville Courier & Press
Todd Lickliter ready to help build up Evansville basketball program--Evansville Courier & Press

Loyola receives commitment from University of Indianapolis transfer Tate Hall--Chicago Tribune
Porter Moser’s overlooked coaching strength: recruiting--Chicago Sun-Times

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/20/2018

LISTEN: Former Bradley sports information director Joe Dalfonso--Peoria Journal Star

Murphy & Simmons Nominated for ‘Give Back’ Team--Valley Hoops Insider

Dixon decides not to come to ISU for basketball--The Pantagraph
Redbird hoops set for Cayman Islands Classic Baskeball Tournament--Vidette Online

ISU women add juco guard Maggett--The Pantagraph

If not Loyola, here's a wish list of opponents to open the new Welsh-Ryan Arena--Chicago Tribune
Be bold, Northwestern: Invite Loyola for the Welsh-Ryan Arena opener--Chicago Tribune
Porter Moser reminisces on Loyola's season as contract extension talks lingers--Chicago Tribune
Nick Knacks: Please, Porter Moser. Don’t Leave Loyola.--Loyola Phoenix
Custer And Richardson Named Kansas City Sports Commission Sportsmen Of The Year--loyolaramblers.com

Missouri State’s Dana Ford--Valley Hoops Insider
On a dirt court, behind a tiny trailer home, Dana Ford began his journey to Missouri State--Springfield News-Leader

Iverson joins UNI women's basketball program--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Women’s Hoops Adds Iverson to 2018 Class--unipanthers.com

Mary Evans fulfills 'lifelong dream' as Valparaiso introduces new women's basketball coach--Post-Tribune
Evans introduced as new Valparaiso women’s basketball coach--NWI Times
Valparaiso University Community Welcomes Mary Evans at Wednesday’s Reception--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/17/2018

Local, area sports briefs--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

Bradley signs junior college transfer forward Chudier Bile--Peoria Journal Star
Bradley Inks Chudier Bile to NLI--bradleybraves.com

Women’s Basketball Announces 2017-18 Award Winners--bradleybraves.com

Drake Men's Basketball Signs 7-Footer From Davenport--godrakebulldogs.com

Former Butler player, coach Darnell Archey speaks highly of new Evansville assistants--courierpress.com

Cayman Islands Classic to include St. Bonaventure, Boise State and more--Mid-Major Madness
ISU heading to Cayman Islands for tournament--The Pantagraph
Illinois State, Four NCAA Tournament Teams, Headline Strong Cayman Islands Classic Basketball Tournament--goredbirds.com

Final Four run for Loyola (Chicago) an inspiration for new Loyola (Maryland) coach Tavaras Hardy--Chicago Tribune

Stop questioning. This conference is for real.--The Standard
Bears Add Cook to 2018-19 Hoops Signing Class--missouristatebears.com

Valpo Set for Mary Evans Welcome Reception--valpoathletics.com

Illinois State, Four NCAA Tournament Teams, Headline Strong Cayman Islands Classic Basketball Tournament--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/16/2018

Women’s Basketball Adds Ellisha Davis During Spring Signing Period--bradleybraves.com

Graduate Transfer Nick Norton Joins Drake Men's Basketball Team--godrakebulldogs.com
Larry Blunt Joins Drake Men's Basketball Staff--godrakebulldogs.com
Brady Ellingson Joins Drake Men's Basketball Team--godrakebulldogs.com

Mid-major transfer tracker: Where will our small school superstars end up?--Mid-Major Madness

Prentiss Nixon (Colorado State): Nixon is a do-it-all guard who was the core of the Colorado State program. In the Mountain West, he was tenth in scoring and fourth in steals. Though it’s a bit concerning that his shooting accuracy has decreased from sophomore to junior year, he was forced to be a leader for a depleted Ram offense, which made him a more versatile scorer.

