Feast Week featured a bunch of last-minute heroics, major upsets--Mid-Major Madness
Rice 109, Evansville 104 (3OT)
This game went to triple overtime!
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.
Antoine Smith Jr. named MVC Newcomer of the Week--gopurpleaces.com
Je'Naiya Davis named MVC Newcomer of the Week after 35-point outburst--gopurpleaces.com
College basketball’s top team, concerns about Illinois, Big Ten/ACC Challenge and more: Shot Takers--The Athletic
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.
Loyola Chicago Basketball: 3 takeaways from Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament--Busting Brackets
Bears Open Valley Play Wednesday at Illinois State--missouristatebears.com
Franklin Racks Up Third Consecutive MVC Weekly Honor--missouristatebears.com
What’s behind Iowa State’s hot start, and Baylor is back in the hunt: Hoop Thoughts--The Athletic
Other Hoop Thoughts
• 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.
Panthers knock off 16th-ranked Bonnies 90-80--North Iowan
AJ Green earns Player of the Week honors after UNI men's basketball top-25 win--unipanthers.com
MVC MBB Weekly Notes (N29)--The Missouri Valley
Women's Basketball Player/Newcomer of the Week (Nov. 29)--The Missouri Valley
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