What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/31/2023

Handing out the Hardware: All-conference players of 2023 (Part 2 of 2)--Hoops HD

MVC
G: Xavier Johnson (Southern Illinois)
G: Tucker DeVries (Drake)
F: Ben Humrichous (Evansville)
F: Cade Tyson (Belmont)
C: Robbie Avila (Indiana State)
POYSF: Xavier Johnson (Southern Illinois)

Bruins End 2023 With Eighth Consecutive Conference Opening Win--belmontbruins.com

Bradley women's basketball coach returns from suspension. Here's what she said to the media--Peoria Journal Star
Braves round out 2023 with home win--The Bradley Scout
Bradley WBB falls in a tight match against rival ISU--bradleybraves.com

Cold start trips up Aces in loss to Indiana State--gopurpleaces.com

Wilson's stellar performance allows Illinois State women to repel Bradley upset bid--The Pantagraph
DeAnna Wilson guides ISU women's basketball past I-74 rival Bradley 78-74--The Vidette
Redbirds Win MVC Opener over Bradley, 78-74--goredbirds.com

Sycamores unable to leave East Lansing victorious--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Sycamores Come Up Short at Michigan State--gosycamores.com

Lockdown defense leads Sycamores to conference-opening win--gosycamores.com

Lacy Stokes beats buzzer to lift Missouri State Lady Bears over Northern Iowa--Springfield News-Leader

Racers wrap up 2023 with a dominant win--Racer Basketball
Second Half Shutdown – Racers Muscle Past MTSU--goracers.com

Murray State gets first MVC win in 90-62 rout of Valparaiso--WPSD Local 6
Murray State opens Valley play with big win--Racer Basketball
Learn Leads the Racers in Conference-Opener Win--goracers.com

Salukis roast the Flames: Men’s basketball wins first conference contest--Daily Egyptian
Recap | Salukis Take Down UIC in Return to Valley Action, 62-50--siusalukis.com

Men’s Basketball Falls On Road at Southern Illinois, 62-50--uicflames.com

Women’s Basketball Drops Valley Opener at Murray State--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/30/2023

‘No one predicted this’: MVC teams prepare for challenging regular season--The Next

Isaiah Walker Featured in State Farm MVC Scholar-Athete Spotlight--belmontbruins.com

Bruins Begin Missouri Valley Conference Action Saturday at the Curb--belmontbruins.com

Happy returns: 4 reasons Bradley basketball ended nonconference play with a victory--Peoria Journal Star
Game Recap: Bradley vs Truman State--bradleybraves.com

Bradley WBB goes on the road to play Illinois State--bradleybraves.com

Dinnebier and Berg Lead Bulldogs in Road Win to Start MVC Slate--godrakebulldogs.com

Second-half collapse dooms UE men's basketball upset bid at Cincinnati. Now it's MVC time--Evansville Courier & Press
Shorthanded Aces put up strong fight on the road--gopurpleaces.com

Illinois State faces former teammate Reeves, No. 8-ranked Kentucky--The Pantagraph
Reeves, Kentucky offense too much for Illinois State--The Pantagraph
A look back at ISU men's basketball's history against the AP's top-10--The Vidette
Former Redbird Antonio Reeves leads No. 8 Kentucky over ISU men's basketball--The Vidette
Redbirds Fall at Nationally-Ranked Kentucky--goredbirds.com

Illinois State women open Missouri Valley play at home against Bradley--The Pantagraph
Five things to know ahead of ISU women's basketball's MVC-opening matchup with Bradley--The Vidette
Illinois State Opens League Play vs Bradley Saturday--goredbirds.com

News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Saturday, Dec 30th--Hoops HD

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-INDIANA STATE AT MICHIGAN STATE. This is a hugely important game. Indiana State is 11-1, but hasn’t quite gotten the attention of the nation yet. A win today would likely result in that happening. Michigan State was somewhat disappointing in the early part of the season, but they blew out Baylor and have won two straight since then, so perhaps they are coming out of it. This is a big test for them as well, and is a chance for us to learn something about both of them.

12/30/23 SATURDAY NEWS AND NOTES--Staring at the Floorboards

Subscriber Content

• I love Josh Schertz probably more than his wife, but Indiana State’s forays into P6 territory haven’t gone well, as those programs have the ability to switch out and disrupt all of ISU’s elite offensive actions using interchangeable and versatile pieces. That said, Michigan State has been picked apart by mobile, skilled bigs this year, and Avila is as mobile and skilled of a big as they’ll see...

