Bradley guards Antoine Pittman, Jayden Hodgson leave program--
Peoria Journal Star
Pittman and Hodgson will not return to Bradley basketball team--
Bradlwey Scout
Loyola Men’s Basketball Banquet To Be Held April 9--
loyolaramblers.com
Fan Information for Lady Bears Sweet 16 Trip--
missouristatebears.com
College Basketball’s 2019 Coaching Carousel--
College Basketball Talk
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
OUT: Following a quarterfinal exit from the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, head coach Barry Hinson announced in his postgame press conference that he was leaving his post at Southern Illinois. It hasn’t been made clear if Hinson is resigning, or being fired, as he said, “It is time for me to step away,” during an emotional press conference. In seven seasons at Southern Illinois, Hinson went 116-111 — twice winning 20 or more games in a season. But the Salukis never made the postseason as the once-proud Valley program has struggled to find its footing since six consecutive NCAA tournament appearances earlier this century. Hinson has also spent time at Oral Roberts and Missouri State as he’s fifth all-time in Missouri Valley Conference wins.
IN: Southern Illinois officially announced the hiring of Loyola associate head coach Bryan Mullins. A member of the SIU Hall of Fame as a four-year player from 2006-09, Mullins helped the Salukis to two NCAA tournament appearances — including the Sweet 16 in 2007 as the team’s point guard. The 32-year-old Mullins is an exciting hire for the Salukis as he’s received a lot of praise for his rise at Loyola. Mullins is also the program’s all-time leader in assists and steals as he’ll have local recruiting credibility that the program lacked a bit under Barry Hinson.
Salukis' Fletcher to compete for MVC in 3-on-3 tournament during Final Four--
The Southern Illinoisan
The Morning Dish – Thursday, March 21, 2019--
Hoopville
Today’s Menu:
...
The second set of games begins with Bradley against Michigan State (2:45 p.m., CBS). The Spartans will be heavy favorites, but again, beware-the Braves when playing well as they have of late are more like a 12 seed than a 15, and in fact defeated Penn State of the Big Ten this season.
16 Questions About Thursday’s First Round Games--
Rush The Court
2) Michigan State vs. 15) Bradley: Will Michigan State avoid the early exit it took the last time it was a #2 Seed? Bradley managed to beat a Big Ten team (Penn State) earlier this year, but the Braves are going to have their hands full with Michigan State’s Nick Ward in the post.
Best Bets: Bettor’s guide to Thursday’s NCAA tournament games--
College Basketball Talk
2:45 p.m.: No. 2 MICHIGAN STATE vs. No. 15 BRADLEY, CBS
LINE: Michigan State (-18.5)
TOTAL: 133.5
IMPLIED SCORE: Michigan State 76, Bradley 57.5
KENPOM: Michigan State 78, Bradley 57
I want no part of betting this game. Michigan State has been banged up all season long. In the Big Ten tournament, Tom Izzo pulled his starters against Ohio State in the quarterfinals with three minutes left, and they promptly gave up a 12-0 run that blew an easy cover. If you guys want to sweat out Tom Izzo trying to steal a few extra minutes of rest for his point guard that has been an absolute workhorse this season, be my guest. I’ll be betting elsewhere.
Bradley coach Brian Wardle contrite after controversy over targeting reporter--
USA Today
March Madness: Ranking Thursday's 16 first-round matchups of NCAA tournament--
USA Today
16. No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bradley (2:45 p.m., CBS)
The reason this game offers the least intrigue of the bunch is because the Braves won’t really be in this thing from the get-go. Unlike when Middle Tennessee knocked off the Spartans when they were a No. 2 seed in 2016. Tom Izzo and the MSU's path towards an Elite Eight matchup with Duke will start with a likely blowout of the unlikely Missouri Valley champ.
Everything you need to know about Thursday's games at the NCAA men's basketball tournament--
USA Today
No. 2 Michigan State (28-6) vs. No. 15 Bradley (20-14)
East Region, Des Moines
Time, TV: approx. 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS
Why Michigan State will win: The Spartans need only an average day on offense. If they keep with their scoring pace (78.8 per game) against a Bradley side that began 0-5 in Missouri Valley play, a Braves team that hasn’t topped 70 since Feb. 9 can’t keep up.
