Primarily a collection of news links about all 12 Missouri Valley League teams on a daily basis, culled from online newspapers, school athletic websites, the conference website, and school newspapers, plus some other content from time to time.
-North Texas knocked off Drake in the same event yesterday. This was
NOT a loss that Drake needed on their resume. North Texas is not bad.
We know that. But if Drake wants to establish themselves as a
tournament caliber team that belongs inside the bubble, they simply do
not get that many strikes against teams that likely won’t end up inside
the bubble.
Evansville opened a 15-point lead with 14 minutes
remaining left in regulation. Rice battled back and tied the game at 71
with 1:13 left. The Purple Aces responded with four straight points, and
the Owls tied the game once again to force OT.
Rice took its first lead by scoring the first points in
the extra period. In the second OT, the Owls scored the first five
points. Evansville battled back and evened the game at 96 when Noah
Frederking sank all three of his free throw attempts. Rice scored the
first five of the third overtime as well, and Evansville did not have an
answer this time.
Max Fiedler led the way for the Owls with 30 points and 12 rebounds, Chris Mullins also scored 25 points.
Jawaun Newton poured in 30 points for the Aces, and Antoine Smith Jr. contributed 24.
As ever, it’s all about intrigue at this stage. Is there any player
or program for which it’s been going well, but you need to see more? I
can think of a couple in my general neighborhood, but you go first.
Dana: Before I answer that … speaking of guys with
eyes on the NBA Draft board, might that explain Memphis’ thumping by
Iowa State? Perhaps. And we didn’t even mention the single worst loss to
date this year: UC Davis lost to Academy of Art University, a D2
for-profit art school.
So to your question … I am again tooting my own preseason horn and
going to Loyola Chicago to start, my pick for a mid-major to do damage
in March. No, the Ramblers did not beat Michigan State or Auburn, but
only lost to the Spartans on an alley-oop dunk winner (sweet play call,
Coach Izzo) and succumbed in the second half to the aforementioned
Jabari Smith and the Tigers. I was kind of surprised that Sister Jean’s
squad didn’t get more preseason love, what with Lucas Williamson and Braden Norris back plus Princeton transfer Ryan Schwieger.
The caveat, of course, is that they did not win. This is usually sort of important in college basketball.
• On a happier note, you’ve gotta feel good for Northern Iowa junior
guard A.J. Green, who had 35 points on 9-of-15 3-point shooting in the
Panthers’ 90-80 win at then-No. 16 St. Bonaventure on Saturday. Green
was voted the Missouri Valley Conference’s player of the year as a
sophomore, but he only played three games last season before undergoing
season-ending surgery on his left hip. Less than two months later, he
had another surgery on his right hip The Panthers returned all five
starters from last season, and though they started off with home losses
to Nicholls State and Vermont, the win over the Bonnies, combined with
Green’s apparent resurgence, indicates they could be a legit threat to
win the Valley.
-Northern Iowa finally looked like the team we were expecting to see
yesterday as they went on the road at Saint Bonaventure and picked up
the 90-80 win. UNI has a lot of ground to make up, and while they’re
not out of strikes yet, they’re close, but this is the kind of win that
can breathe new life into a season. Saint Bonaventure was in the
rankings (and will likely finish there), and they were at home (where
they may not lose again all season), so this is a super high caliber win
for Northern Iowa.
BUY GAMES AND OTHER GAMES WORTH MENTIONING:
-North Texas vs Drake (ESPN Events Invitational) – Drake has lost two
straight and didn’t pick up any notable wins in this event. They need
to at least pick this one up today
...Drake
has their own ball screen maestro in Penn, but UNT has struggled in
this tournament containing guards with size against their smaller
backcourt/wing trio...
-NORTHERN IOWA AT SAINT BONAVENTURE. Northern Iowa was a team we had
high expectations for coming into the season, and while there is still a
lot of season left they have not lived up to them at this point. At
just 1-3, and with several missed opportunities at notable wins, they’d
basically have to blow through most of the rest of their schedule to
land inside the bubble. The Bonnies, on the other hand, are still
unbeaten and are climbing the rankings.
Ben
Jacobson has been surprisingly awful with extra prep, going 36-56-4
ATS, and 2-6 the last 4 years (equally surprising, Schmidt has been just
as bad)...
Championship: Michigan State (Big Ten, 4-1, 17 KP) vs. Baylor (Big 12, 6-0, 4 KP), 11 a.m. (ESPN) 3rd/4th Place:UConn (Big East, 5-1, 19 KP) vs. VCU (A 10, 3-3, 93 KP), approx. 1:30 p.m. (ESPN2) 5th/6th Place: Auburn (SEC, 4-1, 28 KP) vs. Syracuse (ACC, 3-2, 54 KP), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2) 7th/8th Place: Loyola Chicago (MVC, 4-2, 35 KP) vs. Arizona State (Pac-12, 2-3, 73 KP), approx. 7 p.m. (ESPN News)
In the consolation bracket, Syracuse held off Arizona
State, 92-84, while Auburn handled Loyola, 62-53. The Ramblers’ failure
to close out Michigan State in this tournament’s first game might be
something to remember come Selection Sunday, should Loyola not win Arch
Madness.
