What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 2/3/2025

The Other Top 25: Saint Mary’s, New Mexico become top two after big wins--Mid-Major Madness

The Other Top 25: Feb. 2, 2025

Ranking Team (First Place Votes) Points Previous

T-7 Drake 74 9

T-24 Bradley 11 T-11

Ranking	Team (First Place Votes)	Points	Previous
T-7	Drake	74	9
T-24	Bradley	11	T-11

Not Home Sweet Home--Valley Hoops Insider
OVC/MVC Stirring Performances--Valley Hoops Insider

Players of the Week
Illinois State sophomore Chase Walker posted back-to-back twenty-point games and handed out ten assists. The 6’9 forward averaged 23 points, five rebounds and five assists and is the Valley ‘Player of the Week’ for the second time this season. During league contests, Walker is the league’s ninth leading scorer and third in field goal percentage.

Stirring Performances by Newcomers
Drake’s Bennett Stirtz is the favorite to win the league’s ‘Player of the Year’ award and this week he is its ‘Newcomer of the Week’. The Northwest Missouri transfer averaged 25 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds during Drake’s two-win week. Stirtz leads the Valley in scoring, assists and steals.

Rookies
Evansville’s Gabriel Pozzato is fully healthy and Valley fans and teams are seeing his full array of talents. The native Italian scored 51 points during the Purple Aces’ two victories. Pozzato won the season’s first ‘Freshman of the Week’ honor and this week claims his second in-a-row and third overall. Pozzato averages 16.2 points per game.

Men's Basketball Falls to Evansville at Home--Belmont Vision

NCAA Tournament women’s bubble watch: Iowa, Illinois grab quality wins; Arizona, Colorado in need--Associated Press

Key ratings
Belmont: The Bruins are currently 54 in the NET ratings and 0-6 against quad one teams. Bart Brooks’ squad has a one-game lead in the Missouri Valley Conference standings over a trio of teams.

Women's Basketball Wins Battle for No.1 Seed in MVC--Belmont Vision
Tuti Jones Captures MVC Player of the Week Honors--belmontbruins.com

Poor preparation leads to another lousy performance from the Braves--The Bradley Scout

Bradley WBB crushes Southern Illinois to end homestand--bradleybraves.com

Bracket Q/A: Toughest teams to seed, outlook for Gonzaga, and more--Bracketville

Bracket Q/A: Toughest teams to seed, outlook for Gonzaga, and more
Welcome to another new feature for Bracketville subscribers. Bracket Questions and Answers with Dave and Tim! Let’s take a look at our first five questions:
Question: Mid-major most likely to earn an NCAA at-large bid?

Dave’s Take:
I would note two teams: Drake and UC-Irvine. Drake is 18-2 (D1 record) and has neutral-court wins over Vanderbilt and Kansas State. A win at Bradley gives them a 3-1 mark against Quads 1/2. The negative is a home loss to Murray State that resides in Q4 today. If Drake completes a dominant run through the Missouri Valley and loses in the MVC title game to say, Bradley, I think the Bulldogs will be on the discussion board. UC-Irvine is also 3-1 vs. Quads 1/2 but lacks the same power-conference punch. Much like Drake, if the Anteaters dominate the Big West and end up with a NET rating in the 40s, they’ll should at least get a look. I would give the edge to Drake.

Tim’s Take:
I currently don’t see any, but if Drake is upset in the Missouri Valley tournament and they win the regular season title, I could see them getting a bid.

Stirtz Named MVC Newcomer of the Week--godrakebulldogs.com
Men's Basketball Preview: Murray State & Indiana State--godrakebulldogs.com

Dinnebier a Top Ten Candidate – Updated!--Valley Hoops Insider
Dinnebier Among Top 10 Candidates for Nancy Lieberman Award and Included on Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Midseason Watch List--godrakebulldogs.com