Spartans welcome Sycamores to Jack Breslin Center ahead of New Year’s Eve--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
ISU NOTEBOOK: Here's a look at past and present of Sycamores vs. Spartans--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
ISU Heads to East Lansing for '79 Championship Rematch--gosycamores.com

ISU women to play MVC opener without Killinger; Deidra Johnson to guide team in his absence--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
In-state showdown awaits for Sycamores in MVC opener--gosycamores.com

Stokes’ Buzzer Beater Downs Panthers in MVC Opener--missouristatebears.com

Murray State returns from holiday break rested and ready for turnaround--WPSD Local 6
Racers take deep breath and return to work--Racer Basketball
Prohm shuffles starting lineup for MTSU game--Racer Basketball

Murray State puts new style to test with start of MVC play--WPSD Local 6
Young continues to make impact for Murray State--WPSD Local 6
Ford contributing in ways other than scoring--Racer Basketball
Murray State vs. Valparaiso preview--Racer Basketball
Racers Begin MVC Play Against Valpo at Home--goracers.com

College Women’s Basketball: UNI falls in ninth-straight as Missouri State converts on last-second layup--Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.
Panthers fall to Missouri State at the buzzer--unipanthers.com

Preview | Salukis Host UIC Saturday for Second Annual New Year’s Bash--siusalukis.com

Back and forth affair results in Drake victory at Banterra--Daily Egyptian
Recap | Salukis Drop Conference Opener to Drake on Saturday--siusalukis.com

Men's Basketball Opens Two-Game MVC Road Trip at Southern Illinois--uicflames.com

Bruins Slip Past Flames in MVC Opener--uicflames.com

Williamson and Schwieger shine as Valpo falls--The Victory Bell
Freshman Tandem Shines as Second-Half Rally Falls Shy at Elon--valpoathletics.com
Valpo to Open Calendar Year vs. Bradley--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/28/2023

MVC Seventh Week Stars--Valley Hoops Insider

Humrichous and Bailey earn MVC accolades--gopurpleaces.com
Aces resume play on Friday at Cincinnati--gopurpleaces.com

Blue blood opportunity awaits ISU men's basketball in matchup with No. 8 Kentucky--The Vidette
ISU Puts a Cap on Non-Conference Season Friday at #8 Kentucky--goredbirds.com

Throwin' down like it's 1979: ISU-MSU NCAA championship game stands test of time--Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Mennen named to 2024 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team--Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Lady Bears Open Conference Slate Against UNI--missouristatebears.com

Murray State’s Young earns Valley POTW honor--Murray Ledger & Times
Young named MVC Player of the Week--Racer Basketball
Racers receive votes in Mid Major Top 25--Racer Basketball

MVC MBB Weekly Notebook (Dec. 27)--Missouri Valley
State Farm MVC Scholar-Athlete Spotlight (Dec. 28)--Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/27/2023

Lipscomb, Belmont, TSU have best chance in conference races--nashvillehoops.blog

Belmont/MVC

Indiana State (11-1) and Drake (11-2) have emerged as the top two teams. Belmont (9-4) is not the equal of those two squads, but the Bruins have the potential to finish ahead of the rest and maybe make a run in Arch Madness if they improve.

Indiana State was projected to be decent but the Sycamores have been dynamic with coach Josh Schertz’s “organized randomness’’ offense. They are averaging 88.2, 10th in the nation, and make 52 of their shots, third in the nation. They share the ball incredibly well, with 109 more assists than their opponents. They lead the nation in effective field goal percentage, too.

Five players average double figures, but guard Isaiah Swope is an all-league player. Forward Robbie Avila doesn’t look the part with his doughy body and protective goggles, but he is a key cog.

Drake’s Tucker DeVries is playing like an All-American, plus the Bulldogs have other decent skill players around him with freshman Kevin Overton and veteran big man Darnell Brodie.

Bradley (7-5) has been a big disappointment. The Braves, viewed as a contender in preseason, don’t seem connected. Same could be said for Northern Iowa (6-7) and Southern Illinois (8-4), although SIU guard Xavier Johnson is second in the nation in scoring at 24.1 ppg. Murray State (3-9) with former Belmont guard JaCobi Wood doesn’t appear to be up to its usual standards.

Missouri State (9-4) is still a threat as evidenced by its victory over Saint Mary’s last week. The surprises have been Illinois State (8-4), UIC (7-5) and Evansville (10-2) but how much more those teams can do is questionable.

