What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/29/2021

BREAKING: Belmont To Join Missouri Valley Conference--The Sports Credential
Missouri Valley Conference adds Belmont--Bradley Scout
Belmont, MVC finally tie the knot for real--Terre Haute Tribune Star
TODD AARON GOLDEN: MVC is in a position of strength for realignment this time--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Belmont University Set To Join Missouri Valley Conference in 2022--Loyola Phoenix
Belmont to join Missouri Valley Conference for 2022-23 school year--Southern Illinoisan

Stronger, more experienced Evansville men's basketball team eager for new season--Evansville Courier & Press
Men’s basketball holds first official practice--gopurpleaces.com

Ready, set, go: UE women's basketball to open new era with fast playing style--Evansville Courier & Press

Watch now: Illinois State hopes productive offseason translates to more wins on basketball court--The Pantagraph
Muller urges 'Do your job' ahead of ISU men's basketball's first practice of the 2021-22 season--Vidette Online

Molly Lenz announces commitment to ISU women's basketball----Vidette Online

Killinger, Sycamores hit the court for the first official practice of the 2021-22 season--gosycamores.com

Loyola Chicago’s super seniors return in hopes of continuing a ‘legacy’ but also making new history--The Athletic

What should Belmont's addition to the Missouri Valley Conference mean for Missouri State?--Springfield News-Leader
Vaccination rates, leadership and Belmont: Things from MSU's first basketball practice--The Standard

Salukis start fast on opening day of 2021-22 season--Southern Illinoisan

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/28/2021

Belmont leaving OVC for Missouri Valley Conference on July 1--Associated Press
Belmont Changing Valleys--Valley Hoops Insider
Belmont athletics joins Drake, Northern Iowa in Missouri Valley Conference--Des Moines Register
Belmont to join Missouri Valley Conference for 2022-23 school year--The Pantagraph
Belmont University joining Missouri Valley Conference--Cedar Rapids Gazette
Belmont athletics announces move from Ohio Valley Conference to Missouri Valley Conference--The Tennessean

Belmont to Join MVC in 2022-23--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/27/2021

Belmont Basketball: Impact of Bruins joining Missouri Valley Conference--Busting Brackets
Belmont Is Moving to the Missouri Valley Conference--Valley Hoops Insider
Belmont set to enter MVC on Tuesday--Terre Haute Tribune Star

Loyola Chicago Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Ramblers--Busting Brackets
ROTHSTEIN 45: Preseason Edition--College Hoops Today

34. Loyola Chicago: First-year head coach Drew Valentine has seven players back from last year’s Sweet 16 run.

College basketball teams set to bounce back in 2021-22--Heat Check CBB

Northern Iowa Panthers

Much of the optimism surrounding Northern Iowa entering last season centered around the return of star AJ Green. The 6-4 guard appeared in only three games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury. His loss, coupled with the team struggling defensively, led to the Panthers dropped over 100 KenPom spots from the prior year.

Ben Jacobson has been at the head of the program since 2007 and has brought his fair share of college basketball success to Cedar Falls. With Green back and healthy – as well as the returns of Austin Phyfe and Trae Berhow – UNI could return to contending for the MVC title this season. The big key will be a resurgence offensively. UNI ranked 23rd nationally in AdjO in 2020 behind Green’s scoring and Berhow’s elite efficiency. That number plummeted to 155th last season.

It is also worth noting a pair of rising sophomores. Bowen Born and Nate Heise were thrown into the fire last season and performed solidly. Born in particular showed out, averaging 11.2 points per game. Now with a year of experience under their belts, they can help the trio of Green/Berhow/Phyfe.

SIU Men's Basketball | Salukis release non-conference schedule, open at Little Rock on Nov. 9--Southern Illinoisan
Salukis announce 2021-22 schedule--siusalukis.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/24/2021

Conference realignment: Belmont is headed to the Missouri Valley, according to report--Mid-Major Madness
Breaking: Belmont expected to depart OVC for MVC--Extra Points
16 coaches on the rise entering the 21-22 season--College Hoops Today

It’s never too early to start looking ahead to the upcoming season!

Check below for our list of 16 head coaches on the rise entering the 21-22 college basketball season.

In no particular order:

Darian DeVries, Drake: A slew of injuries to key players couldn’t derail DeVries and Drake last season, as the Bulldogs finished 26-5 and won a game in the NCAA Tournament. With the majority of his team back, expectations will again be high in 21-22. DeVries has won 70 games in three years as a college head coach.

Dana Ford, Missouri State: Despite being just 37 years old, Ford is already at his second head coaching job. It won’t be his last. After rebuilding Tennessee State, he’s now achieving relevance at his current post. Expect Missouri State to be at the top of the MVC league standings this season along with Loyola Chicago, Drake, and Northern Iowa.

