What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/30/2019

The Morning Dish – Saturday, December 28, 2019--Hoopville

Missouri Valley: Some might say Missouri State’s 6-7 start is a surprise, but the chatter about the Bears was based way more on name-brand transfers than anyone having a real read on how they’d mesh. Northern Iowa is the MVC’s biggest story. The Panthers being a contender in the Valley is never really a surprise, of course, but Ben Jacobson’s team is on the fringe of the top 25 and is a late collapse against West Virginia (aided by some curious officiating) from being undefeated.

Our MVC – All-Decade Team--Valley Hoops Insider

The Morning Dish – Sunday, December 29, 2019--Hoopville
Side Dishes:

• Bradley topped Toledo 78-66 as senior Darrell Brown-Penny Hardaway’s godson-scored 29 points. Earlier in the day the Braves announced that guard Danya Kingsby had been suspended one game and promising freshman Stephan Gabriel had been dismissed from the team for repeated team rule violations (Respected Braves beat writer Dave Reynolds of the Peoria Journal Star reported on it here)

Bradley freshman Stephan Gabriel dismissed from team; Kingsby suspended one game--Peoria Journal Star
Brown leads shorthanded Braves to “Character win” over Toledo--Bradley Scout
Braves Top Toledo, 78-66, for 12th-Straight Home Win--bradleybraves.com
Veteran’s Appreciation Night & Free Youth Clinic Highlight Weekend Promotions--bradleybraves.com

Drake women's basketball: Bulldogs race past Northern Illinois, 73-49--Des Moines Register
Women’s Basketball Finishes 5th at Gulf Coast Showcase--Times-Delphic
Women’s Basketball Wins Final Non-Conference Game over Northern Illinois, 73-49--godrakebulldogs.com

News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Saturday, Dec 28th--Hoops HD

-Evansville head coach Walter McCarty has been placed on administrative leave pending a Title IX investigation – assistant head coach Bennie Seltzer will serve as interim head coach in the absence of McCarty.

Evansville’s McCarty Suspended--Valley Hoops Insider
Lindskog: Next few days may feel like an eternity for UE fans as McCarty decision looms--Evansville Courier & Press
UE interim coach Bennie Seltzer: 'We’re trying to make it as normal as possible'--Evansville Courier & Press
Questions and Answers--Eville Ways
Week 9 Power Rankings: Federal Holidays--Eville Ways
UE men’s basketball returns to the floor on Tuesday--gopurpleaces.com

TeTe Maggett to return on limited basis for Illinois State women's basketball against Austin Peay--The Pantagraph
TeTe Maggett returns as Illinois State women fall in OT to Austin Peay--The Pantagraph
Illinois State women's basketball falls in overtime--Vidette Online
Illinois State Basketball 2019 Promotional Schedule--goredbirds.com

Women’s Basketball Falls in Overtime Heartbreaker at Austin Peay--goredbirds.com

ISU feels it’s ready for the rigors of conference play--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores Host Salukis For MVC Opener On Monday Night--gosycamores.com

ISU women hope to end 2019 with win--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Women’s Basketball Welcomes Saint Louis in Last Tune-Up Before Valley Play--gosycamores.com

From NCAA Tournament hero to college basketball’s unicorn: How Cameron Krutwig passed his way into Loyola lore--Mid-Major Madness

Loyola Hosts Western Michigan Monday In Final Non-Conference Tune-Up--loyolaramblers.com

No. 19/21 Lady Bears Close Out 2019 Tuesday Afternoon at JQH--missouristatebears.com

This Week in Mid-Major: Liberty takes a page from UVa’s playbook, Bryant’s shot-swatter, the top 10 and more--The Athletic

The Mid-Major Top 10

7. Northern Iowa (11-1): The Panthers will have had eight days off before they begin Missouri Valley Conference play at Illinois State on Tuesday night. Their lone loss, by five points to West Virginia, is looking better after the Mountaineers beat Ohio State on Sunday. LW: 7

Hoop Thoughts: Why refs were told to call more fouls, my holiday mailbag, top 25 and more--The Athletic

