Friday, March 31, 2023

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/31/2023

College basketball transfer portal: Ranking the best players available right now--The Athletic

26. Marcus Domask | 6-6 wing | One year of eligibility | Southern Illinois

A three-time All-Missouri Valley member, Domask is a veteran four-year college player that you can slot into your lineup and not worry at all about him being productive. He’s one of those dudes that just knows how to play. He doesn’t need to dribble the ball to death to score. He moves exceedingly well without the ball, has deep range on his jumper, and consistently just finds little creases and openings to score. On top of that, Domask is a terrific passer who averaged 17 points and four assists per game on his way to a first-team all-league berth this year. Southern Illinois used him an awful lot on post-ups in a way that I don’t think a high-major offense will. Domask has also entered the draft, but he’ll likely be able to make more by staying in school. He was Mr. Basketball in the state of Wisconsin in 2019, and everything about his game is tailor-made to be a fit with Greg Gard and the Badgers. You have to wonder if they’d want to get involved as he’d give them a bit more size on the wings this year.

28. Rienk Mast | 6-9 big | Two years of eligibility | Bradley

Another first-team All-Missouri Valley player hitting the portal. Mast is a versatile Dutch big man who can operate on the block and create a shot with high-arcing hooks. That tends to be his home base, as he is ambidextrous with his finishing hand. But the more interesting skill he flashed this season was as a pick-and-pop threat. Mast hit 35 percent of his three 3-point attempts per game, with a pure looking shot that he can take quickly off the hop. He looks like a very legitimate option for a team that wants to play a floor-spacing five-man that can stretch the floor. And then weirdly he’ll be able to flash to the mid-post and drive an opposing player with an attack. The big thing that separates him from other offensive big men, though, is that he’s already been a part of pretty good defenses at Bradley. The Braves had the best defense in the Missouri Valley this year, and he was a big part of it. In total, Bradley won their minutes with Mast on the court by about 18 points per 100 possessions, and won them only by one point per 100 when he was off the court. He’s a real difference-maker that I’d buy playing at the high-major level next year.

32. Ben Krikke | 6-9 big | One year of eligibility | Valparaiso

It’ll be interesting to see how the portal evaluates Krikke’s unique game. Offensively, there isn’t much that the Valparaiso big man can’t do. He’s a tremendous post finisher, ending this season as a top-70 scorer in terms of volume as well as one of the five most efficient post scorers in the country, averaging 1.13 points per possession each time he took a shot down there. His footwork, balance, and touch in those areas are ridiculous. He has a bevy of weird hook shots, flip shots and post moves that give him just that little bit of separation he needs. If he gets in close to the basket, the ball is going in. But he’s not just a post threat. I loved his work in ball-screens this season as a pick-and-pop player. He’d get the ball from the perimeter and attack his man, throwing up some wild moves including the occasional spin move into a 16-foot jumper. He only made 28 percent from 3, but someone with this kind of touch would only need a summer to really improve that part of his game and make it a real weapon. This is how Krikke made three straight All-Missouri Valley Conference teams, including a first-team berth this season. He does present some inherent limitations at the highest level defensively because he doesn’t move all that well laterally, and doesn’t protect the rim at a super high level. But in the right spot, Krikke could be a real difference-maker at the high-major level. I wonder if a spot at Notre Dame down the road with Micah Shrewsberry, a coach known to be willing to post and play five-out, could fit.



Lady Vols basketball gets commitment from Belmont transfer point guard Destinee Wells--The Tennessean
BREAKING: Destinee Wells will play for Tennessee next season--Belmont Vision
BREAKING: Madison Bartley commits to Baylor--Belmont Vision



Men’s basketball to participate in 2023 Las Vegas Holiday Classic--gopurpleaces.com



Wright-Gaskins becomes second ISU women's basketball player to enter transfer portal--The Vidette



Window not fastened: ISU looks to retain returning core and reload--Terre Haute Tribune Star



Sports Column | Bucky Dent: Where do the Salukis go from here?--Southern Illinoisan



Can a familiar face save Valparaiso basketball?--The Victory Bell

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/22/2023


College basketball transfer portal 2023: Ranking top 10 impact players looking to move to a new school--CBS Sports

6. Rienk Mast

Old school: Bradley

Mast averaged 13.8 points, eight rebounds and 2.4 assists for a Bradley squad that won the Missouri Valley regular season title before falling one game short of reaching the NCAA Tournament. At 6-9, he is not much of a rim protector, but he can step out and hit 3-pointers. The Netherlands native should have two seasons of eligibility and has the tools to challenge for a starting spot at a power conference program.

