Missouri Valley 2020-21 Preview--Three Man Weave
Mailbag: The best 1-bid leagues and Alan Alda--Mid-Major Madness
@PodNortheast: who will be the top 3 1-bid leagues this year?
This is a trick question! You see, the best one-bid
leagues will actually be two-bid leagues and so they aren’t one-bid
leagues and the actual one-bid leagues aren’t good leagues then are
they? Let’s take a stab at this anyway. Right now, the following
conferences that fall under our purview have multiple teams in The Other Top 25 top 10 and so we will call them multi-bid leagues for now: Atlantic 10, Missouri Valley, Mountain West.
2020-21 Men’s College Basketball Early Season Tournaments (CoVID Changes)--Blogging The Bracket
Wed.–Fri., Nov. 25–27: Estero, Fla. (Jon Rothstein)
Teams: Akron Zips (MAC), Delaware
Fighting Blue Hens (CAA), East Carolina Pirates (American), Fordham Rams
(A 10), Indiana State Sycamores (MVC), Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
(C-USA), Omaha Mavericks (Summit), Vermont Catamounts (AE)
ESPN Orlando Events
Nov. 25–Dec. TBA (between the 3rd and 6th): Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Jeff Goodman)
Teams to Be Assigned to an Event (or Withdraw)
Myrtle Beach Invitational: Loyola Chicago Ramblers (MVC), Missouri Tigers (SEC) Pittsburgh Panthers (ACC), Utah State Aggies (MW) (Ajay Salvesen)
On-Campus Events
Little Apple Classic
Wed. and Fri., Nov. 25 and 27:Manhattan, Kan. (South Dakota State)
Wed., Nov. 25
South Dakota State Jackrabbits (Summit, Wyoming MTE) vs. Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12, Fort Myers Tip-Off)
Drake Bulldogs (MVC, Bahamas Showcase) at Kansas State Wildcats (Big 12, Cayman Islands Classic)
Fri., Nov. 27
Drake vs. South Dakota State
Colorado at Kansas State
Nebraska MTE
Wed., Nov. 25–Wed., Dec. 2: Lincoln, Neb. (Jon Rothstein; Jeff Borzello; Matt Norlander)
Teams: Cleveland State Vikings (Horizon,
Paradise Jam), Colorado State Rams (MW, Paradise Jam), LSU Tigers (SEC,
Gotham Classic), Illinois State Redbirds (MVC, Cancun Challenge),
Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big Ten, Myrtle Beach Invitational), Nevada Wolf
Pack (MW, Cayman Islands Classic), Northern Iowa Panthers (MVC, Cayman
Islands Classic), Oklahoma State Cowboys (Big 12, Charleston Classic),
San Francisco Dons (WCC, MGM Resorts Main Event), others TBA
Xavier MTE
Wed.–Fri., Nov. 25–27: Cincinnati (Brian Hamilton and Hugh Kellenberger, The Athletic)
Teams: Bradley Braves (MVC, Paradise
Jam), Oakland Golden Grizzlies (Horizon, Dana Point Challenge), Toledo
Rockets (MAC, Bahamas Showcase), Xavier Musketeers (Big East, Orlando
Invitational)
Louisville MTE
TBA: Louisville, Ky. (Matt Norlander, Jon Rothstein; Shannon Russell; Jeff Goodman)
Teams: Duquesne Dukes (A 10, Maryland
Showcase), Little Rock Trojans (Sun Belt, Paradise Jam), Louisville
Cardinals (ACC, MGM Resorts Main Event), Prairie View A&M Panthers
(SWAC), Southern Illinois Salukis (MVC, Puerto Rico MTE), UNC Greensboro
Spartans (SoCon, Jamaica Classic), Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (C-USA,
Cayman Islands Classic), Winthrop Eagles (Big South), others TBA
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season--
Busting Brackets157. Brian Wardle (Bradley) (Last year: 166)
Wardle arrived at Bradley in 2015, having spent the previous five
seasons as head coach at Bradley. He amassed a pair of NIT’s with the
Phoenix but has greatly surpassed that with the Braves. He has won the
last two MVC Tournaments, though the pandemic cancelled the NCAA
Tournament before Wardle could return once more. Bradley has never
finished higher than 3rd in the MVC under Wardle, though their
tournament performance is clearly up to snuff.
Bradley’s nonconference basketball schedule is nearly complete. Here’s a look--Peoria Journal Star
How Peoria almost landed a Division I college basketball tournament--Peoria Journal Star
How these two transfer guards fit into Bradley basketball’s ‘winning culture’--Peoria Journal Star
Bradley women picked second in MVC, have league’s preseason POY--Peoria Journal Star
Braves Picked Second; Lasha Petree Named MVC Preseason Player Of The Year--bradleybraves.com
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season--
Busting Brackets158. Darian DeVries (Drake) (Last year: 165)
After nearly two decades on staff at Creighton, DeVries got his head
coach started two seasons ago with the Bulldogs. He’s won at least 20
games in both seasons, including a surprising regular-season title in
his debut in 2019. His Bulldogs upset conference favorite Northern Iowa
in the MVC Tournament last season, even while slipping to an 8th place
finish. DeVries is bringing talent to Drake and should have a
consistent, solid program on his hands in the immediate future.
Tucker DeVries: Here's why I'm committing to Drake basketball--Des Moines Register
Peterson: Tucker DeVries’ commitment should put Drake basketball fans’ always-worrisome minds at ease--Des Moines Register
Women’s Basketball Tabbed Fourth in MVC Preseason Poll--godrakebulldogs.com
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season--
Busting Brackets148. Todd Lickliter (Evansville) (Last year: N/A)
Lickliter inherited an Evansville program in rough shape this past
season, but it’s now his program to run. He led Butler to a pair of
Sweet Sixteens before three unsuccessful years at Iowa. He’s finally
back as a D1 head coach, guiding Evansville to 13 losses last season.
It’ll take some time to reload this roster, but he’ll get the Purple
Aces winning again real soon.
University of Evansville announces attendance policies for basketball games--Evansville Courier & Press
UE Men’s Basketball Seating Change Information--gopurpleaces.com
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season--
Busting Brackets166. Dan Muller (Illinois State) (Last year: 138)
After spending over a decade on staff at Vanderbilt, Muller returned
to his alma mater as head coach in 2012. The Redbirds haven’t returned
to the NCAA Tournament since Muller led them as a player in 1998, and
that streak is still ongoing. He’s led Illinois State to a couple of NIT
bids, but the Redbirds have really struggled lately, finishing just
10-21 last season.
Watch now: Illinois State basketball team getting ready for grind with official practice starting Wednesday--The Pantagraph
Watch now: DJ Horne looks for consistency to be among MVC point guards--The Pantagraph
Rumors swirl surrounding Illinois State men's basketball non-conference schedule--Vidette Online
Redbird's WBB listed fifth in 2020-21 preseason poll--Vidette Online
Redbirds Tabbed to Fifth in Preseason Poll--goredbirds.com
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season--
Busting Brackets210. Greg Lansing (Indiana State) (Last year: 224)
Indiana State has been a bit of a surprise lately under Lansing, who
led them to the NCAA Tournament back in his first season as head coach
in 2011. A few NIT bids followed, but it’s been pretty dry for the
Sycamores ever since. Still, Indiana State tied for 3rd in the MVC this
past season and could have something in the cards for the future.
Sycamore Women’s Basketball Picked Ninth in MVC Preseason Poll--gosycamores.com
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season--
Busting Brackets85. Porter Moser (Loyola-Chicago) (Last year: 80)
- Overall record: 267-237
- Final Four in 2018
Moser previously spent time as head coach at Little Rock and Illinois
State and has only led a single team to the NCAA Tournament, but it was
certainly a great team. Loyola’s Final Four run in 2018 remains the
highlight of Moser’s career, though his Ramblers have yet to follow up
that success. They’ve been knocked out of the MVC Tournament in back to
back years, though he clearly has elevated this Loyola program since
taking it over in 2011.
Column: Which Should Have More Weight: Conference Season or Conference Tournament?--Loyola Phoenix
Former Rambler Ben Richardson Signs With Massagno Basket--loyolaramblers.com
Handful Of Former Ramblers Competing Professionally Overseas--loyolaramblers.com
Loyola Picked Eighth In MVC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll--loyolaramblers.com
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season--
Busting Brackets188. Dana Ford (Missouri State) (Last year: 159)
Ford is one of college basketball’s under the radar young coaches,
arriving at Missouri State in 2018 after four solid years helming
Tennessee State. The Bears have yet to break out in the MVC despite
higher expectations, but Ford still has plenty of time to prove
successful. If he keeps sneaking in high talent to Missouri State, then
don’t be surprised to see his Bears with an MVC crown very soon.
Ash Grove junior Khloe Moad commits to MSU Lady Bears--Springfield News Leader
MSU Lady Bears picked as Missouri Valley Conference favorites entering 2020-21 season--Springfield News Leader
Lady Bears Picked to Repeat as MVC Champions--missouristatebears.com
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season--
Busting Brackets62. Ben Jacobson (Northern Iowa) (Last year: 65)
Jacobson’s work at Northern Iowa has been admirable, and he’s led the
Panthers since 2006. His finest moment came in 2010, leading the
Panthers to the Sweet Sixteen with that epic win over top-seeded Kansas.
In total, he’s racked up four NCAA Tournament wins in four trips. With
Creighton and Wichita State long gone from the MVC, and coming off a
regular-season crown, perhaps Northern Iowa can build some momentum and
take over the top of the conference again.
UNI men's basketball piecing together non-conference schedule--Cedar Rapids Gazette
Cayman Islands Classic cancelled for 2020-21--Northern Iowan
UNI women's basketball picked 3rd in MVC preseason poll--Cedar Rapids Gazette
Rucker all-conference, UNI picked third in MVC preseason poll--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Panther Women Picked Third, Rucker Named Preseason All-MVC--unipanthers.com
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season--
Busting Brackets280. Bryan Mullins (Southern Illinois) (Last year: 307)
Though just 33 years old, Mullins is already hard at work at his alma
mater, taking over last season at Southern Illinois. His only previous
coaching experience came at Loyola, serving on staff as the team made
their surprising Final Four run in 2018. With expectations low, Mullins
led the Salukis to a surprise 5th place finish in the MVC, setting the
program up well for the future.
Salukis' Moses leaving for Montana State--Southern Illinoisan
Building The Dawgs, Episode 4--siusalukis.com
Men's Basketball golf scramble wrap-up--siusalukis.com
Versatility extends to Saluki guards--Southern Illinoisan
Salukis picked 6th in MVC preseason poll--Southern Illinoisan
Women’s Basketball conference schedule released--Daily Eqyptian
Women's Basketball picked sixth in MVC Preseason Poll--siusalukis.com
NCAA Basketball: Ranking all 357 D-I head coaches for 2020-21 season--
Busting Brackets185. Matt Lottich (Valparaiso) (Last year: 175)
After playing ball at Stanford and then internationally, Lottich
joined the Valparaiso staff and succeeded Bryce Drew in 2016. He led the
Crusaders to the NIT in this first season but faces a tougher challenge
since the program joined the MVC. Valparaiso did win 19 games and made a
surprise run to the MVC title game, but can Lottich make this program
be a real contender in their new conference?
Helm Returns to Valpo Basketball After Two-Year Mission--valpoathletics.com
Family Ties Attract Tyler Fricke to Valpo--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Women Picked Seventh in MVC Preseason Poll--valpoathletics.com
2020-21 MVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll--
The Missouri ValleyMVC Women's Basketball Round Table (10-13-2020)--
The Missouri Valley