Which mid-major conference could you feasibly see get two bids for the big dance (auto and at-large)? — Campbell S.
It’s never too early to talk mid-major at-large bids, because for these teams the most important part of the season has already taken place. Mid-majors need quality nonconference wins in November and December to even think about getting at-large bids. So here, in order of likelihood, are the mid-major leagues who are capable of placing more than one team in the bracket:

5. Missouri Valley. Northern Iowa is 11-1 with a win at Colorado and ranked No. 69 on KenPom. If the Panthers dominate this conference in the regular season but get knocked off in Arch Madness, they’d have a great shot at an at-large bid.

Perfect fit: UNI feels like home for Berhow--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

College Basketball | Your 5-Minute Guide to the Missouri Valley Conference race--The Southern Illinoisan
SIU Men's Basketball | Cook cleared to play, but could miss Salukis' MVC opener--The Southern Illinoisan
Salukis open MVC play at Indiana State--siusalukis.com

Saluki women tune up for Valley play with exhibition win--The Southern Illinoisan
Salukis cruise to exhibition win over Owls--siusalukis.com

Valparaiso set to begin Missouri Valley Conference play--NWI Times

Valpo Rolls to Sixth Consecutive Victory Saturday Afternoon--valpoathletics.com
Women's Basketball Closes Non-Conference Play Monday at EIU--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/28/2019

Bennett: Picks against the spread for Louisville-Kentucky, Wisconsin-Tennessee and other top games--The Athletic

Toledo at Bradley (-1), 2 p.m. (ESPN+): Here are two teams that will at least have a chance to win their conference tournaments and make the NCAA field. Bradley did it last season in the Missouri Valley, and Toledo has captured the MAC West Division title each of the past two years and is favored to do so again. Both teams usually go as their veteran point guards go: Marreon Jackson for the Rockets and Darrell Brown for the Braves. Toledo is coming off of back-to-back losses to UMKC and Wright State, which is not great. Bradley, though, lost by 16 points at Miami (Ohio) last time out. The pick: Toledo

What to watch for when Bradley plays Toledo--Peoria Journal Star
Shots aren’t falling, but the sky isn’t for Bradley’s Darrell Brown--Peoria Journal Star
Braves Wrap Up Non-Conference with Toledo Saturday--bradleybraves.com

Women’s Basketball Closes Non-Conference Slate at Northern Illinois--godrakebulldogs.com

Evansville’s Walter McCarty placed on leave amid Title IX investigation--College Basketball Talk
Evansville’s McCarty placed on leave for Title IX violations--Associated Press
Reports: Evansville’s Walter McCarty placed on administrative leave--Mid-Major Madness
Evansville places basketball coach Walter McCarty on administrative leave amid Title IX investigation--CBS Sports
Walter McCarty placed on leave for potential Title IX violation--A Sea Of Blue
UE places Walter McCarty on leave for alleged 'unwelcome conduct'--Evansville Courier & Press
UE basketball coach Walter McCarty on leave for alleged Title IX violations: What we know--Evansville Courier & Press
Walter McCarty Suspended By UE--Eville Ways

Evansville coach Walter McCarty placed on administrative leave before it plays MSU on Tuesday--Springfield News-Leader
Bears Set to Begin Conference Play Tuesday at Home--missouristatebears.com

Evansville's McCarty placed on administrative leave--The Southern Illinoisan
Saluki Basketball 5@5: Defense evolving, McCarty placed on leave and the weekend ahead--The Southern Illinoisan

Salukis host William Woods University for exhibition on Sunday--siusalukis.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/27/2019

National Rankings – How Does the Valley Stack Up?--Valley Hoops Insider

Week 8 Norman Dale Power Rankings--Eville Ways

Men's Hoops Open MVC Play with Illinois State--unipanthers.com

Women's Basketball Aims For Sixth Straight Win Saturday--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/26/2019

How the conferences shape up as conference play begins in earnest--Hoopville

Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa has emerged as the clear favorite, with no clear next contender. You can take your pick based off non-conference of Drake, Bradley, Evansville, Valparaiso, Loyola-Chicago, Indiana State and Missouri State. Don’t let the Bears’ 6-7 record throw you – they have played a tough schedule and lost some close ones.