Miami (Fla.) (ACC, 3-2, 102 KP) vs. North Texas (C-USA, 2-2, 114 KP), 11 a.m. (ESPN2) Alabama (SEC, 4-1, 24 KP) vs. Drake (MVC, 3-1, 58 KP), 4:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
The
Bruins defeated Drake, 74-69, in the first-ever meeting of two teams who
will become conference rivals next season.
Unlike Loyola, who saw its best shot at a marquee
non-conference win disappear on Wednesday afternoon in the Bahamas,
Drake will get another chance at such a victory this afternoon against
Alabama.
-Loyola Chicago and Michigan State came down to the wire in Atlantis
with Michigan State making a game winning ally oop on their last
possession of the game. Loyola held a lead for much of the game, but
just wasn’t holding it when time ran out. While this certainly isn’t a
damaging loss for the Ramblers, it was a missed opportunity and they
only get so many of those due to playing in an Under the Radar
conference. Fortunately, even though they lost, they’ll have a couple
more opportunities in this event including today against Auburn.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-AUBURN VS LOYOLA CHICAGO (Battle 4 Atlantis). This is an important
event for Loyola Chicago because they need some notable wins on their
resume. They just missed a big chance yesterday, but the good news for
them is that the loss didn’t deny them a chance from picking up what
would be a big win today against a really good Auburn team.
-BELMONT VS DRAKE (ESPN Events Invitational). You kind of hate that
these two got paired against each other. They’re both really good Under
the Radar teams, they’re both teams who we think can land inside the
bubble, but in order to do that they both need big wins in this event.
So, this has a really pivotal feel to it because the winning team will
get on the winning side of the bracket and have better chances at big
wins in their final two games.
After that we run through ... the big opportunities for teams like Loyola
Chicago, Drake, Iona, and Belmont this week, teams that managed big wins
in their exempt events, and teams that have struggled more than
expected like New Mexico State, Missouri State, and Northern Iowa.
-Auburn rebounded from their overtime loss to UConn, which really
didn’t even qualify as a setback, and knocked off a good Loyola Chicago
team 62-53 in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Loyola could have really benefited
from at least one big win in this event, but they still aren’t totally
sunk. It probably is important that they beat Arizona State today,
though.
-Belmont picked up a huge 74-69 win against Drake in the ESPN Events
Invitational. It’s big because it adds what should turn out to be a
quality win to their resume, and it gives them the chances to play
higher caliber opponents throughout the rest of the event and build
their resume even more. With that being said, Belmont will face Iona,
who knocked off Alabama, and Drake will get a shot at the Tide.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-ALABAMA VS DRAKE (ESPN Events). Alabama was upset by Iona
yesterday, but we still think this Tide team could end up as a protected
seed, and perhaps even win the SEC. They face a Drake team who lost to
Belmont, but who we still think will be a big time force in the
Missouri Valley and will have a chance to land inside the bubble. This
game has a bit of a pivotal feel for both teams. Drake needs a quality
win, and Alabama doesn’t want to lose it’s second straight to an Under
the Radar team while having such a high ranking and high expectations.
-ARIZONA STATE VS LOYOLA CHICAGO (Battle 4 Atlantis). It’s the 7th
place game, and Loyola has played well but not managed a notable win.
They don’t want to walk out of this completely empty handed. It’s
important that they at least pick up this one.
I’m not quite ready to sound the alarm on Drake.
They took 17 more shots than Belmont, but missed a ton of open 3s and
5-12 from the FT line. Predictably Brodie couldn’t defend the mobility
of Moose, and could only go 12 minutes with DeVries forced to go small
at the 5 with his son and a litany of doubles, which of course didn’t
work with the big man’s passing touch a large part of his repertoire.
Both Oats and DeVries have been solid on no rest, Alabama
because of their athleticism and talent and Drake because of their
pressure. It’s hard to press Alabama given the explosive ball handlers
they have, especially with Davidson in the fold. Iona showed that if you
commit to transition D, you can knock Bama off their axis when you
force them to work in the halfcourt, where the structure is sometimes
lacking. Drake has been an excellent transition denial D under DeVries,
and Tank Hemphill profiles similarly not JeanLouis who denied a lot of
penetration singlehandedly. Iona had a premier rim presence in NJJ
lurking in the paint, which Brodie is not. I think Drake can succeed in
forcing Bama in the halfcourt, I’m just not sure they can force them
into tough shots at the rate Iona did. The Tide are ShotQuality’s top
“Rim and 3” rate team (expected). Iona was fantastic at limiting both of
those. I don’t think Drake can replicate that.
Loyola has been
out-athleted, out-hustled, out-everything in this tournament. To be
fair, they’ve held their own, but they just can’t generate buckets when
they have to because of that disadvantage. Arizona State
offers a bit of reprieve, as they don’t have the same overwhelming
athleticism of Auburn or Michigan State’s frontcourts (although Graham
and Gaffney are still a challenge of course). The stellar defense of
Loyola’s backcourt could be enough to carry them to a much needed
salvage win, as their ability to force jump shots is always a Hurley O
achilles heel.
