What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/31/2019

Sycamore Basketball Reception & Golf Outing Set For September--gosycamores.com

Loyola Men’s Basketball Season Tickets Go On Sale August 1--loyolaramblers.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/30/2019

Brackmann, Ward 2018-19 Most Outstanding Athletes--bradleybraves.com

Todd Lickliter retires as Evansville assistant basketball coach--Evansville Courier & Press
New-look UE basketball team excited for Europe trip bonding opportunities--Evansville Courier & Press
Evansville basketball grad Marty Hill signs pro deal to play in Slovakia--Evansville Courier & Press
McCarty announces coaching staff changes--gopurpleaces.com
Aces ready to travel to Europe on Tuesday--gopurpleaces.com
Marty Hill inks deal to play in Slovakia--gopurpleaces.com

Redbirds hoping to show all-out effort in Italy and during season--The Pantagraph

'Team bonding' main positive for ISU women in trip to Italy--The Pantagraph

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/29/2019

By the numbers: UE basketball sees 15th-best attendance increase in nation--Evansville Courier & Press

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/27/2019

Valley Places Four in WBCA Top 25 for Academic Performance--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/26/2019

NABC Honors Court--Valley Hoops Insider

Which mid-major had the most interesting offseason?--Mid-Major Madness

Missouri State

After a decent showing in Dana Ford’s first year as head coach, Missouri State is being tabbed as a Missouri Valley title contender. Those hopes got a big boost when Tulio Da Silva withdrew from the NBA Draft to return for his senior year. He and Keandre Cook return as two of the top three leading scorers from last year’s team. The Bears also added a double-digit scorer from Colorado State in Anthony Masinton-Bonner and another from West Virginia in Lamont West. Nevada transfer Josh Hall will be eligible as well. On paper, this team should have as much talent as anybody in the MVC.

Missouri State men's basketball 2019-20 non-conference games ranked from easiest to hardest--Springfield News-Leader

Salukis ranked 11th nationally in Team GPA--siusalukis.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/25/2019

Bradley Announces Expanded Youth Game Day Crew--bradleybraves.com

Walk-On Forward Leaves Men’s Basketball Team--Loyola Phoenix
Men’s Basketball Season Opener Set for Nov. 5--Loyola Phoenix
Clayton Custer Heads to Poland to Play Professionally--Loyola Phoenix
How a Cubs Game Changed Clayton Custer’s Life--Loyola Phoenix
Marques Townes Signs Professional Contract in Spain--Loyola Phoenix

UNI Women's Basketball Earns WBCA Academic Honors--unipanthers.com

Alexis Cowan Joins Valpo Women’s Basketball Program--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/24/2019

Vote for Male Most Outstanding Athlete--bradleybraves.com

Women’s Basketball Recognized by WBCA for Academic Achievement with Fourth Highest Team Grade Point Average in Division I--godrakebulldogs.com

College report 7/24/19: Former ISU star Goods to play in Spain--The Pantagraph

Women’s Basketball Named as a WBCA Top 25 Academic Honor Roll Team--goredbirds.com

Marques Townes To Play For Dominican Republic In 2019 Pan American Games--loyolaramblers.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/23/2019

Bradley’s Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye signs with Italy club--Peoria Journal Star

ISU standout Simone Goods signs to play pro ball in Europe--Vidette Online

Redbirds Hire John Putyrski as Video Coordinator--goredbirds.com

Simone Goods Signs Professional Contract--goredbirds.com
Women’s Basketball to Embark on Foreign Trip in August--goredbirds.com

Former Loyola stars Marques Townes and Clayton Custer sign pro contracts to play overseas--Chicago Tribune
Custer Signs Professional Contract With WKS Slask Wroclaw--loyolaramblers.com
Marques Townes Inks Deal To Play In Spain In 2019-20--loyolaramblers.com

When he's not dropping double-doubles, former MSU star Alize Johnson is giving back to others--Springfield News-Leader

Panther Athletics Announces Group Experiences--unipanthers.com

SIU Men's Basketball | Salukis joining Delaware, Oakland and UTSA at Sunshine Slam--The Southern Illinoisan

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/22/2019

Vote for Female Most Outstanding Athlete--bradleybraves.com

Panther Women's Basketball Releases Non-Conference Schedule--unipanthers.com

Salukis to compete at inaugural Sunshine Slam--siusalukis.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/21/2019

Saluki Hall of Famer Tatum competing for Team Fredette in TBT--The Southern Illinoisan

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/20/2019

Redbird basketball looking forward to overseas trip--Vidette Online

Sycamore Women Release 2019-20 Non-Conference Schedule--gosycamores.com

Loyola-Chicago Basketball: Head coach Porter Moser on Ramblers’ Final 4 run--Busting Brackets

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/19/2019

Mid-Major Positional Rankings: Power Forward--CBB Central

#8. Elijah Childs (Bradley)