Interest: Iowa State, Loyola Chicago, Illinois State, SMU

Prediction: Loyola Chicago

Tanya Warren Panther Basketball Camps Set for June 27--unipanthers.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/15/2018

A look at the best- and worst-case scenarios for Evansville basketball's 2018-19 roster--Evansville Courier & Press
Todd Lickliter, Matthew Graves round out UE basketball coaching staff--Evansville Courier & Press
Solomon Hainna will not return to the Evansville basketball program--Evansville Courier & Press
Evansville basketball lands two recruits in Hurley and Williams--Evansville Courier & Press
Men’s basketball finalizes coaching staff--gopurpleaces.com

Meet Vicki Hall Monday at 7th & Elm--gosycamores.com

Valparaiso women's basketball hires Mary Evans as next head coach--NWI Times
Mary Evans Hired to Lead Valpo Women’s Basketball Program--valpoathletics.com

Mary Evans Hired to Lead Valpo Women’s Basketball Program--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/12/2018

Bradley Basketball Announces Postseason Radio Show--bradleybraves.com

Rush Hired as Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Operations--godrakebulldogs.com

Josh Jefferson Signs with Illinois State--goredbirds.com

Mid-Major Madness Coach of the Year: Porter Moser took Loyola University Chicago to new heights--Mid-Major Madness

UNI basketball adds Iowa Central transfer Trey Croft--The Gazette
Nearly complete, UNI basketball's 2018 recruiting class has experience--Water Cedar Falls Courier

Valparaiso adds point guard, loses two freshmen to transfers as signing period begins--Post-Tribune
NWIU NOTES: Peters shines in final game of rookie season--NWI Times

Custer, Richardson Named to I-AAA Scholar-Athlete Team--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 4/11/2018

Decatur guard Armon Brummett signs with Bradley--Peoria Journal Star
Braves Sign Armon Brummett to National Letter of Intent--bradleybraves.com

Former Hawkeye Matt Gatens joins Darian DeVries' staff as Bulldogs' director of operations--Des Moines Register
Matt Gatens Named Men's Basketball Director of Operations--godrakebulldogs.com

Ex-UK star Rex Chapman says McCarty a great hire for Evansville Aces--Evansville Courier & Press

Lake Land guard Jefferson signs to play for Redbirds--The Pantagraph
Jefferson transfer to Illinois State official--Vidette Online
Josh Jefferson Signs with Illinois State--goredbirds.com

Gillespie Announces Women's Basketball Summer Camps--goredbirds.com

Deady brings curtain down on ISU career--Terre Haute Tribune Star

Tubner named ISU women's basketball assistant--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Roman Tubner Joins Sycamore Women’s Basketball Staff--gosycamores.com

Mid-Major Madness All-Americans: Four conference players of the year make the Second Team--Mid-Major Madness

Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports

Clayton Custer (Loyola University Chicago)

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Custer, much like his team, went from mid-major darling to national story this March during the Ramblers’ run to the Final Four. But while Custer may have been excellent in the tournament, including his game-winner over Tennessee, he was a star long before that. During Missouri Valley play, he led the league in effective field goal percentage (67.4), true shooting percentage (68.7), and three-point percentage (50), while also ranking in the top five in assist and steal rate. The Ramblers lost just three times all season in games that Custer played, including their Final Four defeat against Michigan. He was, simply, one of the best point guards in college basketball.

RAMBLERS WIN!!! 🚨🚨🚨

CINDERELLA LIVES ON!#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ynhEMDNAGs

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 18, 2018

Mid-Major Madness Freshman of the Year: Cameron Krutwig’s emergence and persistence powered Loyola--Mid-Major Madness
Custer, Richardson Named to I-AAA Scholar-Athlete Team--loyolaramblers.com

Ford Gets Commitment from Shooting Guard Butler--missouristatebears.com

Lady Bears Add to Recruiting Class With Signing of Dariauna Lewis--missouristatebears.com

College basketball: Berhow announces transfer from Pepperdine to UNI--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
UNI Signs Three More Recruits for 2018-19--unipanthers.com

Clemson forward Skara to give up senior year to go pro--USA Today
Valpo Men's Basketball to Play in Inaugural Myrtle Beach Invitational--valpoathletics.com
Sackey Signs NLI With Valpo Men’s Basketball--valpoathletics.com