What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/17/2024

OVC/MVC Big Time Achievements--Valley Hoops Insider

Career High Scoring Performances

(St. Louis, MO) – Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Conference players were posting big time achievements and are making headlines in their respective leagues. As both conferences prepare or their league races, some players are emerging forces.

Players of the Week
Illinois State’s Chase Walker keeps setting career-best scoring totals. The 6’9 sophomore has recorded his three best single game scoring totals over the past four games. He scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds during the Redbirds’ Sunday win over Saint Louis. The ‘Player of the Week’ has reached double figures in nine of ILS’ ten games and has topped the twenty-point level for the first two times in his short career, during the team’s last two games.

Big Time Achievements for Newcomers
Belmont’s Jonathan Pierrre ripped off a career-high 28 points and added seven rebounds and nine assists as the Bruins won at Richmond. This week’s Valley ‘Newcomer of the Week’ scored 14 points in each half of the Richmond win and is producing averages of 13.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

Freshman of the Week
Valparaiso’s All Wright also posted a career-high. The freshman scored 26 points as the Beacons defeated Central Michigan. Wright’s previous high was 13 points and the Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Week’ made four triples and went eight for eight from the free throw line. This is Wright’s second, weekly honor.

Drake is Number One!--Valley Hoops Insider

Belmont to host UC Irvine, one of the top defensive teams in the country--Main Street Media of Tennessee

In her third year of a major rebuild at Bradley, Kate Popovec-Goss reflects on the journey--The Next

Bracket Impact Games: Florida, UNC headline matchups for Dec. 17-20--Bracketville

Bracket Impact Games: Tuesday, Dec. 17 – Friday, Dec. 20

Tuesday, Dec. 17 Bracket Impact

Drake vs. Kansas State While KSU has not played up to preseason expectations (yet), adding a third win over a power conference team (Drake has wins over Vanderbilt and Miami) would still help the Bulldogs’ at-large profile down the road.

Tuesday, Dec. 17	Bracket Impact
Drake vs. Kansas State	While KSU has not played up to preseason expectations (yet), adding a third win over a power conference team (Drake has wins over Vanderbilt and Miami) would still help the Bulldogs’ at-large profile down the road.

Hoops HD Daily Rundown – Tuesday, Dec 17th--Hoops HD

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-DRAKE VS KANSAS STATE (Game in Kansas City, MO). Drake is 9-0 with some really good wins, but this would probably be their biggest to date. If Drake really is a tournament caliber team that belongs inside the bubble, then this is the kind of game they should be able to win. K State is good, but not overwhelmingly good, and the game is on a neutral floor.

The Breakfast Buffet: Florida’s perimeter gets a showcase opportunity against North Carolina, Murphy’s Law again hits Xavier, Ben McCollum--College Hoops Today

Things To Sample

Ben McCollum and Drake return to the spotlight against Kansas State
Started from the bottom now he’s here? That’s what it certainly feels like it. After winning four Division II national titles at Northwest Missouri State, McCollum has made a seamless transition to the Division 1 level as evidenced by his 9-0 start this year in his first season at Drake. The Bulldogs have another opportunity to move the needle on a national level tonight as they take on Kansas State at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The Wildcats enter tonight’s game at 6-3 and haven’t played since a loss at St. John’s on Dec. 7th.

12/17/24 TUESDAY NOTES--Staring at the Floorboards