'The most fun I've had': Bradley senior leaves Peoria for a pro basketball career--Peoria Journal Star



Transfer portal tracker: Evansville, Southern Indiana men's basketball players--Evansville Courier & Press
Son of UE Hall of Famer transfers to Purple Aces men's basketball team--Evansville Courier & Press



Illinois State's Liam McChesney puts name into transfer portal, joining Petrakis and Andrews--The Pantagraph
McChesney becomes third ISU men's basketball player in transfer portal--The Vidette



Photo finish: ISU closes campaign with OT loss to EKU in CBI--Terre Haute Tribune Star
GRAY & BLUE VIEW: Second life squandered as ISU unable to mount deep CBI run--Terre Haute Tribune Star



Panthers bow out to Cornhuskers--Northern Iowan
UNI ends year in the postseason again--Northern Iowan

Saturday, March 18, 2023

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/18/2023


From wins to awards, 17 things to celebrate about the Bradley Braves basketball season--Peoria Journal Star



Miami Beats Drake In The NCAA Tournament First Round, 63-56--State Of The U
Drake men's basketball can't hold off Miami in opening round of NCAA Tournament--Des Moines Register
Q&A with Dolph Pulliam of Drake basketball's 1969 Final Four squad--Des Moines Register
Darnell Brodie's hot streak to end the season offers hope for Drake basketball's future--Des Moines Register
Men's Basketball Season Ends in NCAA Tournament After Battling Miami--godrakebulldogs.com



Ryan Pedon, Illinois State basketball program moving ahead with much to do in spring--The Pantagraph



3/18/2023 NIT/CBI MATCHUP NEWS AND NOTES--Staring At The Floorboards

Subscriber Content

CBI (all games in Daytona Beach)

Indiana State is a much better version of Winthrop, who USC Upstate swept in the regular season in Big South play....

Potential Iowa State football walk-on, McKnight, finds path on hardwood--Terre Haute Tribune Star



Women's Basketball Set to Open Day Two of the WBI Against FIU Saturday Afternoon--uicflames.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/17/2023


 
Ben Sheppard declares for the NBA Draft--Belmont Vision
BREAKING: Three Belmont men’s basketball players enter transfer portal--Belmont Vision

How Belmont women's basketball lost to Ball State 101-86 in WNIT first-round shootout--The Tennessean
Wells' 35 Not Enough in WNIT Opening Round Loss at Ball State--belmontbruins.com



Crowl, Badgers oust Braves from NIT--Bradley Scout



March Madness continues: Ranking all 16 of Friday's first-round NCAA Tournament games--USA Today

No. 5 Miami (Fla.) vs. No. 12 Drake

Time/TV: 7:25 p.m., TBS

Even though its membership has changed over the years, the Missouri Valley Conference is always a threat to make noise in March. The Bulldogs could be a tough draw for the Hurricanes, who aren’t as physically imposing as some power conference squads and could be even thinner up front if Norchad Omier (ankle) is limited The driving force for Drake is Tucker DeVries, son of head coach Darian DeVries, putting up 19 points a game.

Watch out for these under-the-radar players in this year’s March Madness--Mid-Major Madness

Tucker DeVries, Drake

The Player of the Year in the Missouri Valley, DeVries reminds me an awful lot of another MVC legend... Doug McDermott. Playing for his father (just like McDermott), DeVries averages 19 points per game on the 29th most experienced team in college basketball. The kicker is that he is only a sophomore.

Miami vs. Drake odds, picks, TV channel: Expert predictions for NCAA Tournament first round game--The Athletic
Friday’s NCAA Tournament games: Matchups to watch, tip times and everything you need to know--The Athletic

No. 12 Drake vs. No. 5 Miami
There’s always a 12-5 upset in the NCAA Tournament, and this could be it. Drake is led by a father-son combo of coach Darian DeVries and sophomore guard Tucker DeVries, a deep threat who averages 19 points per game. They’ll face a tough test against Miami, the co-ACC champs, who have four players posting double-digit scoring each night.

Seth Davis’ NCAA Tournament picks--The Athletic

No. 5 Miami (-2 1/2) vs. No. 12 Drake, 7:25 p.m., TBS. The big question here is the status of Miami 6-7 sophomore forward Norchad Omier, who injured his ankle early in the Hurriances’ loss to Duke in the semifinals of the ACC tournament. Omier did some stretching and shooting on Wednesday, but he did not participate in Miami’s practice. It’s hard enough to beat a seasoned, quality team like Drake at full strength, but it will be a lot harder with Miami’s only serviceable big man dealing with a bad wheel. And make no mistake, Drake is a really good team. The Bulldogs finished a game behind Bradley in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, but they thumped the Braves by 26 points in the tourney final. Drake is one of the few teams ranked in the top 30 on KenPom in both experience and minutes continuity, which measures its roster carryover from last season. The one non-senior in the starting lineup is its best player and leading scorer, 6-7 sophomore Tucker DeVries, who averages 19.0 points on 38.7 percent 3-point shooting to go along with 5.6 rebounds. The pick: Drake

Miami Hurricanes vs. Drake Bulldogs Preview--State Of The U
March Madness 2023: Analyzing statistical trends for each first-round matchup--Heat Check CBB

Midwest Region

(5) Miami FL vs. (12) Drake

With a starting lineup averaging 23 years of age, Drake is one of the oldest teams in the field. It also features the MVC Player of the Year in sophomore Tucker DeVries. Miami picked up 11 Quad 1+2 wins during the regular-season but also lost two Quad 3+4 games. The 12-over-5 is always a popular upset pick, and this one might be particularly trendy — especially if Norchad Omier is out for the Hurricanes.

