The Other Top 25: Utah State moves up to No. 1; Memphis spirals--Mid-Major Madness
The Other Top 25: Jan. 29, 2024
Rank Team (First Place Votes) Points Previous 6 Indiana St. 110 9 9 Drake 90 8 21 Bradley 27 22
2024 NCAA Tournament Bubble Watch: Only 6 teams locked into wide-open field
as February looms--The Athletic
Others
Drake,
Indiana State,Spotlight on: Saint Mary’s and Indiana State
Indiana State’s resume at a glance: 18-3, 9-1 Missouri Valley; NET: 24, KenPom: 37, SOS: 127, Q1: 1-3
Up the Sycamores! Turns out Purdue isn’t the only program bettering Indiana in the Hoosier State. The boys from Terre Haute are an impressive 18-3, with only a trio of Q road losses to Alabama, Michigan State and MVC foe Drake. Coached by Josh Schertz — in his third season after 13 at Division II Lincoln Memorial — Indiana State has one of the best offenses in the country, shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range and holding the top effective field-goal percentage in the country, according to KenPom. Southern Indiana transfer Isaiah Swope is the team’s leading scorer at 18.4 points per game and 41.4 percent from distance.
With zero Q1 games and only a pair of Q2 opportunities left as things currently stand, Indiana State needs to nab the first of those in a home rematch with Drake on Saturday and probably will need to at least reach the MVC championship game to have a shot as an at-large team. The MVC does have a history of multiple tourney bids, happening five times since 2012 and with four teams getting in as recently as 2006. But whether Indiana State makes it via auto qualifier or sweating out a bid on Selection Sunday, a trip to the tourney would be the Sycamores’ first since 2011 and only the fifth since Larry Bird led the program to the national title game in 1979.
MVC/OVC Weekly Stars--Valley Hoops Insider
Weekly Stars – Players of the Week
Missouri State’s Alston Mason scored a career-high 36 points during a win over Drake and 22 in a second victory over Valparaiso. The junior guard also handed out a career-high nine assists in against Valpo. Mason is the Valley’s fourth leading scorer (18.4 ppg) and this is his second ‘Player of the Week’ award.
Newcomers of the Week
Isaiah Swope joins Indiana State teammate Ryan Conwell as a two-time ‘Newcomer of the Week’ award recipient. Swope scored a career-high 30 points against Illinois Chicago and added 19 during the Sycamores’ overtime victory against Bradley. Swope is the Valley’s third-leading scorer (18.4 ppg) and leads the MVC by making 3.6 triples per game.
Freshman Weekly Stars
Johnny Kinziger is a first-time weekly award winner. The Illinois State guard is the Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Week’ after a week where he averaged 11.5 points, five rebounds and 2.5 assists during the Redbirds split of two games. He is the Redbirds’ second weekly winner as Myles Foster earlier received a ‘Newcomer of the Week’ honor.
MVC Broadcaster Kevin Lehman--Valley Hoops Insider
State of the Valley 2023-24 - Midway Point--MISSOURI VALLEY BEAT
Women’s Bubble Watch: Could we see a two-bid Ivy League?--Mid-Major Madness
Win Your Auto-bid
Drake Bulldogs
The Bulldogs are one of those teams that would be fun as hell to watch in the NCAA Tournament; they’re capable of scoring in bunches, even against elite competition. Their three Quad 2 wins show they’re no joke either – plus they pushed Minnesota to double OT on the road and gave Creighton a push in Omaha.
Belmont Bruins
A home win over Middle Tennessee is a nice line on the resume, but it can’t be your only one. The Bruins desperately need to beat Drake on Feb. 17 before they could even begin to think of an at-large case.
