What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 12/17/2025

College basketball best bets: Tennessee bounces back, UConn flexes at home--Busting Brackets

Belmont Bruins at Evansville Purple Aces

This is a tricky early conference spot for Belmont. The Bruins are the better team on paper, but Evansville plays with energy at home and should be fully engaged in a Missouri Valley opener.

Expect a competitive, grind-it-out game where possessions matter and the margin stays tight throughout. Getting double digits with the home team is too much to pass up.

Betting Pick: Evansville Purple Aces +10.5 over Belmont Bruins

Final Score Prediction: Belmont 69, Evansville 68

Hoops HD Daily Rundown – Tuesday, Dec 16th--Hoops HD

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
-Belmont @ Evansville (Missouri Valley) – this should be a winnable road game for Belmont and get them to 11-1 on the season

Brand New Names are Emerging--Valley Hoops Insider

Brand New Names – Player of the Week
Leon Bond III exploded for 26 points during Northern Iowa’s win over Oakland. The Valley’s ‘Player of the Week’ collected seven rebounds and made nine of 13 shot attempts. LB3 is the Valley’s sixth different player to earn this weekly award.
Newcomer’s Emerging
Layne Taylor came to Murray State with big expectations and last week those expectations were met and exceeded. The Central Arkansas transfer scored 23 points and added eight assists during the Racers’ 115-100 win over Akron. This week’s Valley ‘Player of the Week’ leads the MVC in assist-to-turnover ratio and is third in assists.
Brand New Freshmen
Belmont’s Jack Smiley has scored 58 points in his last six games and is becoming a growing part of the Bruins’ attack. The Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Week’ scored all eleven of his points during the second half of Belmont’s win over UIC. Five different Valley freshmen have claimed a weekly award. Only Valparaiso’s Rakim Chaney has earned this award twice.

Men's college basketball watchability rankings: The season's 10 most entertaining teams--The Athletic

12. Belmont
One more true mid-major to watch: Casey Alexander’s Bruins have risen to 79th in KenPom’s rankings, and their blend of pace, efficiency, shooting and unselfishness make them an extremely pleasant viewing experience. Tyler Lundblade is among the country’s best shooters, and Sam Orme’s inside-out game makes him immensely difficult to defend. Nic McClain ranks 12th nationally in assist rate as the system’s conductor.

Better Balance Leading To Better Results--Valley Hoops Insider
Men's Basketball Defeats Evansville--belmontbruins.com

Bart Brooks and Belmont embrace the nonconference gauntlet--Basket Under Review
Bruins Begin Missouri Valley Conference Play Wednesday Night with Evansville Visiting--belmontbruins.com

'Evolve': What was learned about Bradley basketball from nonconference season--Peoria Journal Star
MBB Preview: Bradley to open Missouri Valley play at Indiana State--bradleybraves.com

Women’s basketball gets back on track with victories over Chicago State and South Dakota--The Bradley Scout
Maya Foz named Busey Bank Scholar-Athlete of the Week--bradleybraves.com
Bradley WBB Opens Conference Season against Southern Illinois--bradleybraves.com

Men's Basketball Preview: Murray State & Evansville--godrakebulldogs.com

Hundley posts top game at UE in Valley opener--gopurpleaces.com

MVC Opener Up Next for Women's Basketball--gopurpleaces.com

Illinois State basketball opens Missouri Valley Conference season--The Pantagraph

Sycamores taking a little momentum into MVC opener against Bradley--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Update on Indiana State Men's Basketball Coach Matthew Graves--gosycamores.com

ISU, Drake women set to clash in Hulman Center--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Sycamores begin MVC play at home against Drake--gosycamores.com

Teams of the Week: Take a Step Away From Pinnacle--Basket Under Review

HONORABLE MENTION: REMAINING CONFERENCE AWARDS
MISSOURI VALLEY: MURRAY STATE - Another Jack Jones Classic key result. The Racers raced hard to a 115-100 regulation win over Akron. This one was not for lovers of defense, but man was it electric. It goes down as a very meaningful win at this stage, Murray State jumped from 111 to 95 in POM due to the result. Racers were absurdly wet from distance, going 18-32 from downtown. Eye-popping stuff there. Layne Taylor dropped six of them, while leading the squad with 23 points. Seven different Racers scored in double-figures in this shootout. Murray State is a tough defensive cover for any future opponent.

Racers Open 4th Season in the Valley - Host Drake Thursday--goracers.com

Thomas makes season debut for Murray State after battling back from injury--WPSD Local 6
Murray State races past Memphis 85-57 in front of record crowd--WPSD Local 6
Education Day at Murray State; Lesson learned; Racer women hammer Memphis in front of record crowd--Murray Ledger and Times