What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/18/2026

Why retention trumps the transfer portal and how mid-majors can still land tournament bids--The Athletic

If you were a mid-major coach or GM, what would you do (besides robbing a bank) to give your team a fair chance for an NCAA bid in this NIL, Portal and now unfair expanded tourney era? — Hchoops

The hardest thing coaches deal with at this level is building, because elite mid-major players are usually going to be poached. But because there’s such urgency at the high-major level to get older and stay older, there are a lot of really good high school players who will get overlooked. That’s always been the case, but it might be even more so in this era than ever before.

At that level, you have to win with your evaluations and development, and then have a system you can recruit to and win with. Yes, you might lose your best players, but programs with depth continue to win. One great example is Belmont. In the previous three cycles, Belmont lost Even Brauns (Iowa), Malik Dia (Ole Miss), Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Maryland, then Tennessee), Cade Tyson (North Carolina, then Minnesota), and Isaiah Walker (Xavier).

Even with all those losses, Belmont won the Missouri Valley this past season and sent three more players to the high-major level in Drew Scharnowski (Duke), Tyler Lundblade (Tennessee) and Sam Orme (Nebraska). I recently watched several Belmont games, and I’m convinced Belmont will be good again because it retained freshmen Jabez Jenkins, Jack Smiley and Eoin Dillon. Those are three of the next stars, and I was almost surprised they didn’t enter the portal as well. They’re likely waiting for their turn to put up big numbers and eventually get big deals themselves.

There are also some mid-major portal players who slip through the cracks and remain at that level. One good example is Ty Pence, who transferred to Akron from Illinois State. Pence is a 6-6 wing who is really good in the mid-range but made only 27 3s and averaged 9.4 points this past season. You have to watch his tape to see that he’s pretty good. These decisions have to be made so quickly that there’s only so many guys you can watch, and players with bigger numbers (or who make lots of 3s) usually get chased first.

Another smart strategy: Have really good players with attributes that might keep the high-majors away. Sticking with Illinois State, the program retained two really good players: Chase Walker (an undersized big man) and Johnny Kinziger, a 5-11 combo guard. If you can find undersized players at point guard and center, they can be awesome college players, and they might be less likely to get poached. Again, it’s all about making smart evaluations and taking calculated risks. — Moore

The Basket Under Review Newsletter - May 18, 2026--Basket Under Review

More scheduling news!

UAB and Belmont will begin a home-and-home series on December 8 in Birmingham next season. Both teams have won 20+ games each of the last six seasons.

Georgia Tech and Murray State are meeting for a neutral site game in Nashville. Murray State is coming off their first 20-win season since 2022 and Georgia Tech will be led by former Troy coach Scott Cross who has won 20 games five seasons in a row.

Women’s Basketball Adds Paige Schumann as Assistant Coach--belmontbruins.com

ISU men's basketball finishes recruitment with Weber State transfer--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Men's basketball concludes recruiting with signee Duce Paschal--gosycamores.com

UIC Women’s Basketball Promotes John McCray to Associate Head Coach--uicflames.com

Roger Powell Jr., Valparaiso basketball ink multi-year extension--The Times
Roger Powell Jr. Inks Multi-Year Contract Extension to Continue to Lead Valpo Men’s Basketball Program--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/15/2026

Men's Basketball Welcomes Eli Brown--belmontbruins.com

Reports say Georgia Tech and Murray State are finalizing an agreement on a neutral-site game--WPSD Local 6

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/14/2026

Men's Basketball Welcomes Cooper Knowles--belmontbruins.com

Forward Louie Semona announces transfer to Illinois State--The Pantagraph
Redbirds bolster frontcourt with Hilltoppers transfer Semona--The Vidette

Murray State men's basketball will host Washington State on November 30th--WPSD Local 6

UIC Men’s Basketball Adds Mohamed Ndao to 2026-27 Roster--uicflames.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/13/2026

Meet the latest additions to the Bradley basketball roster, coaching staff--Peoria Journal Star

Drake women's basketball signs transfer forward Allie Myers--Des Moines Register

Makuei Riek joins Purple Aces men’s basketball program--gopurpleaces.com
Evansville native Luke Ellspermann joins UE men’s basketball--gopurpleaces.com

Miami Redhawks just made one of the more intriguing assistant hires in the mid-major ranks--Busting Brackets
Redbirds Add Leyton Wolf to Roster--goredbirds.com

COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: ISU men's basketball confirms game date vs. Milwaukee--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Men's basketball signs SMU transfer Chance Puryear--gosycamores.com

Murray State using new approach to complete 2026-27 roster--WPSD Local 6

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/12/2026

Drake Women Officially Sign Transfer Forward Myers--godrakebulldogs.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/11/2026

Gustav Winther joins UE Men’s Basketball--gopurpleaces.com

George Richardson to Join Valpo Men’s Basketball Program--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/9/2026

UE Men’s Basketball adds Max Langenfeld--gopurpleaces.com

Woodruff $1 million gift will support premium seating, locker room renovations at Hulman Center--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Puryear commits to ISU men's basketball--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Indiana State University Board of Trustees Approves Naming of the Woodruff Sycamore Loft--gosycamores.com