Report card: Grading the Evansville Purple Aces' non-conference performance--Evansville Courier & Press
The Aces Are Leading The MVC In Home Attendance… By A Lot!--Eville Ways

Loyola Men’s Basketball Defeats Norfolk State for Fourth Straight Win--Loyola Phoenix
Loyola Men’s Basketball Drops Thrilling Non-Conference Finale to Davidson 59-56--Loyola Phoenix
Loyola Opens Valley Action At Valparaiso Monday--loyolaramblers.com

Loyola Women’s Basketball’s Perfect Season Continues After Win Over Bowling Green--Loyola Phoenix
Loyola Women’s Basketball Keeps Pace With No. 16 DePaul in First Loss of Season--Loyola Phoenix

Sports | Top 10 SIU stories of the year--The Southern Illinoisan
Saluki Basketball 5@5: Jones leads second half surge, attendance down, and Valley AD ditches Twitter--The Southern Illinoisan

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/25/2019

Journal Star sports story of the year: Bradley basketball takes the national stage--Peoria Journal Star

Without labor, ISU's Key feels nothing in his game prospers--Terre Haute Tribune Star

From Gordon Hayward's miss to Kentucky's togetherness: Mike DeCourcy's best college basketball moments of the 2010s--Sporting News

9. A long way down

The UNI Panthers held a 12-point lead over Texas A&M with 34 [Ed: it was 44] seconds remaining in their NCAA Tournament second-round game in Oklahoma City. That’s when you start booking the tickets for the regional, right? You’re going to the Sweet 16, obviously.

Except A&M wound up on that plane.

It remains difficult to fathom how UNI could surrender a lead that large in a time frame that small, but it happened. The Aggies score six baskets, one of those a 3-pointer, and a free throw — countered by only a single Panthers field goal — to tie the game at the end of regulation.

Twice — not once, but twice — a Panthers player inbounding the ball saw no options and tried to throw it off the defender’s leg to gain a new five-second count and wound up, instead, seeing the ball gathered by an Aggies player and laid in the goal.

The Aggies won in double overtime. UNI, as one would expect with a coach as classy as Ben Jacobson, handled their defeat as well as possible. Their locker room was quiet, but those at the center of the collapse dealt with the questions they faced with poise.

MVC Power Rankings: Bears fall, Loyola rises in latest rankings--The Southern Illinoisan
Saluki Basketball 5@5: Cook still progressing and big implications for UNI--The Southern Illinoisan

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/24/2019

Preseason Picks Shining--Valley Hoops Insider

Missouri Valley Conference

Loyola’s Krutwig snagged his first weekly honor after earning his first ever triple double. The 6’9 Rambler center scored 22 points, grabbed ten rebounds and handed out ten assists in LUC’s upset win over Vanderbilt. This week’s ‘Player of the Week‘ ranks in the Valley’s top five in scoring, rebounding, shooting percentage and assists.

Drake’s Roman Penn is the latest player to receive one of the Valley’s weekly commendations. The Siena transfer scored 38 points during the Bulldogs’ two non-conference wins and is this week’s ‘Newcomer of the Week‘. His career-high 22 points sparked Drake’s win over Air Force. The 5’10 guard is the fourth different player to earn that distinction. Evansville’s DeAndre Williams has claimed four of the ‘Newcomer‘ titles.

