Tuesday, October 13, 2020

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 10/13/2020

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

Gulf Coast Showcase

Wed.–Fri., Nov. 2527: 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. 25Dec. 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. 2527: 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 Brackets

157. Brian Wardle (Bradley) (Last year: 166)

  • Overall record: 176-151

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 Brackets

158. Darian DeVries (Drake) (Last year: 165)

  • Overall record: 44-24

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 Brackets

148. Todd Lickliter (Evansville) (Last year: N/A)

  • Overall record: 169-132

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 Brackets

166. Dan Muller (Illinois State) (Last year: 138)

  • Overall record: 149-117

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 Brackets

210. Greg Lansing (Indiana State) (Last year: 224)

  • Overall record: 166-154

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 Brackets

85. 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 Brackets

188. Dana Ford (Missouri State) (Last year: 159)

  • Overall record: 89-98

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 Brackets

62. Ben Jacobson (Northern Iowa) (Last year: 65)

  • Overall record: 291-174

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 Brackets

280. Bryan Mullins (Southern Illinois) (Last year: 307)

  • Overall record: 16-16

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 Brackets

185. Matt Lottich (Valparaiso) (Last year: 175)

  • Overall record: 73-60

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 Valley
MVC Women's Basketball Round Table (10-13-2020)--The Missouri Valley

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