What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 2/19/2019

Weekend recap: Title implications were everywhere in jumbled leagues--Mid-Major Madness

The Morning Dish – Tuesday, February 19, 2019--Hoopville

Tonight’s Menu:
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Likewise, surging Bradley (four straight victories) can bring one of the Missouri Valley’s top teams closer to the pack if it can win at Drake in a matchup of the league’s two oldest members.

Braves Travel to Face First-Place Drake on Tuesday--bradleybraves.com

Men’s Basketball Aims To Hold On To First Place Tuesday Evening--godrakebulldogs.com

Women’s Basketball Returns to AP Top 25 Poll--godrakebulldogs.com

MVC notebook: Coaches try to downplay importance of last four games--The Pantagraph

Hy-Vee to Host Coaches Shows Tonight--goredbirds.com

2/18 Women's Basketball Players of the Week--College Sports Madness

Missouri Valley Simone Goods F Illinois State

Goods, Maggett win MVC weekly awards--Vidette Online
Goods and Maggett Sweep MVC Weekly Honors--goredbirds.com

ISU's improving Battle "just touching the surface"--Terre Haute Tribune Star

The Other Top 25: VCU breaks into the top 10--Mid-Major Madness

Also receiving votes: Montana 23, Dayton 22, Texas State 21, Charleston 20, Jacksonville State 15, Georgie State 13, Northern Kentucky 11, San Diego State 6, Drake 5, Northeastern 4, St. Francis PA 1, Norfolk State 1, Loyola University Chicago 1.

Column: Loyola is stumbling, but it’s not time to panic--The Catch and Shoot
Loyola Hosts Evansville Wednesday Night--loyolaramblers.com

The Morning Dish – Monday, February 18, 2019--Hoopville

Side Dishes:

There may be no team to make a more drastic in-season improvement than Missouri State. (Monmouth in the MAAC is probably the closest contender) From a 4-7 overall start to 15-12 now, and from 2-4 start in the Missouri Valley, the Bears are now tied for the top spot after a 65-61 win at Loyola Chicago Sunday. Missouri State has won seven of their last eight, including a sweep of Loyola in there, and with three of their final four at home now has a realistic shot at the MVC regular season title. What a first season by Dana Ford, who also engineered a quick turnaround at Tennessee State and whose season took a big turn for the better when Tulio Da Silva was ruled eligible after five games and got going, to the point of now averaging nearly 15 points and seven boards per contest. Of course, MSU has been helped to an extent by an MVC that is loaded with teams that seem incapable of handling success and have a magnetic attraction to keeping records near the .500 mark, but the Bears’ rally is still impressive. It’s also good to see for veterans like Jarred Dixon and Ryan Kreklow who have seen a lot in their long careers at the school.

Stretch Drive Performances--Valley Hoops Insider

Missouri Valley Conference

For the 4th time in seven weeks the Valley has combined its ‘Player and Newcomer of the Week’ award. It’s the fifth time overall. This week’s winner, Tulio Da Silva has turned the trick two times. With the Bears thriving during the stretch drive, the Missouri State forward averaged 16.5 points and eight rebounds per game as the Bears moved into a tie for first place.

The 6’9 Da Silva scored 16 points and grabbed a team high nine rebounds in MSU’s narrow, pivotal road win at Loyola. He also blocked three shots in the 65-61 victory at Gentile Arena.

First-Place Bears Return Home Wednesday to Square Off with UNI--missouristatebears.com