Murray State men's basketball officially adds Auburn guard, Kaden Magwood, from transfer portal--WPSD Local 6
Offseason rolls on for Murray State men's basketball: Roster prepares for an important summer--WPSD Local 6

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/8/2026

Men’s college basketball transfer portal fits: 5 of the best pairings this offseason--The Athletic

Ty’Reek Coleman, Iowa

2025-26 stats (at Illinois State): 10.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals per game
The Athletic transfer portal rank: unranked

Hawkeyes coach Ben McCollum has an eye for point guards. He found Trevor Hudgins from Manhattan, Kan., and Hudgins was a back-to-back National Player of the Year in Division II and went on to play for the Houston Rockets. He brought Bennett Stirtz to Northwest Missouri State, and Stirtz is about to be a first-round NBA Draft pick after following McCollum to Drake and Iowa, where the Hawkeyes went on an Elite Eight run this year.

Coleman could be next. His counting stats were not spectacular in his freshman season at Illinois State, but he was on a talented team and often deferred to upperclassmen. There is a lot to like when you look beyond the numbers and study the tape.

His effort and instincts defensively jump off the screen. He’s always putting pressure on the ball and is willing to make multiple efforts:

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Offensively, McCollum has his point guards working out of a lot of ball screens. The sample size isn’t big, but Coleman was the most efficient player in college hoops of anyone who finished at least 70 pick-and-roll plays, per Synergy.

What Coleman does best is get paint touches and make great paint decisions. He plays under control and makes the right read when he sees traffic, willing to find the open man:

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This is going to play great at Iowa, where patience is preached and McCollum will surround Coleman with shooters. The beauty with the Hawkeyes is if you pitch it out and re-space, the ball will often come back to you. Coleman has shown the ability to make 3s (41.6 percent) and does his best work attacking closeouts, which plays like the one below will happen frequently in the Iowa offense.

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It wouldn’t be surprising to see Coleman’s usage go up in Iowa’s guard-friendly offense. Coleman isn’t likely to get Stirtz-like usage as a sophomore, but McCollum is sure to find ways to utilize his speed and generate as many paint touches as possible.

Sam Orme, Nebraska

2025-26 stats (at Belmont): 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists per game, a 65.1 effective field-goal percentage
The Athletic transfer portal rank: 91

Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg pairs well with players who see the game on both ends. Hoiberg runs a lot of sets that require multiple reads and the best shots often come behind the play once switches happen or the Huskers get the defense in rotation. Defensively, Nebraska runs a no-middle system that requires defenders to really pay attention off the ball. Anyone who can see and process what is happening is going to be a good fit.

That’s where Orme jumps off the screen. Orme is a perfect role player and a great fit for Nebraska at the 4 spot vacated by Berke Buyuktuncel.

Nebraska is going to miss Buyuktuncel’s length and physicality on the defensive end and offensive glass, but Orme should be an upgrade on offense, and his ability to process the game should help make up for his physical tools not quite being on Buyuktuncel’s level.

Defenses were willing to leave Buyuktuncel wide open on the perimeter and he rarely made them pay, making only 24.1 percent of his 3s. Orme is not an elite shooter but he shot 38.7 percent from 3 in two seasons at Belmont.

Most of Nebraska’s actions will be to set up shooters Pryce Sandfort, Braden Frager and Connor Essegian, and sometimes the best way to take those shots away is through switching. Orme is smart at recognizing when he gets a smaller defender on him and punishing in the post:

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Orme is also a smart cutter, reading his defender and timing it correctly on drives:

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Nebraska was an elite cutting team last season, and that ability to read and react will play well in Hoiberg’s offense.

Nebraska defensive coordinator Nate Loenser will also appreciate Orme’s ability to read the game on that end. He can anticipate an action coming and bait the offense into throwing a pass, as he does here against this Illinois State flare action:

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These glue guys can be the difference between average and good teams, and Orme was a smart add. I’m not sure this group will be able to match the size and physicality of Hoiberg’s Sweet 16 team this past year, but Orme could improve Nebraska’s offensive efficiency and make up the difference if the defense slips.

Orme is a great example of the importance of finding lower-usage glue guys. It’s easy to see Orme fitting a specific role, because how Nebraska will ask him to play is very similar to what he just did at Belmont.

Murray State Men’s Basketball Signs Guard Kaden Magwood--goracers.com

Bruno Alocen to Join Valpo Men’s Basketball Program--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/7/2026

These are three of the best mid-major coaching hires in the 2026 cycle--Mid-Major Madness

Others I like

Evan Bradds (Belmont): Not only is Bradds a continuation of the Rick Byrd lineage, but he also brings NBA coaching experience under Brad Stevens and college coaching experience under Jon Scheyer to the Bruins.

Ben Jacobson (Utah State): I never expected Ben Jacobson to leave Northern Iowa. He’d been the head coach there for 20 years and only had three losing seasons. He was the dean of the Missouri Valley. Utah State made yet another sharp hire.