Why Bradley will win: Slower pace aside (the Braves are 301st in the country in adjusted tempo), there’s a blitz of mojo among a group that won nine of 11 games to take its first conference tournament title since 1988.
The Morning Dish – Friday, March 22, 2019--
Hoops HD
Side Dishes:
...
For other teams, it was about free throws. Florida State made 31 of 37 in the aforementioned victory over Vermont, while Michigan State hit 25 of 26 from the stripe in finally shaking Bradley 76-65, pulling away after the Braves trailed by just three with three minutes left. The Missouri Valley Conference’s streak of 10 straight wins in first round games ended, but not without a game fight by the No. 15 seed.
March Madness: 10 key takeaways from Thursday's NCAA tournament games--
USA Today
3. Was Bradley good or Michigan State bad? The Missouri Valley's Braves had the Big Ten champion Spartans on the ropes for the better part of 35 minutes before collapsing in the closing minutes to make the final score 76-65, covering up for the near-massacre. While Michigan State survived, how much should be read into the team's struggles against the nation's 309th-ranked offense? Coach Tom Izzo has a fiery guard in Cassius Winston who "wouldn't let us lose" and the whole survive-and-advance mantra couldn't be truer in a game that saw MSU shoot poorly. But it still gives pause to this team's ceiling — which before the game was on pace to challenge top-seeded Duke with a Final Four trip on the line.
Bradley coach Brian Wardle put the game into perspective from his lens, noting: "I don't think there were many teams that could have beat us today. We ran into one that could."
How did Bradley compile an NCAA Tournament team? 'Worldwide' recruiting with players from 6 foreign countries--
Chicago Tribune
Feisty Bradley shows fight but runs out of luck in a 1st-round loss to Michigan State--
Chicago Tribune
NCAA Tournament Review and Preview – Friday, March 22--
Hoops HD
Des Moines
...
Michigan State had far more trouble with Bradley than anyone expected – they found themselves in an early 10-2 hole, but they ended up trading leads with the Braves on multiple occasions until they finally took control of the game with a 9-0 run with 3 minutes remaining in the game before winning 76-65.
Winston, Michigan State hold off Bradley 76-65--
CBS Sports
Bradley vs. Michigan State final score: Braves put a scare into 2 seed Spartans--
Mid-Major Madness
Underdogs With Overlapping Games--
Valley Hoops Insider
Rewind: Bradley’s single-game NCAA tournament leaders--
Peoria Journal Star
Rewind: A look at Bradley’s history with Michigan State--
Peoria Journal Star
Reynolds: The night the Spartans came to Peoria--
Peoria Journal Star
Bradley has Michigan State’s attention for NCAA opener--
Peoria Journal Star
Bradley seniors relish ‘incredible ride’ to NCAA tournament--
Peoria Journal Star
Reynolds: Valley’s NCAA win streak ends, but Braves walk away proudly--
Peoria Journal Star
Braves prepared for NCAA tournament--
Bradley Scout
Bradley’s season ends with loss to Michigan State--
Bradley Scout
Braves Drop Tight NCAA Tournament Game to No. 5 Michigan State--
bradleybraves.com
UTR Postseason News, Notes and Highlighted Games – Friday, March 21--
Hoops HD
CIT
DRAKE AT SOUTHERN UTAH (8:30 PM, WatchCIT.com) – Southern Utah gets rewarded with a home game in the CIT after a much improved season that saw them finish 16-16 overall and 9-11 in the Big Sky. Drake was also in the hunt for the Missouri Valley Conference title for much of the season before bowing out in the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament.
Butler, Southern Utah beat Drake in CIT, 80-73 in OT--
CBS Sports
College basketball: Southern Utah beats Drake in CIT's opening round--
Des Moines Register
Men’s Basketball Season Ends In OT Loss At Southern Utah--
godrakebulldogs.com
NCAAW Tournament Preview: Top teams should coast in the NCAAW Tournament’s Greensboro region — but can Drake pull off an upset?--
Swish Appeal
NCAAW Tournament Preview (Round 1, Day 1): Mid-majors can shine in a schedule full of upset potential--
Swish Appeal
New year, different attitude for Drake women entering the NCAA Tournament--
Des Moines Register
'This one really hurts': Drake falls just short against Missouri in NCAA Tournament opener--
Des Moines Register
Women’s Basketball Falls to Missouri in Overtime in First Round of NCAA Tournament--
godrakebulldogs.com
College report 3/22/19: Fayne, Yarbrough on NABC district team--
The Pantagraph
Barlas: Is declining attendance a factor in ISU basketball's fault?--
Vidette Online
Fayne, Yarbrough named All-District--
goredbirds.com
Gillespie Announces Women’s Basketball Summer Camps--
goredbirds.com
METRO/PREP ROUNDUP: ISU's Key named NABC All-District--
Terre Haute Tribune Star
Tyreke Key Named NABC All-District--
gosycamores.com
Loyola assistant Bryan Mullins reportedly set to take over at Southern Illinois--
Chicago Tribune
A year ago, they were March Madness darlings. Now, some of Loyola's Final Four stars are scattered around the world.--
Chicago Tribune
Loyola's Porter Moser gets to NCAA Tournament after all — as TV studio analyst--
Chicago Tribune
Bryan Mullins Named Head Coach At Southern Illinois--
loyolaramblers.com
Krutwig, Townes Collect NABC All-District 16 Recognition--
loyolaramblers.com
Porter Moser To Join NCAA Tournament Coverage As A Guest Studio Analyst--
loyolaramblers.com
Da Silva Named Earns NABC All-District Laurels--
missouristatebears.com
9 mid-majors to know about in the 2019 NCAAW Tournament--
Swish Appeal
No. 11 Missouri State Lady Bears
How they got in: Won the Missouri Valley Conference
What to know: Not since 2014 has an MVC team beaten both in-conference Iowa schools in one road trip, and not since 2016 has one team taken down the Drake Bulldogs twice in one season. But this season, the Lady Bears can say they’ve done both. This team is on a roll, winning 22 of its last 24 games en route to collecting the MVC crown. And although Missouri State has never beaten DePaul, its first-round opponent, this team stands a good chance of being the one to get it done.
How MSU Lady Bears coach Kellie Harper took a team with one senior and made it a champion--
Springfield News-Leader
10-year-old and Lady Bears inspire each other on magical ride--
Springfield News-Leader
NCAA Tournament: 5 things to know before MSU Lady Bears take on DePaul--
Springfield News-Leader
Lady Bears NCAA Tournament Central--
missouristatebears.com
UNI women's basketball has been 'like another family' to Mikaela Morgan--
The Gazette
WNIT: UNI embraces Minnesota's postseason test--
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Minnesota slams door on UNI--
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Panthers Fall to Minnesota 91-75 in WNIT--
unipanthers.com
Social media goes crazy for Salukis' new basketball coach--
The Southern Illinoisan
Maturity, familiarity led Kill back to Bryan Mullins--
The Southern Illinoisan
Loyola’s Bryan Mullins reportedly set to lead SIU men’s basketball--
Daily Egyptian
Loyola’s Bryan Mullins named Southern Illinois’ 14th head basketball coach--
Daily Egyptian
Homecoming: Mullins shares vision as Southern’s newest head basketball coach--
Daily Egyptian
Bryan Mullins named Saluki Basketball head coach--
siusalukis.com
Armon Fletcher named NABC All-District--
siusalukis.com
Saluki fans celebrate return of Bryan Mullins--
siusalukis.com
Bryan Mullins press conference transcript--
siusalukis.com
Five things to know about Bryan Mullins--
siusalukis.com
Saluki women's basketball banquet set for April 12--
The Southern Illinoisan
Women’s Basketball’s season-ending banquet set for April 12--
siusalukis.com
Golder on the go? Markus Golder moves toward leaving Valparaiso as graduate transfer--
Post-Tribune
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Golder could become latest Valparaiso defection--
NWI Times
Bryan Mullins named Saluki Basketball head coach--
The Missouri Valley
Braves Drop Tight NCAA Tournament Game to No. 5 Michigan State--
The Missouri Valley
Porter Moser To Join NCAA Tournament Coverage As A Guest Studio Analyst--
The Missouri Valley
Men’s Basketball Season Ends In OT Loss At Southern Utah--
The Missouri Valley
Drake Falls to Missouri in Overtime in First Round of NCAA Tournament--
The Missouri Valley
Panthers Fall to Minnesota 91-75 in WNIT--
The Missouri Valley
Davis: My picks ATS for Thursday’s first-round games--
The Athletic
Michigan State (-18½) vs. Bradley, 2:45 p.m., CBS. Cassius Winston looked like the walking wounded during the Big Ten tournament, but he still had 14 points and 11 assists in the Spartans’ title-game win over Michigan. Once again, Michigan State showed amazing mental toughness after losing Kyle Ahrens and then coming back from an eight-point halftime deficit. Plus, maybe the Spartans are ticked off about how they were treated by the selection committee. So I think they’re ready to win this one big. Bradley did well to come back from 18 points down in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game, but there’s a reason the Braves finished fifth in the league during the regular season. This team has a hard time scoring and tends to turn the ball over. That’s not a good formula against a tough, physical team that likes to get out and go. The pick: Michigan State
Who will win on Thursday? Breaking down No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bradley--
Chicago Tribune
2019 NCAA Tournament Preview: No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bradley--
BT Powerhouse
Bradley’s Kaboom! mascot named tops in the tournament--
Peoria Journal Star
NCAA tournament matchup is the latest chapter for Bradley and Michigan State--
Peoria Journal Star
This trip to Des Moines feels different for Braves--
Peoria Journal Star
Braves Meet No. 5 Michigan State in NCAA Tournament First Round--
bradleybraves.com
NCAA Tournament Fan Information--
bradleybraves.com
The Morning Dish – Tuesday, March 19, 2019--
Hoopville
Tonight’s Menu:
...
The NIT opens with a busy set of ten games.
...
Other matchups ... Loyola Chicago coach Porter Moser returns to his alma mater when the Ramblers take on Creighton, the team they replaced in the Missouri Valley (9 p.m., ESPNU).
NIT Recap: Lipscomb hits a milestone, UNC Greensboro pulls together and more--
Mid-Major Madness
No. 2 Creighton 70, No. 7 Loyola Chicago 61
The Ramblers March experience wrapped up much quicker than a year ago.
Loyola Chicago came up just short as Porter Moser returned to his old stomping grounds at Creighton. It was a frustrating end for two legendary program players in Clayton Custer (9 points) and Marques Townes (4 points), who nonetheless delivered an NIT appearance and share of Missouri Valley regular season title in an impossible encore year.
Loyola's season ends with a 70-61 loss at Creighton in the first round of the NIT--
Chicago Tribune
The Catch and Shoot talks Loyola hoops, Illinois basketball on Podcast 63--
The Catch and Shoot
Krampelj leads Creighton over Loyola of Chicago 70-61 in NIT--
CBS Sports
Bluejays Wreck Ramblers In A Tournament Game 70-61--
Big East Coast Bias
Late Rally Falls Short In 70-61 Setback At Creighton In NIT First Round--
loyolaramblers.com
NCAAW Tournament Preview: Stanford and others hope to spoil Notre Dame’s repeat hopes in the Chicago region--
Swish Appeal
No. 6 DePaul vs. No. 11 Missouri State
DePaul is entering the tournament off a Big East Championship win against Marquette. Missouri State will struggle against this DePaul team, which locks down on defense and takes advantage of turnovers. DePaul’s trio in Mart’e Grays (14.6 points per game), Chante Stonewall (14.2 points per game) and Ashton Millender (12.9 points per game) will be too much to handle for a Missouri State squad that only has one player who averages 12.9 points or more per game: Danielle Gitzen.
On UNI podcast: UNI men's basketball season wrap-up--
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Minnesota Women’s Basketball: Gophers Will Host Northern Iowa in WNIT First Round--
The Daily Gopher
UNI Women Travel to Minneapolis for WNIT Opener--
unipanthers.com
The Crucible in Carbondale: Inside the tumultuous final year of Barry Hinson’s tenure at Southern Illinois--
Mid-Major Madness
Hefferman: Postseason basketball aplenty even without SIU--
The Southern Illinoisan
Double trouble: Javon Freeman and Bakari Evelyn plan to transfer, join exodus from Valparaiso in men's basketball--
Post-Tribune
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Valpo's Freeman-Liberty, Evelyn to transfer--
NWI Times
Late Rally Falls Short In 70-61 Setback At Creighton In NIT First Round--
The Missouri Valley