The Duke Deen show: Bradley snaps five game losing streak with seven Deen threes--The Bradley Scout
Game Preview: Bradley vs Truman State--bradleybraves.com

Crystal Ball: Five predictions for University of Evansville athletics for 2024--Evansville Courier & Press

Dowell named MVC Freshman of the Week--The Vidette
Dowell earns Valley Freshman of the Week Honors--goredbirds.com

GRAY & BLUE VIEW: Most vital ISU game in a decade?--Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Kourtney Mennen named to 2024 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team--gosycamores.com

Mason Honored as Valley Player of the Week--missouristatebears.com

Stokes Goes Back-to-Back, Earns Third MVC Newcomer Award--missouristatebears.com

Murray State grateful for holiday break--WPSD Local 6
Post-Christmas Murray State Mailbag--Racer Basketball
Back To The Bank - Racers Host Blue Raiders Saturday--goracers.com

Turner: Racers selflessness key to strong start--WPSD Local 6
Young Named MVC Player of the Week--goracers.com

College Men’s Basketball: Back from injury, UNI’s Nate Heise looks to continue growing--Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Women's Basketball Opens MVC Play Saturday at Murray State--valpoathletics.com

MVC Women's Basketball Weekly Awards/Notebook (Dec. 27)--Missouri Valley

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/26/2023

SMU keeps Racer men in nasty rut; Mustangs hit 15 threes to extend Murray State losing skid to 6 games--Murray Ledger & Times

No bear wrestling, but Racer women have good stay in Smoky Mountains--Murray Ledger & Times

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/25/2023

12/24 Racer Rewind--WPSD Local 6

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/24/2023

Missouri State basketball grabs statement road win at Saint Mary's--Springfield News-Leader
MoState Derails Gaels in Non-Conference Finale--missouristatebears.com

Slow starts continue to haunt Racers during losing streak--WPSD Local 6
SMU torches nets, and Racers, in 92-65 win--Racer Basketball

Men's Basketball to Close Out Nonconference Slate at Elon--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/23/2023

Top-15 Ohio State Too Much for Bruins Friday Afternoon in Columbus--belmontbruins.com

News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Saturday, Dec 23rd and Dec 24th--Hoops HD

NEWS AND NOTES:

-Drake suffered their second loss of the year as they fell at UAB in overtime 79-78. Drake had a chance to win at the end of the game, but couldn’t convert on their final offensive possession and the Blazers held on. Any loss against a non-tournament caliber team feels like a setback whenever a UTR team is trying to land inside the bubble. I still think Drake has a path to make the field, but their margin for error is small.

Drake Forces Overtime at Buzzer, Falls at UAB in Non-Conference Finale--godrakebulldogs.com

Racers Fall To SMU--goracers.com

Recap | Salukis Rout Southern Indiana to Close Nonconference Slate, 81-50--siusalukis.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/22/2023

4 takeaways from Bradley basketball's streak-snapping victory over SIU-E--Peoria Journal Star
Turnovers down Braves in fifth straight loss--The Bradley Scout
Game Recap: Bradley vs SIUE--bradleybraves.com

News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Friday, Dec 22nd--Hoops HD

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-DRAKE AT UAB. UAB has been somewhat disappointing this year and is just 3-3 at home, but it’s still not the easiest place to go and win. Drake is having a very strong year with an 11-1 overall record, but this is only their second true road game, so a win would help build up their resume in regards to the number of true road wins.

Six Bulldogs Score Double Figures in Explosive 108-60 Victory over North Dakota--godrakebulldogs.com

Illinois State cleans up mistakes, cruises past Southeast Missouri--The Pantagraph
Burford, Lewis lead ISU men's basketball to 85-64 win over Southeast Missouri--The Vidette
Burford shining, surrounded by scoring threats with ISU men's basketball--The Vidette
ISU Runs to Big Win Heading into Holiday Break--goredbirds.com

ISU NOTEBOOK: Pace of play, Gray in rotation help Sycamores--Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Same boat for Newbolt: Former Sycamore in first year on Killinger’s staff--Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Missouri State Lady Bears find their confidence right before MVC play in beating WKU--Springfield News-Leader
Lady Bears Win Third Straight, Defeat WKU 69-68--missouristatebears.com

Alden Applewhite makes immediate impact for Murray State--WPSD Local 6
Prohm wants new habits to form for Racer men as they prepare for SMU--Murray Ledger & Times
"On Friday, we're going to beat SMU"--Racer Basketball
Murray State vs. SMU preview--Racer Basketball

College Men’s Basketball: How UNI held on for a win over NIU--Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
College Men’s Basketball: UNI pulls away early, hangs on for win over NIU--Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
UNI men’s basketball takes down Northern Illinois in final non-conference bout--unipanthers.com

Preview | Salukis Host USI for Blizzard in Egypt & White Out Friday at 6 p.m.--siusalukis.com

Men’s Basketball Drops Last-Second Decision to Incarnate Word, 67-66--uicflames.com