Vitals: Junior, 6-7, 225 pounds
Stats: 12.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, .471/.236/.659

Childs’ talent immediately pops off the screen as soon as you turn on a Bradley game, so much so that it’s almost frustrating at times that he doesn’t put up bigger numbers. Despite sometimes phasing in and out of games, The lefty forward is capable of impacting things in a multitude of ways thanks to his athleticism and face-up ability as well as his touch around the rim. He was awesome in the second half of the MVC title game against Northern Iowa as the Braves overcame a double-digit second-half deficit to get back to the NCAA Tournament, where he scored 19 points and 6 rebounds against Michigan State’s elite frontcourt.
...
ALSO CONSIDERED:

Jailyn Ingram (FAU), Xavier Hill-Mais (Oakland), Jordan Bruner (Yale), Seth Towns (Harvard), Temenang Choh (Brown), EJ Crawford (Iona), Lamont West (Missouri State), Lavelle Scottie (Air Force), Derrick Alston (Boise State), EJ Anosike (Sacred Heart), Tyler Scanlon (Belmont), Stanley Umude (South Dakota), Kameron Edwards (Pepperdine), Demonte Buckingham (CSUB)

Mid-Major Positional Rankings: Center--CBB Central

#6. Cameron Krutwig (Loyola-Chicago)

Vitals: Junior, 6-9, 255 pounds
Stats: 14.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.4 apg, .629/.333/.578

Despite being just a sophomore, Krutwig was already perhaps the best player in the Missouri Valley last season. Krutwig’s touch around the rim and footwork in the paint makes him very difficult to stop when he catches in the post, but his best trait might be his passing ability. Krutwig has elite vision for a big man, and the Ramblers get a lot of good looks from inside-out passes by Krutwig. It’s a no-win situation for the defense: elect to defend him one-on-one and likely give the bucket up, or double down and get burned by a shooter.
...
#10. Tulio Da Silva (Missouri State)

Vitals: Senior, 6-8, 213 pounds
Stats: 14.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.7 apg, .554/.370/.654

Picked by most at or near the bottom of the MVC preseason, Missouri State blossomed into a title contender in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year and Da Silva was a huge reason why. The South Florida transfer runs the floor extremely well, which is a major asset for a MSU team that prioritizes perimeter defense and gets a lot of run-outs because of it. He also has a well-developed post game, which may get prioritized a bit less as the Bears bring in a talented group of newcomers with lots of scoring upside. Still, he’s a major asset when on the floor.

ISU to allow alcohol sales at Redbird Arena, Hancock Stadium events--The Pantagraph
ISU approves sale of beer and wine at Hancock Stadium and Redbird Arena--Vidette Online
Illinois State Athletics To Offer Beer & Wine Sales At Select Events--goredbirds.com
Men’s Basketball Set for Foreign Trip in August--goredbirds.com

Pair Of Ramblers Selected To 2018-19 NABC Honors Court--loyolaramblers.com

Standout Point Guard Cooper Headed to Missouri State--missouristatebears.com

Lady Bears Complete Staff With Three Additions--missouristatebears.com

Sports | Amy Rakers, Itchy Jones jerseys retired, eight named to SIU Hall of Fame--Southern Illinoisan
MVC Basketball | Coaches as concerned with defending new 3-point line as scoring there--Southern Illinoisan

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/18/2019

School-Record Six Braves Named to NABC Honors Court--bradleybraves.com

Men’s And Women’s Basketball To Spend Thanksgiving Week In Florida--godrakebulldogs.com

Mid-Major Positional Rankings: Small Forward--CBB Central

Also Considered:

Christian Lutete (UMass Lowell), Eli Pemberton (Hofstra), Darius Banks (James Madison), Anthony Tarke (UTEP), Camron Justice (Western Kentucky), Charles Williams (Howard), Sam Cunliffe (Evansville), Justinian Jessup (Boise State), Kevon Harris (Stephen F. Austin), Ian Dubose (Houston Baptist), Nijal Pearson (Texas State), Carlos Johnson (Grand Canyon), Charles Minlend (San Francisco)

Aces Assist Club opens membership for 2019-20 season--gopurpleaces.com

Missouri State investing less money in men's hoops coaches than most schools in Valley--Springfield News-Leader
Missouri State hoops notes: Observations from our first look at the 2019-20 Bears--Springfield News-Leader

College basketball: Anaya Barney continues pipeline from Cedar Falls to UNI--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

Former Saluki recruit Chris Payton headed to Indian Hills Community College--The Southern Illinoisan

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/17/2019

Mid-Major Positional Rankings: Point Guard--CBB Central

Also Considered:

Ahmad Clark (Albany), Jalen Crutcher (Dayton), Kyle Lofton (Saint Bonaventure), Sincere Carry (Duquesne), Jacob Gilyard (Richmond), Fatts Russell (Rhode Island), Tyler Hooker (Kennesaw State), Jerrick Harding (Weber State), Holland Woods (Portland State), Harald Frey (Montana State), Carlik Jones (Radford), Jermaine Marrow (Hampton), Kai Toews (UNCW), DaQuan Bracey (LA Tech), Zack Bryant (UAB), Tarkus Ferguson (UIC), Eugene German (Northern Illinois), Darrell Brown (Bradley), AJ Green (Northern Iowa), Grayson Murphy (Belmont), Jordan Burns (Colgate), Sa’eed Nelson (American), Josh Sharkey (Samford), AJ Harris (NMSU), Milan Acquaah (Cal Baptist), Terrell Brown (Seattle)

Mid-Major Positional Rankings: Shooting Guard--CBB Central

#6 Javon Freeman (Valparaiso)

Vitals: Sophomore, 6-3, 175 pounds
Stats: 11.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, .452/.289/.693

After flirting with the transfer portal for a few weeks this spring, Freeman surprised many when he elected to return to Valpo for his sophomore campaign. It was a huge boost for Matt Lottich’s bunch, which had a rough offseason featuring a number of transfers out of the program. Retaining Freeman along with incoming transfers Nick Robinson and Eron Gordon gives Lottich’s bunch a nice nucleus to compete in the Valley. Freeman is an elite slasher who can play with or without the ball, with the only part of his game that needs significant development being his outside shot. However, it appears Freeman has made strides in that area this offseason, with Lottich saying “he’s shooting the ball great” in a recent article in the Northwest Indiana Times.

I’m Back‼️ #NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/6eN10pscK2

— Vonno 😈 (@AintuJavon) May 2, 2019

ALSO CONSIDERED:

Cam Healy (Albany), Cody John (Weber State), Terrell Gomez (Cal State Northridge), Brian Fobbs (Towson), Taevion Hollingsworth (WKU), Nike Sibande (Miami OH), Jayvon Graves (Buffalo), Tyreke Key (Indiana State), DJ Wilkins (Drake), KJ Feagin (San Diego State), Adam Grant (Bryant), Tevin Brown (Murray State), Ross Cummings (Mercer), Parker Stewart (Tennessee Tech), Asante Gist (Iona), Donald Carey (Siena)

‘It’s a new team’: Bradley staying confident, cool in summer workouts--Peoria Journal Star

Doyle, Townes Wrap Up NBA Summer League Play--loyolaramblers.com

After one season, Missouri State is already thinking about how it can keep Dana Ford--Springfield News-Leader
Former Missouri State signee Dajuan Harris commits to play at Kansas--Springfield News-Leader

Ranking the Mid-Major Coaching Hires, 1-40--CBB Central

#16. Southern Illinois (Bryan Mullins)– Being around the Loyola program the last two years, all I’ve ever heard is how important Bryan Mullins was to that entire operation. Mullins understands where SIU fans want this program to be, and now he’ll be tasked with turning things around at a program starved to get back to the NCAA Tournament after a 12-year absence.

Salukis' William withdraws from school, heading home--The Southern Illinoisan
Sports Column | Todd Hefferman: Valley parity fun for us, foe for it--The Southern Illinoisan

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/16/2019

Change led Sam Cunliffe to the University of Evansville, but faith helped him find peace--Evansville Courier & Press

MSU President Clif Smart leaves door open for Jackie Stiles return as head coach--Springfield News-Leader

Broadcaster Connor Onion promoted to official TV voice of the Salukis--The Southern Illinoisan

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 7/15/2019

Bradley basketball to meet Northwestern in Fort Myers Tip-Off event--Peoria Journal Star
Pairings Set for BU at Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off--bradleybraves.com
Bradley Class of ’19: $19 Season Tickets--bradleybraves.com

Unlocking J.B.: A must for ISU basketball success--Terre Haute Tribune Star

Cooper Kaifes Out for 2019-20 Season With Torn Labrum--Loyola Phoenix
MVC Coaches Welcome New Three-Point Distance--Loyola Phoenix
Marques Townes to Join Chicago Bulls for NBA Summer League--Loyola Phoenix
Loyola Men’s Basketball Earns NABC Team Academic Excellence Award--loyolaramblers.com
Former Rambler Jordan Hicks To Continue Pro Career In France--loyolaramblers.com

Report: Four-star Missouri State commit Ford Cooper to reclassify to 2019--Springfield News-Leader
Bears to Open Charleston Classic vs. Miami; Two Home Games Added--missouristatebears.com

UNI's Wyatt Lohaus signs with German pro basketball team--The Gazette
UNI announces Hall of Fame class--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
2019 Hall of Fame Class Announced--unipanthers.com
Lohaus Signs Professionally in Germany--unipanthers.com

Former Valpo guard Bakari Evelyn joins Iowa Hawkeyes--NWI Times