Can Miami’s talented guards guide another nice run as they did a season ago? That is the big key; Isaiah Wong is back and he has a new partner in Nijel Pack. The Hurricanes are 8-0 when those two combine for 34 or more points. Miami needs them to be on, especially if Omier is out.

In addition to slowing down Miami’s guards, Drake must protect the defensive glass. Miami ranks 71st nationally in offensive rebounding rate this season, and it is a huge part of their success; the Hurricanes are 24-2 when securing over 25 percent of their misses (1-5 in all other games). Drake hasn’t faced much high-major competition, but it does rank third nationally in defensive rebounding rate; it has held 22 teams below that 25 percent threshold.

NCAA Tournament: Ranking all 32 first-round games--Heat Check CBB

4) No. 5 Miami (FL) vs No. 12 Drake

Friday, 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS (Albany/Midwest Region): The battle between Miami’s offense and Drake’s defense is guaranteed to be a treat for all who watch. Drake forces everyone they play into tough shots, and Miami has some of the best tough-shot makers in the tournament. On the other end of the court, the uncertainty of Norchad Omier’s status could open the paint for Drake to attack relentlessly, opening up the perimeter for their shooters to shoot. This is the closest 12 vs. 5 game on KenPom for a reason, and a Drake win could blow this pod wide open.

Breaking down Drake men's basketball's NCAA Tournament first-round matchup against Miami--Des Moines Register
Comparing Drake men's basketball's 2008 and 2023 trips to the NCAA Tournament--Des Moines Register
Men's Basketball Preview: NCAA Tournament First & Second Rounds--godrakebulldogs.com


Women’s NCAA Tournament first-round picks--The Athletic

Saturday

No. 12 Drake vs. No. 5 Louisville (-4.5), 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

More upset potential at the 12-5. Louisville and its defense aren’t the same as last year’s Final Four squad. The Cardinals required the bulk of the season to mesh. Even with Hailey Van Lith’s production (19.2 ppg), she can’t carry the Cardinals alone. Drake’s offense is quick and slick, with various players getting their hands on the ball and putting up points. Nebraska and South Dakota found out Drake’s a challenge this season, and the Bulldogs went toe-to-toe with Iowa, losing by six in overtime. Louisville has its own set of big wins against Texas and North Carolina. But if the Cardinals are going to make a run, they have to play heads-up defense. Expect a close one. The pick: Drake

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament: First-round previews, schedules, TV info--Heat Check CBB

Seattle 4 Regional

(5) Louisville vs. (12) Drake

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 (Austin, Texas): This 5-12 game could have some fireworks as it’s a clash of two efficient offenses that don’t mind speeding things up. Louisville has the edge on defense, though, which should see them through to the second round. The Cardinals can count on Hailey Van Lith (19.2 ppg, 3.2 apg, 1.5 spg) to run the show on both ends along with Mykasa Robinson (4.2 apg, 2.0 spg). Drake is a calculating offense, leading the country in assisted FG rate (72.8 percent) but struggle with turnovers (17.5 per game, 280th in D1). The Cardinals’ defense forces almost exactly that many per game, so takeaways could ultimately be the difference in this one. But if Maggie Bair (16.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg), Katie Dinnebier (11.4 ppg, 5.7 apg) and the Bulldogs can hold onto the rock, they could turn this one into a barnburner.

Women's Basketball Preview: NCAA Tournament First & Second Rounds--godrakebulldogs.com



Illinois State women open WNIT play at Missouri--The Pantagraph
Illinois State women's season ends with WNIT loss to Missouri--The Pantagraph
Five things to know before ISU women's basketball takes on Missouri in the WNIT--The Vidette
ISU women's basketball's season comes to a close with first round WNIT loss at Missouri--The Vidette
Redbirds Season Comes to an End at Missouri--goredbirds.com



Daytona In March--Valley Hoops Insider
Getting to know USC Upstate: Spartans prep for fifth postseason still in search of 1st Big Dance--Terre Haute Tribune Star
52 years of ISU basketball in Division I--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Stephens: Elimination by Bradley ‘still stings’--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Basketball to compete in invitational--Indiana Statesman
Top-Seeded Sycamores open CBI play Saturday against No. 16 USC Upstate--gosycamores.com



MSU Lady Bears' first season under Beth Cunningham ends in WNIT first round at Nebraska--Springfield News-Leader
Lady Bears Season Comes to an End at Nebraska--missouristatebears.com



UNI women’s basketball heads to WNIT wondering what could have been--Cedar Rapids Gazette
UNI advances in WNIT with efficient 88-76 win over Colorado State--Cedar Rapids Gazette
College Women's Basketball: UNI rolls Colorado State in first round of WNIT--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
UNI women's basketball grabs dominating 88-76 win over Colorado State in WNIT opening round--unipanthers.com
UNI women's basketball heads to Lincoln for WNIT second round matchup with Nebraska--unipanthers.com



Women’s Basketball Falls to New Mexico State on Day One of the WBI Friday Afternoon--uicflames.com



"Hard to believe it's been 10 years"--The Victory Bell
Journey becomes the destination for Nuness--The Victory Bell