Women’s Basketball Adds Trio of Transfers--belmontbruins.com

Xavier Musketeers basketball adds Drake transfer Braden Appelhans--Cincinnati Enquirer

UE Men’s Basketball adds Bryce Renn--gopurpleaces.com

NCAA Tournament officially expanding for both men and women: Murray State coaches comment--WPSD Local 6

UNI men’s basketball adds transfer guard Grayson Uelman--Northern Iowan

Building the Beacons--The Victory Bell
Terron Garrett to Join Valpo Men’s Basketball Program--valpoathletics.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/5/2026

Murray State women's basketball looks for another conference championship as offseason rolls on--WPSD Local 6

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/4/2026

Missouri Valley Conference enters new era after massive transfer portal turnover--Busting Brackets

Men's Basketball Welcomes Kayden Fish--belmontbruins.com

Illinois State basketball lands Deng Garang from transfer portal--The Pantagraph
Redbirds land Dolphins transfer Deng Garang, one remaining roster spot--The Vidette

Five NAIA Transfers Who Could Make an Immediate Impact at the Division I Level--Bracket Busters

Jackson Cooper (Indiana State)

Indiana State has already saw some success in bringing over players from the NAIA level. Last season, Ian Scott transferred in from the NAIA and averaged 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists for the Sycamores last year while shooting 63.2% overall.

Jackson Cooper had a tremendous season last year for Oregon Tech. The 6’7 forward averaged 17.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 56.6% from the floor. He’s not a three point threat as he’s attempted just two shots from beyond the arc over his last three seasons. His performance last year was good enough to name him as a second-team All-American in the NAIA as well as his conference’s Player of the Year.

Cooper had some ridiculous stat lines last year, including a 28 points, 15 rebound, and 10 assist tripe-double against a strong College of Idaho team. He in general fits the mold of head coach Matthew Graves’ coaching style very well. The Sycamores struggled mightily offensively in nearly every category, but they dominated from inside the arc where they were 25th in the country and took 50.6% of their shots. Cooper, someone who is prolific from inside the arc, is going to fit in perfectly for the Sycamores in year one.

Men's basketball signs Serbian native, Buffalo transfer Aleksa Vlajic--gosycamores.com

Murray State men's basketball adds Auburn guard, Kaden Magwood, from transfer portal--WPSD Local 6

Villanova lands UIC transfer guard Elijah Crawford--Zagsblog
Asa Thomas Commits to UIC Men’s Basketball for 2026-27 Season--uicflames.com

Salma Khedr Joins UIC Women’s Basketball Ahead of the 2026-27 Season--uicflames.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/3/2026

Hurt commits to University of Central Florida--The Vidette

Tuti Jones Selected to DI-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete Team for Third Consecutive Year--belmontbruins.com

Men's basketball signs USC Upstate transfer Karmani Gregory--gosycamores.com

Murray State women's basketball welcomes Mark Stephens as associate head coach--WPSD Local 6
Turner Welcomes Mark Stephens as Associate Head Coach--goracers.com

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 5/1/2026

College basketball transfer portal pickups from mid-majors who will make big impact--USA TODAY

College basketball transfer portal best pickups from mid-major schools

Tyler Lundblade, Tennessee (Belmont)

The reigning Missouri Valley Conference player of the year was one of the top shooters available in the portal and fills a clear need for the Vols, who need to replace their top six scorers from this past season. The former walk-on made 40.6% of his 3-pointers despite having a high shooting volume, with 8.8 attempts per game from beyond the arc. Tennessee's top returning 3-point shooters (Ethan Burg and Troy Henderson) had 15 makes all season.

Drew Scharnowski, Duke (Belmont)

Duke had a clear need in the post with Cameron Boozer headed for the NBA Draft lottery and Maliq Brown out of eligibility. The 6-9 Scharnowski could slot alongside returning Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba II or provide valuable frontcourt depth. A first-team All-MVC pick, Scharnowski was the No. 50 player in USA TODAY’s portal rankings after averaging 10.7 points, six rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as a sophomore for a Belmont team that went 26-6. He was a strong presence down low, too, with 1.3 blocks per game. At the start of the portal process, the prevailing thought was Scharnowski would follow former Belmont coach Casey Alexander to Kansas State. The big man set his sights higher and will test himself in the Blue Devils crucible.

Jaquan Johnson, Iowa State (Bradley)

How would Iowa State replace Tamin Lipsey? The Cyclones point guard started all 137 games he played for ISU and left as the school's all-time steals leader and fourth in career assists.

Enter, Johnson. About as seamless of a fit as you could hope for if you're the Cyclones. He took an enormous leap from his freshman to his sophomore season, improving his scoring average from 6.6 to 16.9 points per game to help him earn first-team All-MVC honors, MVC most improved player and all-defensive team honors (thanks to his 2.6 steals per game).

Men's basketball signs DII national tournament title contender Greyson Pritzl--gosycamores.com

Miller Welcomes Long-Time Head Coach Tony Barbee to Coaching Staff--goracers.com

One-on-One with new UNI basketball coach Kyle Green--Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier