What's Up In The Missouri Valley: What's Up In The Missouri Valley 2/19/2026

Under the Radar – Week 16--Hoops HD

From there we run through the other 22 UTR conferences. Liberty and Navy are on the verge of clinching 1st place in their conferences. Stephen F Austin is a potentially dangerous team that is just two wins away from clinching the Southland. The OVC is also logjammed with six teams that can still end up in 1st place. Belmont is looking really strong out of the Missouri Valley. We discuss all that, and more! And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

2.18.26 Game Analysis--Basket Under Review

QUICK TAKES:
Illinois State and Murray State have somewhat been mirrors of each other in MVC play with up and down seasons and feeling like the true potential hasn't really been fulfilled.... [Subscriber content]

The Breakfast Buffet: Injuries have decimated the Big 12, Darius Acuff, Creighton--College Hoops Today

On The Side

Belmont’s Casey Alexander has the Bruins at 24-4 after Sunday’s massive win against Murray State. This could be the second program that Alexander — who was previously the head coach at Lipscomb — takes to the NCAA Tournament.

Meet the Mid-Major Power Paying Men’s College Basketball’s New Transfer Portal Tax--Sports Illustrated

Women’s Hoops Visits Illinois State Friday Night--belmontbruins.com

Mid-Major Madness Men’s Player of the Week Voting: Feb. 9-15--Mid-Major Madness

Jaquan Johnson - Bradley
Head coach Brian Wardle is well on his way to a fourth straight season with 20+ wins as Bradley currently sits 18-9 overall and 11-5 in the Missouri Valley at second-place in the standings. The sophomore emergence of Jaquan Johnson has been a major reason why: standing just 5-foot-11, he’s become one of the nation’s most dynamic mid-major guards.
This past week, he led an upset of the conference’s first-place team in Belmont, beating out the Bruins 95-84 in overtime with 31 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals. On the road at Southern Illinois just days later, Johnson managed 24 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in a double-digit win over the Salukis.

Bradley basketball vs Valparaiso: Everything to know about the Braves loss to Beacons--Peoria Journal Star
‘We were not tough enough’: Braves last-minute comeback is not enough to defeat Beacons--The Bradley Scout
Bradley falls on the road to Valparaiso--bradleybraves.com
MBB Preview: Bradley Hosts I-74 Rival Illinois State on Saturday Night--bradleybraves.com

Bradley WBB Hosts Murray State on Friday--bradleybraves.com

Drake basketball falls to Southern Illinois, drops seventh straight--Des Moines Register
Bulldogs Stumble Against Southern Illinois, 66-61--godrakebulldogs.com

Bulldogs Muster Strong Close to Complete Comeback Victory--godrakebulldogs.com

Purple Aces fall to Flames in midweek contest--gopurpleaces.com

Where does Evansville basketball stand entering final two weeks of season?--Evansville Courier & Press

Ty'Reek Coleman provides spark as Illinois State burns past Murray State--The Pantagraph
Redbirds Run Past Racers for Season Sweep--goredbirds.com

Illinois State women play host to second-place Belmont--The Pantagraph

Sycamores' skid reaches four--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Late scoring surge sends Panthers past Sycamores--gosycamores.com

Slumping Sycamores to meet Flames--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
UIC pulls away late, beats ISU women 95-80--Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Trees set to host UIC--Indiana Statesman
Sycamores, Flames face off Thursday to begin homestand--gosycamores.com

Miller: Racer men must have short memory tonight--Murray Ledger and Times
Illinois State goes with small ball, hammers Racer men--Murray Ledger and Times
Tenner waited for his chance, now is making most of it--Murray Ledger and Times
Racers Fall at Illinois State - Domon Joins Freshman 400-Point Club--goracers.com

Are the Panthers Ready to Pounce?--Valley Hoops Insider
College Men's Basketball: UNI pulls away in second half, down Indiana State--Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
Dunkin’ on the Dogs--Northern Iowan
Four-ever in the rafters--Northern Iowan
Panther men’s basketball cruise in second half in 81-60 win at Indiana State--unipanthers.com

Mid-Major Madness Women’s Player of the Week Voting: Feb. 9-15--Mid-Major Madness

Ryley Goebel – Northern Iowa
Goebel had a sensational game in UNI’s win over Indiana State. The senior forward notched 32 points, 16 rebounds, five blocks, and three steals. Those 16 rebounds were a career high, and 32 points matched a career best. That was her ninth double-double of the season. She shot 12-of-16 from the floor. The Urbana, Iowa, native became the only player in Missouri Valley history with 200+ career blocks and steals.

UNI WBB catches fire, defeats Sycamores in McLeod Center--Northern Iowan
UNI women’s basketball: Panthers down Salukis in a 29-point rout--unipanthers.com