Under The Radar – Feb 19th--Hoops HD
After that, we run through the other 21 UTR conferences and discuss ... Drake is trying to hold on to a spot inside the bubble in the Missouri Valley.
College basketball Cinderella factories: Mid-majors whose champs you don’t want to meet in March--The Athletic
1. Missouri Valley
Record in the last five tournaments: 3-6
Over the last 15 years, the Missouri Valley has lost some key programs via conference realignment: Creighton (Big East), Wichita State (American), Loyola Chicago (Atlantic 10). New members have stepped into the void, though, and Bradley and Drake now stand as the conference’s model basketball schools.
Bradley has won at least 20 games in six of the last eight seasons, and 10th-year coach Brian Wardle’s veteran squad is once again a threat to win Arch Madness in St. Louis. The Braves have typically done it with defense, and this year’s team can still get after it on that end, but it is the flamethrowing offense that should frighten potential opponents.
The Braves lead all of Division I in 3-point percentage, knocking down 40.7 percent of their treys as a team. Only one player in the rotation, seven-footer Ahmet Jonovic, is not a deep threat, meaning Bradley can constantly spread the floor with four or five shooters.
Drake is a balanced squad with a terrific story. Division II coaching legend Ben McCollum (395-91 overall record and four national titles) finally made the step up to D-I, and he brought four starters with him from Northwest Missouri State. Those up-transfers have been the backbone of a squad that frequently frustrates opponents while playing at the nation’s slowest pace.
Neither member of the Bennett Stirtz-Mitch Mascari guard duo ever leaves the court, and their complementary games put immense stress on defenses. Stirtz is a tough-as-nails point guard with size; a huge portion of the Drake offense is built on his brilliant playmaking. Mascari, meanwhile, is a pure gunner who has buried 80 triples this season at a scorching 45.5 percent conversion rate.
The Braves and Bulldogs split their regular season meetings. A Bradley win in the MVC tournament would give the league a chance at two bids; Drake sits firmly in the at-large mix at 23-3 overall with key wins over Kansas State and Vanderbilt. Two extremely well-coached squads lurking on the No. 11 or No. 12 seed lines would certainly present a challenge to the teams that draw them on Selection Sunday.
Men’s college basketball bubble watch: TCU arrives, SEC hopefuls take hits in stretch run--The Athletic
The Rest
Locks: None
Should Be In: Gonzaga, Memphis, New Mexico, Saint Mary’s, Utah State
In the Mix: Boise State, Drake, George Mason, San Diego State, San Francisco, VCU, UC Irvine, UC San Diego
On the Fringe: Bradley, Dayton, North Texas, Santa ClaraIn The Mix
Drake
Profile Strengths: Gaudy overall record, two key power conference wins, sparkling road/neutral record.
Profile Weaknesses: Two Q3 losses, limited big-game opportunities.
Looking Ahead: Drake’s home loss to Bradley on Sunday hurt its chances to solidify its standing in both the at-large picture and the MVC title race. Fortunately, though, it was not a death blow to either aspiration. The Bulldogs needed to bounce back against UIC on Wednesday, and they did just that. Their resume metrics are still very much that of an NCAA Tournament team, and that’s likely where they are headed if they win out to the MVC title game. Sunday offers a Q2 opportunity on the road at a feisty Northern Iowa squad.
Women’s college basketball bubble watch: Will Arizona miss the tournament? Is Nebraska in?--The Athletic
Mid-majors
Locks: None
Projected in: Albany, Ball State, Columbia, Fairfield, Fairleigh Dickinson, FGCU, Gonzaga, Harvard, Hawaii, High Point, Grand Canyon, Green Bay, James Madison, Lehigh, Lindenwood, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, Montana State, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina-Greensboro, Richmond, South Dakota State, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas Southern, UNLV, UTSA
On the bubble: Drake, George Mason, Green Bay, Missouri State, Murray State, Northern Arizona, Portland, Princeton, Purdue Ft. Wayne, St. Joseph’s, South Florida
Team Record NET SOS Quad 1 Quad 2
Belmont squanders 19-point lead, falls to Northern Iowa--Main Street Media of Tennessee
Men's Basketball Falls to UNI--Belmont Vision
Men's Basketball Falls to Northern Iowa--belmontbruins.com
Women's Hoops Visits Illinois State Thursday Night--belmontbruins.com
'Light-heavyweights': Bradley fights back with 3s, but can't avoid upset at Illinois State--Peoria Journal Star
'Bigger crowd, better game': Coaches say Bradley-ISU should always be played on Saturdays--Peoria Journal Star
Braves fall to Redbirds and will look to bounce back against Murray State--bradleybraves.com
Lesson learned: Braves split final games of road stand versus Evansville and Indiana State--The Bradley Scout
Bradley WBB comes home to face Murray State--bradleybraves.com
Drake men's basketball beats UIC to improve to 24-3--Des Moines Register
Bulldogs Blitz Flames, 74-57, for Win No. 24--godrakebulldogs.com
Dinnebier Lands Second USBWA Player of the Week Recognition--godrakebulldogs.com
Women's Basketball Preview: Southern Illinois & Missouri State--godrakebulldogs.com
Men’s basketball hangs on for road win at Indiana State--gopurpleaces.com
Aces women's basketball travels to MVC's Chicago area teams--gopurpleaces.com
Illinois State searches for improved defense entering rivalry game with Bradley--The Pantagraph
Check out why Illinois State had reason to celebrate against its arch rival--The Pantagraph
Illinois State, Bradley coaches make pitch for weekend rivalry matchups--The Pantagraph
Blood, sweat and tears lead to an ISU victory in the war on I-74 rivalry--The Vidette
Daugherty Goes Crazy in Redbird Rivalry Win--goredbirds.com
Illinois State women play host to another upper division Missouri Valley foe--The Pantagraph
Birds Host Bruins, Travel to Braves This Week--goredbirds.com
Sycamores tie it with a minute left, but fall to Aces by 5--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Indiana State set to battle Belmont in Nashville--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Teel explodes at home in Sycamores win--Indiana Statesman
Sycamore comeback falls short at home--Indiana Statesman
Sycamores drop Wednesday night contest against Evansville--gosycamores.com
Multi-faceted performances draw attention for ISU's Deja Jones--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Sycamores fall to soaring Redbirds, battle to the end against Braves--Indiana Statesman
Sycamores open final road trip with visit to Windy City--gosycamores.com
Missouri State basketball handed last-place MVC finish by former Joplin star at horn--Springfield News-Leader
Valpo Buzzer-Beater Spoils Bears Solid Road Effort--missouristatebears.com
Missouri State women's basketball escapes UNI with OT win. What it means in MVC race.--Springfield News-Leader
Lady Bears Grind Out Overtime Win at UNI--missouristatebears.com
Murray State Looking for Momentum--Valley Hoops Insider
Racers finish 1-1 in 'home stand,' will face third team in third location in six days Saturday--WPSD Local 6
Regaining the momentum; Racer men didn’t plan on it, but it’s back to Carbondale--Murray Ledger and Times
Racer men win with guts, free throws at SIU--Murray Ledger and Times
After huge win at SIU, Racer men seek bigger one at Bradley--Murray Ledger and Times
Episode 303: Here's the 'Ride Home' after Murray State's 'home' win over SIU--Racer Basketball
Milton's free throws lift Racers past SIU--Racer Basketball
Racers Win at SIU For Second Time This Season--goracers.com
Murray State getting defensive as season enters final stretch--WPSD Local 6
Wright On; Last week, The Bank was the epicenter of all of women’s college basketball--Murray Ledger and Times
Turner: Against this Bradley team, ‘we can easily get beat’--Murray Ledger and Times
Racer women take care of business; Murray State flexes muscle after rough start to set up Sunday battle with Belmont at Bank--Murray Ledger and Times
Poock ready for her return to Bradley--Racer Basketball
Episode 304: It's the 'Ride Home' after Murray State's 81-55 win over Bradley--Racer Basketball
Young's 28 lift Racers past Bradley, 81-55--Racer Basketball
Domination in Peoria, Racers Handle Braves--goracers.com
College Basketball: Down 19 points, UNI pulls off epic comeback at Belmont--Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
Panther men beat Racers in Nashville--Northern Iowan
UNI men’s basketball storms back for road win at Belmont--unipanthers.com
Panthers WBB falls to Racers in shootout--Northern Iowan
Panthers lose heartbreaker in overtime to Missouri State--unipanthers.com
BOX SCORE MURRAY STATE 62, SIU 60--Dawg Bites
SIU MEN’S BASKETBALL UPDATED GAMER MURRAY STATE 62, SIU 60--Dawg Bites
SIU MEN’S BASKETBALL OVERTIME--Dawg Bites
Lightning strikes twice: Racers beat Salukis in Carbondale for second time--The Daily Egyptian
Recap | Strong Second Half Not Enough as Salukis Fall to Murray State, 62-60--siusalukis.com
GAME CAPSULE SIU AT DRAKE--Dawg Bites
SIU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DRAKE 82, SIU 40--Dawg Bites
Recap | Southern Illinois Falls on Thursday at Drake, 82-40--siusalukis.com
Men's Basketball Drops Road Contest at Drake, 74-57--uicflames.com
Women’s Basketball Returns Home to Host Indiana State Friday--uicflames.com
Wright's heroics are just fine for Valpo--The Victory Bell
Wright’s Game-Winner in Closing Seconds Lifts Valpo Past Missouri State--valpoathletics.com
Valpo Looks to Make it Back-to-Back Wins on Saturday Night in Carbondale--valpoathletics.com
Women's Basketball Hosts Girls & Women in Sports Game Friday--valpoathletics.com
State Farm MVC Scholar-Athlete Spotlight (Feb. 20)--Missouri Valley