Robbie Avila, Indiana State coming to Belmont Wednesday--NashvilleHoops.blog
Men's Basketball Hosts [rv/rv] Indiana State Wednesday at the Curb--belmontbruins.com
Women's Basketball Secures Third-Straight Win--Belmont Vision
Bradley fall to Indiana State in overtime despite Deen’s career night--The Bradley Scout
Game Preview: Bradley vs Northern Iowa--bradleybraves.com
Drake Men's Basketball Preview: Valparaiso & Indiana State--godrakebulldogs.com
Aces take on UIC on Wednesday at Ford Center--gopurpleaces.com
In search of better shooting, Illinois State travels to Murray State--The Pantagraph
Johnny Kinziger earns MVC Freshman of the Week honors--The Vidette
Redbirds Take to the Road for Midweek Battle at Murray State--goredbirds.com
Johnny Kinziger Named MVC Freshman of the Week--goredbirds.com
Wilson earns third MVC Player of the Week honors of season--The Vidette
Wilson Earns League-Leading Third MVC Player of the Week Honor This Season--goredbirds.com
Men’s college basketball rankings: Iowa State and TCU make big moves up--The Athletic
Indiana State
The Sycamores shoot the fewest number of mid-range jumpers in the country — only 28 all season, per Synergy — and they’re one of the most accurate teams at the rim, shooting 64.3 percent. They get it done with elite spacing that sets up cuts and by never settling off the bounce, continuing to drive until a lane develops. Their guards also have awesome footwork as they’re driving downhill. Let Julian Larry demonstrate:
Indiana State’s 95-86 overtime win over Bradley on Saturday was one of the most entertaining games of the season. Back and forth unreal shotmaking. There’s not a team more fun to watch in college hoops than the Sycamores, who will be favorites in their 10 remaining games. The toughest one left is this Saturday against Drake, which gave Indiana State its lone loss in conference play.
ISU NOTEBOOK: Sycamores topping MVC at midpoint--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Sycamores get more notice in polls; ISU assessing Saturday's ticket situation--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Belmont stakes high for ISU, which still sits alone atop MVC standings--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Sycamores Survive OT Thriller in Sellout--Indiana Statesman
Swope Named Newcomer of the Week--gosycamores.com
Men's Basketball National Polls Update for January 29--gosycamores.com
ISU Travels to Belmont for Midweek Matchup--gosycamores.com
WBB's Wild Weekend--Indiana Statesman
Mason Named MVC Player of the Week--missouristatebears.com
Bears Begin Second Half of Valley Slate in Carbondale--missouristatebears.com
What stood out in Missouri State Lady Bears trip to Belmont, Murray State--Springfield News-Leader
Stokes Racks Up Fifth Valley Newcomer Award--missouristatebears.com
1/28 Racer Rewind--WPSD Local 6
SIU comes back from down 20 to nip Racer men late at Bank--Murray Ledger & Times
Illinois State presents chance to get back on track--Murray Ledger & Times
Murray State vs. Illinois State preview--Racer Basketball
The Murray State Racers play their final game in January at the CFSB Center--goracers.com
Young’s special night helps Racer women beat SIU--Murray Ledger & Times
Racer women lose control, fall to Mo State in Bank--Murray Ledger & Times
Episode 66: The 'Ride Home' after Murray State's 84-74 loss to Missouri State--Racer Basketball
Big third quarter leads Lady Bears to 84-74 win--Racer Basketball
Ford named MVC Freshman of the Week--Racer Basketball
Ford Named MVC Freshman of the Week--goracers.com
College Men’s Basketball: Sharpness the focus for UNI ahead of matchup with Bradley--Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Men’s basketball takes the win against Evansville--Northern Iowan
Panther men’s hoops squares off with Bradley on Wednesday night--unipanthers.com
College Women’s Basketball: UNI returns to Chicago to face Flames after splitting against Illinois State, Bradley--Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
Panthers head to UIC to make up postponed matchup--unipanthers.com
GAME PREVIEW MISSOURI STATE AT SIU--Dawg Bites
Preview | Salukis Take On Missouri State Wednesday Night at Banterra Center--siusalukis.com
OVERTIME--Dawg Bites
Men's Basketball Back on the Road Wednesday at Evansville--uicflames.com
Women’s Basketball Hosts Northern Iowa Wednesday Night--uicflames.com
New era of men's basketball shows promise under Powell--The Torch
Valpo Basketball Weekly: Jan. 29--valpoathletics.com
Welcome Back, Jill Harris--The Victory Bell
Beacons fall to ISU, get first Missouri Valley win versus Bradley--The Torch
MVC Men's Basketball Coaches Zoom (Jan 29, 2024)--The Missouri Valley
MVC Weekly Men's Basketball Notebook (Jan. 29, 2024)--The Missouri Valley
MVC Women's Basketball Weekly Notebook (Jan. 30)--The Missouri Valley
