What's Up In The Missouri Valley 10/10/2018

Single-game tickets on sale for Bradley basketball--Peoria Journal Star
Single-Game Basketball Tickets Now on Sale--bradleybraves.com

Men's Basketball Shows First Look At Upcoming Season With Blue-White Exhibition--godrakebulldogs.com

Evansville basketball lands commitment from Charlotte guard Marcus Henderson--Evansville Courier & Press
NCAA declares Evansville basketball recruit Deandre Williams ineligible for 2018-19--Evansville Courier & Press
Men’s Basketball continues preseason preparations--gopurpleaces.com
Statement from UE Athletics regarding Deandre Williams--gopurpleaces.com

Redbirds Best Ever?--Valley Hoops Insider
2017-18 MVC Post-Mortem--Hoopville
Offense early emphasis for Redbirds during fall practice--The Pantagraph

'79 Sycamores to return in January--Terre Haute Tribune Star
ISU's Neese excited to 'prove the people right'--Terre Haute Tribune Star
40th Anniversary Celebration For 1979 Final Four Team Set For January 19--gosycamores.com
Carl Nicks To Have His No. 22 Jersey Retired This Season--gosycamores.com

UPDATED: No. 22 is magic number for Boeglin, Nicks and Sycamores--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Indiana State to Retire Melanie Boeglin's No. 22 Jersey--gosycamores.com

Where 2018-19 Happens: Reason #29 We Love College Basketball--Rush The Court
A Complete Viewing Guide to the Best of the 2018–19 College Basketball Non-Conference Schedule--Sports Illustrated

Tuesday, Nov. 27

Nevada at Loyola-Chicago, 8 p.m. ET, ESPNews

The Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge brings us a Sweet 16 rematch of two of March’s biggest surprises. Both teams lost a pair of starters from that game, which the Ramblers won 69–68, but return key pieces. Loyola-Chicago brings back Clayton Custer, Marques Townes and big man Cameron Krutwig, while Nevada could enter this matchup ranked in the top 10. But if we learned anything in March, it’s to never count out the Ramblers, who will have home court advantage.

64 Reasons to Be Excited for the 2018–19 College Basketball Season--Sports Illustrated

5. What Will Loyola-Chicago and Sister Jean Do for an Encore?

The Ramblers, and by extension Sister Jean, the nun who served as their No. 1 supporter and turned 99 years old over the summer, were the darlings of the 2018 NCAA tournament—and that was before they improbably made a run to the Final Four. The magic of that journey may be over, but don’t expect Loyola-Chicago to fade back into obscurity. Three of its starters and double-digit scorers are back: Clayton Custer, the Ramblers’ leader (and leading scorer), Marques Townes, whose dagger three helped sink Nevada in the Sweet 16, and Cameron Krutwig, who as a freshman went toe-to-toe with Michigan’s Moritz Wagner in the Final Four, scoring 17. —MG

Porter Moser says Loyola focused on improvement, not Final Four encore: 'Let's not skip this part of the process'--Chicago Tribune
‘Starting’s for High School’: Moser Talks New Additions at Annual Luncheon--Loyola Phoenix

Achter Preaches ‘Continuity’ at Luncheon--Loyola Phoenix

Ranking the 10 best coaching hires heading into this season--College Basketball Talk

8. DANA FORD, Missouri State

With Creighton and Wichita State seeking out greener pastures, Missouri State is well positioned to compete year-in and year-out in the Missouri Valley Conference. Ford, 34, engineered a quick turnaround at Tennessee State before things started teetering in Years 3 and 4, but he’s well regarded and would seem set up to succeed in an area the Illinois State graduate and one-time Wichita State assistant knows well.

Live Stats on Benches of Hall of Fame Classic--Valley Hoops Insider
Missouri State basketball, Dana Ford are focused on changing the team's culture--Springfield News-Leader
Former Bears coach Barry Hinson says his parents are big Dana Ford fans--Springfield News-Leader

Salukis Could Contend--Valley Hoops Insider

Valpo Basketball Teams to Hold Open Practice at Hammond Civic Center--valpoathletics.com