Michigan State (Big Ten, 3-1, 20 KenPom) vs. UConn (Big East, 5-0, 18 KP), 12 p.m. VCU (A 10, 3-2, 98 KP) vs. Baylor (Big 12, 5-0, 4 KP), 5 p.m.
Consolation
ESPN2 will air both games.
Loyola Chicago (MVC, 4-1, 33 KP) vs. Auburn (SEC, 3-1, 30 KP), approx. 2:30 p.m. Syracuse (ACC, 2-2, 58 KP) vs. Arizona State (Pac-12, 2-3, 63 KP), approx. 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s two of quarterfinal doubleheaders were
radically different from a competitive standpoint. The day began with
the Spartans edging the Ramblers, 63-61, after an intense, physical
showdown.
The fourth quarterfinal has some extra
added holiday spice, as Belmont and 2021 First Four winner Drake will be
Missouri Valley rivals starting next season.
Loyola
can’t compete with Smith, or even Williams and Kessler for that matter,
as the Ramblers’ frontcourt is severely lacking in athleticism outside
of the undersized Uguak...
I’d be in the “buy low” on Belmont camp after the blowout loss to LSU, but Drake isn’t a particularly good matchup for the Bruins...
-LOYOLA CHICAGO VS MICHIGAN STATE (Battle 4 Atlantis). Loyola
Chicago is a team that we feel can land inside the bubble, but in order
to do that they need multiple wins, and this event, and today’s game in
particular, is a chance for them to do that. This is a hugely important
opportunity for them.
Michigan State (Big Ten, 3-1, 21 KP) vs. Loyola Chicago (MVC, 4-0, 34 KP), 12 p.m. (ESPN) Auburn (SEC, 3-0, 30 KP) vs. UConn (Big East, 4-0, 22 KP), approx. 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Syracuse (ACC, 2-1, 48 KP) vs. VCU (A 10, 2-2, 110 KP), approx. 5 p.m. (ESPN2) Baylor (Big 12, 4-0, 4 KP) vs. Arizona State (Pac-12, 2-2, 62 KP), approx. 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
This year’s Atlantis field is arguably more impressive
than Maui’s, and that’s with some teams struggling a bit...
The top half of the field has played more cleanly so far,
with Loyola and UConn looking particularly strong even though both have
faced lower-tier competition. Michigan State has rebounded from its
Opening Night 87-74 loss to Kansas with three straight wins. In today’s
first game, Tom Izzo’s Spartans will encounter a familiar face in former
grad assistant (and Oakland guard) Drew Valentine. Denzel’s brother
replaced Porter Moser on the Ramblers’ bench when he left for Oklahoma.
Championship: Stephen F. Austin (WAC, 4-1, 135 KP) vs. Saint Louis (A 10, 5-1, 94 KP), approx. 8:30 p.m. Consolation: Buffalo (MAC, 2-2, 85 KP) vs. Illinois State (MVC, 2-3, 228 KP), 6 p.m.
In Tuesday’s semifinals, SFA held on to win a 79-78
thriller over a Buffalo team that entered this event as the
highest-ranked of the eight in KenPom. Then, Saint Louis took down
Illinois State by an 82-76 count in the nightcap. That spared some
blushes for the Atlantic 10, which had a rough night in tournament play.
Charlotte (C-USA, 3-2, 220 KP) finishes seventh and will
not play on day three due to Abilene Christian’s (WAC, 1-2, 163 KP)
withdrawal (COVID).
The Rockets won a 68-67 thriller over Tulane and the
Chanticleers took down Valpo by a 64-61 count in their tournament
opener. Based on those results, tonight’s final in Nassau might end up
being a classic.
Championship: Kent State (MAC, 3-1, 130 KP) vs. ETSU (SoCon, 3-2, 128 KP), approx. 8 p.m. 3rd/4th Place: George Washington (A 10, 2-5, 246 KP) vs. Missouri State (MVC, 3-2, 70 KP), 5:30 p.m. 5th/6th Place: James Madison (CAA, 5-1, 174 KP) vs. Murray State (OVC, 4-1, 105 KP), approx. 2:30 p.m. 7th/8th Place: Wright State (Horizon, 1-4, 146 KP) vs. Long Beach State (Big West, 1-4, 314 KP), 12 p.m.
ETSU stunned Missouri State, 77-76, to knock the tournament favorites out of title contention.
-It was fun seeing old Valley rivals Creighton and Southern Illinois
go at it again in the Paradise Jam, and it was fitting that it seesawed
back and forth and came down to the wire. Creighton ended up with the
66-64 win to improve to 5-1. The Salukis fall to 2-3, but they’ve shown
some promise and with a lot of season left to go they could still end
up having a big year. They REALLY could have used this one though!
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT MISSOURI STATE (Naples Invitational).
Missouri State lost their season opener, which was a setback right out
of the gate, but they’re still a good team that could play their way
close to the bubble. Maybe even on it. Maybe even inside of it. They
need these wins away from home, though.
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