Arch Madness Simulator: Week 8--Eville Ways

David Hughes: Patience is key with these inexperienced ISU women--Terre Haute Tribune Star

Krutwig Named MVC Player Of The Week--loyolaramblers.com

What we're looking forward to in southwest Missouri sports in 2020--Springfield News-Leader

Who were the greatest Springfield-area teams of 2019?--Springfield News-Leader

UNI men's basketball: Efficient Panthers enter MVC play as prohibitive favorites--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

Cavey Named MVC Newcomer of the Week--unipanthers.com

Saluki Basketball 5@5: Freshmen leading SIU, going streaking, and MVC players of the week--The Southern Illinoisan
Sports Column | Todd Hefferman: Top Saluki moments of 2019--The Southern Illinoisan

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/23/2019

The Morning Dish – Monday, December 23, 2019--Hoopville

Side Dishes
Other results of note: Saint Francis U edged William & Mary 78-72 in the D.C. Holiday Hoops Fest; Rutgers got off to a fast start and made it stand up in a 63-44 win over Lafayette behind 18 points and 14 rebounds from Myles Johnson; Northern Iowa moved to 11-1 with an 88-80 win over Marshall, becoming the 15^th Missouri Valley team since 1996-97 to win 11 non-conference games; New Mexico State is playing better of late, and they went to Starkville and beat Mississippi State 58-52; Davidson is also playing better and won their third straight, this one a 59-56 squeaker at Loyola-Chicago; Yale went to Clemson and came away with a 54-45 win to run their winning streak to seven and go to 10-3 on the season; Seton Hall started slowly and trailed Prairie View A&M at the half, then took over in the second half for a 75-55 win; TCU rallied later in the second half, but Tyrique Jones (18 points, 14 rebounds) and Xavier made their halftime lead stand up and held on for a 67-59 win in Fort Worth; and Radford handed Richmond just their second loss of the season, knocking off the Spiders 73-58 in the D.C. Holiday Hoops Fest behind 14 points and 11 assists from Carlik Jones.

Lasha Petree Named COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete Of The Week--bradleybraves.com

Penn Named MVC Men’s Basketball Newcomer of the Week--godrakebulldogs.com

It’s A Wonderful Week 8 Power Rankings--Eville Ways

Aces battle, but fall at Miami in final game of 2019--gopurpleaces.com

Wallen Earns MVC Player of the Week--goredbirds.com

ISU gives fans a 7-game win streak for Christmas--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Down In The Valley: Chicago State musings--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Hot Shooting Sycamores Earn Decisive Victory Over Chicago State--gosycamores.com

Loyola’s Win Streak Halted by Davidson, 59-56--loyolaramblers.com

This Week in Mid-Major: Childs just happy to be back for BYU, the SoCon makes its case, rankings and much more--The Athletic

The Mid-Major Top 10

7. Northern Iowa (11-1): The Panthers had a 10-day break before beating Marshall, 88-80, on Sunday. Trae Berhow went 4-of-4 on 3s against the Thundering Herd and is now shooting 56 percent from behind the arc. LW: 6

College men's basketball: UNI matches best nonconference run in school history--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Efficient UNI downs Marshall in men's basketball--The Gazette
Panthers Defeat Marshall 88-80--unipanthers.com

College women's basketball: It's a Panther State; UNI rallies past ISU--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
PANTHER STATE: UNI Topples Iowa State 71-63--unipanthers.com

VU men’s basketball notes: Shorthanded Crusaders come up short in upset bid against Arkansas--Post-Tribune
Valpo, Loyola to Clash at ARC in MVC Opener--valpoathletics.com

MVC MBB Weekly Notes (D23)--The Missouri Valley

Women's Basketball Player/Newcomer of the Week (Dec. 23)--The Missouri Valley
MVC Women's Basketball Notebook - Dec.23--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/22/2019

Saturday Notes – December 21, 2019--Hoopville

Arkansas 72, Valparaiso 68: The Razorbacks found a way to win this one in North Little Rock, as they trailed by eight in the second half after opening up an early 13-point lead. They had three more turnovers than Valpo and were out-rebounded, but pulled it out to go to 10-1.
Oral Roberts 82, Missouri State 72: The Bears have five players score in double figures, but were out-rebounded 41-28 allowed four Golden Eagles to reach double figures. They are 6-7, but have tested themselves in non-conference play. Now we’ll see how that translates for the preseason favorites since Missouri Valley play takes over from here.

The Morning Dish – Sunday, December 22, 2019--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu
The slate is a little lighter, but still a busy one as Christmas gets closer.