Belmont to the Missouri Valley Conference?--Valley Hoops Insider

Illinois State Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Redbirds--Busting Brackets

Report: Belmont could be coming to the MVC--Terre Haute Tribune Star

ISU women announce part of their non-conference schedule--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamore Women’s Basketball Releases Non-Conference Schedule--gosycamores.com

Recruiting Roundup: Weekend Visits and Tidbits--Zagsblog

Here’s a look towards this weekend’s recruiting visits and other news. This list will be updated throughout the weekend.

**Bobi Klintman, the 6-foot-8, 200-pound small forward from Sunrise (KS) Christian Academy, trips to Rutgers this weekend (Sept. 24-26) for his second official visit. Klintman took his first official visit to Maryland from Sept. 17-19 and has plans to visit Loyola-Chicago from Oct.

Townes Signs Pro Contract With Pieno Zvaigzdes Pasvalys--loyolaramblers.com

UNI men’s basketball releases 2021-22 schedule--Northern Iowan

Meet The Newcomers | Ben Coupet--siusalukis.com
Meet The Newcomers | Troy D'Amico--siusalukis.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/21/2021

10 mid-majors to watch for the 21-22 season--College Hoops Daily

Drake: Started from the bottom now we’re here! Murphy’s Law hit the Bulldogs last season, as multiple injuries to key players limited this team’s depth in late-February and March — it didn’t stop Drake. Despite limited personnel, Darian DeVries led this program to a banner season, highlighted by a 26-5 record and an NCAA Tournament win over Wichita State. The Bulldogs will miss lead guard Joseph Yesufu, who transferred to Kansas, but Omaha transfer Ayo Akinwole (13 points) should be ready to inherit the minutes that Yesufu left behind. ShanQuan Hemphill, Roman Penn, Tremell Murphy, and D.J. Wilkins all return as double figure scorers. The expectations are high in Des Moines.

Loyola Chicago: Porter Moser is now at Oklahoma and Cameron Krutwig’s college career is over, but it would still be very foolish to bet against the Ramblers. First-year head coach Drew Valentine — who was a longtime assistant under Moser — inherits a veteran team that returns seven players — Lucas Williamson, Braden Norris, Keith Clemons, Aher Uguak, Marquise Kennedy, Tate Hall, and Tom Welch — from last year’s Sweet 16 team. Valentine also adds two transfers — Ryan Schwieger (Princeton) and Chris Knights (Dartmouth) — from the Ivy League that figure to challenge for minutes. Loyola Chicago has a legitimate chance to again be one of the top non power conference teams in college basketball.

College basketball starts in 50 days, so here are 50 things to know about the 2021-22 season--CBS Sports

34. Three mid-major schools from traditional one-bid leagues with the best chances at winning a game or two in the NCAAs: Belmont, Loyola Chicago, Buffalo.

22. There were 60 coaching changes this offseason. I'm labeling seven of those as men who will make the 2022 NCAA Tournament in their new post. (I'm not counting Wichita State's Isaac Brown because he was promoted in March before making the '21 NCAA Tournament): 

6.  Drew Valentine, Loyola Chicago

17. College basketball's November and December has steadily gotten better, mostly, over the past decade. It's still not offering up enough top 40-level games in on-campus environments to satisfy me, but the neutral-site mini-tournament industry still offers a lot of good nonconference matchups. That in mind, here are two dozen nonconference tilts to know now. And this doesn't include the obvious/aforementioned Champions Classic doubleheader on Nov. 9 to kick off the season. Many of these games are likely to feature two ranked teams. 

• Nov. 24: Michigan State vs. Loyola Chicago

16. Best eight-team MTE in 2021: Battle 4 Atlantis (Nov. 24-26). The quarterfinals are: Arizona State vs. Baylor, Auburn vs. UConn, Michigan State vs. Loyola Chicago, Syracuse vs. VCU.

Donovan LeBron Hunter commits to Missouri State men's basketball--Springfield News-Leader

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/20/2021

Loyola Women’s Basketball Conference Schedule Announced--Loyola Phoenix

Northern Iowa Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Panthers--Busting Brackets

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/17/2021

Ranking Missouri Valley Units--Valley Hoops Insider

Why Bradley basketball begins the Valley season a month earlier than usual in 2021-22--Peoria Journal Star

Here's the University of Evansville's Missouri Valley Conference basketball schedule--Evansville Courier & Press

Dan Muller Entering His Tenth Year--Valley Hoops Insider
Watch now: Illinois State men's basketball to entertain Missouri State in MVC opener on Dec. 1--The Pantagraph
MVC announces men's basketball schedules--Vidette Online

Watch now: Illinois State women to open MVC action at home against Bradley on New Year's Day--The Pantagraph
Women's basketball conference opens with Bradley on New Year's--Vidette Online

MVC release completes ISU basketball schedule--Terre Haute Tribune Star

METRO ROUNDUP: ISU announces women's basketball conference slate--Terre Haute Tribune Star

Jerry Harkness: Athlete, Storyteller, Man for Others--Loyola Phoenix
‘He’s Got to Do It His Way’: Loyola Men’s Basketball Head Coach Drew Valentine Starts the Season with Sister Jean’s Support--Loyola Phoenix
Missouri Valley Conference Releases Men’s Basketball Schedule to Complete Loyola’s Order of Competitors--Loyola Phoenix

Keep a close eye on these five Missouri State men's basketball recruiting targets--Springfield News-Leader

Saluki women's basketball to open Valley play at home against Valparaiso--Southern Illinoisan

Valpo Announces 2021-22 Women’s Basketball Schedule--valpoathletics.com

2021-22 MVC Women’s Basketball Conference Schedule Announced--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/14/2021

Men’s Basketball Adds Nov. 14 Game With South Dakota--godrakebulldogs.com

Here's the University of Evansville's Missouri Valley Conference basketball schedule--Evansville Courier & Press

Watch now: ISU men's basketball to entertain Missouri State in MVC opener on Dec. 1--The Pantagraph

Salukis to open MVC play at Evansville Dec. 1--Southern Illinoisan

MVC Announces 2021-22 Men's Basketball Schedule--The Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/12/2021

Was Wichita State’s Valley exit still worth it?--Mid-Major Madness

Analysis: Breaking down Bradley’s non-conference slate--bradleyscout.com

Analysis: Women’s basketball non-conference schedule--Bradley Scout
Women's Basketball Unveils 2021-22 Non-Conference Schedule--bradleybraves.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/8/2021

Basketball Unveils 2021-22 Non-Conference Schedule--bradleybraves.com

Season preview: HoopsHD interviews Bradley SR G Gabi Haack--Hoops HD

Report: Former Missouri State star Alize Johnson agrees to $3.6 million deal with Bulls--Springfield News-Leader

Top 100 Players 2021-22--Three Man Weave

92. AJ Green, G, Northern Iowa

Did you forget about him? No, this is not Joseph ‘Blue’ Pulaski, but AJ is the recent recipient of not one but TWO brand new plastic hips! Deep cut ‘Old School’ jokes aside, Green has a veteran-laden Northern Iowa squad eyeing the MVC crown in 2022.

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/6/2021

Southern Illinois Basketball: 2021-22 season preview for the Salukis--Busting Brackets

Top 5 Valpo Sports Moments To Look For--Valpo Torch

4. The continued legacy of two basketball players

We all know the stories about fifth year seniors coming back one more year to help their teams succeed. However, the NCAA does not hand out sixth year eligibility regularly. If you remember Northeastern forward Alex Murphy and Oregon guard Dylan Ennis, both were sixth year athletes in recent memory. Two Beacon basketball athletes will carry on the title as being sixth year seniors. Forward Caitlin Morrison started her career on the women’s basketball team back in the 2016-2017 season. Morrison sat out in the 2018-2019 season due to injury and was able to retain two years of eligibility. Her career goes back to being coached by former head coach Tracey Dorow and then re-building the foundation under current head coach Mary Evans the following year. She even got to compete for Valpo in the program’s final year in the Horizon League as a freshman. Guard Eron Gordon’s story is a bit different. Gordon started his collegiate career in the fall of 2016 at Seton Hall and played for two years. He transferred in and sat out for the 2018-2019 due to transfer rules. Since then, Gordon has made an impact for the team both as a starter and coming off the bench. With both players having an abundance of experience on their resumes, expect leadership from them on the court as experienced Missouri Valley Conference players.

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/4/2021

Report: Former Missouri State star Alize Johnson to be waived by Brooklyn Nets--Springfield News-Leader

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/2/2021

Watch now: Trip to Wisconsin highlights Illinois State's nonconference basketball schedule--The Pantagraph
Muller releases non-conference schedule, with trips to Cancun and Wisconsin--Vidette Online
Men’s Basketball Releases 2021-22 Non-Conference Schedule--goredbirds.com

ISU's Stephens determined to make up for lost time--Terre Haute Tribune Star

Women's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule Released--unipanthers.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 9/1/2021

 Valley Unit Rankings--Valley Hoops Insider

Women's basketball announces non-conference schedule, includes pair of BIG10 matchups--Vidette Online

Title town:--The Standard