• Northern Iowa gets back in action with a visit from Marshall (2 p.m.)
• South Carolina hits the road to visit Virginia, while Mississippi State welcomes New Mexico State and Loyola-Chicago hosts Davidson (3 p.m.)

Bradley ‘out-toughed’ in 71-55 thumping at Miami--Peoria Journal Star
Bradley Basketball Takes Loss at Miami--bradleybraves.com

Braves Pull Away To Top Eastern Washington 66-46--bradleybraves.com

Penn scores 22 to carry Drake past Air Force 85-80--Associated Press
Penn's Career High Leads Men's Basketball To Road Win--godrakebulldogs.com

Women's basketball: Hawkeyes lean on late surge to topple Drake--Des Moines Register
Iowa Holds off Women’s Basketball for 79-67 Win--godrakebulldogs.com

At the buzzer: Evansville defeat Murray State in OT to end non-conference play--Evansville Courier & Press
UE Insider: The Aces showed 'they don't quit' in overtime win over Murray State--Evansville Courier & Press
Game Recap: Evansville 78, Murray State 76--Eville Ways
Men’s basketball grinds out overtime win over Murray State--gopurpleaces.com

Jhivvan Jackson lights up Redbirds for 41 points in easy Texas-San Antonio victory over Illinois State--The Pantagraph
Roadrunners run all over 'Birds in blowout victory--Vidette Online
Redbirds Fall in Non-Conference Finale--goredbirds.com

Winning feeling makes it easier for ISU to improve--Terre Haute Tribune Star

ISU women storm back, but still fall to SEMO by 10--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Adrian Folks Leads Sycamores with Double-Double in Loss to Southeast Missouri--gosycamores.com

Moore: My picks against the spread for Virginia-South Carolina, Xavier-TCU and the rest of the day’s top games--The Athletic

Davidson at Loyola-Chicago (-3), 3 p.m. (ESPN+): Davidson was expected to be one of the Atlantic 10’s best teams but has gotten off to a disappointing 5-5 start. Loyola-Chicago is coming off a win against Vanderbilt and is looking like a contender again in the Missouri Valley. One of the problems for Davidson has been interior defense, which is troubling against Loyola-Chicago star big man Cameron Krutwig. The Ramblers have a different issue. They give up a lot of 3s (8.3 per game), and Davidson coach Bob McKillop takes advantage of the 3-point line about as well as any coach in America. The coin says Davidson. I think one of my problems is I pick the favorite too often, so I’m changing it up here! May the power of Steph Curry be with the Wildcats. The pick: Davidson

Missouri State ends non-conference play with loss at Oral Roberts--Springfield News-Leader
Missouri State men's hoops uninspiring heading into Valley play: 5 takes after loss to ORU--Springfield News-Leader
Second-Half Surge Pushes ORU Past Bears in Tulsa--missouristatebears.com

10-1 start for UNI men's basketball is in part a result of competitive practices--The Gazette

It's a Fennelly family reunion as Iowa State women's basketball hosts UNI--The Gazette
College women's basketball: Three of a kind when UNI visits ISU--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

SIU 64, SEMO 45: Grading the Salukis--The Southern Illinoisan
SIU Men's Basketball | Salukis run off 26 straight points, roll over SEMO--The Southern Illinoisan
26-0 run leads Salukis to victory over Redhawks--Daily Egyptian
SIU crushes SEMO, 64-45--siusalukis.com

SIU women’s basketball earns Compass Challenge title for second straight year--Daily Egyptian

News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Saturday, Dec 21st--Hoops HD

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-ARKANSAS VS VALPARAISO (game in Little Rock, AR).  Arkansas can improve to 10-1 on the year.  They haven’t really beaten any solid tournament caliber teams yet, but they are off to a pretty good start.

Freeman-Liberty – Whatever It Takes--Valley Hoops Insider
Hogs Survive Valparaiso in Front of Raucous NLR Crowd--Arkansas Fight
Valparaiso falters late to Arkansas--NWI Times
Valliant Effort Falls Narrowly Shy in Arkansas--valpoathletics.com